Singapore Expats

therat wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 1:32 pm

Lisafuller wrote: ↑

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 4:45 pm

I learned recently that HDB offers residents the option to buy back the recess area in front of their unit, provided it meets certain conditions. A nice way to expand the home, though it only applies to older flats.

https://www.hdb.gov.sg/residential/livi ... ecess-area
Need to meet all these requirement.

Downsize is .. when you want to sell. Does the buyer want these recess area or not.

I come across a unit when I'm looking a resale flat.
I pass that unit. as it come with recess area which I don't need.
Why I need to pay extra for a excess area which is at the common area that every neighbor need to pass thru. I cannot gate it. Basically it is a white elephant

therat wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:52 am

Wd40 wrote: ↑

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 10:29 pm

NYY1 wrote: ↑

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 3:42 pm

I see. Most of these (newer) floor plans are pretty efficient, with slight variations around the kitchen, yard, and shelter/storage area. I wish more of them had a (small) balcony or (large) planter box off the living area to dry clothes.

This is the actual layout of my house. The place where it says balcony in the living room is not really a balcony, I dont know why it says that. That is where we keep our TV.

This is a very old HDB flat. Build before late 1990s
There are no bomb shelter.

sundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 12:42 pm

I also have a late 80's 5i (non-corner built 88-89) no bomb shelter but my 5i is a 4 BR unit so no dining room per se (is part of hall). Mine is a wee bit larger (1305 sq/ft) It's a low floor unit that I bought on the resale market after the Asian Financial Meltdown of 1997 when the property market bottomed out in Jan 1999. Market started rebounding in Mar 99 so got a good deal. Bought it at valuation (no COV). The BRs are 3 same size (give or take a bit-like WD40's) and larger MstBr. (none are the half-BR/Den size in some newer flats). Balcony was weatherproofed by original owner (who I bought it from) and is located off both hall and 4th BR. It became my workshop.

sundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:26 pm

5i is actually defined as having either 3 bedrooms, dining room & living room (or Hall in the local vernacular) or 4 bedrooms and living room. Hall is usually large enough to hold a minimum of 6 to 8 seat dining table as well as a set of normal Living Room furniture 3-2-1 seats entertainment centre etc etc.

And yeah, that's why I don't upgrade. Upgrade to a condo? at my age? Nah, when I bought this place it was a 2nd story walkup. 5~7 years ago we got lift upgrading and the new elevator shaft is right beside the staircase which serves only two units on each floor. Now I have lift access 10 steps from my door. Oh and the property prices are starting to climb again even though the age is get up there as they are building an MRT station in our town centre which will only be a 5 minute walk from my flat. No complaints here.

sundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:26 pm

5i is actually defined as having either 3 bedrooms, dining room & living room (or Hall in the local vernacular) or 4 bedrooms and living room. Hall is usually large enough to hold a minimum of 6 to 8 seat dining table as well as a set of normal Living Room furniture 3-2-1 seats entertainment centre etc etc.

And yeah, that's why I don't upgrade. Upgrade to a condo? at my age? Nah, when I bought this place it was a 2nd story walkup. 5~7 years ago we got lift upgrading and the new elevator shaft is right beside the staircase which serves only two units on each floor. Now I have lift access 10 steps from my door. Oh and the property prices are starting to climb again even though the age is get up there as they are building an MRT station in our town centre which will only be a 5 minute walk from my flat. No complaints here.

NYY1 wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:54 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:26 pm

5i is actually defined as having either 3 bedrooms, dining room & living room (or Hall in the local vernacular) or 4 bedrooms and living room. Hall is usually large enough to hold a minimum of 6 to 8 seat dining table as well as a set of normal Living Room furniture 3-2-1 seats entertainment centre etc etc.

And yeah, that's why I don't upgrade. Upgrade to a condo? at my age? Nah, when I bought this place it was a 2nd story walkup. 5~7 years ago we got lift upgrading and the new elevator shaft is right beside the staircase which serves only two units on each floor. Now I have lift access 10 steps from my door. Oh and the property prices are starting to climb again even though the age is get up there as they are building an MRT station in our town centre which will only be a 5 minute walk from my flat. No complaints here.

Years ago, at least the condo was giving you more space but now that is gone. Of course, there are other attributes with the condo like environment, facilities, status (for those that care), and location (some areas are condo heavy). But for the nuts and bolts of living, I'd put more weight into nearby amenities, transportation, facing/view (can be limited in some HDBs but also nothing short of terrible in some condos; it all depends).

For example, the 4 room and 5 room HDBs at 1,000 and 1,200 square feet are quite competitive (layout wise) with most mass market 3 BR condos (probably 900 - 1,100 square feet) (and the same probably holds true for a 3 room HDB vs. 2 BR condo).

sundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:07 pm

And to sweeten the pot one side of the flat (MBR & BRs 2 & 3) is facing a reasonably large park which gives excellent cross ventilation with garden, exercise area, BBQ pit and full sized popular basketball court with concrete bleachers on one side. I also have membership (cheap) to the Kovan Swimming Complex which is only a 5 minute bus ride by no less than 7 different buses from two bus stops less than 5 minutes from my flat. and 10 minutes (2.4 km) from NEX. Years ago before I retired I often walked home from work (alighted at the Serangoon MRT).

Lisafuller wrote: ↑

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:57 am

NYY1 wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:54 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:26 pm

5i is actually defined as having either 3 bedrooms, dining room & living room (or Hall in the local vernacular) or 4 bedrooms and living room. Hall is usually large enough to hold a minimum of 6 to 8 seat dining table as well as a set of normal Living Room furniture 3-2-1 seats entertainment centre etc etc.

And yeah, that's why I don't upgrade. Upgrade to a condo? at my age? Nah, when I bought this place it was a 2nd story walkup. 5~7 years ago we got lift upgrading and the new elevator shaft is right beside the staircase which serves only two units on each floor. Now I have lift access 10 steps from my door. Oh and the property prices are starting to climb again even though the age is get up there as they are building an MRT station in our town centre which will only be a 5 minute walk from my flat. No complaints here.

Years ago, at least the condo was giving you more space but now that is gone. Of course, there are other attributes with the condo like environment, facilities, status (for those that care), and location (some areas are condo heavy). But for the nuts and bolts of living, I'd put more weight into nearby amenities, transportation, facing/view (can be limited in some HDBs but also nothing short of terrible in some condos; it all depends).

For example, the 4 room and 5 room HDBs at 1,000 and 1,200 square feet are quite competitive (layout wise) with most mass market 3 BR condos (probably 900 - 1,100 square feet) (and the same probably holds true for a 3 room HDB vs. 2 BR condo).

I actually have the impression that the newer flats are smaller than older ones, so condos would afford you more space.

Lisafuller wrote: ↑

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:57 am

NYY1 wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:54 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:26 pm

5i is actually defined as having either 3 bedrooms, dining room & living room (or Hall in the local vernacular) or 4 bedrooms and living room. Hall is usually large enough to hold a minimum of 6 to 8 seat dining table as well as a set of normal Living Room furniture 3-2-1 seats entertainment centre etc etc.

And yeah, that's why I don't upgrade. Upgrade to a condo? at my age? Nah, when I bought this place it was a 2nd story walkup. 5~7 years ago we got lift upgrading and the new elevator shaft is right beside the staircase which serves only two units on each floor. Now I have lift access 10 steps from my door. Oh and the property prices are starting to climb again even though the age is get up there as they are building an MRT station in our town centre which will only be a 5 minute walk from my flat. No complaints here.

Years ago, at least the condo was giving you more space but now that is gone. Of course, there are other attributes with the condo like environment, facilities, status (for those that care), and location (some areas are condo heavy). But for the nuts and bolts of living, I'd put more weight into nearby amenities, transportation, facing/view (can be limited in some HDBs but also nothing short of terrible in some condos; it all depends).

For example, the 4 room and 5 room HDBs at 1,000 and 1,200 square feet are quite competitive (layout wise) with most mass market 3 BR condos (probably 900 - 1,100 square feet) (and the same probably holds true for a 3 room HDB vs. 2 BR condo).

I actually have the impression that the newer flats are smaller than older ones, so condos would afford you more space.

Lisafuller wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 8:33 pm

therat wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 1:32 pm

Lisafuller wrote: ↑

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 4:45 pm

I learned recently that HDB offers residents the option to buy back the recess area in front of their unit, provided it meets certain conditions. A nice way to expand the home, though it only applies to older flats.

https://www.hdb.gov.sg/residential/livi ... ecess-area
Need to meet all these requirement.

Downsize is .. when you want to sell. Does the buyer want these recess area or not.

I come across a unit when I'm looking a resale flat.
I pass that unit. as it come with recess area which I don't need.
Why I need to pay extra for a excess area which is at the common area that every neighbor need to pass thru. I cannot gate it. Basically it is a white elephant

you can't gate it? I recall seeing a video where someone turned the recess area into a larger entryway to the home.

NYY1 wrote: ↑

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 5:08 am

Lisafuller wrote: ↑

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:57 am

NYY1 wrote: ↑

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:54 pm

Years ago, at least the condo was giving you more space but now that is gone. Of course, there are other attributes with the condo like environment, facilities, status (for those that care), and location (some areas are condo heavy). But for the nuts and bolts of living, I'd put more weight into nearby amenities, transportation, facing/view (can be limited in some HDBs but also nothing short of terrible in some condos; it all depends).

For example, the 4 room and 5 room HDBs at 1,000 and 1,200 square feet are quite competitive (layout wise) with most mass market 3 BR condos (probably 900 - 1,100 square feet) (and the same probably holds true for a 3 room HDB vs. 2 BR condo).

I actually have the impression that the newer flats are smaller than older ones, so condos would afford you more space.

The typical dimensions of the current builds of each are above. 3 BR vs. 3 BR (4 room or 5 room HDB), a condo usually isn't any bigger. Even some 4 BR condos are 1,2xx square feet these days.