Moving in March 2008 to Singapore - Advice on where to live?

[wafamily]

Hi-
We are moving to Singapore in march. My husband will be working in the Central Business District. We hopefully plan to enroll our littlest into singapore american school. Where is the best place to live? The woodlands seems far for work and downtown?

Are there suggestions on places to live that are midway that have easy access to shopping and activities. We don't plan to get a car. We will only get a service apt for 1 month from his employer and housing will be paid for by us not the employer. We hope to spend about 4,000 on housing. We are thinking the best option will be condos/apartments.

We have a 9 month old girl, 4 year old boy and one on the way due in July.

Any advice on doctors or OBGYNS if you happen to know any? And any other recommendations on schools? We've been told Insworld and Overseas are nice schools.

Thanks so much for your help!

[durain]

you mean march 2009!

since you got loads of time till march 2009, do a little search on this forum. some of your questions has been answered many times here.

[road.not.taken]

Woodlands isn't just a geographic location, it's more of a lifestyle choice. Really next to impossible without a car. With $4000 you should be able to find a nice condo. Without a car means public transport will be very important, or you'll need to be withing walking distance of amenities or on the busline or MRT.

There are lots of property search websites, one right here. I'd start looking to get a general idea -- it's not too soon. Don't trust the agent on how far the MRT/Bus is -- when you start to zero in on some places, pace it out yourself and imagine it raining like you've never seen before and both kids are crying. Good Luck!

[sundaymorningstaple]

=Don't trust the agent on how far the MRT/Bus is -- when you start to zero in on some places, pace it out yourself and imagine it raining like you've never seen before and both kids are crying. Good Luck!

Ain't it the truth!

[buttermaker]

I'll be frank.

$4,000/mo. (assuming you are talking Sing $) is not going to get you a whole heck of a lot anywhere near the CBD... unless there has been a dramatic drop in rental rates in the last couple of months $4,000 quite low.

Woodlands would be a tough place to live without a car. You will ring up a pretty sizable taxi expense. Quite far away from most things although, due to the SAS there is a bit of an american enclave out there which may blossom over the next couple of years. Or not.

Speaking from my own experience... we live on the East Coast on Tanjong Rhu Rd. and pay about $8000 a month but there are cheaper flats to be had in the area. We will be sending our oldest to SAS in August. A bus stops in front of our condo at 6:30 am and will return with him at 4pm.

You may want to look in and around the Holland area, but those rents are probably going to be steep. Maybe in the peripheral areas.

PM me if you have any additional questions with the move.
Good luck!

[wafamily]

since I can't PM you yet, wanted to let you know those sites you sent over really helped give us more of a sense of what we were looking at

[wafamily]

I cannot PM you since I haven't done enough posts yet. I appreciate your feedback. We ruled out the woodlands because of the car issue and that it is so far from the CBD. I looked at the East Coast where you are and I'm afraid it would be harder for our family because there are no MRT stops close by. We won't have a car and I can't imagine getting 3 little ones on a bus then a MRT easily.

We like what we see online in regards to Holland area but it seems far for the SAS. We were looking along the MRT route from Newton station up to Bishan, but I haven't found a ton of info on what those areas are like expect for Orchard specifically.

It doesn't sound as nice as Holland and East Coast which sounds more family oriented. But the hard part is the budget and the fact we have no car.

I'm also curious since it sounds like you have kids. What things can you not get in Singapore that is nice to have when you have young kids and a baby on the way? I want to make sure I bring it with me. Someone was telling me dryer sheets. Thanks

[amiee40]

Pack a few cans of formula if you are intending to use formula. It is expensive here. Also vitamins if you take supplements regularly.

I live in Toa Payoh which is between Newton and Bishan. Quite convenient with regards to MRT, buses and supermarket. Wet markets are also close by. There are alot of expats around as well.

[Saint]

A number of condos at East Coast provide a free shuttle bus service, I know Bayshore Park does to both Bedok MRT and Parkway Parade.

Might be worth having a look at some of the bigger East Coast Complexes to see what they provide.

[imrankassim]

I cannot PM you since I haven't done enough posts yet. I appreciate your feedback. We ruled out the woodlands because of the car issue and that it is so far from the CBD. I looked at the East Coast where you are and I'm afraid it would be harder for our family because there are no MRT stops close by. We won't have a car and I can't imagine getting 3 little ones on a bus then a MRT easily.

We like what we see online in regards to Holland area but it seems far for the SAS. We were looking along the MRT route from Newton station up to Bishan, but I haven't found a ton of info on what those areas are like expect for Orchard specifically.

It doesn't sound as nice as Holland and East Coast which sounds more family oriented. But the hard part is the budget and the fact we have no car.

I'm also curious since it sounds like you have kids. What things can you not get in Singapore that is nice to have when you have young kids and a baby on the way? I want to make sure I bring it with me. Someone was telling me dryer sheets. Thanks

Bishan's a really nice area, not too suburban, good mix of people, has a driving range, great shopping mall, also its right smack on the north train line, which brings you straight to newton station in about 10-15mins. If you're on a budget pal, try renting out a HDB flat, theyre a lot cheaper and usually closer to town centres etc with good bus networks running between the neighbourhoods and the centre. You should be OK without a car.

Imran

[tulipe]

guess to make your search easy, you might want to first contact the school on their bus route so that you can narrow down your apartment search. SAS had their own bus operator which runs around the island.

[BodyBlitz]

Actually Bishan is up and coming..
The circle line once completed can get your around the island via train.
You don't even need to use the bus because the goes all around the island.

[TennoHekka]

Whatever it is, avoid the HDB areas. Preferably an area with more foreigners, and a residential spot is better. Just visited a pal of mine who lives in a HDB estate, was shocked to see so many yobs with tattoos to the left and right, all giving everyone an evil eye. Felt like I was in Brixton or Watts...Yucks!

[resm]

Hi-
We are moving to Singapore in march. My husband will be working in the Central Business District. We hopefully plan to enroll our littlest into singapore american school. Where is the best place to live? The woodlands seems far for work and downtown?

Are there suggestions on places to live that are midway that have easy access to shopping and activities. We don't plan to get a car. We will only get a service apt for 1 month from his employer and housing will be paid for by us not the employer. We hope to spend about 4,000 on housing. We are thinking the best option will be condos/apartments.

We have a 9 month old girl, 4 year old boy and one on the way due in July.

Any advice on doctors or OBGYNS if you happen to know any? And any other recommendations on schools? We've been told Insworld and Overseas are nice schools.

Thanks so much for your help!

I suggest you download Google Earth (if you don't have already) and do a surveil about distances etc. of the different areas (districts) here in Singapore.
Singapore Expat has a page with all the different condos and districts.

That would give you a certain idea about what is practical and how it looks with regards to green areas and built density.

[Zeenit]

Whatever it is, avoid the HDB areas. Preferably an area with more foreigners, and a residential spot is better. Just visited a pal of mine who lives in a HDB estate, was shocked to see so many yobs with tattoos to the left and right, all giving everyone an evil eye. Felt like I was in Brixton or Watts...Yucks!

We live in an area with 99% HDB housing and I would not have it any other way. I love our area. I do live in a condo but the only one in the area. SO I have the best of both worlds but HDB areas are safe.