Homeowner Stories

“I Lost My $10K Deposit And A 300% Property Appreciation” 4 Readers Share Their Missed Property Opportunities

Hindsight is 20/20, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from it. From near-misses of bad investments to lost opportunities, we’ve asked people about their top “what if” investments. Here are some stories from investors who could have, or luckily…

• 5 May 2023
• 5 min read
• 4

I’ve Lived in A Landed Home In Orchard For 5 Years: Here’s An Insider View On What It’s Like

For most Singaporeans, living right in the middle of our legendary shopping belt is a dream. However, there are downsides we may not have considered; and with ongoing decentralisation, some may even say Orchard is losing a bit of its…

• 1 May 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

I Bought A 4-Bedroom Condo In Cash (And Paid ABSD) But Still Live In An HDB: Here’s Why

For many Singaporeans, moving from a flat to a condo is a big step up in life; and a four-bedder condo of 1,400+ sq. ft. is probably an even bigger dream. This week, however, we spoke to someone who –…

• 21 Apr 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

I’ve Been A Landlord For 18 Years: Here’s Why I Don’t Rent To Singles And Only Families

Co-living has been a roaring trend since last year, with many landlords adding rooms to get as many tenants as possible. There’s always one or two contrarians, however, such as SK, who absolutely refuse to follow the crowd. A landlord…

• 16 Apr 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

How A Couple Turned A 20-Year-Old Rental Apartment Into A Stylish Home

When you first step into Laura’s home (*not her real name for privacy reasons), you may be surprised to find that it is actually a rental unit given how nicely she has dressed it up. As seasoned renters may know,…

• 11 Apr 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

My Experience Staying In A Ground Floor Unit: Here Are The Pros And Cons To Know

‘When buying my first property, I was cautioned by my realtor: “Either you buy very high, or buy very low – don’t buy in-between.” This saying suggests that – whilst most people acknowledge higher floors are better – there are…

• 6 Apr 2023
• 7 min read
• 2

3 Homeowners Share Their Biggest Regrets Selling Their Property At The Wrong Time

The internet is chock full of successful homeowners stories; and with so many realtors advertising sales above valuation, it can paint an overly optimistic picture of the Singapore property market. But while real estate may not be as risky as,…

• 5 Apr 2023
• 6 min read
• 3

I Bought My First 1 Bedroom New Launch Condo: 9 Surprising Things I’ve Learnt That No One Tells You

No matter how prepared you feel, buying at a new launch can bring issues that catch you off guard. From inaccuracies in estimated costs, down to defects at key collection, there are a lot of steps where the unexpected can…

• 31 Mar 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

Disgruntled About My Walk-Up Apartment: A Homeowner’s Cautionary Tale

Walk-up apartments are a niche type of property that isn’t for everyone. While you do often have more interior space (and more freedom to renovate as you wish), the downsides are very obvious too. Alternately praised and derided for their…

• 30 Mar 2023
• 6 min read
• 2

“My Client Refused To Pay Me” The Realities Of Being A Property Agent In Singapore

Contrary to popular expectations, the life of a realtor isn’t just “potentially unlimited income” and getting to browse homes all day. In fact, we’ve done a detailed breakdown before of how much an average property agent probably makes, and if…

• 24 Mar 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

Our Painful $1.8 Million Condo Investment Regret: 5 Key Lessons We Learned

Almost everyone knows the old property rule of “location, location, location,” but that’s an oversimplification. It’s possible to have a property that’s in a great spot, but of the wrong layout or block to draw the best resale value. This…

• 21 Mar 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

We Paid Off Our HDB Loan In Cash: Here’s Why We Did It

Most people take 20 to 25-year loan tenures to pay off their flat, and they aren’t in a rush to do so. We’ve even encountered financial professionals who counsel against paying off the home loan faster than necessary, as it’s…

• 16 Mar 2023
• 5 min read
• 0

I Had To Evict A Troublesome Tenant: Here’s Why It’s So Important To Screen Your Tenants

If you’re an experienced landlord, you’d know that sometimes it isn’t always about the highest rent that you can get, but getting a suitable tenant that’s fuss-free. After all, what’s the point of having more money, but more headaches and…

• 11 Mar 2023
• 5 min read
• 0

I Bought My Parent’s Condo (For A Higher Price): Here’s What I’ve Learnt

Buying a property from your own parents should be less stressful; but as one reader shares with us, it’s also a very unsettling experience. This sort of transaction goes outside the usual financial boundaries: it makes you also query things…

• 27 Feb 2023
• 5 min read
• 0

A DIY Condo Renovation Journey: How A Creative Couple Self-Designed Their Home (And Furniture)

When Jo Ann (@home.by.teo) first saw their would-be home, you could say it was already love at first sight.  “The minute we walked into the unit, we fell in love with the large balcony overlooking a secluded, glittering pool, which…

• 27 Feb 2023
• 8 min read
• 1

My Tenant Passed Away At My Rented Property: My First (And Hopefully Last) Experience As A Landlord

Of all the things that can go wrong during a tenancy, the least expected is death. Most landlords have never had to deal with this, but it’s good to keep in mind that – touch wood – it may happen….

• 23 Feb 2023
• 4 min read
• 0

How We Got “Lucky” With Our Dakota Crest BTO: Why We Chose A 3-Room Over A 4-Room

The Dakota Crest BTO launch was one of the most desired sites to date. Who would want a place that’s around five minutes walk from an MRT station, and on the city fringe to boot? As you can imagine, it…

• 21 Feb 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

Tour A Tampines BTO Transformation: A Colourful Eclectic Home That Doubles As A Florist Space

Designing a home is difficult enough even when you favour a certain style, so what happens when you don’t really have a specific design in mind? With no clear style to follow, renovating a home may result in an outcome…

• 20 Feb 2023
• 6 min read
• 0