the lynx,
'Staying in JB and commuting to Singapore on daily basis is not recommended. The insane traffic jam on both links on peak hours (and many times, off-peak hours) will take hours off your daily life alone.
You wake up super early to beat the jam on your way in and then spend hours to beat the same jam on your way out. By the time you reach home in JB, you'll be too tired to do anything else except late dinner, shower and sleep. I know way too many people who do that...
The only people who would do that are those who have nothing else for life other than to earn money.'
Not what I've heard from some people who are doing just that, then again, these same people probably wouldn't admit to suffering the way you say they do either.
Then again, refer to bolded text. Pretty obvious one does not need to move to Johor to live like that.
I'm just about to make the move to Nusajaya myself, and am about to start looking for a place in earnest next week.
Visited the Nusajaya area for the first time 2 days ago.
First impressions:
For all the buzz that's been reported and hyped up in the press (especially the Malaysian press obviously), the overall level of development is still at a very low base imo, although it does appear several project appear due for completion within the next one or two years.
Still, I was expecting more, but I'm inclined to believe that momentum is growing fairly rapidly, and some or most of the aims of the Iskandar project will be realized eventually. Hiccups expected soon though!
Leisure Farm. I didn't like it. Felt to me like the developer (Mulpha) wanted to develop something with pure luxury in mind, with grandiose ideas and concepts. An equestrian clubhouse, these guys for real?
Also seemed like they were just selling a lot of land plots for buyers to develop super luxurious properties themselves. Problem is a lot of the land appears bought by speculators who have no intention of building anything at all, so there's alot of grass growing everywhere.
And Leisure Farm simply looked to me like a lot of water (and mud) everwhere. And getting there was no fun at all.
Took a look at Horizon Hills (managed by UEM Land, but a jv with Gamuda) and liked it a lot more. Not to mention massive difference in pricing.
There the developer does not sell land, but finished properties, and the overall development feel was a lot tidier and cleaner than Leisure Farm to me. Caters to more than just the luxury segment.
Clubhouse looks decent. and maintained.
Been starting to hear stories of unpleasant neighbours as more people move in. But unpleasant neighbours? Fact of life unfortunately.
There's also East LEdang and Ledang Heights, both also under the UEM umbrella, but these are considered a notch or two above Horizon Hills so I am not considering them.
Took a look at Nusa Idaman, and some of the other 'gated' (or so claimed) developments closer to the Bukit Indah shopping area. Not so hot on them.
OP: sorry I'm not of much help in visa matters, but with regards the Malaysian-registered car issue, straight from LTA:
WORK PASSES
Any work pass holder, who is neither a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) nor a resident of Singapore, may drive a foreign-registered car and motorcycle in Singapore only if ALL these conditions are met:
a) he is the registered owner of the vehicle ;
b) he resides outside Singapore;
c) the vehicle is kept or used outside Singapore for a total period of 6 hours or more everyday ;
d)
he has a valid insurance certificate and road tax for the use of the vehicle on Singapore roads ; and
e) the vehicle has an Autopass Card to validate its entry/exit at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints and for payment of Vehicle Entry Permit/Toll charges.
Please note that a work pass holder who is also a SPR or resident of Singapore is not allowed to drive a foreign-registered vehicle in Singapore.
