4 min read With prices at the recent The Residences at W slashed by over 40 per cent, there has been much talk and excitement about Sentosa properties again. But frankly for anyone looking at buying in Sentosa, they fill a very clear niche: they are luxury lifestyle homes for owners to indulge in, first and foremost. Investment purposes are mostly secondary. If you just want to make money, there are condos elsewhere with better yields, resale track records, and lower cash outlays. So we figured given the poor performance of Sentosa properties, it would be interesting to look at the rare ones t ..read more

4 min read We tend to fall back on common sayings or beliefs when it comes to comparing properties in Singapore. These range from the age-old belief in the supremacy of freehold condos, to assumptions about region and size. But here’s the thing about property, the variance can be huge as there are just so many variables to think about. For example, the entry price matters a lot, but so does the length of time that you hold the property. Other less visible factors could be the amount of renovation work done or just the type/size of the unit, as compared to the rest of the units in the developme ..read more

9 min read 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 enclave close to Cheng Soon Gardens instead: Toh Tuck Place. Toh Tuck Place is across the road from Highgate estate, and next to Bukit Timah Primary School, Toh Tuck Forest, and Eng Kong Place. Here’s a map to better help you envisage it.As you can see, the forest is a large plot of reserve land, so it may not stay green and open forever. However, (most of) Toh Tuck Place is located on m ..read more

2 min read In this week’s episode, we explore a home with a unique blend of Japanese ryokan tranquility and the laid-back ambiance of an island resort. With a minimalist Zen aesthetic, the space exudes warmth and relaxation. Situated in SengKang, this 1,200 sqft, five-room resale HDB flat offers a welcoming entryway adorned with rustic stone pavement tiles, providing a textured feel and convenient storage for commonly worn shoes. The living room, bathed in natural light, features blinds that offer control over brightness, ensuring a comfortable atmosphere. A modular sofa, upholstered in bus ..read more

5 min read One way to lower prices is to take out the middleman, right? It used to be a no-brainer for me. But over the years, I’ve been forced to admit that some middlemen (and related fee collectors) are indispensable. Like when it’s raining at two in the morning and I’m pulling an all-nighter, I’m pretty grateful I can pay platform fees for someone to magically appear at my door, with fried chicken.  Those are the small things. But when it comes to real estate, it’s not just about convenience is it? A messed-up transaction is nowhere near your fries or large drink not arriving; it can ..read more

4 min read Property is one of the most unique asset classes, because of how each unit is so stubbornly independent. With other assets, one barrel of oil is the same as the next, and one dollar is the same as the next. But with real estate, the flat next door might end up going for $500,000 more, and sometimes for no fathomable reason (at least, on the surface). To show you how strange it can get, here are some true oddballs we’ve found: 1. A 4-room flat for $100,000 This was a transaction that caught the attention of many recently. An older 4-room flat (built in 1987) at Block 860A Tampines Av ..read more

7 min read Dear Stacked Homes, I have been a regular reader of your articles. I appreciate your efforts to put in much analysis in answering real issues faced by the community on property matters.  I seek your recommendations on my situation I just entered my 50th year and bought my first condo with a loan for 15 yrs. I didn’t use cash from hand effectively as condo cash portion was funded by cpf and sales proceeds of hdb. My agent is proposing to book a studio apartment for 1m as a second property in my wife’s name with the cash earmarked earlier and excess from the sale which is around ..read more

7 min read Today’s newer condos tend to be a bit, well, same-ish. In an era with ABSD deadlines and narrowing margins, developers just aren’t inclined to take risks or to try out the novel and exotic. Sometimes, it’s worth looking at the older condos, which are less uniform but perhaps more characterful; or comfortable, if you’re the sort who prefers old-school interiors. As such, here are some less common unit layouts you can find in the market today: 1. Island View Island View is a stepped terrace project, a form of condo that you seldom find beyond the early ‘90s as it obviously isn’t con ..read more

3 min read In this week’s episode, we explore a quaint walk-up apartment built in 1953, once the residence of Zubir Said and his family, famed composer of Singapore’s national anthem, “Majulah Singapura.” Nestled in Joo Chiat, this 1,432 sqft mid-century abode has been meticulously transformed by its current resident over six years. The layout boasts a distinctive angular shape, preserving its historical essence while undergoing sensitive modernisation. A testament to post-war architecture, this three-story reinforced concrete block was gazetted as part of the Joo Chiat Conservation area in ..read more

8 min read Typically, those on a budget would likely take the BTO route and deal with a longer waiting time. But for those who do not have the luxury of waiting for their new homes to be built, the next natural choice would be to consider units that have recently MOP-ed.  This week, we have shortlisted five units that have recently MOP-ed that can still cater to those with a lower budget to find the best of both worlds.  Missed last week? You can view the previous issue here.  You can also join our free weekly newsletter so you stay up to date on our latest curations weekly.&nbs ..read more