Property Stories

“Why I Bought A Property In Australia” A Singaporean Shares Her Experience On What It’s Like To Invest In Adelaide

With ABSD rates at their highest ever (not that we’ve ever seen them go down!), it’s time for Singaporeans to think outside the box. Or in some cases, outside the country. This week, we spoke to a property investor who…

• 25 Sep 2023
• 6 min read
• 1

Touring East Coast Terrace: Freehold Landed Homes In A Nice, Quiet Setting

Today, we’re off on a reader-requested tour of East Coast Terrace. I only took a quick look at its location on the map before heading off, so I thought it would be something similar to the houses we saw near…

• 24 Sep 2023
• 13 min read
• 0

Touring Aroozoo Avenue: Affordable Freehold Landed Living In Kovan (Reader Recommended: Best Place To Stay In Kovan)

A while back, I toured the Kovan landed estate and summed it up as an area that was well-connected and bustling, but lacking a cohesive residential feel. (It felt more like a group of houses that just happened to be…

• 17 Sep 2023
• 11 min read
• 3

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

“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

Touring Luxus Hills: A 999-Year Landed Estate That Overlooks Ang Mo Kio Linear Park

I was talking to a new acquaintance the other day, who shared with me her decision to move from a landed house to a condo because the stairs were becoming too much as she got older. As I live with…

• 10 Sep 2023
• 10 min read
• 0

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

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

Touring Yio Chu Kang Gardens: Affordable Freehold & Leasehold Landed Homes Near Lentor MRT From $2.8m

Yio Chu Kang Gardens is a small landed enclave in Ang Mo Kio, close to Lentor MRT and within 1 km of Anderson Primary, CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School and Mayflower Primary School. As it’s close to several HDB estates,…

• 3 Sep 2023
• 10 min read
• 1

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

Touring Goldhill Landed Estate: A Surprising Hidden Freehold Oasis Near ACS With Terrace/Semi-D’s From $5.5m

I have passed the Goldhill landed estate many, many times in my life and, I must confess, sometimes rather patronisingly thought, “It must be so noisy for the people living here!” Perhaps because it’s located right next to ACS and…

• 27 Aug 2023
• 11 min read
• 0

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

Touring Jalan Seaview Landed Estate: Large Freehold Landed Houses Near The MRT In The East

Today’s tour is a rather belated walkabout of the landed estate at Jalan Seaview. It was requested by a reader some time ago and I’ve been putting it off – not because I wanted to procrastinate but rather because the…

• 20 Aug 2023
• 13 min read
• 0

Touring Katong Estate: Freehold Landed Living Near 4 Malls Starting From $4 Million

As you can see, that’s City Plaza right next to the landed houses. If you prefer a more modern mall. PLQ Mall is just a few steps away! (There’s also Grandlink Square and KINEX Mall!) Today, we’re headed back East…

• 13 Aug 2023
• 15 min read
• 1

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

Touring Happy Estate: More Affordable Freehold Landed Living Near An MRT From $3.48 Million

I have a confession. I was somewhat prejudiced against Happy Gardens estate before I visited. You see, I’d previously toured Macpherson Garden estate, which is across the road, and was, shall we say, not very impressed by it. So I…

• 6 Aug 2023
• 11 min read
• 3

Touring Kew Estate: Cheap Landed Living From $2 Million In 2023 In A Sprawling Estate (Yes, It’s Leasehold)

Today’s tour brings us almost to the edge of Singapore: We’re visiting Kew landed estate, which is all the way over at Bedok. I must admit, it felt pretty far removed from urban life when I was driving over.  However,…

• 30 Jul 2023
• 11 min read
• 0

Touring Mayflower Landed Estate: Affordable Freehold Landed Living From $2.83m In Ang Mo Kio

I was browsing the map for a landed enclave to feature in this series when I came across Mayflower estate and noticed that it was pretty much right next to an MRT and hawker centre. As many landed estates are…

• 23 Jul 2023
• 12 min read
• 0