To sell or not to sell our pty

[MMM]

Maybe just to share some perspective in terms of value based on what on we experienced.


We bought a 30+ yr old terrace back in 2008-2009 with a good land size. We did extensive A&A works. Right now, the value has more than doubled.

We've a relative who bought their brand new strata landed shortly after us as they were enticed by the 6 bedrooms and facilities. In looking at the current value in ura transacted caveat versus the amount they invested, it increased by around 10% in today's market. Which is actually very low given that the market has risen so much.

We were actually shocked at their purchase, with the same budget size, they could have easily gotten a semi-d and do A&A works and have a much bigger house to accomodate everyone.

Sorry till now, I still find that they made a bad investment decision back then. They claimed their house is too small now as they have 6 tiny bedrooms that they have to relocate their parents permanently to their sisters' house (separate discussion).

So I personally feel that landed tends to hold better value as compared to strata landed. Everytime I walk pass those newly build strata landed, can't help but look into the house.... you can see through it.

[MMM]

LOLMum:

i met a seller sometimes ago who was moving into his own building together with his parents and grown up kids. it was a small a few storey high building in balestier and each of his kids has a unit on each floor. so they are near but not too near to each other.


i like that but needs a lot of money to have own building

Yes, just a common kitchen but otherwise each of them have their own level which can easily accomodate 3 good size bedrooms (definitely bigger than the new development master bedroom) nowadays and a reasonable sized family hall where they can have their own tv set in case they want to have their own privacy. Each of them can have 2 kids each

Then maybe can combine resources for food, domestic helpers, etc....

Yah.... unless I strike lottery then can do such thing. But I don't buy lottery and don't believe I will get lucky. We are employed and not self-employed so our income is predictable. So got to ask son to start saving for his future. Also provided they can get along well with each other. Still dreaming...

At novena area, there is this interesting building that has those mosque like designs. Read that it is owned by some rich muslim businessman and that entire block is for his family.

[DesertWind]

Funz:

Yah, I have seen a few previously when we were house hunting. Agree that the rooms are smaller then landed. However coming from living in a condo, well, I think same difference.


The few I saw had teenie tiny open concept kitchens which I hate. I want a functional kitchen not a display area. :roll:

But I guess sometimes, for the sake of some stuff, gotta forego others. So just wanting to get more opinions about strata landed. One of the main consideration will be its value in the long run as well.

Hi Funz,

How about considering buying 2.5 storeys landad terrace house or buy landed old terrace, tear down old 1-storey house and rebuild to 2.5 storeys?

Although I dunno much about strata-title landed but such development are standardized with managed facilities hence the main difference would be although landed, owner cannot change anything to the house at all ie. add a room, change windows etc.

Whereas if you buy landed and re-build (I am assuming financially it is not much of an issue to your family), you can design the whole house to your own heart's content, kitchen, parking lodge and all.

Like you said, whether staying in a condo. or a strata-titled landed somehow not much difference. Why not consider pure landed private house/terrace then?

Again it is just my kaypoh 2-cents worth of opinion!

[LOLMum]

hi mmm,


can i just check to see if you (not necessarily you but also friends) have any problems with neighbours wrt simple and silly issues like parking on the road, leaves from neighbours’ trees in your area etc.

one thing that is holding me back slightly is nasty neighbours. so far living in condo has been okay for us. any dispute, the management will handle for residents. but been hearing stories from friends (living on landed properties) like inconsiderate parking outside the house (not just by residents but also public), house next door was used to house foreign workers (in prime district) or child care centre.

so far my stay in the few condos are more for my kids’ education sake. so buying a landed property is a huge investment and for long term stay.

[Funz]

Let me see, maybe I can start a pros and cons list for strata


Pros
1. Managed estate
2. Facilities
3. Designated parking
4. Uniformity in design (no old dilapidated unit or monstrous rebuilds)
5. No possibility of a childcare and slim chance of it being converted into a ‘hostel’.
6. ?

Cons
1. Narrow build up, small rooms
2. No flexibility for A&A
3. Lower value
4. conservancy fees
5. you don’t own the land

[LOLMum]

Funz:

Let me see, maybe I can start a pros and cons list for strata


Pros
1. Managed estate
2. Facilities
3. Designated parking
4. Uniformity in design (no old dilapidated unit or monstrous rebuilds)
5. No possibility of a childcare and slim chance of it being converted into a 'hostel'.
6. ?

Cons
1. Narrow build up, small rooms
2. No flexibility for A&A
3. Lower value
4. conservancy fees
5. you don't own the land

agreed with all above. but for cons (1), if you go for the older strata ones, the units are bigger just like a terrace house. the new ones at hillcrest, chancery etc are so much smaller.

by the way is greenwood strata as well? i quite like greenwood though it has no facilities but i dont like the area.

[MMM]

LOLMum:

hi mmm,


can i just check to see if you (not necessarily you but also friends) have any problems with neighbours wrt simple and silly issues like parking on the road, leaves from neighbours' trees in your area etc.

one thing that is holding me back is nasty neighbours. so far living in condo has been okay for us. any dispute, the management will handle for residents. but been hearing stories from friends (living on landed properties) like inconsiderate parking outside the house (not just by residents but also public), house next door was used to house foreign workers (in prime district) or child care centre.

so far my stay in the few condos are more for my kids' education sake. so buying a landed property is a huge investment and for long term stay.

Hi, so far we do not have such problems with the neighbours. When we first moved in, apparently our garden spotlight was shining into the house opposite. They came to inform us, we adjusted and case close. Our left side neighbour's dried flowers would fly into our house during some seasons and created lots of rubbish. But what to do, just ask the maid to clean it. Can't possbly ask them to cut off their tree right??? We must be reasonable.

In fact my next door neighbour is now doing A&A works. Our house became a sample for them and they brought their architect to our house to ask them to do this and that. Abit noisy but have to be tolerant... In fact, after we completed our A&A works and before we moved in, I ordered gifts from noel and have them delivered to my neighbours on the left and right. Paiseh that they have to put up with the noise and dust for 9 months. The right hand neighbour bought stuff for us when we moved in. Alot is more about tolerance. Again the type of people you meet.

I am unsure about condo. My hubby and I are the MYOB type. We used to stay in the same condo as my bil. He joined the mgt committee and held positions. Apparently, there are condo politics too... old and new committee,etc... that created lots of scandal and my bil's car got scratched. The only complaint we had in a condo was the volume was too loud as my pils tend to turn on the tv really loud than the neighbour in the opposite unit (cacausian expat) had to feedback to him. But no hard feelings. We are still on talking terms.

Meanwhile for my mum's place (fairly new as well)... her neighbour's dogs smell really badly... The neighbours upstairs complained to the Mgt. But he used to be a flight supervisor before he retire recently so everytime he would bring back stuff for my kids (eg. chocolates,etc..).

But in a landed... i also realised that with the high wall... I don't really know how my neighbours look like. So even if I were to see them on the street, I will probably not recognise them. There is alot less interactions.

For car park, fortunately for us, the road between our opposite neighbour's and ours is quite wide so even if people were to park at the side, other cars still can go through. One of the house opposite us has 3 cars and they park their 3rd car outside. The worst time we encountered was probably during the GE rally where all the cars just parked infront of our house.

My hubby still feel that condo is better for old age rather than landed. Maintenance is indeed a big consideration. Our house is 3-4 yrs old now and we realised that we need to start doing the structural maintenance and it's really not cheap..... :moneyflies: You don't feel that in condo as you pay a monthly maintenance.

[DesertWind]

LOLMum:

can i just check to see if you (not necessarily you but also friends) have any problems with neighbours wrt simple and silly issues like parking on the road, leaves from neighbours' trees in your area etc....

Hi LOLMum,

Could not resist replying to your question about problems encountered in landed properties.

From my limited 2-years stay in a private estate (after living in flats most of my life and then some in condos) this is what I observe happens in my estate:

1. There is a corner terrace opposite my place which was rented out to house reformed ex-prisoners and they ran a house-removal service so sometimes got truck parked outside. This was quite short-lived though and subsequently, house was rented out to students.

2. The rubbish disposal and recycling is serious business. You must make sure all food/detergent/shampoo cartons, bottles, glass, containers, garden waste, daily kitchen waste are all packed into respective plastic bags and dispose accordingly to the collection schedule. I have never flattened so many cartons, wash and kept so much \"rubbish\" in my home in my life!

3. Parking - usually people who know will not park directly outside your house. But comes weekend it is difficult whole place so crowded cars are everywhere. Compounding the headache is that in recent years, house prices shot up so much that space is so precious. People no longer seem willing to build front lodge to park their own cars, preferring to park their car out on public grounds!

4. Own territory - yes, quite sensitive in such areas that even if neighbours' house plants grow over to our garden or front porch, I don't like it. Likewise we make sure we trim our plants so that it won't over-hang to the other side. Rubbish bins and recycling bins are kept out in front. Waste collectors thought the untidy recycling bin of our neighbour belongs to us and scolded us. We told them it is not ours. When we highlight to our neighbour, the lady was not too happy. But still must be cordial or else it is difficult for long-term stay. It is my own opinion that private property owners somehow seemed to take such things very much more to heart. There is no sharing concept at all. Anything \"infringed\" you will get black faces and remembered for years.

5. Last but not the least and I am most surprised by how often this occurs! Our place is right in front of a junction and you will be surprised by how often cars will \"stand off\" each other refusing to give way to each other! They use their head-lights to \"stare down\" each other, horning away, refusing to give way on a SLOPE (whatever happens to the rules in the highway code?). You know how roads are often very narrow with only 2 lanes up and down but one side will be all parked with cars leaving only one lane for BOTH sides of traffic right? So very often 2 cars will come opposite each other, got stuck in the middle and that is when such \"stare down\" happens lor.

Enough said. :evil:

[Funz]

For me, it is because my kids are still young that is why I prefer a place with facilities like a children's playground and swimming pool. God knows what life savers those facilities are for me these few years.


Unfortunately, in Singapore, even living in landed estates, it can be pretty claustrophobic as the roads are narrow with cars parked along them and bins outside every unit. You look out of your window you see your neighbour across the road. Well might be the same for strata. For my place now, I look out of my windows, I see greenery.

Chances are if we go for landed, be it strata or not, we will be looking at a semi-d or corner terrace. Don't quite like terraces as they tend to be rather narrow as well.

[LOLMum]

DesertWind:

2. The rubbish disposal and recycling is serious business. You must make sure all food/detergent/shampoo cartons, bottles, glass, containers, garden waste, daily kitchen waste are all packed into respective plastic bags and dispose accordingly to the collection schedule. I have never flattened so many cartons, wash and kept so much \"rubbish\" in my home in my life!

:yikes: . so you have 3 rubbish bins outside your house.
but that's fine with me cos' i am used to doing that. never thought this is serious matter for landed houses.

i once had problems driving out of a friend's house cos' the 2 way road is very narrow. the car that was parked outside though not breaking the law was blocking the way. so no choice but to ask the neighbour to move the car to let me out.