Short list of condos: advice pls

[Dert42]

All 3 condos we've narrowed down meet all our requirements and price is practically the same.
2 of them are right next to Kembangnan MRT.
Both are in small complexes with ok pools. Good size.
The other is at Serangoon.
It is smaller, but has an awesome pool with water features and across the street from the Nex mall.

Which is a better location for an American family with a 5 year old and a 2 year old?
We want to decide tomorrow.

[Two Ton Tony]

What I've done three times in SG is just offered 60% of the asking price and seen who has accepted. They'll come back with a counter offer, just pick from there or bargain away.

Once they're at the negotiating table, the choice will be made for you.

I got a house from 11 down to 8, a condo from 7.5 down to 6 and a cnother condo from 7.5 down to 6.7.

Know your market, play the game. It is business not personal.

[nutnut]

I suppose it depends how long you will be living there.

Consider this... When your 5 year old wants to play with other kids and there are none in your condo cause it's only got 100 units then what do you do?

We found at 5 is the cusp of when our son wanted to spend time with other kids rather than us all the time... Give that a thought, go visit them on a Sunday afternoon see what kids are out playing etc.

Other than that, NEX is a great mall and would ebe handy to be near, also the MRT has great links on both circle and NE Line, Kembangan is good for EW MRT line, it also depends on your journey to work I guess. look at www.gothere.sg to see what the journey time would be like from condo to office too!

Otherwise - good luck.

[katbh]

Make sure when you visit the condos to look for kids that you go about 6pm. This is when ALL the kids (those allowed) will be out playing.

[nutnut]

Unless they are expat kids, they tend to go to bed about 8pm so are out during the day.

[zzm9980]

Kembangan will be quieter, less dense, and a short bicycle ride down a nice trail (Park Connector) to the beach. Best Roti John in Singapore is right there too. I prefer that area to Serangoon, but that's just me.

[JR8]

It is business not personal.

If any prospective tenant came back at me suggesting more than 5% off the asking, then it's personal. Read that, it's not business, it's personal, the line has been crossed.

My asking rents are correct, and I do not like people trying to take the Pi$$. Two people want a place, you're getting pissy, forget it...

Don't start a relationship by showing me know you're a chipping SOB...

[Dert42]

Ah I appreciate it, but you guys are all late.
We ended up with one by Kembangnan.
Talked to several tenants there. All expats with kids and happy.

Negotiated into rent 3m tint on the windows. The place has floor to ceiling windows. Faces the east, but I was still leery of extra heat from the sun.

I think I may of overpayed a little, but we didn't have any more time for back and forth. Move in less then a month!

[Chantikki]

Well, I was going to suggest Serangoon! Lol because there are more Americans up this way (both International Schools are up this side of Singapore.
I used to live out near Kembangen and loved it. The a nice restaurants in Siglap, you are on the green line, so can be in the city fast and you will meet expats from all over the world on the east coast, it's a mix. I'm sure you will love it.
Also if you don't want to go into the city Tampines 1 at the Tampines MRT has some good stores as the area is catering to expats more and more.

[JR8]

I think I may of overpayed a little,

Spot the banker

[Two Ton Tony]

It is business not personal.

If any prospective tenant came back at me suggesting more than 5% off the asking, then it's personal. Read that, it's not business, it's personal, the line has been crossed.

My asking rents are correct, and I do not like people trying to take the Pi$$. Two people want a place, you're getting pissy, forget it...

Don't start a relationship by showing me know you're a chipping SOB...

"my rents are correct" - show me a landlord that would say otherwise

" it's not business, it's personal"- since it's a fair reflection of most folk in Asia that negotiation is a normal part of doing business, I am confused as to your opinion, did I learn this by buying T-shirts in thailand, packing boxes in Malaysia and well blow me down, 3 rental contracts in Singapore? Sounds like you're just somebody that feels entitled to their full value rentals..

"don't start a relationship by showing me you are chippy" - you'll get a heart attack from all this angst...

[Two Ton Tony]

I think I may of overpayed a little,

Spot the banker

But I thought your earlier post was implying rentals are set fairly and 5% discounts are the maximum that anyone should get? Now you're saying that only Bankers pay the asking price. Do I misunderstand your English?

[Dert42]

Since we don't want to live in Little America, I'm feeling strong about our choice.

And doing some research on the other condos in our complex and I guess we did ok.

Also I'm a IT guy.

[JR8]

you'll get a heart attack from all this angst...

Angst? Just giving you my pearls from 20 years of landlording. That was what you were seeking?

But hey... whaevvva ...

[kvdm]

Which apartment/condo in Kembangan station are we talking about? We are about to relocate to Singapore and finding it difficult to find a place that is affordable and convenient, and decent. We hope to control it around 4K, near an MRT and decent for a family (our son is 5 years old). My husband will be working in downtown but I know that is out of the question due to the scarcity of apartments there and high prices. Any suggestion?