Best friend needs flat close to Orchard

[dpot]

My best friend is taking a job right by orchard mrt in a few months and would like a condo with a 15 min commute, (I think they will drive/taxi, but may take mrt...not really sure what the package entails), they have a little one and will probably get a maid as they will both be working....so they'll need a 2.+1 or a 3 br, want a kid friendly place with a nice pool, good grounds....however, the kicker is that they only have a budget of 4500 or so.

We live on the east coast, so I really don't know much about properties in prime districts....it is possible to get a decent place out here for that money, but they are adamant about the 15 min rule, so living out our way is a no go. I thought I would ask here to see if Some members might suggest some hidden gems...also not sure what travel times are like around the orchard area as I am pretty much oblivious to life in the city, but I'd like to help them out. My hunch is that they're going to have to settle on the outermost fringe of that 15 min range to get the most bang for their buck. Also, we were able to negotiate down on the rent for our place, but Im not sure what the proper starting point for bargaining should be....again my hunch is that properties in central areas are less flexible given the demand, but I could be wrong. Thanks for the feedback!

[the lynx]

My best friend is taking a job right by orchard mrt in a few months and would like a condo with a 15 min commute, (I think they will drive/taxi, but may take mrt...not really sure what the package entails), they have a little one and will probably get a maid as they will both be working....so they'll need a 2.+1 or a 3 br, want a kid friendly place with a nice pool, good grounds....however, the kicker is that they only have a budget of 4500 or so.

We live on the east coast, so I really don't know much about properties in prime districts....it is possible to get a decent place out here for that money, but they are adamant about the 15 min rule, so living out our way is a no go. I thought I would ask here to see if Some members might suggest some hidden gems...also not sure what travel times are like around the orchard area as I am pretty much oblivious to life in the city, but I'd like to help them out. My hunch is that they're going to have to settle on the outermost fringe of that 15 min range to get the most bang for their buck. Also, we were able to negotiate down on the rent for our place, but Im not sure what the proper starting point for bargaining should be....again my hunch is that properties in central areas are less flexible given the demand, but I could be wrong. Thanks for the feedback!

I'm no expert in property rentals but SGD4.5K for a condo at a central location is already hard enough, in my opinion. I may be wrong. HDB would be easier.

(Don't forget, someone already paid SGD1mil to buy a HDB unit in Bishan)

On another note, they can try the condos a little bit off from Redhill onwards like Stirling Road, Holland (not right at Holland Road area) etc. There are buses that go right into Orchard at that particular intersection.

[zzm9980]

15 minute commute to Orchard MRT by MRT gets you pretty far north. It's actually exactly 15 minutes from YCK to Orchard; so I would look for condos around one of the stations in between. Although any of those will probably be stretching that budget for a private condo.

[winnoe]

I have a friend who just rented a place just 5mins walk from Novena MRT station. Rental is $4800/month (after incl. agent's fees).

That should work, right?
5mins walk to MRT station.
2-4min wait for train
4min train ride.
That's about 11-13mins?

Downside? It's a 1+1 (1 master bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 study room which is half size of M.bedroom). Might be a wee-bit too small for a young family...

Toa Payoh is a pretty old estate, but you can get one of those crappy 3room flats (2br, 2 toilets, 1 living room) right next to Toa Payoh central (about 7mins walk to MRT station, there abouts?) which is about $3000/month before agent's fees.

High side for HDB, but you always pay for the convenience.

[teck21]

I have a friend who just rented a place just 5mins walk from Novena MRT station. Rental is $4800/month (after incl. agent's fees).

Been looking to rent around this area too, so have been looking at rentals here for a couple of months now (well, not in that much of a hurry to rent, basically just watching to see if rents do actually come down!).

4.5k could get something decent in this area, especially if it's the part of district 11 that's closer to Balestier than Newton, but still very comfortably walkable to Novena MRT.

But it won't be one place with a nice pool, good grounds etc..... Will be decent, but almost certainly not one of those nice big developments by big time developers and with landscaping that's actually something more than an afterthought.

Those would cost a fair bit more than 4.5k.

[Segue]

One Oxley Rise may fit that requirement, but the units are pretty small