AALTO Rental Info

[uscate]

We just returned from a 4 day weekend in Singapore. Will be relocating in Spring/early Summer. Saw lots of properties on the East Coast (Districts 15 and 16). We're a couple with no kids, and are looking at 3+ bedrooms and 2+ baths ideally with sea view and a decent gym on property.

We especially liked AALTO, which is apparently a new condo complex. Does anyone have any feedback on AALTO relevant to property management, proximity to wet markets and grocery stores, etc.??

Thank you!!!

[zzm9980]

The closest shopping mall (proper grocery store in basement) + hawker center + wet market (also has grocery stores next to it) to that location would likely be Marine Parade:

http://g.co/maps/7vkqs

You can see google makes you walk a weird route, so it's not as far as they claim.

There's also wet markets and a (really really big) hawker center on Old Airport Rd between Dakota (CC8) and Mountbaten (CC7) MRT stops, about 1km north/north west of there.

But honestly, a 3bed/2ba with Sea View at a new condo next to ECP? That's not quite the "wet market" demographic, but more the "send the maid and driver in the Land Rover to Jason's Marketplace to pick up whatever groceries the Chef needs for our dinner party tonight" demographic.

[nutnut]

But honestly, a 3bed/2ba with Sea View at a new condo next to ECP? That's not quite the "wet market" demographic, but more the "send the maid and driver in the Land Rover to Jason's Marketplace to pick up whatever groceries the Chef needs for our dinner party tonight" demographic.

I nearly fell off my chair laughing at this! It's pretty much what I thought,

[uscate]

Hi ZZM - thank you for your post and the info about shopping locations - that was very helpful as we probably won't have a car and will be walking/taking public transit for our shopping requirements.

But since I'm still new here, what does the acronym ECP stand for? And was that final comment on demographics a slam or an observation??

[nakatago]

Hi ZZM - thank you for your post and the info about shopping locations - that was very helpful as we probably won't have a car and will be walking/taking public transit for our shopping requirements.

But since I'm still new here, what does the acronym ECP stand for? And was that final comment on demographics a slam or an observation??

Please search for threads discussing living in the East Coast; there are several.

[nutnut]

ECP - East Coast Parkway (Highway)

[uscate]

Thank you all for your quick responses!! NutNut - thanks for the ECP info - I realized after posting what ECP stands for - I just returned home, and I think jet lag may be fogging my mind a bit....And thank you Nakatago for the suggestion to review the East Coast threads. I read these before leaving, and found them helpful as we were selecting properties to look at.

What I'm really trying to target here, are people's impressions of AALTO....since this is a fairly new property, there really aren't many reviews online that aren't written by the developer, so I thought I'd reach out to this audience for their opinions - there seems to be a wealth of info here!

[nutnut]

Have you read that?

I know of a chap that lives there, I can ask their opinion of the place at the weekend, it's very expensive IMO you can get a lot more that's a little older for your money in East Coast, I suppose it depends on where you budget is coming from, if your company is paying it then why not, but if you are paying it yourself, then there are a lot of places that are 1-2K cheaper a month and as good!

Good luck.

[uscate]

Hi NutNut -

We're fortunate that the company will be footing the bill, but unfortunately we don't have carte blanche!!....We've looked at Costa del Sol, Bayshore, Costa Rhu, Belevedere, Cote d'Azur, a place in Sentosa, and seemingly everywhere in between!!

Of everything we've seen, Cote d'Azur and AALTO seem to have captivated us the most, because of commutability to my SO's office and overall amenities....

I would so appreciate your talking with your friend about his/her impressions of AALTO - since this is all new to me, I am VERY open to any and all info!!

Thank you!!

[zzm9980]

Hi,

No, it wasn't a slam, just an observation as I can't imagine the unit you're describing costing anywhere less than $10k/month rent. Most people that can afford such a unit don't usually hoof it to the wet market, thus why there are none too close to you. Most middle-class families in Singapore live on $5k/month combined salary or less (sometimes a lot less, damn expats and bankers driving up the average).

[uscate]

Hi ZZM -

Thanks for the clarification....Interestingly enough, the unit at AALTO that we looked at was less than $10k....We heard from our realtor that the rental market is beginning to skew more toward the renter than landlord, I guess due in part to the slowdown of expat engagements in Singapore. I can't speak to this from first hand experience, but honestly, even with a cooling of the market, the rental situation here is inSANE!! We're hoping that the market continues to cool down so when summer comes we can get a bit more bang for our buck!!

[nutnut]

In which case then go for the best you can get within your budget!! I will have a chat with the guy and revert.

The rental market is insane, I seriously don't think you'll get that much more for your money by the summer, but I hope you do! Landlords tend to want to get a rental of "market rate" and are very reluctant to accept less normally, as such, they leave their properties unrented on the market for months at a time (crazy if you think of the loss of rent) just over a few hundred dollars a month!

If you imagine what you could get even for the cheapest 3BR condo rental in Singapore in the UK, it makes you sick!

[Saint]

Getting public transport from there will be a nightmare, no major bus stops near by, the closest will be on Mountbatten Road. You will also find it virtually impossible to flag down a taxi even if you walk out to Kanjong Katong Road

[nutnut]

Where will you be working?

[uscate]

Thanks to NutNut and Saint....

My partner will be working in District 14 in one of the industrial complexes - he'll probably be taking a cab to work. I'll be looking for a job....I've been an agency recruiter and have worked in HR for the last 23 years - I think it's gonna be tough going for me to get work....I especially appreciate the comment about public transport - had no idea it would be that difficult to catch a bus/cab (since we'll have no car, public transport is "it" for me)....we may need to keep on looking....

And thank you for the info about landlords hanging onto their properties even if unrented....I guess we'll try to bargain, but will be prepared.

I really appreciate all of the helpful responses - looking forward to being in a position to reciprocate sometime soon!!