HDB Flat or Condo?

[miso]

Hi

I am moving to SG from Slovakia for one year and want to decide - live in shared HDB flat or shared condominium flat? I should earn about US$ 2200 /month but I would like to travel around as well.
Are cheaper HDB flats in good condition? What is the main difference between HDB flats and condominiums except for some extra amenities like pool or gym?
I am just asking because here in slovakia is nothing like condominiums.

Thanks

Miso

[cinder]

some condos do not have anything different from HDB in the sense that they do not have swimming pool nor gym - think it would be called private apartment?? (i am not sure bout this) however, condos usually have those inhouse facilites such as cable tv and internet connection installed, where in HDB you have to install them by yourself. notice that your plan is sharing a place (not renting whole unit), suppose you can try get HDB where the owner had sorted those things out.

if you lived in HDB, you can feel the real singaporean living.. people chanting on hungry ghost festival, morning taichi, cheaper and exotic food, etc.. in condo, in other hand, will give you more opportunities to meet people (more likely expats) for clubbing pals!

fyi, i was livin in HDB, but now livin in condo.

[miso]

It seems to me (but maybe I am wrong) that there are quite many people (expats) who first started in HDB flat and then moved to condo. Why the move then?

[Guest]

There is a great different living experience as compare between HDB and condo. If you started of with HDB and could afford, you will choose to upgrade to condo. But if you started of with Condo, I dun think you will downgrade to HDB.

I am a landlord and came across tenants having such comments. They would rather save in some other area than to move to HDB.

Thanks

[jpatokal]

Yabbut Singapore is a status-conscious society and many people will make sacrifices just to have the Three C's of condo, Car and Credit Card. It's a major loss of face to move back from a condo to HDB...

But Guest's comments are true enough. I don't use my condo's pool all that often, but I'm sure I'd miss it if it disappeared one day

[starfantasy84]

If you are a pet lover, it's better to live in private housing like condo. HDB enforces very strict rules on pets.

[Sing Prop]

private condo also has strict regulations.

[starfantasy84]

Not as bad as HDB. HDB prohibits pets like cats and dog must be of middle size. In private condos, you can have large size doggies. That what I see.

[sai]

how about neighborhoods? are hdbs closer to the city noise and pollution more than condos? are the buildings older in case of hdb? difference in amenities....like water pressure and all that?

[SG female]

sai, it really depends. Personally I think HDBs are better 'cos they're much cheaper and are often in more convenient locations than private condos (where you are expected to have a car). If you're afraid of the bustle of city life, you can choose a flat in the quieter estates like Jurong West. Tip: Get a flat near any of the MRT stations, esp if you're not getting a car here. You will be so glad you'd made that choice.

[just arrived]

I've just arrived here...and..

I'm wondering whether when renting HDB flats that we will always have to share with the owner (the Singapore citizen who owns the HDB flats and currently living there).

Thanks.

[joop]

I've just arrived here...and..

I'm wondering whether when renting HDB flats that we will always have to share with the owner (the Singapore citizen who owns the HDB flats and currently living there).

Thanks.

The owner can either: -

1. Obtain permit from HDB to sublet the whole unit
2. Obtain permit from HDBto sublet room/s (so owner will have to stay together with tenant).

[jpatokal]

Or rent rooms/the whole place without HDB approval, which is of course illegal but common enough. This lets both parties subvert price controls.