Property Views
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Nebbermind:
Tan Tong Meng isn't haunted. It has structural issues, but the FH ppty residents didn't want to sell or enbloc I was told. For decades, they have survived by retaining the RED painted walls, per one Master's advice, to keep the building safe.
Wait! Then you are no longer alone!lee_yl:
Oh ya, i have seen one, Tan Tong Meng Tower, each apartment is over 3000sqf in a single level, quite scary if I'm alone at home plus hearsay building is haunted.
It is a 危楼！ -
doodbug:
Yeah...and also, like lee-YL said, the maintenance fees will kill. You can save that $1.1k for 12 mths and go for a good vacation in Dec, or on your kids' enrichment, or car mortgage, since you will most likely need to drive.Hi Jetsetter,
I agree with you. My personal view is cluster house is neither here (like landed) nor there (like condo). Does not have the feel of either as cluster houses lack the privacy and spaciousness and facilitieswise cannot compare with condo. I viewed a few cluster houses in D5.
The cluster houses I like better are the older townhouses without pools.
Ultimately I think the buyer pool for cluster houses is not large as it is a niche market.
That said I do think Gilstead Brooks managed to address the privacy but the steps are really quite steep.
At least for a larger condo, you get a larger pool and gym. Those decorative lap pools at strata estates are so short that 1 kick can propel the swimmer to the opposite side, i.e. your neighbour's \"berth\"! The minimal facilities are not too useful for families with grown up tweens.
That said, FH strata landed ppties in prime district are still better than LH condos in the same district...after all, u own a piece of that land, albeit it's co-shared with dozens of others. Be also prepared to pay for those extra strata spaces that you don't actually get to live on, unlike your own individual land titled ppties...
Btw, is it a good time to scout for ppties now? Am surprised to see this thread active... -
Berths haha. You can dock and perch yourself at your neighbour’s unit.
I think there will always be people looking to buy to live and for their family’s needs. Buying for investment is probably tepid now due to relatively weak rental market plus ABSD. Sellers have holding power so prices have not fallen much. -
Coolkidsrock2:
Will likely need a helper if living in landed. But the space is nice, especially if one entertains a lot.
Oh gosh, you reminded me again of the high monthly maintenance fees.lee_yl:
[quote=\"mum_sugoku\"]
No idea why.. but even if I find the price attractive, a 4-figure monthly maintenance fee will instantly kill my interest!! :scared:
Plus I too, prefer pure landed to strata landed.
To be fair, not all cluster housing charges sky-high monthly maintenance fees. I went to see another 2 cluster housing projects (new developments) and their monthly maintenance fees are not that high, one is $400 & the other $600.
A friend asked me to consider carefully as $1.1k may be affordable now but after my DH retires, it can be very taxing for retirees.
But even for landed, also need to set aside money for periodic maintenance, repainting etc.
Have seen some condominiums above 3,000sf (non-penthouse so it is all useable space rather than air-space) and is an option as well. Cuts down on some of the maintenance work that is required. I don't want to be painting or jet washing here and there of the exterior every Lunar New Year.
My kids are older now and hardly at home. Not sure if I need a bigger space anymore. In fact, I have spare storage now as I have given away all their toys and things that they have out-grown.[/quote]I don't find it necessary to paint or jet wash the exterior every CNY lah.. Just a fresh coat of paint once every 5 years or so would be good enough. The overall cost of painting the exterior normally does not exceed $20k unless you are living in a big bungalow.
Having a helper would be good but again, not necessary if you have older children who can help out, eg cleaning their own rooms/toilets such that you only need to take care of the common space. Lui Tuck Yew, a former minister, had revealed during an interview that
http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/ex-hdb-chief-had-lived-out-of-rental-flat[quote]He now lives in a terrace house in the East Coast area with his wife, Madam Teng Soo Fen, 45, an adjunct teacher in Tanjong Katong Secondary, and their daughters Elaine, 13, and Emily, 10.
The family does not have a maid. [/quote]
Well he's certainly not alone.
But I do agree with you that once the children are all grown and move out (if they choose to), condo would be a better choice. Myself is in favour of that too.
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Am very fussy lah. Even the leaves of my indoor plants are cleaned every day now.
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jetsetter:
Tan Tong Meng isn't haunted. It has structural issues, but the FH ppty residents didn't want to sell or enbloc I was told. For decades, they have survived by retaining the RED painted walls, per one Master's advice, to keep the building safe.
Wait! Then you are no longer alone!Nebbermind:
[quote=\"lee_yl\"]
Oh ya, i have seen one, Tan Tong Meng Tower, each apartment is over 3000sqf in a single level, quite scary if I'm alone at home plus hearsay building is haunted.
It is a 危楼！[/quote]Talk about versatility, besides dealing with spirits, Master can also resolve building structural issues
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Just for sharing purposes...
Finally made arrangements to see 3 projects yesterday which DH and I long wanted to see. These 3 projects also happen to have very close selling prices.
1). Newton One. FH condo next to Newton MRT, 1910 sqft 4 bedder
2). Soleil. 99 yr condo next to Novena Sq/MRT, 1750 sqft 4 bedder
3). Hillcrest Villas 99yr cluster landed. 3100sqft 5 bedder
Soleil, despite being a 99yr condo, somehow command a higher selling price than FH Newton One. :scratchhead: Always curious why ppl want to pay that kind of money for Soleil.
After viewing, then we realized Newton One is v noisy, with living room facing Newton Circus and dining area facing the Newton flyover. Advantages are: nice piece of FH land sitting next to Newton MRT and cross the road is District 9.
As for Soleil, their 4 bedder units have a good view, squarish layout and not noisy. Saw 2 units in two different towers and both were pleasant. I think our main concern is 99yr. :roll:
As for Hillcrest Villas, overall squarish layout and lots of natural lighting, even the bedroom at basement is airy and bright unlike other clusters we have seen. But this has no internal lift which is not ideal for old folks living together. If my dds can get into the schools nearby, I will seriously consider shifting there since the schools are within walking distance. Drawback is it's 99yr and prices are likely to stay stagnant, unlikely to see any capital appreciation. :roll: -
Thanks lee_yl. Always interesting to read post-viewing thoughts.
Yes, sometimes it is the location that matters more than freehold/leasehold.
I have not viewed Hillcrest Villas before but the location is really good. How is the monthly service charge there like? It is probably one of the largest cluster house developments so I think it should be more manageable than the 10-unit type of development.
Noise and dust tend to go hand in hand so if you find a unit noisy, should think twice as unit facing cannot be changed.
If you are willing to move a little westwards towards D21 or northwards to D20, can consider freehold landed at that price point. Landed won’t come with the facilities and the reno work to be done is usually pretty extensive.
Alternatively, some people would choose to split the budget and buy two units at less prime locations - one to live in and one to rent out. -
lee_yl:
leeYL : Is your MIL going to live with you? You mentioned she moved in during CNY, but is she still staying with u? Your current place is very ideal as your dh can walk to office, thus saving on petrol and downtown parking; and dds can commute to school via the MRT just a stone's throw away. They also can walk to US on their own. Moreover, 3 bedder for a family of 4 is decent.Just for sharing purposes...
Finally made arrangements to see 3 projects yesterday which DH and I long wanted to see. These 3 projects also happen to have very close selling prices.
1). Newton One. FH condo next to Newton MRT, 1910 sqft 4 bedder
2). Soleil. 99 yr condo next to Novena Sq/MRT, 1750 sqft 4 bedder
3). Hillcrest Villas 99yr cluster landed. 3100sqft 5 bedder
Soleil, despite being a 99yr condo, somehow command a higher selling price than FH Newton One. :scratchhead: Always curious why ppl want to pay that kind of money for Soleil.
After viewing, then we realized Newton One is v noisy, with living room facing Newton Circus and dining area facing the Newton flyover. Advantages are: nice piece of FH land sitting next to Newton MRT and cross the road is District 9.
As for Soleil, their 4 bedder units have a good view, squarish layout and not noisy. Saw 2 units in two different towers and both were pleasant. I think our main concern is 99yr. :roll:
As for Hillcrest Villas, overall squarish layout and lots of natural lighting, even the bedroom at basement is airy and bright unlike other clusters we have seen. But this has no internal lift which is not ideal for old folks living together. If my dds can get into the schools nearby, I will seriously consider shifting there since the schools are within walking distance. Drawback is it's 99yr and prices are likely to stay stagnant, unlikely to see any capital appreciation. :roll:
How about those at Chancery, Balmoral, Stevens, Gold Hill?
Thanks for review on Newton One. Last yr, dh asked me to check on Newton One for investment purpose. He thinks the architecture looks very nice wor. How come it's noisy? You viewed at night? Which floor unit did u view? Don't open windows ok? How much is Newton One's mgmt fees? -
doodbug:
Yes! Hillcrest Villas location is really good, just across the road is Tan Kah Kee station and most importantly, surrounded with good schools that are unlikely to shift.Thanks lee_yl. Always interesting to read post-viewing thoughts.
Yes, sometimes it is the location that matters more than freehold/leasehold.
I have not viewed Hillcrest Villas before but the location is really good. How is the monthly service charge there like? It is probably one of the largest cluster house developments so I think it should be more manageable than the 10-unit type of development.
Noise and dust tend to go hand in hand so if you find a unit noisy, should think twice as unit facing cannot be changed.
If you are willing to move a little westwards towards D21 or northwards to D20, can consider freehold landed at that price point. Landed won't come with the facilities and the reno work to be done is usually pretty extensive.
Alternatively, some people would choose to split the budget and buy two units at less prime locations - one to live in and one to rent out.
There is a small Spanish/Italian/French community living there, majority of the units is tenanted. Maintenance fees is at $530 a month. Nice pool & good-sized gym there.![](\"https://s4.postimg.org/ncivlr3a5/IMG_6715.jpg\")
https://s4.postimg.org/ncivlr3a5/IMG_6715.jpg\">
![](\"https://s4.postimg.org/5nr4u4rj1/IMG_6716.jpg\")
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