If you had to do it all over again, where would you rent?

[reunionmama]

New to the area. American couple in their 50's, no children. We know from experience that we'll get smarter over time about the best place to live.

We'd like to use your experience. If you had to do it all over again, what location/condo complex would you choose?

[beppi]

Singapore is small, well-connected, has daily necessities in easy reach anywhere and there are no bad areas to avoid. I think it makes much more sense to decide based on the individual property rather than the location.

[Saint]

And just to throw a spanner in the works, I'm the complete opposite to Beppi, location is first priority then property.

[sundaymorningstaple]

And to throw a brick through the window, I look at costs first and then see if jobs/kids/location will work on compromise. That leave more money for leisure. (But I'm not on any housing allowances). Was for 3 years back in the late '80's~early '90's. So a lot depends on your package as well.

[carteki]

I'm with Saint there.

As much as Singapore is small, there are definite "enclaves" and each area does have its own flavour. Depends on what is important to you. Nearness to outdoor spaces or to the CBD? Do you want to live in a very built up area, or somewhere where there are landed properties? Where do you socialise - do you like to be near to that? Where are your friends? Is there construction nearby?

You can find an apartment that you really like in a slightly less convenient location, but the inconvenience may soon override the "niceness" of the apartment, or it may not.

Happy hunting.

[JayCee]

New to the area. American couple in their 50's, no children. We know from experience that we'll get smarter over time about the best place to live.

We'd like to use your experience. If you had to do it all over again, what location/condo complex would you choose?

How on earth could anyone recommend anywhere to you when you give hardly any information at all? Where will you work, do you like built up areas or greenery, what hobbies do you have, what is your budget etc...?

I know we tend to pull up people from the sub-continent who want their arse wiped, but this kind of post is just as bad

[Saint]

New to the area. American couple in their 50's, no children. We know from experience that we'll get smarter over time about the best place to live.

We'd like to use your experience. If you had to do it all over again, what location/condo complex would you choose?

How on earth could anyone recommend anywhere to you when you give hardly any information at all? Where will you work, do you like built up areas or greenery, what hobbies do you have, what is your budget etc...?

I know we tend to pull up people from the sub-continent who want their arse wiped, but this kind of post is just as bad

Don't see anything wrong with the OP's question which is asking for our personal experiences, not suggesting where they should live.

Jaycee, I know you've got it in for virtually ever newbie who posts a new thread asking advice but constructive advice is called for rather than the abuse you seem to post recently.

[JayCee]

New to the area. American couple in their 50's, no children. We know from experience that we'll get smarter over time about the best place to live.

We'd like to use your experience. If you had to do it all over again, what location/condo complex would you choose?

How on earth could anyone recommend anywhere to you when you give hardly any information at all? Where will you work, do you like built up areas or greenery, what hobbies do you have, what is your budget etc...?

I know we tend to pull up people from the sub-continent who want their arse wiped, but this kind of post is just as bad

Don't see anything wrong with the OP's question which is asking for our personal experiences, not suggesting where they should live.

Jaycee, I know you've got it in for virtually ever newbie who posts a new thread asking advice but constructive advice is called for rather than the abuse you seem to post recently.

The mods don't seem too bothered, most seem to agree with me

It's plain as day that this is a "please tell me what to do because I'm too lazy to do it myself" thread. They've already admitted they want to "use others experience", what else is that other than laziness and an unwillingness to use the search option to find the thousands of threads already on the forum where people have given recommendations on areas and condos (I myself posted some recommendations on one just last week, it can't be that hard to find the thread)?

How am I being abusive btw, have I insulted anyone or called them any names? I'm only doing what others do too (including moderators), after a while it becomes tedious reading the same old questions rehashed in a slightly different way because "my situation is different", I think I've been quite restrained all things considered.

Someone also made the point recently that posters only seem to pull up Indians for these kind of posts and alluded to some kind of racism from the westerners towards the Indians, I just wanted to demonstrate that is not true

[Saint]

The mods don't seem too bothered, most seem to agree with me

It's plain as day that this is a "please tell me what to do because I'm too lazy to do it myself" thread. They've already admitted they want to "use others experience", what else is that other than laziness and an unwillingness to use the search option to find the thousands of threads already on the forum where people have given recommendations on areas and condos (I myself posted some recommendations on one just last week, it can't be that hard to find the thread)?

How am I being abusive btw, have I insulted anyone or called them any names? I'm only doing what others do too (including moderators), after a while it becomes tedious reading the same old questions rehashed in a slightly different way because "my situation is different", I think I've been quite restrained all things considered.

Someone also made the point recently that posters only seem to pull up Indians for these kind of posts and alluded to some kind of racism from the westerners towards the Indians, I just wanted to demonstrate that is not true

The first 4 replies to the OPs question, which includes a MOD, were constructive and gave valid advice. So the 4 of us must have miss read the posting according to you. apologies

[JayCee]

The mods don't seem too bothered, most seem to agree with me

It's plain as day that this is a "please tell me what to do because I'm too lazy to do it myself" thread. They've already admitted they want to "use others experience", what else is that other than laziness and an unwillingness to use the search option to find the thousands of threads already on the forum where people have given recommendations on areas and condos (I myself posted some recommendations on one just last week, it can't be that hard to find the thread)?

How am I being abusive btw, have I insulted anyone or called them any names? I'm only doing what others do too (including moderators), after a while it becomes tedious reading the same old questions rehashed in a slightly different way because "my situation is different", I think I've been quite restrained all things considered.

Someone also made the point recently that posters only seem to pull up Indians for these kind of posts and alluded to some kind of racism from the westerners towards the Indians, I just wanted to demonstrate that is not true

The first 4 replies to the OPs question, which includes a MOD, were constructive and gave valid advice. So the 4 of us must have miss read the posting according to you. apologies

Clearly I was referring to other threads too, which apparently I have been abusive on (care to explain?) and which you were knocking me for. It obviously wasn't clear enough, so apologies.

(Maybe valleyman did have a point after all)

[reunionmama]

Let's try again, shall we? Without the flames.

I am interested in what the forum members would choose, after reflection, and why. Not looking for advice for us. Specific property, enclave, or location - would be interested in any perspectives.

Jaycee, if the thread offends you - there are lots of others.

[revhappy]

I looked at my office location, its in the far east. My wife office location in the north(YCK). If I chose middle ground it would have still been inconvinient for both of us to use public transport.

So what I did? Chose my house 2 bus stops away from wife's office(it couldn't get any nearer than that) and decided to ride a bike to my office. Luckily YCK and CBP are connected by the TPE so its expressway all the way for me, minus ERPs and jams

Now does that help you in anyway in your house selection? If it does then gr8

[JayCee]

I smell a journalist

[beppi]

To answer your question, I would move again into the charming terrace house with (tiny) garden near Sixth Avenue that I had 1999 - 2003 for S$1900/month. But unfortunately the elderly friendly landlady passed away and the daughter leaves the house empty rather than renting out. In addition, the rent would probably have doubled by now and is thus out of my range.

Now does that help you in anyway in your house selection? If it does then gr8

Same here!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Given aa chance to do over again? I'd go right back to ulu Seletar Camp and the end of Jalan Kayu, where I rented for 15 years at $400/mo in a great big two story black & white with a huge fenced in compound, fruit trees, bananas, rambutans, jackfruit, plantains, guava, lime and other assorted edibles growing within my compound. Without a car, it's a pain in the butt. However, the peace and tranquility is not to be experience in too many other places on this little red dot. Had it not been for UDMC giving up management rights to the reverted military housing to pidemco, I'd probably be still there today. Well, probably not, because they've torn down a substantial portion of all that now due to the (so-called) Airtropolis out there now.