Can I find a flat in S$ 2000 to 2500 ?Please help.

[S&A]

Hi everyone,

I have been studing this site for some time. My hubby has been offered a job there and we are just planning to move to Sg next week.

We are on one consolidated salary and no housing allowance. When we got the offer , we thought that around S$2000 would take care of our rent.But after following this site I find that looking at the recent rental increases , it seems highly impossible.

I know u will ask me area but frankly we are not sure in which office my hubby would be joining(Co has 2-3 places of work).

Please advise me. What exactly is HDB flats? How can we look for one as the ones advertised are only condos...

I would like to go for 3 bedroom flat, fully furnished. Are condos available for the rent I can afford? Also have just heard that HDB flats are not suitable for Expats. Is it true? and why?

I have never visited Singapore and was really looking forward to moving there. But frankly now I have become very apprehensive. Have 2 young kids under the age of 5. Please can anyone suggest a full medical policy which takes care of all outpatients and inpatients costs.

Thanks a lot in advance for any suggestions and replies.

I hope u can dispel some of my fears.

[k1w1]

Yes, you can find a condo in that price range. Your husband will have to travel further to work probably, but nothing is really that far in SG anyway. Don't forget to factor in that rent under $2500 requires a month's rent from the tenant as an agent's fee.

Try east coast, upper bukit timah, serangoon. They're all quite reasonably priced.

I would recommend a condo with two young children as this will give you all something to do during the day. Also, it can be a good way to meet other mums and kids.

[Makan24-7]

k1w1: Can you seriously find a condo for 2-2.5k for a 3 bedroom in Upper Bkt Timah, Serangoon or East Coast? Everything that's posted in the papers, sites (not just this one) is indicating that the minimum for a 3 bedroom is $3k and that's in hard to reach areas, everything convenient costs $3.5-4k at the very least. If you are quoting rents based on leases tenants signed more than 6 months ago, your information is for the most part, obsolete.

Here's a common scene:
1. You go to view an apartment in the east coast. For argument's sake, say the asking rent is $2k.
2. You find that you and your agent are 1 of 5 or 6 parties viewing the place at the same time.
3. You find that at least 3 parties have brought their checkbooks along.
4. Someone take a checkbook out and starts writing a check. Another person who wants the place actually bids higher than the asking rent. Bidding war starts. Before you know it, the rent has just gone up to $2.5k
5. You get disgusted and leave.

Haha, this happened to be many times back in January.

[muratkorman]

The agents/owners tend to do that trick in order to increase the rent price with bidding. I had a similar experience when I was searching for a condo. The agent took me to the place and there were 2 other agents who came for viewing at the same time. They use this trick especially for condos which are not in good condition.

"2k for 3 bedroom fully furnished" sounds impossible nowadays. I think you should make your calculations starting from 3k.

[S&A]

Thanks to u all for the feedback.

sorry for not posting earlier, but was busy winding up.

i now see from what u have written, that we will have to revise our earlier calculations.

anybody can tell me the difference between condo and HDB flats? Apart from swimming pool and other facilities, what is the major difference?

how safe is it to stay in HDB flats? What is the procedure and how do we go about if we are interested in renting a HDB flat.

I would also like to ask if there is anything one has to be carefull about when signing the job contract. Does the contract usually have a specified no of years ie term for contract?

Lets say at present my package is not very good. but i think once i come there and work for some period, i will get better terms. so what if any, is the binding period in any contract? does it go with the no of years of employment pass?

some one do shed some light on these issues.

Thanks once again for all the info u guys are providing.

[Liya]

I am going to relocate to Singapore mid Jul and I was there last week for apartment searching.
From my understanding, through agent, you can rent HDB, much lower price than condo. But the difference could be:
- mass & noisy: it's real local life!
- no garden and facilities, eg. swimming pool, tennis court... which usually equipped in condo

It's possible to find condo in 2.5K. But, 1st, east coast is already quite expensive; 2nd, you should prepare to live in old condo (project built 10 years ago, which means old & ugly kitchen and bathroom).

Personlly I visited almost 20 condo, but still can't find an acceptable one.

Good luck!

[muratkorman]

Owing to recent high demand on apartment rent, also HDB rent prices have risen. I strongly suggest finding a condo which will cost more, but provide a better environment for your kids.

Usually they make 2 years contract and be prepared to face an increase at the end of the contract, if the increasing trend continues. At the moment many expats face this problem and they either change their condo to a more affordable one or accept the increase.

For your work contract, it all depends on how you agree the terms with the company. I suggest that you make the negotiation before you come and also point out the accomodation costs. This could make the package become better. Try to get as much as you can before you sign the contract. After you sign and move here, you won't have that bargaining power.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I strongly suggest finding a condo which will cost more, but provide a better environment for your kids.

I know this flies in the face of popular opinion but as a caucasian who has lived in an HDB flat for 8 years now (bought my own). And my kids going through their teens & early 20's here. I think I was much better off this route. My kids had a much better environment and learned a whole lot more about local customs and such, although their English suffered due to the prevalence of Singlish. Rentals are a lot cheaper, usually there are markets and NTUC's very close by and also normally there will be a Swimming Complex nearby which is rather inexpensive (the kids pee in condo pools as well). The parking is not free however. If you are going to be at the mercy of the public transport system, normally the MRT or LRT lines are located in the HDB estates and not that near to the Condo's (not all though). I also generally get more living square footage than in a condo. I have a 4 full sized bedrooms and a total of 1300+ square feet. We don't bump into each other like some of the Condo's I've seen.

Anyway, only the dinosaur's opinion.

[ksl]

The agents/owners tend to do that trick in order to increase the rent price with bidding. I had a similar experience when I was searching for a condo. The agent took me to the place and there were 2 other agents who came for viewing at the same time. They use this trick especially for condos which are not in good condition.

"2k for 3 bedroom fully furnished" sounds impossible nowadays. I think you should make your calculations starting from 3k.

Better still avoid corrupt agents, which is quite difficult, becuase most collude together, to setup the sting!

If I was you I would settle for a HDB, you can surely find something under 2000, and probably double in size compared to a condo! I also looked at a few condos, and there's not enough room to swing a cat in most of them.

Just finding the right area to live, that suits you! Everywhere is accessible, by public transport, which is very good.

The facilities in the condo's, like gym are pretty poor, with crappy equipment, that i've seen, if you compare it to a well maintained gym, that is passionate about training.

Swimming pools I get the impression many are under used for some reason or other, not all have life guards, or safety enclosures around the pool, to stop kids drowing.

You can check out this link to get an idea of what is going on in Singapores rental industry (sharks all of them)
http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ft ... 50-45.html

[S&A]

Thanks everyone for all the input. i am reading the topic of rental increases and feel that its going to be a big task to find an appartment to suit all our needs. any suggestions to areas etc is welcome.

I would also like to ask if there is anything one has to be carefull about when signing the job contract. Does the contract usually have a specified no of years ie term for contract?

Lets say at present my package is not very good. but i think once i come there and work for some period, i will get better terms. so what if any, is the binding period in any contract? does it go with the no of years of employment pass?

some one do shed some light on these issues.

[Anfield]

hi.. Singapore is a small area and transport too works in an excellent system. So there's not much area for concern if you worry about the location. If it comes to the rental prices, i would agree that it has increase recently especially for Pte Apt compare to HDB, But rest assure HDB are safe enough for everyone and I've seen more and more expats living around my area and enjoying the local food and culture just like us..ha.