Homeowner Stories

How We Sold Our Forest City Unit Before The Worst Happened: Here’s What It Was Like To Stay In A $100 Billion Ghost Town

Forest City, a colossal development project situated in Johor, Malaysia, was initially conceived in 2006 with an estimated budget of $100 billion. Originally marketed as a ’20-year project,’ the development is now increasingly believed to be falling short of expectations….

• 6 Sep 2023
• 6 min read
• 3
• 3.4k

I Regret Buying A DBSS: 5 Homeowners Share Their Biggest Regrets

Introduced in 2005 but discontinued in 2011, Singapore’s Design, Build & Sell Scheme (DBSS) remains a topic of conversation, even if it’s for its relatively short lifespan. This unique housing scheme aimed to elevate public housing by bringing in private…

• 30 Aug 2023
• 6 min read
• 3
• 486

Inside A $60k Bidadari BTO Makeover: How This Couple Created Their Japandi Home

Starting a renovation for your BTO flat in Singapore? The process can be as exciting as it is complex. We interviewed a couple who recently transformed their new BTO flat in Bidadari into a space they proudly call home. From…

• 30 Aug 2023
• 10 min read
• 0
• 206

I’m An Ex-Property Agent That Only Ever Made One Sale: A $9 Million Bungalow. Here’s My Story.

What would you think of a realtor who, as his very first deal, managed to transact a $9 million bungalow? Impressive right? But this week I spoke about the incident to this very same (former) realtor, who has an odd…

• 25 Aug 2023
• 7 min read
• 2
• 1.3k

I Regret Buying A Mega-Development: 7 Homeowners Share Their Biggest Regrets

Singaporeans’ love for mega-developments is unmistakable. Recent sales figures consistently demonstrate their popularity, and it’s easy to see why. It could be a blend of attractive pricing, cost-effective monthly maintenance, or the irresistible array of amenities – be it 80m…

• 12 Aug 2023
• 2 min read
• 2
• 968

How A Couple Transformed Their Sengkang BTO Into A Modern Scandinavian Home

Sometimes, home renovation isn’t as simple as one might imagine. Constraints like immovable walls and architectural quirks can become obstacles to our dream design. This was the case for A (@ohhmyy.home) and her husband, who had to work around a…

• 24 Jul 2023
• 7 min read
• 2
• 287

A Couple’s $60k Renovation Transformation: From A 17-Year-Old HDB To A Bohemian-Scandi Home

Like many other couples during the pandemic, Alex and Cheryl’s (@tiongbahru.crib) search for a BTO flat proved to be an elusive one. However, the initial disappointment of not securing a BTO soon gave way to the thrill of revamping an…

• 17 Jul 2023
• 9 min read
• 0
• 32

From 8 Failed BTO Attempts To A Resale HDB With A Dreamy View: A Singaporean Couple’s $75k Renovation Journey

Like many Singaporean couples over the last few years, SX and JA (@122sqm) found it a challenge to find a BTO home. “Despite trying BTO 8 times over the past years, our queue numbers were either out of the range…

• 10 Jul 2023
• 8 min read
• 0
• 131

From HDB To Landed Home: A Renovation Journey Of A 20-Year-Old House Into A Colonial Black And White Home

Moving from an HDB Executive Apartment to a larger inter-terrace landed home can be both exciting and a bit daunting. For C & H (@fiftysixvv), this challenge was a chance to make a dream home for their growing family in…

• 3 Jul 2023
• 10 min read
• 0
• 330

“We Calculated Our Interest Payment Alone To Be $110k In 10 Years” Why We Chose To Pay Off Our Home Loan Early

Most Singaporeans resign themselves to paying off a home loan for 25 to 30 years. In most cases, the home loan is the last loan to be repaid, due to the lower interest rate (and maybe because CPF can be…

• 23 Jun 2023
• 7 min read
• 2
• 834

I Bought My First Condo At 30 And Renovated It For Just $14k: Here’s How I Did It As A Single

The simple truth about home ownership in Singapore is that for most, it takes two parties. Barring shoebox units and the smallest flat, most Singaporeans would struggle with the cost if they had to bear it alone. This is, like…

• 17 Jun 2023
• 6 min read
• 0
• 1.7k

We Had A Strict $45k Reno Budget: How We Rebuilt Our Run-Down 18-Year-Old HDB Into A Cosy Home

Located in Punggol, the 18-year-old resale HDB bought by couple Becky and James (*not their real name for privacy reasons) was initially in quite a bad condition. The floors in the living and the rooms were cracking, which made it…

• 14 Jun 2023
• 6 min read
• 0
• 39

5 Biggest Regrets After Renting In Singapore: Real-Life Experiences Shared By Tenants

It goes without saying that most landlords in Singapore are a happy bunch right now. Rental rates have been soaring, and the demand is still seemingly going strong (although yes, mortgage rates are at a high too). But as the…

• 7 Jun 2023
• 6 min read
• 0
• 812

How An Avid Baker Couple Created A Cosy HDB Home With A Dream Kitchen

Colin and his wife (@therollyjollyhome), like many couples, initially set their sights on applying for a BTO (Build-To-Order) flat. However, despite their hopes and efforts, fortune did not smile upon them, and their journey through the BTO/SBF route ended in…

• 5 Jun 2023
• 8 min read
• 0
• 123

I Stayed At Hmlet Cantonment: Here’s What My Actual Co-Living Experience Was Like (Not Great)

Is the co-living experience as pretty as this picture of the Hmlet Cantonment backyard below makes it out to be? Read on to find out! So I’m back again for the 4th and final part of this co-living series, in…

• 4 Jun 2023
• 9 min read
• 3
• 709

Inside A 52-Year-Old HDB Makeover: How A Couple Created A Stylish Parisian/Hampton Home With $48k

After a 10-year long stay in their Woodlands BTO, Kathy (*not her real name for privacy reasons), and her spouse (@maison.hv) decided it was time for a change. For their new home, it would have to be centrally located, accommodate…

• 31 May 2023
• 7 min read
• 0
• 81

My Honest Experience Booking A Co-Living Space: A Review Of Hmlet’s Booking Process

Note: this is not an advertorial for Hmlet as the stay was completely paid for by myself (not sponsored by Hmlet so you can rest assured that everything I write is wholly objective, based on my experience, and not a…

• 28 May 2023
• 9 min read
• 1
• 312

We Spend Our $3k Rent Budget (While Waiting For Our BTO) On Travelling The World Instead: Here’s How We Do It

Given the wait times for a BTO flat in Singapore, many Singaporeans have to look for alternative accommodation in the meantime. This usually comes in the form of having to stay at their parent’s/in-law’s place or having to rent for…

• 24 May 2023
• 6 min read
• 1
• 1.3k