Club Seng Kang

[atrecord]

MMM:

Actually for that no. of people in the house, landed always seem to be a wise choice.

In our case, we've pils (2), 3 kids+ us (2) + maid. So already 8 of us. We used to stay in a 3 bedroom apartment (1400+ sq ft) and it was considered cramped with kids growing up.

So we eventually bought a 30+ yrs old inter terrace in NE area.That was in beginning 2008 before the price went up. Quite good size as the land was around 2700 sq ft. We did A&A works so now we've 5 decent sized bedrooms. Decent because when I saw our relatives' cluster house that has 6 bedrooms, I think our 1 bedroom can be their 2 bedrooms (that's just how terribly small they are making the rooms nowadays).

In fact the 3 kids + maid still sleep in the same room currently as my son is scared to sleep alone. He rather squeeze in a pull out bed between the girls. The first day we moved in was the 1st and last time he slept alone :lol:

Recently, a close friend also bought a property in NE area. They have 7 people and needed at least 4 bedrooms. They paid Around $1.6MM for a 3 storey house around 10+ yrs old.

Yup, i know what you mean. We've planned to stay together with my parents when we get a bigger place = total 6 of us. No plans for maid as we tried once but it didn't work out for my mum... but with my folks getting older, my guess is that there will come a day when we might need to get one.

How old are your kids now? We want to let our DD and DS have their own room as they talk a lot when in the same room, and will not sleep... plus we're planning ahead too - better for them to have own room when they get older.

my folks are used to sleeping in different rooms after me and my bro moved out of the 4-rm flat after we got married, so ideally we should get a place with 5 bedrooms now. To add to this, my mum's knees are weak after naughty DS almost fell during a trip to the market and my mum held him back, the jerk causing her knees to weaken... So staircases are a no-no now. And we aren't not rich, so with the property price being so high, it's next to impossible to find something that suits. and that's before other common considerations like convenience, traffic, etc.

Btw, for NE are you referring to the kovan-rosyth area?

[MMM]

atrecord:

Yup, i know what you mean. We've planned to stay together with my parents when we get a bigger place = total 6 of us. No plans for maid as we tried once but it didn't work out for my mum... but with my folks getting older, my guess is that there will come a day when we might need to get one.


How old are your kids now? We want to let our DD and DS have their own room as they talk a lot when in the same room, and will not sleep... plus we're planning ahead too - better for them to have own room when they get older.

my folks are used to sleeping in different rooms after me and my bro moved out of the 4-rm flat after we got married, so ideally we should get a place with 5 bedrooms now. To add to this, my mum's knees are weak after naughty DS almost fell during a trip to the market and my mum held him back, the jerk causing her knees to weaken... So staircases are a no-no now. And we aren't not rich, so with the property price being so high, it's next to impossible to find something that suits. and that's before other common considerations like convenience, traffic, etc.

Btw, for NE are you referring to the kovan-rosyth area?

My kids are 9, 8 and 5 this year. Right now, they still prefer to sleep together but it's true when they grow older, it's better for them to have their own rooms. We structure our rooms as follows 1) Masterbedroom 2) Pils' room 3) Girls room 4) Boy's room 5) Study room. We've a small room for the maid but she don't sleep here currently. But as son don't sleep in his room, we currently use his room as another study room.


Actually for old folks, it might be advisable for them to stay on the ground floor so they don't have to climb up and down many times a day. Our ground floor bedroom is the same size as 2nd floor. Currently we use it for study room but it's actually a backup room for my pils when they grow older. They are in their early and mid 70's. They chose to stay on 2nd floor when we shifted in 2 yrs back.... so I suppose it's their choice for now.

I am at realty park area. It is along upp serangoon. We found this place very convenient as it's walking distance to Hougang MRT and Hougang Mall (5 mins walk), those eateries along Upper Serangoon. We will sometimes walk to Heartland mall too. Around 15 mins of casual walk. Driving wise is also a ease with the KPE, CTE,etc.... though traffic can be heavier at Upper Serangoon area. Most importantly there are alot of buses that pass by our place as it is going to hougang interchange. Besides those buses along upper serangoon, we also get buses along hougang ave 2/3 (I am still confused)? so my kids have 3-4 direct buses to school at ubi area. In terms of school, we are within 1km to HIPS, CHIJ (Nativity?), Montfort and 1-2km to Rosyth. It is near to swimming pool and stadium... Haha I sound like a property agent huh :lol:

Yes I understand what you mean by the budget. Prices have gone up quite a fair bit. We got this place for 800K+ but it was more like a original state house. But spent on the A&A works. To get something of a decent size (eg. the no. of bedroom you require), it becomes a challenge as not alot of places have 5 bedrooms unless they've done A&A works. But in such instance, you will need to pay more. Also, landed prices vary not just on location but also condition of the house so psf is not a good indication. It depends on how much work has been done to the house.

We went to see Luxus Hill? and I think they are asking for 2MM for inter terrace. Frankly, with that kind of budget and size of house, I think it's better to source for a original state house and you do rebuild/ A&A. It's still cheaper and you can choose the location. But I also observed that original state house prices have gone up too. It's at least 1MM now depending on location and size.

Good luck to you in finding something you like and works for you. Sometimes fate plays a part.

[corneyAmber]

MMM, you really sounded like a real property agent in your reply above! But I second what you said as I am around the area too! Nothing would make me leave this place, it is so convenient!


BTW, how did the Universal Studio trip go? Did you enjoy yourself? My friend did, that's for sure. Spent quite a bit on clothes and a stuffed toy monkey pillow too. :lol:

[MMM]

25hourmaid:

MMM, you really sounded like a real property agent in your reply above! But I second what you said as I am around the area too! Nothing would make me leave this place, it is so convenient!


BTW, how did the Universal Studio trip go? Did you enjoy yourself? My friend did, that's for sure. Spent quite a bit on clothes and a stuffed toy monkey pillow too. :lol:

Haha yah.... I realised that too like sales talk. Maybe that is my hidden talent :lol:

The US was really really good. yes, we also spent on the merchandise. But overall quite reasonably priced. We would definitely want to go back again.

I kept asking the kids if they prefer Gold coast theme parks or US???? They said US. Newer, nicer and more things to see. Then I asked what about disney and US???? The 2 older ones said US as disney quite kiddy for them now.

[corneyAmber]

MMM:

Haha yah.... I realised that too like sales talk. Maybe that is my hidden talent :lol:

Haha, maybe that's indeed your hidden talent?

MMM:

The US was really really good. yes, we also spent on the merchandise. But overall quite reasonably priced. We would definitely want to go back again.

I kept asking the kids if they prefer Gold coast theme parks or US???? They said US. Newer, nicer and more things to see. Then I asked what about disney and US???? The 2 older ones said US as disney quite kiddy for them now.

That's what my friend said too. :lol: They want to go back to US when all the rides are fully operational. I saw the photos she took and teased her that if I didn't know that they were taken at US, I would have thought they were taken overseas!

You were really lucky to get those last minute tickets. Did you see the US thread? One man wanted to offer me $15 for each ticket!

[MMM]

25hourmaid:

You were really lucky to get those last minute tickets. Did you see the US thread? One man wanted to offer me $15 for each ticket!

Yes.... I agree wholeheartedly. I couldn't believe my luck in getting those tickets especially for saturday evening. Well... this is going to be a good year :rahrah: :lol:

[corneyAmber]

MMM:

Yes.... I agree wholeheartedly. I couldn't believe my luck in getting those tickets especially for saturday evening. Well... this is going to be a good year :rahrah: :lol:

Yes, let's hope it's a good year to everyone! :celebrate:

BTW, just curious, what picture do you have as your avatar? Been trying to figure that out for days.

[MMM]

25hourmaid:

MMM:

Yes.... I agree wholeheartedly. I couldn't believe my luck in getting those tickets especially for saturday evening. Well... this is going to be a good year :rahrah: :lol:

Yes, let's hope it's a good year to everyone! :celebrate:

BTW, just curious, what picture do you have as your avatar? Been trying to figure that out for days.

:lol: what can you see??? It's actually a shop at Asakusa in Tokyo selling those japanese novelty. Hope to visit Japan again this year :lol:

[corneyAmber]

MMM:

:lol: what can you see??? It's actually a shop at Asakusa in Tokyo selling those japanese novelty. Hope to visit Japan again this year :lol:

OIC, thanks, :lol: The picture is not very clear and at first I thought it was some shop in Chintown selling CNY goods since you put it up near CNY, thought you were in some CNY mood! :lol:

[MMM]

Haha i need to vent my frustration somewhere now.... :x But I am still feeling lucky :lol:


There was a funeral procession on last friday. They went pass our house and then stop at the road behind our house (not directly). :!: Think it's a traditional taoist ceremony so they started throwing joss paper. We were like :shock: as it's still CNY but this kind of things can't help it right. So we just ignored it.

Next moment, those joss paper flew all over the grass patch at the back of our place (around 6 houses experienced the same thing). It was there for whole of saturday. Finally someone \"cleared\" it on sunday. :rahrah: Frankly, it's quite unsightly looking out of the room to see joss papers on the field. It looks eerie at night so I kept the curtains close the entire weekend.

But to our horror, the person who swept (think employed by the family of the dead) iso clearing away, swept it in the public drain right behind our house :shock: :x Really angry angry when fil complained to hubby last night. It's like we've old folks at home not so nice right. Also it's CNY at least do a decent job and not inconvenience other people right. So what are we expected to do???? Sweep to neighbour's house? Get the maid to pack the papers and deposit it at the family of the dead house???? Of course, we are not going to do such things as that's so selfish and inconsiderate.

Anyway, I got the HDB guy who is in charge of our area and he said he will get someone to help us to clear it today. But just wanted to vent as just when I was feeling lucky....