Location, location (Singapore)

[Sciencemum80]

Hi there,

Looking for some advice on areas to live as impending move to Singapore and starting to look at condos online. Like the idea of Holland V and heard lovely things about it but might be tough to get something nice on our budget . Like the look of some of the ones near Newton MRT and also WaterPlace at Tanjong Rhu but worried about transport links there.. DS1 will be at SAIS. The Caribbean at Keppel Bay looks lovely but is it quite put of the way and would the school run be a nightmare? Any advice gratefully appreciated! A little confused and need to fill out form for property agent.

[butterfliesinmytummy]

Will your ds take the bus to sais? Where will your dh work? Well you have a car between you and who will use it? Often the husband will take a taxi / mrt / condo shuttle bus to work and leave a car to the wife to use. With a bit more info, I'm sure we can point you in the right direction.

[Sciencemum80]

Thanks for your reply! Yes we will have a car as have a baby and as DS1 only 3 I'll be doing the school run for the time being and have the car. DH will be working near Raffles Place MRT and will get MRT (and shuttle if needed) or taxi if affordable or says he is fine getting a bus but ideally we'd like his commute to not be too long. Cheers!

[butterfliesinmytummy]

I would take a look at Newton and Novena as these are really convenient for public transport and SAIS. You might also consider East Coast where you will get more for your money. Between Mountbatten Road and the ECP is a nice area (around Amber etc). You get more breeze there, sea views and there is a good expat community. A little further drive but not on the expressways and you wouldn't be sitting in any major jams between there and SAIS at rush hour. Your DH could get an MRT from Mountbatten station (having a condo with a shuttle bus to MRT is a godsend - taxis are impossible to find in the rain...).

I don't know about Tanjong Rhu at all I'm afraid.

I don't think Caribbean at Keppel is the wisest choice in terms of location. Your DH will be OK getting an MRT from Harbourfront but the commute to school will be a bit of a nightmare. The CTE (Central Expressway) is frequently jammed and if you don't take that, you have the joy of crossing Orchard etc at peak times. It wouldn't be on my list. We looked round it when we arrived and it was new (5 years ago) and it was expensive at the time in terms of price per m2. I can understand the draw of living near the sea but there's nothing nearby except 2 large malls in terms of popping out for a coffee etc.

You seem to know a little about areas etc - have you looked at www.propertyguru.com.sg? If you do a map search, then zoom in really close on areas, more properties seem to come up. Do post again if you have more questions.

I should add that it's part of the property agent's job to advise you on which areas are most suitable for your lifestyle and and commute - get them to help you too.

[Sciencemum80]

Thanks so much for your advice - we won 't have long to find somewhere to live before DH starts work and don't want to drag two little ones round tons of viewings so trying to get as clued up as possible. We haven't a clue about areas on the East Coast so will looking on propertyguru around the area you suggested cheers (seem to spend a lot of time on that site at the mo). DH really likes the idea of being by the sea. From what you've said I think we will definitely cross off the Caribbean as I don't much fancy that school run. I really like the idea of Newton/Novena location so hope we may find something suitable there if we like the neighbourhood..

[MasterOfTheYoniverse]

I think butterfly nailed it.
I've just PMed you with detailes of a close friend property agent who might assist.

[londonmoo]

A vote for Holland Village from me - DH works in Raffles Place MRT and either gets MRT or bus. From here the kids can get anywhere via school bus, but yes they would be on at least a half-hour commute from here, and that would be fine as the buses work well - but you might consider somewhere nearer SAIS if you had concerns.

We love it here though: buzzy, central, great for transport.

[soapnuts]

another vote for Holland here - although i havent lived anywhere else here! I ruled out east coast because i was worried about dengue but i'm sure thats just me being paranoid! We find it great here - v convenient and quick to get anywhere.

We've only been here 3 months so can't offer much advice but PM me when you get here - I've got a 3.5 year old DS and a baby too!

[papooshka]

Holland V is great for us too. If you want to ask any more questions there is a great group on FB called 'singapore expat wives' where you will get lots of opinions/advice etc

[HollyMadison]

I live at the Caribbean and think it's great. dH commutes to raffles place by bus which takes about 20 mins (it's possible to on the MRT but takes longer as involves a change). I don't know about that school run but there is copious amounts of car parking here. Caribbean is quite expensive but I like it for the facilities for kids and the number of families here so I have lots of friends here and DS has lots of playmates we hang out with every day.

There are actually a few places near here outside the malls to go for coffee etc, you kind of have to know where they are, a few independent shops in harbourfront centre but those r more geared towards locals. It's true there's not really a kind of expaty indep boutique thing going on around here, but we're not far from tiong bahru which has some great urban chic type places as well as a great wet market.

Close to vivo for your clothes etc chain store shopping and to sentosa (treasure island on speed).

Butterflies is right tho that u get more space in the actual apartment for your money at other places. You could still look around as a comparator as it is quite different from the other condos we looked at.

[butterfliesinmytummy]

A word about dengue.... It's everywhere in singapore (significant clusters this week in kings road and farmer road, close to holland village) and cases reached an all time high last week. Tampines in the north east seems to have a lot of cases but the east coast has none at the moment (go figure). There was a cluster in the street next to ours when we first arrived and lived round the corner from holland village. Dd2 was a baby and it was scary but its just a question of taking care about standing water and using mozzie patches / spray if you go for a walk or kids play outside.

There's a great app MyENV that tracks dengue clusters, weather, hawker centre hygiene warnings etc, worth downloading.

[butterfliesinmytummy]

*Farrer road, not farmer road

[Saltedcaramellavacake]

I live at Holland too and love it but the commute to school in the mornings is awful if you drive (and I would drive a 3 year old, too!). My kids go to AIS which is about ten minutes closer to HV than SAIS but along the same road. Going there is okay (about 25 minutes) but coming back I am almost always stuck in a traffic jam for at least an hour. There are two roads back in and both are jammed. It is dreadful. I can't remember if you have a baby, too, but when my DC3 was little (he's 18 months now) I'd always be in traffic back from school just when he needed a feed. On the plus side, pick up in the afternoons is fine - I can be home in 15 minutes. If you're happy to put your DS on the bus in the near future I would definitely recommend Holland, though.

[Saltedcaramellavacake]

Sorry, one more thought. I read that your DH likes the idea of the East Coast to be "by the sea". Being "by the sea" in SG is not being "by the sea" in Sydney or along the English coast. There are huge expressways between the coast and the residential area, the sea is a mass of oil freighters and ships and the water is dirty and has a slick to it. Nice (ish) to cycle along at East Coast Park but you may want to suggest your DH google actual "by the sea" images in SG and see if it's what he has in his mind. There are some parts of Sentosa which are nice-ish sea views etc but the commute from Sentosa to SAIS would be very long.
Obviously, this is just my opinion - I have friends on the East Coast who have a great view of the water and the freighters etc are all lit up at night so it's quite sparkley etc, but it's just not what I think of when I think "by the sea"!

[Sciencemum80]

Thanks all for the replies & info! We'll definitely take a look at Holland V & great to know realistic commute and school run times. Will check out that FB group too cheers and that app sounds great, going to download now!

Soapnuts - thanks will definitely PM once there as would be lovely to meet some mums!

[BegoniaBampot]

East coast is a lovely area with a young family and the commute probably shouldn't be too bad. We enjoyed being near the sea and park even if it's not like seaside back home. The ec park through the week when it's quiet is lovely. So many nice areas though that you just have to narrow it down to your budget and easy travel options.

[singaporeswing]

Another vote for HV. I live out West and work at Raffle Place - it's an easy enough commute by MRT. My boss lives at Tanjong Rhu and it is a nightmare for him to get in every morning.

Another up-and-coming option if your DH likes to be by the sea is Pasir Panjang. It's becoming more and more popular with young families and expats without the typical prices.