Assalamualaikum..
Singapore is well known for its high salary, low crime
country, good education system and amazing local delicacies. It is no wonder
that many expats from all over the world would choose Singapore to live in. One
of the most important things that expats will do once they move over to a new
country is to look for the right place to move in. Although there are many properties in Singapore available for sale, most expats do not
buy properties in Singapore as they are unsure of how long they will stay in
Singapore. Therefore, renting a place definitely seem like a better option for
them. This article will guide you through some house hunting tips for expats.
- HDB flats
HDB flats are the most common type of public housing
expats notice when they are in Singapore. Approximately 80% of the residential
properties are consist of HDB flats in Singapore. Unlike other public housing
available in other countries where it is built for the low income class
citizens, the HDB flats in Singapore are built for the middle class and upper
class income Singaporeans.
Most HDB flats are sized between 700 square feet to
approximately 1,300 square feet. They would also typically have 2 to 4
bedrooms, living area, dining area, kitchen and 2 toilets, where one is
attached to the master bedroom and another one situated at the common area.
HDB flats generally have a more affordable rental as
compared to staying in a condominium or landed properties or private
condominiums as they do not come with facilities such as swimming pool or
gymnasium. However rental for HDB flats located in the Central Business
District (CBD) such as Orchard road or other prime areas such as Tiong Bahru
would naturally cost more than HDB flats located further away from the city
centre. The bright side of staying in a HDB flat is that most HDB flats are
located near to the MRT stations and bus stations, hence making commuting to
work easy.
A 3 bedrooms HDB flat that is close to the CBD will
cost approximately $33,000 a month whereas rental for HDB flat further from the
CBD area will cost approximately $2,200 to $2,700 a month.
Do bear in mind that foreigners are not allowed to own
a HDB flat as it is only catered for Singapore citizens and permanent
residents.
2.
Condominiums
Condominiums in Singapore are privately owned and they
are in a gated compound. As Singapore is already a safe country to reside in,
staying in a condominium unit is more of an exclusiveness for those who choose
to stay in a condominium.
Most expats working in Singapore would prefer staying
in condominiums due to the facilities available, such as swimming pool, gymnasium,
playground, tennis court, security, BBQ area for you to hold parties and
so on. Furthermore, rental for staying in a condominium unit is relatively
cheaper than the rental of staying in a landed property.
In the recent years, new condominium developments
focus on having smaller condominium units such as studio units or 1-bedroom
units that are below 500 square feet. This is suitable for expats who are still
single and wish to enjoy the facilities available in the condominium.
As for condominiums, expats are allowed to buy if they
wish to.
3.
Landed properties
As Singapore is considered a small country with
limited lands available, therefore there are not many landed properties
available. If you are an expat coming to Singapore with your family and prefer
having a bigger space for your family, landed property will be more a more
suitable option for you.
The 3 most common types of landed properties available
in Singapore are: terrace houses, semi detached houses and bungalows. There is
also another type of landed property available - Good Class Bungalow, where it
is considered an exclusive type of property in Singapore, as it is typically
located in prime areas and have a land area of approximately 15,00 square feet,
at least.
Due to the limited availability of landed properties
in Singapore, the rental for a landed property will naturally be more expensive
than rental for a HDB flat or private condominium. The rental for a detached
bungalow that is located in a prime location is approximately $18,000 a month
and can go up to as high as $35,000 a month for a luxurious bungalow that comes
with 4 bedrooms and a garden. As for terraced house or semi detached house, the
rental is slightly cheaper at approximately $8,000 to $13,000 per month.
However, landed properties are only available for sale
to Singapore citizens, except for those landed properties located at Sentosa
island.
In conclusion, go with what you can afford and what
you prefer. Most importantly, stay within your budget. The rental of housing
depends on various factors such as the age of property, and distance to the
city. Therefore, it is advisable that you think thoroughly before you decide
which property to choose.
thanks for the sharing
ReplyDeletenice info and knowledge
this is an interesting article sharing
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