Property Stories

Touring Kovan Landed Homes: Affordably Priced From $1.7m, Well-Connected And Bustling

While I’ve toured quite a fair number of landed estates in Singapore, Kovan has eluded my radar so far. And so when a reader asked about it, it only made sense for me to put it down as my next…

• 23 Oct 2022
• 11 min read
• 8

I Nearly Bought A Condo With A Ceiling Leak & Depleting Sinking Fund Issue: Why MCST Problems Need To Be More Transparent

Of late, we’ve had questions from a reader about the MCST system in Singapore; and about how it’s a little opaque and unfair. If you’re a foreigner or have bought property overseas, you may be struck by how little information…

• 17 Oct 2022
• 8 min read
• 16

Touring Westwood Park: More Affordable Landed Homes From Under $2 Million In The West Of Singapore

When a reader asked for a tour of Westwood, I must confess, I sighed. (No offence to anyone living there!) After viewing several 99-year landed estates, I’d noticed that parking is usually in short supply and was dreading the endless…

• 16 Oct 2022
• 10 min read
• 0

A $3.5 Million Budget And 4 Options To Choose From In Bukit Timah: Here’s What This Buyer Picked For Their Family Home

M & W have got it all planned out for their kids. As they are alumni of both ACS and SCGS, they naturally wanted their kids to follow in their footsteps and go to the same schools. Well, that is,…

• 15 Oct 2022
• 7 min read
• 0

I Tried Renting Out My Own Home In Singapore: Here’s Why I Would Never Do It Again

A common complaint is that property agents charge too much for handling “simple” rental deals; and it has to be said the rising GST rate doesn’t help either. As one landlord found out however, finding your own tenants can devolve…

• 12 Oct 2022
• 6 min read
• 11

Touring Siglap Landed Estate: A Freehold, Charming, Spacious & Peaceful Village With Old-Singapore Vibes

A few weeks ago, I toured Frankel Avenue and found the area to be charming and quaint. Although on the price side, it’s not that affordable, given the size of the houses. Several readers asked me to do add-on tours…

• 9 Oct 2022
• 12 min read
• 2

We Moved From A 3-Room Tanglin Halt HDB To A Dakota Breeze BTO: Our Covid-19 New Home Journey

Tanglin Halt, which went under the Selective En-Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) in 2014, was for many the iconic HDB neighbourhood. As one of the five districts of old Queenstown, Tanglin Halt was one of the longest surviving HDB estates, rivalling…

• 6 Oct 2022
• 9 min read
• 0

Touring Westlake Gardens: Scenic Freehold Landed Living At MacRitchie Reservoir & Near Famous Schools

Have you ever dreamed of living next to a lake (okay fine, in Singapore’s context, reservoir)? Well, if so, you should head over to this particular small estate, Westlake Gardens, which is right next to MacRitchie Reservoir with just under…

• 2 Oct 2022
• 10 min read
• 0

A Landed Home For Just $780k? Touring Jalan Chempaka Kuning & Bedok Walk: Landed Estates With A Lot Of Character

We seem to have a lot of readers who love the East lately, as there have been quite a few reader requests for landed tours in the East! And so today, I’m heading over to Bedok Walk for my weekly…

• 25 Sep 2022
• 14 min read
• 7

A Case Study On The Old Normanton Park: 3 Little Known Factors To Think About Before Buying A Home

Normanton Park’s en-bloc sale in 2017 was a bittersweet occasion for my wife and her family. Sad on the one hand because it meant goodbye to a childhood home; elation and relief on the other as the stars had aligned…

• 21 Sep 2022
• 7 min read
• 2

Exploring Tiong Bahru In 60 Pictures: A Detailed Walkthrough Of What Makes This Old Estate So Charming

What makes a place feel like home? Is it that 50m infinity pool, the numerous dining pods, or the fact that you have an open roof top patio that overlooks an unblocked view? Sure, all that’s important when it comes…

• 19 Sep 2022
• 18 min read
• 0

Touring Yew Lian Park & Thomson Ridge: 2 Relatively Affordable Freehold Landed Estates Close To An MRT

A few weeks ago, I toured Windsor Park at a reader’s request. Whilst in the area, I passed Yew Lian Park and Thomson Ridge. These 2 landed estates looked interesting, thanks to their proximity to Thomson Plaza, the MRT and…

• 18 Sep 2022
• 11 min read
• 0

Touring Namly Estate: Freehold Spacious Landed Homes Near Good Schools In A Central Location

Last week, I toured Frankel Estate (as requested by a reader) and noted how it had some similarities to Sixth Avenue. This week, another reader asked for a tour of Namly Estate, so off I went to Bukit Timah! Fun…

• 4 Sep 2022
• 9 min read
• 5

My Journey As A Single Homebuyer In Singapore: Why I Bought My 3-Room HDB & Spent $29k To Renovate It

We all know what it’s like for singles to buy a home in Singapore. Other than the prohibitive, and quite frankly, arbitrary minimum to be 35 years of age, the other problem is that you don’t have unfettered access to…

• 3 Sep 2022
• 12 min read
• 2

Touring Frankel Estate: Freehold Living In The East For Foodies Next To A Park Connector

This week, we’re back in the East at Frankel Avenue. My first thought on seeing the area was “Hmmm, this reader has a bigger budget!” If you’re wondering why, the tour of Frankel Avenue was actually requested by a reader…

• 28 Aug 2022
• 11 min read
• 4

Touring Eastwood Landed Estate: Affordable 99-Year Landed Living With An Upcoming MRT & Good Amenities

Another week, another reader’s request! This week, we’ve had someone ask for a tour of Eastwood estate so off to the East I went. I had previously shortlisted Eastwood but, after viewing a couple of other 99-year landed estates and…

• 21 Aug 2022
• 9 min read
• 4

Confessions Of A Property Agent In Singapore: Why I Had To Drop My Worst Client Ever

We’ve all heard the terrible agent stories. Cheating unsuspecting buyers, always pushing for new launches for the high commission, hiding details that could break the deal – it’s no wonder many feel that an agent’s job is akin to one…

• 15 Aug 2022
• 7 min read
• 3

Touring Windsor Park Estate: Freehold Landed Living Close To Crazy Rich Asians, Nature, And Amenities

Windsor Park Estate made the news in 2020 when 2 Good Class Bungalows (GCB) in the estate were sold for over $20 million during the circuit breaker. In fact, one sold for $21.68 million for a house without the buyer…

• 14 Aug 2022
• 9 min read
• 4