Homeowner Stories

“I Regret Waiting For The Cooling Measures To End” 4 Homebuyers Share Their Property Investment Mistakes

The tricky part about Singapore’s residential market is its dynamism: cooling measures can appear overnight, and the supply of housing is subject to five-year feast-and-famine cycles. These can make a lot of otherwise sensible housing decisions at that time look……

• 23 Oct 2023
• 5 min read
• 0
• 665

We Lived In A 2,000 Sqft SLA-Managed “Penthouse”: The Surprising Reality Of Living In One

We’re aware that any mention of SLA today immediately starts arguments about Ridout Road; but there’s more to SLA rentals than those bungalows. SLA actually has a number of different properties, not all of which are as obvious or famous…

• 12 Sep 2023
• 7 min read
• 0
• 513

“I Waited 7 Years For My HDB Maisonette” 5 Homeowners Share Their Regrets

HDB Maisonettes are relics of a different era: a time when HDB flats were truly spacious, when many upgraders were happy to upgrade to a bigger flat (not even a condo), and when our ageing problem didn’t yet preclude stairs….

• 11 Sep 2023
• 6 min read
• 8
• 3.2k

The Hidden Downsides Of Living In A Boutique Condo: 5 Things Owners Wish They Knew Before Buying

Boutique condos – commonly thought of as projects with 50 units or less – offer a lot of privacy. But these tiny developments also mean smaller land space, fewer facilities, and maybe even cliquish management committees; so are they really…

• 7 Sep 2023
• 5 min read
• 4
• 910

We Had A Strict $60k Reno Budget: How We Rebuilt Our 22-Year-Old Condo Into A Mid-Century Modern Home

For many, the idea of renovating an older condominium can be especially daunting, raising concerns about outdated architecture, potential repairs, and the complexities of modernising an older space. However, for one couple, these challenges were not deterrents but rather a…

• 6 Sep 2023
• 7 min read
• 0
• 109

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
• 510

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
• 219

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
• 979

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
• 308

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
• 37

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
• 136

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
• 382

“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
• 835

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
• 50

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
• 819