Property Stories

“My Dad Didn’t Let Me Sell Our Old Walk-Up” 3 Biggest Regrets Of Home Buyers Who Used The Bank Of Mum And Dad

Given how high property prices are today, it’s not surprising that more home buyers are turning to their parents for help. It’s also part of the great wealth transfer that’s happening in Singapore; and culturally, parents are anxious if their…

• 5 Jun 2024
• 5 min read
• 0

Touring An Expensive Landed Estate In Bukit Timah: Freehold Landed Homes Near Famous Schools From $7.2m

Today we’re exploring another landed estate in Bukit Timah, which consists of several Avenues all named after trees: Redwood, Elm, Oak, Fir, and Cypress. It’s about a 12-minute walk from Sixth Avenue MRT and 17 minutes from Methodist Girls’ School,…

• 2 Jun 2024
• 8 min read
• 0

I’m A Young Singaporean Buying A Property In France: Here’s My Experience Viewing 3 Apartments And What I’ve Learned

Most Singaporeans would be quite put off by small spaces; it is not surprising to hear negative sentiments and complaints about our tightened spaces in newer developments, both public and private. So to the surprise of many Singaporean friends who…

• 26 May 2024
• 10 min read
• 3

Finding A Better Alternative to Old Folks Homes in Singapore Part 2: Exploring Country Clubs, Surprisingly Viable?

In my previous article, I discussed the future living arrangements of older adults who do not fit the traditional Singaporean model. For example, people who do not have children to live with or do not want to live with their…

• 19 May 2024
• 6 min read
• 2

I’m A Young Singaporean Who Decided To Buy Property Overseas Instead, Here’s Why

I have always dreamed of owning property before I turned 35. As someone huge on personal finance, it was a really big deal to get one of the biggest life purchases out of the way so I could start optimising…

• 18 May 2024
• 7 min read
• 8

A Surprising Find: Touring Freehold Strata Landed Homes From $3m In Sixth Avenue

Given that any freehold landed property seems to be at least $3 million+ these days – even those that are located in very far-flung parts of Singapore. So I was rather surprised to see that the last 2 sales along…

• 12 May 2024
• 8 min read
• 1

Freehold Landed Homes From $3.45m: Reviewing Toh Tuck Place, Elevated Living Above A Forest Close To Beauty World

A few articles ago, a reader asked for a tour of Cheng Soon Gardens, an estate in the Toh Tuck vicinity- but I’ve already written about it a year ago! Hence, I decided to do a tour of another landed…

• 5 May 2024
• 9 min read
• 0

Touring A Lesser-Known Landed Estate Near Orchard: A Review Of Fernhill Estate (From $4.8m)

Some time ago, we visited Kimsia Park, the landed enclave behind Lucky Plaza. The location is undoubtedly very convenient for those who spend a lot of time in town. However, it’s also right smack in the hustle and bustle of…

• 28 Apr 2024
• 8 min read
• 3

Touring Phoenix Estate: An Underrated Landed Home Cluster With Unblocked Views And Spacious Roads

Not to be confused with Phoenix Park in the Tanglin area, Phoenix Estate is a landed enclave in Choa Chu Kang. I’ll be honest and confess that I wasn’t expecting much before I visited: Choa Chu Kang isn’t exactly known…

• 21 Apr 2024
• 8 min read
• 3

My Search For A Better Alternative To Old Folks Homes In Singapore: Are Overseas Retirement Homes Better?

My Mother spent over 30 years of her life staying with and caring for her own mother. When she was no longer needed, she had to move out of the house in which she had stayed for almost half her…

• 14 Apr 2024
• 10 min read
• 12

Touring Corporation Walk: Cheaper $2 Million+ Landed Homes Next To A Park Connector (99-Year)

A while back, a reader asked for a tour of Corporation Walk, so off to the West I went on a weekday mid-morning. Although the area is quite far West, it’s located in between Jurong Point and Jurong Gateway, so…

• 7 Apr 2024
• 9 min read
• 2

How This Singaporean Homeowner Transformed A 1,818 Sqft Maisonette Condo

High-ceiling, double-volume units hold a fascination for many homeowners. It’s impressive, gives a sense of space, and has twice the impact in Singapore. Huge homes aren’t exactly the norm here, and going double volume is a major flex. But it…

• 4 Apr 2024
• 5 min read
• 2

Touring Jalan Mariam: Cheaper Freehold Landed Homes In A Spacious Estate From $3.3m

We’d previously visited Loyang Villas, a 99-year landed estate located just across the road from the Jalan Mariam and Lengkok Mariam landed enclave. In fact, when I was looking at the properties for sale in the area, I was surprised…

• 31 Mar 2024
• 9 min read
• 1

Touring Mei Hwan Landed Homes: Affordable Freehold Landing Living From $4.1m In District 19

Previously, we’d viewed the houses at Tai Hwan and Li Hwan, so I thought we should cross Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and tour Mei Hwan Road/Drive/Crescent, to get a more complete sense of the area. First things first, here’s…

• 24 Mar 2024
• 8 min read
• 0

$2.05m For A Freehold Landed Home? Touring Jalan Wangi, One Of The Cheaper Landed Estates In Singapore

I have a confession.  This column started with my house hunt for a dual-key apartment that can house my Mother and I (you can read about it by clicking the link) before evolving into a series of landed enclave tours….

• 17 Mar 2024
• 13 min read
• 6

Touring Hillview Estate: Affordable Freehold Landed Homes From $3.6 Million

Hillview Estate, not to be confused with Hillview Garden Estate, a larger landed area we toured a while back (which, interestingly enough, doesn’t have a single street with “Hillview” in its name) is a small freehold landed estate in Upper…

• 10 Mar 2024
• 9 min read
• 1

I Chose To Pay The ABSD To Buy A Condo And Keep My HDB: Here’s Why

With the ABSD for a second property now at 20 per cent (for Singapore Citizens), the decision to retain one’s HDB flat has become quite rare. However, that’s precisely what our reader YX did. In April last year, he bought…

• 6 Mar 2024
• 5 min read
• 5

Touring Trevose Place: Freehold Terrace Houses With Unblocked Greenery Views In District 11

I was always under the impression that the landed houses near Kheam Hock Road were all large properties i.e. detached or semi-detached units. Hence, I was intrigued to see some terrace units when driving through the other day, and decided…

• 3 Mar 2024
• 8 min read
• 2