Housing in Singapore on a Budget

[piyushdabomb]

Hi Everyone,

I recently moved to Singapore from Washington DC and I'm somewhat struggling to find fairly decent condos in well established neighborhoods. I've looked through . and nada.

If I'm looking for the following requirements, where can I get the closest deal?

Current Budget: $2500
Unit Type: 1 Bedroom / 1 Bathroom
Amenities: A lap pool and a gym
Location: Preferably on the green line since I work in Kembangan
Other items: I'd like to have a grocery store and neighborhood bar nearby.

Your help is highly appreciated. Thanks.

[PNGMK]

have you looked at the two main property portals online?

[BedokAmerican]

Have you looked at Kembangan Suites, located across the street from the MRT station? The least expensive unit I saw online on propertygur goes for around $2800 per mo. I know someone who lives there in a 1bed/1bath and is pleased with the unit.

[sundaymorningstaple]

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[zzm9980]

At that budget, look at the condos just west of Paya Lebar MRT (2-3 stops west of Kembangan) on the Geylang Lorongs numbered 36 and up. Lots of new buildings there with numerous small (called "shoebox") units built in the past few years.

Cityplaza (right next to Paya Lebar MRT) also has units in that range. I hear the building is quite old though.

[Wd40]

Yeah there are several shoe box units around paya lebar area, under $2500, some are even slightly bigger than 500sqft.

These are ones very popular at the moment, may be because they just topped and lots of units in the market.

Melosa
Viento
La Brisa
Centra Suites
Soho Life
Haig
Prestige Loft
Parc Elegance.

If you dont need the condo facilities, its a much better option to rent a 2/3 bedder HDB flat around the same rent in a much nicer residencial location with markets, schools, parks, doctors, restaurants etc everything available at walking distance.

[zzm9980]

with markets, schools, parks, doctors, restaurants etc everything available at walking distance.

Paya Lebar is actually a really convenient location with almost all of that stuff you just described in walking distance. Plus, two subway lines. The only thing lacking is (nice) parks. The walk along the Geylang river is nice now for biking and jogging, but not great for a kid (lack of playgrounds). I don't think OP has a kid though.

[Wd40]

with markets, schools, parks, doctors, restaurants etc everything available at walking distance.

Paya Lebar is actually a really convenient location with almost all of that stuff you just described in walking distance. Plus, two subway lines. The only thing lacking is (nice) parks. The walk along the Geylang river is nice now for biking and jogging, but not great for a kid (lack of playgrounds). I don't think OP has a kid though.

I am talking about living close to a neighbourhood market in one of the mature estates. Nothing beats it for convinience. 2-3 bus stops away from MRT is like the best. Too close to MRT is also not a good thing, everything there will be expensive and you will frequent the malls for everything.

In Tampines the N2 and N4 market areas are just awesome.

Paya Lebar near the MRT looks so un-residential. There is no mall. I believe there is only a subway in the Sing Post building. Thats not the kind of place near an MRT, I want to live. Imagine I come home after work get out of the MRT at Paya Lebar, looking for something to eat Now compare this to Tampines

[sundaymorningstaple]

[zzm9980]

Paya Lebar near the MRT looks so un-residential. There is no mall. I believe there is only a subway in the Sing Post building. Thats not the kind of place near an MRT, I want to live. Imagine I come home after work get out of the MRT at Paya Lebar, looking for something to eat Now compare this to Tampines

Have you spent more than 5 minutes there, or just looked out the train window? Classic WD40, talking about a place you've never been to.

There is a shopping center attached to the subway under Singpost. There are two large hawker centers/markets within a 5 minute walk (Haig Rd and Geylang Serai). You also have Tanjong Katong Center and City Plaza, both malls with lots of shopping and good food options.

Singpost has a Fairprice NTUC, and TK Center has a Giant Express (was Shop n Save).

There are tons and tons and tons of other food options besides those hawker centers along Geylang Rd. All within a 5-10 min walk of that station.

[Wd40]

I have been there atleast 3-4 times, primarily to visit the Shiva temple. I also had a Pakistani colleague who lived in the City Plaza building on rent. He told me this. He lived in Tampines before and he told me he missed Tampines.

The next time I go, I will explore the 2 malls you mention. The thing is there are very few places that we can eat at, it has be either proper Indian (not the local Indian ones at hawkers centers) or something more continental(non -oriental) like Pizza Hut, Pasta Mania, Subway etc

I know the east coast road(close to the i12 Katong mall) is awesome for the kind of food that we like. Its a shame its not at a walking distance to ECP or else we would be in ECP every weekend

[nakatago]

x9200 is too kind; if it were me, I would've made like a ninja and killed stealthily. Perhaps wreak some havoc with the email if I feel evil enough.

[zzm9980]

The thing is there are very few places that we can eat at, it has be either proper Indian (not the local Indian ones at hawkers centers) or something more continental

Well I think here is the problem... Most of the threads you pop up in with this kind of advice on where to live an amenities is very India-Indian centric. Which is fine. But in this thread, it is a single guy moving from Washington DC. I don't think he is as concerned about the availability or proximity authentic Indian vegetarian food options. If he was, I'm sure he'd ask about it. He asked for an inexpensive condo with specific amenities like a neighborhood bar. Not an inexpensive alternative to Melville Park.

Back to the OP: If you're looking for inexpensive condo options near Kembangan, look by Paya Lebar. There are at least two grocery stores within 100 meters of the station, some of the best food spots in Singapore are anywhere from 1 minute walk to 10 minute cab from there, and there are plenty of local bars.

If you happen to actually be an Indian looking for Indian vegetarian food options and appropriately family facilities for the family you don't have, then do follow WD40's advice.

[nakatago]

Back to the OP: If you're looking for inexpensive condo options near Kembangan, look by Paya Lebar. There are at least two grocery stores within 100 meters of the station, some of the best food spots in Singapore are anywhere from 1 minute walk to 10 minute cab from there, and there are plenty of local bars.

If you happen to actually be an Indian looking for Indian vegetarian food options and appropriately family facilities for the family you don't have, then do follow WD40's advice.

You can also use Google Maps, Street Directory, GoThere.SG and similar services to look around the neighborhood. These services would usually mark markets/grocery stores and the occasional watering hole.

[ecureilx]

Well I think here is the problem... Most of the threads you pop up in with this kind of advice on where to live an amenities is very India-Indian centric. ..

Plus, when I came here, I thought Yishun was the place to be, since the place I bunked in had a wet market nearby, Church, Temple and mall and what not .. and I travelled to Kallang for a year before I realised almost all township in Singapore are same-same .. you just gotta go and see what is around where ..