Renting an apartment

[cpsing10]

Hello! We are moving to Singapore next month and looking at renting an apartment. We are looking for a 2 bedroom apartment and our budget is 1500 to 2000 per month. The websites dont have many pictures of the apartment interiors so it's hard to decide something online. Can anyone suggest what would be good areas to stay in that budget? I will be working in the Alexandra area.
Any information will be highly appreciated?
Thanks

[sundaymorningstaple]

For that budget, it will almost certainly be an HDB Flat and not a condo. Hard to find pictures of interiors of HDB Flats. You will just have to see them in person (lots of 'em!). Some are crap while other are done up as well as any condo.

[cpsing10]

Thanks for the reply. My problem is I will have to shortlist something before moving there and for this I will have to rely on the net. The sites do not have sufficient information like pictures etc. So I am apprehensive, what if I like something online, and in reality it is a complete a waste!
What communities in Alexandra are good? I ready to press it to $2500. HDB flats are okay. I am US citizen, do I need a permit to rent the HDB flat?

[JayCee]

Thanks for the reply. My problem is I will have to shortlist something before moving there and for this I will have to rely on the net. The sites do not have sufficient information like pictures etc. So I am apprehensive, what if I like something online, and in reality it is a complete a waste!
What communities in Alexandra are good? I ready to press it to $2500. HDB flats are okay. I am US citizen, do I need a permit to rent the HDB flat?

Why do you have to shortlist something right now? Waiting until you arrive and then viewing a lot of places is the way to go, I wouldn't rely on some internet pictures as they can make anything look good on the internet.

If you're working in Alexandra road you don't have to necessarily live there, Singapore is small there are many areas you could live and get to Alexandra within half an hour

[snowqueen]

We did a shortlist before we came out, total waste of time really as by the time we got here, we completely changed our mind on location. We originally liked Newton/Novena and Bukit Timah area but are now on the East Coast, and we stretched our budget almost $1k above what we thought we would pay.

It's not until you get here and start looking around that you realise what you get for your money and what locations you like.