The Esparis at Pasir Ris is situated in quite a unique location. For one, it is tucked within a primarily HDB estate. So your neighbours are mostly HDB blocks, a wet market and interestingly enough, a temple.
Understandably, this might not be right up everyone’s alley. But for those who appreciate being a walking distance of key amenities, The Esparis might be an unexpected find.
This sentiment was shared by X, who has stayed in The Esparis with his family for the past seven years. Before moving into the project, X was a long-time resident of the neighbourhood as he previously stayed in one of the HDB blocks nearby.
Here’s a brief overlook of the project’s details:
Sitting on a land size of 150,503.3 square feet, The Esparis is a 99-year leasehold Executive Condominium (EC) project that was completed in 2006 (so yes, it is fully privatised now).
Spread out amongst five blocks, the project offers 274 units which range from 2 to 4-bedroom apartments and penthouse units. Each block is 10 floors high, which is comparable with the other HDB blocks nearby that are 12 stories high.
Comparing Other Projects to The Esparis
Currently, X lives with two of his grandchildren, along with his wife, daughter and son-in-law.
“Before moving in, I lived in one of the bigger HDB flats near my condo and I’ve lived there for many years. Needless to say, I’m already very accustomed to life here in Pasir Ris, particularly this neighbourhood”, explained X.
Because of that, he wanted to live in a project that would share similar or better neighbourhood amenities and the location was one of his top considerations.
So while the locational attributes were roughly the same, the main reason for moving to a condo was due to the needs of the family.
“The motivating factor for us to upgrade to a condo was because of the facilities. My daughter was expecting and we wanted the children to have a nice pool to play in and common areas for us to host BBQ parties. Staying in an HDB previously, we didn’t have all these facilities to enjoy. I find it a blessing that our family likes to spend time together”, he shared.
In addition to location and condo facilities, he was also concerned about space. As previously mentioned, X and his family were already accustomed to living in a bigger flat together and did not want to compromise on this.
“Currently, we live in a 3 bedroom + study unit and this layout and size is just nice for our multi-gen family. At first, I was worried that we might not adapt to the size of the condo but it wasn’t that much of a difference. We were very lucky”, shared X.
As an afterthought, he advised that anyone looking to right-size their home must consider the suitability of a smaller unit in the long run. “It might be disastrous if the space is not able to accommodate everyone in the family”, he added.
What Made The Esparis Stand Out
Esparis wasn’t the only choice, as his family also considered other projects located in Tampines and Pasir Ris. But X was eventually drawn back to his old neighbourhood.
“If you’ve lived in this specific part of Pasir Ris, you’ll know why it’s hard to live anywhere else afterwards. Everything is so conveniently located – there are four coffee shops here, a Giant supermarket, a wet market and there are so many clinics. Even the polyclinic and police station, not that I want to visit those, are located nearby. There’s so much greenery here and everyone is so friendly, I find it a gem that’s hard to come by”
“Most of the reasons why we decided to stay in The Esparis was a personal one, but it made the most sense to us. After a while, you’ll realise that having good neighbours is as important as having a good apartment”, X shared.
A Typical Day at The Esparis
For someone like X, he prefers to walk around to get his errands done and the environment in The Esparis allows him to do just that.
For those unaware, one of the side gates is connected directly to a miniature park called Seashell Park, which is also linked to the other neighbourhood amenities like the wet market, polyclinic and coffee shops.
“My family owns dogs and having the Seashell Park so conveniently located was a huge plus point to our lifestyle. It’s so convenient to bring the dogs out for their walks, so it never feels like a chore. Being surrounded by greenery is a big plus point for me”, he added.
X also was happy to share that he does not need to travel far to run all his errands.
“We have so many coffee shops here, all of them delicious, to pick up a quick meal. There’s the wet market if we want to buy the freshest produce and haggle, but there is also the supermarket if we want to avoid the heat. If we’re sick, there’s the polyclinic located right opposite the project, but sometimes we visit the GPs or TCMs nearby, too. If we’re looking to drive out, there’s E!Hub and White Sands. There’s really not much more we can ask for”, he said.
He also mentioned that one of the side gates is directly connected to a bus stop. “I think those who take the public transport will find this especially convenient”.
Understandably, living beside a temple might not be something that everyone is comfortable with. However, X said he does not feel like it makes much difference to his experience so far.
“To be frank, I don’t feel that the temple is much of an issue to me and my family. Very rarely will I hear noise coming from them, and when I do hear any noise, it’s not like it goes on for a very long time. To me it’s very tolerable”, he shared.
One of the risks of moving to a new development is acclimatising to the new neighbours. It is typically overlooked, but in some cases, it can really make or break the experience of living there.
“I am a people person and having great neighbours is important. I like that there is a strong trust system in The Esparis – sometimes I will forget and leave my belongings in the common areas and when I go back to retrieve them, they are still there. It’s a small thing but it says a lot about the community”, he added.
He also forged a nice friendship with the staff working there. “I became good friends with the staff there and I’ll buy them coffee to show my thanks sometimes. They are nice and hardworking and deserve our appreciation”.
A Look Behind The Esparis’ Facade
Although one of the reasons for X and his family to upgrade to a condo was to enjoy the facilities, he sheepishly shared that his family rarely uses them now.
“It’s quite an irony because we wanted to move into a condo to enjoy the facilities but I don’t remember when was the last time we used the court or swam in the pools. I think this is quite common for most condo homeowners”.
The only time he uses them is during the festivities, in which he will book the BBQ pits to host friends and family. “Here’s one thing I enjoy about living in a condo – I get to invite friends over without needing them to enter my house and I like this arrangement”, he shared.
He noticed that other residents also rarely use the facilities and common spaces, so it’s quite peaceful. In any case, this is one of the advantages of living in a development with 274 units – it is a good size where you won’t get an issue of overcrowding. “If you’re someone who likes to use the facilities and have them all to yourself, I think you’ll enjoy The Esparis. I rarely see anyone using the facilities, even during peak hours and school holidays”, he shared.
On another point, he mentions that the car park is spacious and well-kept. “The car park lots are spacious and the parking area is well-lit so it’s easy to drive around. They also recently installed EV-charges, which was quite nice. Generally, maintenance and upkeep is done well”.
Considerations Potential Buyers Should Know
One of the future key upgrades to the area: Pasir Ris East MRT Station (located on the Cross Island Line) would be built just a short 2-minute walk from The Esparis. This, however, would only be ready in 2030.
“Because of the new MRT station, the entire Pasir Ris Drive 1 was rerouted and the area has a lot of construction going on now. Luckily for us, we are tucked in a quieter part away from the main road, which is why we don’t hear much construction noises.”
Although many residents are excited about this new station, X remained quite indifferent about it as his family typically drives. Still, he recognises that the new MRT Station would be a nice boost to the future value of his place.
Another recent addition to the neighbourhood is the opening of Pasir Ris Mall. “I’ve not been there yet but I’ve heard many good things about this mall. I like that I now have more options to choose from when it comes to food and groceries”, he added.
Staying at The Esparis
For those unfamiliar with the location, The Esparis might not seem like much of a looker. However, for long-time residents of the neighbourhood like X and his family, it’s home unlike anywhere else.
When asked about how long the family is planning to stay at The Esparis, X shared that his family does not have any plans to leave.
“The price of housing is too high in Singapore and honestly, I doubt we can find another project that can match the location and offerings of The Esparis. We’re very happy here”, he concluded with a smile.
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