GUIDES FOR EXPATS WHEN CHOOSING A HOUSE TO STAY IN SINGAPORE


Singapore is ranked the most livable city for expats in the world recently with high salary, multi-cultural, amazing food and safe environment. However, Singapore is also known to have the most expensive houses in the world beside Hong Kong and new expats are faced with issues to looking for a house to stay in Singapore. They wouldn’t know whether if they are going to work and stay in Singapore for long term and buying house in Singapore has limitations and expensive. Getting the right home is an important factor during their entire stay as expats may relocate their family or children to live with them in another country. Hence, types of houses are important for them to live in so that they can live the lifestyle the way they want. Some may prefer to stay in landed house in Bukit Timah or High Park Residences in Sengkang.

Housing Development Board (HDB) flats
The most common residential property in Singapore and for most Singaporeans, the public housing. Expats would have to get use how common is public housing in this red dot city because unlike many countries the public housing are meant for the poor but even the middle and upper income level. 80% of Singaporeans own HDB flat as their first residential property and only Singaporeans allowed to buy HDB flat.  

Most HDB flats usually have about 2 to 4 bedrooms that also come with a living room, dining area, kitchen and two toilets where one is attached to the master bedroom. The size of the HDB flats are usually in 700 square feet to 1,300 square feet.

HDB flats are everywhere in Singapore except for the prime or busy districts like Orchard road or Central Business District (CBD). But if you’re looking for houses nearer to the city, you can look into Tiong Bahru, Kallang or Queenstown, the rental rates are usually higher than Outer Central Region (OCR). The HDB flat is usually located near the MRT stations or bus stops which is walking distance away where most residents would commute using MRT to everywhere.

However, these HDB flats are a type of public housing which homeowners are required to fulfill minimum occupancy (MOP) of 5 years before being let out their entire rent. It is consider illegal if you rent out the whole unit during MOP but it is exceptional when it is rent out individual room. Only Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs) are allowed to own HDB flats. Expats are not allow to buy any HDB flats.

Condominiums
Physically similar to HDB flats, condominiums are privately owned properties that is for exclusive and enjoy communal activities such as swimming pool, gym, tennis court, BBQ pit and others for residents to enjoy. Because of the exclusivity and luxury status, these condominiums can usually be found along the Orchard Raod area or even the CBD area. But prices for condominiums are usually higher than HDB flats.

Over the years, the newer condominium developments are focusing more on smaller units like studio apartments or 1 bedroom studio. Most of the units size are below 500 square feet in size something that cannot be found I HDB. Plus, if there’s only two person together under the  same roof while enjoying the communal facilities provided at the condominium. Besides, foreigners are allowed to buy and own a condominium.

Landed properties
What happens if you want ample space to remind you of your true love. Unlike many other bigger or developed countries, Singapore’s land size does not allow for many landed properties to be built even in mixed projects. Few years ago, there are some projects with mixed developments which inclusive of townhouse, similarly like landed property but together with condominiums. However, the idea of townhouse in the condominium land is stopped and banned by Singapore government making landed property in Singapore is rare and exclusive Thus, as estimated, there are only 5% are the owners of the landed properties in Singapore.

Terrace houses are the common features or type of the middle or upper level income followed by semi-detached homes and then bungalows. The most prestige and exclusive type of bungalow is called Good Class Bungalow (GCB) where these bungalows have a land area of at least 15,000 square feet and within the prime areas designated for GCBs. Notably they are situated on the island of Sentosa. Only Singapore citizens can own the landed property except those landed properties in Sentosa island. In this case, the expat has to have a high level annual income of at least S$500,000 onwards to be able to afford bungalows in Sentosa island.

Post a Comment

19 Comments

  1. Live in Singapore is too expensive. Otomen's family were living there, and LeYa see that is very difficult their cousin for buying properties if they do not have good income.. So, you must stuggle to stay there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. many years I have no go to Singapore. Glad to know that there are places to choose from in Singapore, I can now plan my next visit soon.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Family in law Nina orang sana. Kebanyakkan mereka kena keje bagus dan income besar baru mampu beli rumah sendiri kat sana. Beli property ni mana² pun sama, yang penting displin dan komitmen diri sendiri plus kena banyak ilmu gak.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Panduan ni bagus sebab banyak perkara yang kita boleh tahu dan faham macam mana untuk beli property mcm kat singapore ni..

    ReplyDelete
  5. oh size apartment ekcik ek..bawah 500sqt...tp ms pi spore mmg byk tgk rumah2 kt sana mcm apartment..colorful...nk pilih property kt spore utk stay mmg nk kena ada income yg byk juga sbb sana kn currency tgi dr msia

    ReplyDelete
  6. Memang rumah kat sana mahal. Tapi kalau ada kerja yang stabil, ok je duduk kat sana. Mahal sebab currency je.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Spore banyak rumah jenis apartment kan..kat sana menarik cuma kos hidup tinggi..semuanya mahal kan..kalau kerja kat situ maybe ok kot..apapun..zaman sekarang mana ada yang murah..duduk kampung pun mahal..

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great guides. So difficult when we go to foreign country and don't know where to begin for good housing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Memilih rumah memerlukan banyak kajian dan masa. jangan terburu buru. tapi expat banyak duit. Apa nak risau

    ReplyDelete
  10. Rumah kat sana mmg mahal. Nak dpt rumah bawah memang susah. Flat kat sana pun dh mahal, ada yg juta..org keja waiter pun mampu dok flat...makna org sana lbh kaya dr kita tau

    ReplyDelete
  11. Too expensive...even sporian pun kat sana byk choose to rent n buy house kt Malaysia..u have to earn big to buy house there..huhuhu

    ReplyDelete
  12. As long as you have job, ada CPF contribution you are safe to buy HDB flat, because monthly payment deduct from CPF account so tak tak terasa sangat, sebab bukan bayar in cash pun.
    Cara Nak Mulakan Perniagaan Roti Dan Kek Dari Rumah

    ReplyDelete
  13. My sister and her family are now happily residing there. Your points will be very helpful for many looking to own a place in Singapore.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ramai org cakap tumah singapore
    Mahal. Tapi ya lah ada banyak pilihan so kena buat keputusan dengan bijak

    ReplyDelete
  15. Singapore memang banyak rumah flat best2..dah bertaraf apartment kl kat Malaysia..tapi harga dia setaraf banglo di sini haha

    ReplyDelete
  16. Suka tengok pembangunan yng ada kat Singapore. Tetapi kalau beli rumah kat sna harga nya agk mahal. Beza currency dengan negara kita sangat terasa. Suka bercuti di sana.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yang tahu singapore ni kepadatan dengan penduduk,kan? So harga murah kat sana pun boleh tahan. Tahu pun sebab kkak sdara pernah duduk sana.

    ReplyDelete
  18. tak pernah lagi pergi singapore, insyallah ada rzeki mmg nak pergi sana bawak fmly jalan2...org sana mesra tak sis?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hartatanah di Singapore mmg tidak sama dgn tempat kita,kos utk membeli rumah disana sgt tinggi, rakyat Singapura yg bekerja disana mungkin tidak ada masalah jika pendapatan mereka mencukupi.

    ReplyDelete