House vs. Apartment?

[ecureilx]

Oh my, you'll have more than a "lift & lobby" problem with your dog: Most appartments are too small, condo rules usually don't allow dogs and many landlords here dislike big pets!
You may habe to substantially increase your rental budget, avoid Muslim neighbours (15% of the population - dogs are "haram" or untouchable for them) and get a good leash and muzzle, which are mandarory in public.
Or you may leave your pet at home, which may be the better idea.

And don't forget the insurance ... as Labs are considered "LARGE DOGS"

[Strong Eagle]

Oh my, you'll have more than a "lift & lobby" problem with your dog: Most appartments are too small, condo rules usually don't allow dogs and many landlords here dislike big pets!
You may habe to substantially increase your rental budget, avoid Muslim neighbours (15% of the population - dogs are "haram" or untouchable for them) and get a good leash and muzzle, which are mandarory in public.
Or you may leave your pet at home, which may be the better idea.

And don't forget the insurance ... as Labs are considered "LARGE DOGS"

Peh... my friend and my neighbor both had labs... labs do not need to be muzzled... and never heard anything from either landlord about the dogs... then again, it is in a semi-D for each of them.

[JR8]

Biggest risk from labs is that they'll lick you to death!

[nakatago]

Are we forgetting this? One notable point: men afraid of cutesy-wutesy toy dogs. http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/sutra442986.html

[beppi]

I would say that MOST Singaporeans are afraid of any dog bigger than a rat. They will cross the road when you approach, will never visit you at home and also otherwise avoid you wherever possible.
Thus by bringing your dog you not only limit his life (lack of places where he can be who he wants to be), but also your own.
Not a good idea, if you ask me.
But I'm a cat lover ...

[ecureilx]

Biggest risk from labs is that they'll lick you to death!

anytime .. lick me to death but .. don't slobber me with the saliva .. drooling all over


(and I thought of the joke of a lab that was in a vet .. then am thinking .. well, maybe too x rated )

[Joisey]

The dog is definitely going to be driving our budget way up. But I'm afraid we are irrational in our affection toward our dog and if she can't come, we won't be moving.

From what I've read elsewhere, it sounds like there are several parks that allow dogs (on a leash of course) and I'm not offend in the least by people who are afraid of our big dog

Dogs are limiting, but so are children, houses, wives, etc. It's always just a personal decision of whether the benefits outweigh the limitations.

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^^^

Very true. Wives are MUCH more limiting than dogs. Dogs love you more as well. To prove it, lock your dog in the boot (trunk) for a couple of hours. Then lock your wife in the trunk for a couple of hours. When you let them out, which one shows unconditional love & forgiveness!

[movingtospore]

There are lots of places - townhouses, attached houses - for less than 10K. They may not be posh and new, but they are perfectly fine. We pay much less than 10K, for four bedrooms, three stories, small yard. It's not in the heart of town, but I wouldn't trade it. 2800 sq ft. Much rather be here than in the 1200 sq foot condo we were in when we arrived, courtesy of the idiot agent who said that's all there was for our budget (and we didn't' know better).

The thing with the agents is they assume you want something shiny, new, and expensive b/c you're an expat and therefor you must be rich. And they make more commission. Just tell them that you have "very good friends" who live in bukit timah, upper bukit timah, clementi, the west coast, east coast, etc etc, for MUCH less than she's suggesting. It should work. If not, get another agent.

[Brooklynjenn]

Just my two cents, I saw a few semi detached houses with yards for under 10k. One was really nice, but had a small yard, like really small. It was in River Valley. It can be done with your budget. Not sure about the one year lease, though. They all seem to want two. I also saw a few townhouses for under 10k that would have you with your own private entrance and no lift lobby. You can also try first floor condos. We have a first floor, and have our own entrance (in addition to the lift lobby from the garage.) You might have to look farther out than Marina Bay, but the commute times aren't bad from any of the central areas.

[QRM]

There are some bargains, if you dont mind a construction site on your doorstep.

A chum found a very run down place (very cheap) but fairly good central location. Spent a week painting everything white, got a load of cheap plants for the yard, rented a pool, which is supplied with timber decking etc and that covered the cracked crappy driveway and da da for very little rent they have quite a large pad with nice pool.

[ecureilx]

There are some bargains, if you dont mind a construction site on your doorstep.

A chum found a very run down place (very cheap) but fairly good central location. Spent a week painting everything white, got a load of cheap plants for the yard, rented a pool, which is supplied with timber decking etc and that covered the cracked crappy driveway and da da for very little rent they have quite a large pad with nice pool.

And I am sure the property agent went gaga and told the tenant that the landlord doesn't want to renew .. as PRICE GO UP READY LAH ..

And back about dogs, look what I found ..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... rying.html

[JR8]

And back about dogs, look what I found ..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... rying.html

You don't need a dog to do this. If you make a wailing sound louder than a crying baby it will often stop. That said it does not exactly help the overall sound level

[jdanthony77]

The dog is definitely going to be driving our budget way up. But I'm afraid we are irrational in our affection toward our dog and if she can't come, we won't be moving.

From what I've read elsewhere, it sounds like there are several parks that allow dogs (on a leash of course) and I'm not offend in the least by people who are afraid of our big dog

Dogs are limiting, but so are children, houses, wives, etc. It's always just a personal decision of whether the benefits outweigh the limitations.

I've seen some nice "Conservation Houses" on ., don't know what the deal is with these, but they look like a good deal.

May be worth checking out.

I'm taking up a job in Singapore (now in Malaysia) shortly. Going to live across the border in Johor so my dog (retriever) doesn't have to go through quarantine and will have some running room....

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

We lived in a conservation house for years. Great for teens and pets, but a disaster on the wallet, and the upkeep is a part-time job. Between blown electrical appliances, extra pest control, ongoing maintenance not covered by landlord, excessive gardening, items damaged due to mold ~ it's hundreds of dollars out of pocket a month. Still, it was the right house for us at the time. My kids will always think of it as 'home.'