Units Of The Week Issue #36

To start, the location of The Rochester is probably the main selling point for me. It's close to Buona Vista MRT (which has access to both the East-West and Circle Line) and Star Vista is right next door. Though admittedly the mall is really more known for eating rather than shopping. You could also walk to Holland Village from here, as with Ghim Moh for more food options. Let's also not forget the Biopolis area just across the road, where this development would be popular with tenants for its location.

At time of writing, there are a couple of the penthouses here for sale - with this one asking for the highest psf. The reason being that it has been majorly reworked to include the balcony as indoor space - giving you an even bigger living interior. Whether that is worth the price premium, it's entirely up to your discretion.

Other than that, the entire second floor is dedicated to an open roof terrace, with a private pool to boot.

Let's just say that if you were looking along this part of West Coast, owning a car is almost a must as it isn't really near any MRT station.

But there are a couple of upsides to the area as well. For one, the Clementi Woods condo overlooks Clementi Woods Park, which provides an expanse of greenery that is really quite a treat for the eyes.

And if that isn't enough, you could also walk along the canal to reach West Coast Park - an even bigger expanse of greenery along with a sea view. This development is also situated opposite NUS and quite close to a string of supper spots affectionately termed ‘supper stretch’ by the students, which feature Thai, Indian and Chinese cuisine that open late to the night. 

At 1,055 square feet of size, this unit definitely belongs to the older generation as it is very generous for a 2 bedroom unit. I like the design too, it is simple and would be well-liked by most people. Plus, the balcony has been installed with a ziptrak, which makes it usable at all times of the day as well.

While we have written about the Trilinq before, it unfortunately wasn't painted in a very positive light.

That said, this is still after all, an exercise on eye-catching units (be at price points or design) and this one does feature a rather dazzling design - no thanks to the numerous lights installed along the stairs and shelving. Also, the stairs leading up to the loft isn't your typical boring stairs and that's a plus in my book.

It is quite a minimalist design, and while some might see the loft as a wasted space, it does add a dash of uniqueness to this 3 bedroom unit.

Location wise, it is about a 10-minute brisk walk to Clementi MRT.  Situated within range is Clementi Shopping Mall and Clementi Market and Food Centre that has everything you need from groceries to restaurants and hawker food. 

For a 3 bedroom unit at a very spacious 1,442 square feet (good functional layout and minimal balcony), you could say that the past transaction prices are relatively affordable.

This one is pretty close to the Clementi Woods condo unit that we've picked out too this week and enjoys the same advantages as well as pitfalls of the area.

Maybe it's an attempt to sound French, but the exterior design hardly screams sophistication, and looks rather old instead.

The interior of the unit is a different story, however, as this freehold unit does have a pretty rustic feel, being designed with the colours of natural wood and bricks.

The previous owners had just renovated it in 2017, so it might be a bit of a waster if you want to renovate it to suit your own tastes. So, you'd definitely have to be a fan of the decor if you are interested. The built in oven and microwave is quite a rare sight to see in these older developments, so that's a plus - not to mention, the rather sizeable fridge.

At 1,000 square feet, it is very generous for a 2 bedroom unit, with no wasted space like a corridor or balcony.