Advice for accommodation bellow S$2k

[zzm9980]

SMS, JR8 & Beppi
You folks obviously are very plugged in to the market situation, so I am a bit confused here !

I am currently outside SG and hoping to move there soon & according to my research on Craigslist and the HDB & URA Median Rentals info (which is obviously "business done" data - not the inflated expectations of brokers you see on most of the property sites) it seems that there are even many whole unit furnished condos (albeit 500 sq ft types) in Bishan / Hillview type areas that you can get around 1.5 K ! Even I was surprised

But then I notice that posters are VERY sloppy about clarifying whether the ad is for a room or the whole unit

But surely the HDB rental info for Q1 2012 seem to suggest mucho HDB whole units under 2K ? Almost can't believe it (of course these are Median # s)

So my Q for you ..SMS, JR8 & Beppi...is what am I missing? Just want to make sure I approach the research in the right way and don't get a nasty surprise on arrival!

Yeah, a lot of those low-ball prices are for rooms only. If it's is a room in a three-bedroom, they will post it as a three-bedroom unit.

The HDB rental info intrigued me also, as it puts my unit at more than 20% over median in my estate.

[Beyond_Redemption]

Tks for the clarifications Guys ..

> 9980 ...Did you negotiate at all ? When did you start this "20% over..." lease

This HDB info must be hard fact (as I presume LL s have to provide this data to HDB ?) - of course all LL s will expect to be over the Median

[cdxpat]

The guidelines I got from my own searching here

Under 3K HDB or horrible Apt (there are some very nice HDBs)

3K to 4K

close to MRT: older larger apartments but very often your neighbors will be packing 6 to an apartment with either software engineers or working girls. Sorry to stereotype but looking last year it surprised me how many times iI saw mattresses piled up against walls. I saw two places where telesales were being run out of an older condo by teams of 5 or 6 people.

Remote areas: decent apartments but hard to get to.

4K+ decent places

I keep hearing people say that great apartments close to MRTs exist for under 4K but I cant find them.

A good friend of mine just let her nice 2 Bed HDB close to Buona Vista station for 3K per month so I'm not sure the rental market has softened yet but I believe it has to.

There do seem to be a lot of empty apartments at the moment if you look at night. An agent told me that a lot of Chinese owners buy and just leave empty which surprised me since newer places can have S$500 per maintenance fees on them for the pool,security, lifts etc.

A tax on non-occupied units might help bring rentals down this although i dont know how it would be implemented.

[SV1231]

It wouldn't surprise me to see 4 room HDB's start going for 1.8~2K again.

You are right (as usual).

I rented a 4R HDB flat in sembawang for $1850.
Its semi furnished (Includes dining table, AC, Washing machine, 1 wooden almirah)..

But my case was slightly different I told agent that his fees would be inversely proportional to the rent I pay.. so the more rent I pay .. the less I pay towards agency fee & vice versa..

So I mentioned that I believe that the fair rental value of this flat is 2K.. I will top up ur agency fee of 2K with any reduction you get me on Rent.

He negotiated 7 reduced it by $150. I paid him $2150 (2000 Agency fee+ 150 incentive for getting a good rental)..

Worked well for everyone involved..

Btw mine is 9 mins walking from the MRT station.. and 3rd stop via bus

[the lynx]

It wouldn't surprise me to see 4 room HDB's start going for 1.8~2K again.

You are right (as usual).

I rented a 4R HDB flat in sembawang for $1850.
Its semi furnished (Includes dining table, AC, Washing machine, 1 wooden almirah)..

But my case was slightly different I told agent that his fees would be inversely proportional to the rent I pay.. so the more rent I pay .. the less I pay towards agency fee & vice versa..

So I mentioned that I believe that the fair rental value of this flat is 2K.. I will top up ur agency fee of 2K with any reduction you get me on Rent.

He negotiated 7 reduced it by $150. I paid him $2150 (2000 Agency fee+ 150 incentive for getting a good rental)..

Worked well for everyone involved..

Btw mine is 9 mins walking from the MRT station.. and 3rd stop via bus

You mean it worked? Wow...

[SV1231]

You mean it worked? Wow... [/quote]

You bet!!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Good logic and one that the agent would have a hard time not accepting as the harder he/she works for the renter the more money they will make. That the name of the game. Good Job!

[nakatago]

Good logic and one that the agent would have a hard time not accepting as the harder he/she works for the renter the more money they will make. That the name of the game. Good Job!

I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD DO THIS! THIS WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING!

(Yes, I shouted).