Affordable Short Term Apartments / Service Apartments

[piyushdabomb]

Hi Everyone,

First off - I had another post that I was asking about affordable yet good quality housing in Singapore. I received pretty good feedback - so those of you who responded, thank you.

After viewing about 10 different 1 bedrooms, I've realized how much more difficult it is finding ANYTHING worthwhile renting. Unfortunately, the two new condo facilities are great, but unavailable.

So, consequently, I've decided to move into a short term 3-month location until I find something suitable for myself. However, I've noticed that to do that it's virtually impossible to find anything online - and I need your help.

So today I looked at three different apartments for under $3500 and they were just not for me.

My requirements - please help?

Location: I'm not going where east past Kembangan MRT and west/north from City Hall / Raffles. Since I work in Kembangan, I'd love to stay on the green track to work.

Housing type: It has to be new and "well maintained." Apparently all the units that I've seen that are more than 3 years old are HORRIBLY maintained. They look like they are 15 years old. Cracks on the walls, and dusty and dirty looking are not traits I look for.

Amenities: I need something with a 25 or 50m lap pool. As a triathlete, it's really important to me. Some of the pools are too small OR are weird and crooked shaped.

People: I need to live in a more expat-friendly (and preferably single) area. All the condos I saw today are full of local Singaporean families with kids.

This is not conducive to what I'm looking for.

Transport: I need an MRT in the area. It rains 300 days of the year here and I'm not risking trying to flag a cab down or wait for a bus in the rain. It's silly.

Groceries: I need to get groceries. As a triathlete, I need to find a GREAT big grocery store (no, not small pawn or NTUC fair price shops that have limited selections of everything) that I can find ample amounts of food.

Cost: I initially had my budget up to $2500. Now it's pushed it up to $3500.

So, a few good places I found were units in the Waterbank. But, apparently by the time I made an offer, the units were both taken!

What about Serviced Apartments? I've heard they are expensive, but aren't there cheaper apartments worth looking into?

Let me know and please help.

[eastcoastsg]

People: I need to live in a more expat-friendly (and preferably single) area. All the condos I saw today are full of local Singaporean families with kids.

This is not conducive to what I'm looking for.

Geez that would be tough, because you moved to Singapore, didn't you? More expats around the city/orchard/river areas. Moving into a Serviced Apartment might help but I don't know of any near green line trains AND groceries AND with big pools.

Transport: I need an MRT in the area. It rains 300 days of the year here and I'm not risking trying to flag a cab down or wait for a bus in the rain. It's silly.

It would indeed be tough to find a decent condo connected to an MRT with the amenities you need. You can dial for a cab and get picked up right at your condo lobby when it is raining.

Groceries: I need to get groceries. As a triathlete, I need to find a GREAT big grocery store (no, not small pawn or NTUC fair price shops that have limited selections of everything) that I can find ample amounts

Everyone needs groceries. Do you need everything in your instant proximity? For instance are you going to do groceries every day?

I'm not sure if you've listed your requirements by priority, but if you relaxed one two of them, you might have better luck. I live further East but its not that long a commute since taxis are cheap. And trains are frequent. The unit is less than 2 years old, immaculately maintained, with 3 pools so no kids splashing about in the grown ups pool. The train is a couple of blocks away and I get cabs at my doorstep. No decent grocery in the neighborhood, though.

[PNGMK]

I wouldn't know where to start suggesting.... except maybe Robertson Quay but I think that's out of your budget.

[JR8]

'My requirements:
Location: between Kembangan MRT and City Hall.
Housing type: It has to be new and "well maintained."
Amenities: I need something with a 25 or 50m lap pool.
People: Expat-friendly and preferably single, (so as to mingle, with da laydeez) area. All the condos I saw today are full of local Singaporean families with kids.
Transport: I need an MRT in the area. It rains 300 days of the year here and I'm not risking trying to flag a cab down or wait for a bus in the rain. It's silly.
Groceries: I need to get groceries. As a triathlete, I need to find a GREAT big grocery store (not NTUC).
Cost: I initially had my budget up to $2500. Now it's pushed it up to $3500.
A few good places I found were units in the Waterbank. But, apparently by the time I made an offer, the units were both taken!
What about Serviced Apartments? I've heard they are expensive, but aren't there cheaper apartments worth looking into?
'
----------------------------------------------------
I see three places listed (via tabs above) at that condo (Waterbank), two for $3.5k, and one for$3.4k. And those are *asking* prices.
Presumably you homed in on that condo, as it ticks all your boxes, as above. (I found the wish-list somewhat internally conflicted, but if you’re happy with Waterbank, fair enough).
Serviced apartments tend to be priced in the range between condos, and hotels. Most of them are in very central Orchard'y locations, so they’re not cheap. Have you tried looking at prices, via the tab above?


p.s. The place I live has several pools, including a 50m laps pool. Believe me you'll have children (yah, bloody Singaporean ones you know!!) in every pool, swimming in the spa pool, the gym-pool, playing with beach-balls or inflatable dingies in the middle of the laps pool. Plus, 'all damn pesky SGns are near blind lah, so they no look, no see, and kiasu ah, so don care Mr Ironman or not hor, he must swim round ah' ;;. Trust me, you won't be swimming in straight lines, esp. if you're hitting the pool during down-time rush hour!

.... there is even a guy who is in the lap-pool, and he swims in circles, I'm not kidding Explain that to me. There is another, and he swims widths, not lengths - but he can only do 3/4 widths before near-drowning, then he stops and stands up for a bit before doing some bizarre exercise routine that involves flapping his arms around like a helicopter, and hitting himself.

[piyushdabomb]

Hi JR8,

First - that's for giving me the most constructive advice. It seems like since I've moved to Singapore, getting feedback about anything seems like a chore. It takes several hoops to get anything right. So, thanks for responding.

A few questions for you:

1. Which tabs did you use to view the Waterbank properties?
2. You said that my internal wish-list is conflicting. I reread it, do share where so I know what not to ask!
3. Other than the Waterbank properties, what do you recommend for good places based on my criteria?
4. I looked at shorttermrentals for housing in Singapore, but after the viewings I looked at, all of them are horrible. Any ideas on how to get good rental options in Singapore?

5. Do people not use Craiglist in Singapore? It feels like all the listings are just spam.

[Wd40]

Craiglist is not very popular in Singapore.
Gumtree is, just like in the UK.

[zzm9980]

2. You said that my internal wish-list is conflicting. I reread it, do share where so I know what not to ask!
3. Other than the Waterbank properties, what do you recommend for good places based on my criteria?

I'm one of those without constructive advice, as you expectations are a bit tough for Singapore given your budget and limited search area. A bit of feedback on your conflicts though:

1) Waterman is at Dakota, which I'd consider very 'heartland'. Singapore (amazingly) has a lot of Singaporeans anywhere you go, and this will be one of the less expat-y areas you could pick.

2) I'm not aware of any amazing Grocery stores right by Dakota. Maybe Cold Storage at Kallang Leisure center? It's a long walk though, unless you're OK to take the train. And if that's the case, I'd say just take it all of the way to one of the malls in the city (say Raffles City at City Hall) and go to Jason's. This will let you broaden your search scope a bit.

More Generally:
3) Singapore has Singaporeans. Get over it. You're not in Kansas anymore.

4) Lots of buildings in hot humid tropical climates seem to exhibit more wear than you'd be used to at home. Another thing to get used to. Plus, all of those locals you're trying to avoid are a bit less likely to take nice care of things than you may be used to.


I'd expand your search to River Valley or Robertson Quay, and up your budget. Also explore using the buses to/from your office instead of limiting yourself to the train. You're likely to find a more comfortable and less crowded commute that will take you no extra time. www.gothere.sg is a good website for testing this. Google Maps works too for routing, but ignore their timetables for when busses will arrive. They seem completely wrong. If you live in a central area, this will also be the 'reverse' commute. The few people on the bus with you will be students and aunties. Since I can't help thinking that "conducive to what you're looking for" means convenient hookups and pickups, maybe you'll meet a nice student. Just remember age of consent here is 16, unless she's charging. Then it's 18.

[JR8]

hi i'm currently abroad in a pretty remote place with bad internet. if the topic is still live come the weekend I'll happily reply then.

[PNGMK]

Hi JR8,

First - that's for giving me the most constructive advice. It seems like since I've moved to Singapore, getting feedback about anything seems like a chore. It takes several hoops to get anything right. So, thanks for responding.

A few questions for you:

1. Which tabs did you use to view the Waterbank properties?
2. You said that my internal wish-list is conflicting. I reread it, do share where so I know what not to ask!
3. Other than the Waterbank properties, what do you recommend for good places based on my criteria?
4. I looked at shorttermrentals for housing in Singapore, but after the viewings I looked at, all of them are horrible. Any ideas on how to get good rental options in Singapore?

5. Do people not use Craiglist in Singapore? It feels like all the listings are just spam.

You're being way too precious.