3 Things to Consider when Choosing Your House

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So… you have decided that you are finally going to get a house of your own, or maybe you have decided to move to a different apartment. Singapore may be a tiny red dot on the world map but there is still a wide selection of houses spread across the whole island. How then do we go about choosing the house? This article will provide you a starting point to narrowing your options.

3 Things to Consider when Choosing Your House

Location & Accessibility

Location, location, location. After all, location is a huge factor in determining the price of your potential house. Just look at the prices of properties in Woodlands versus say, Toa Payoh. As a rule of thumb, the closer the property is to Central Singapore, the costlier the property will be. Being closer to Central Singapore means less time needed to get to town, whether is it the busy streets of Orchard Road or the dazzling Marina area.

More than just the actual location itself, how well connected is your potential house to the rest of Singapore? Consider public transport like MRT stations and bus stop, as well as expressways. Do you have to walk 10 minutes to the nearest bus stop just to get to the Bus Interchange or is the bus stop right at your doorstep? If public transport is not easily available now, there may be plans by the government to expand the public transport system in that area. Examples include the Jurong Region Line, Singapore’s 7th MRT line, which is expected to be opened in three phrases from 2026.

Connectivity aside, some of you may consider being close to your family members and relatives and important factor, especially if you have to make weekly trips to your parents’ or in-laws’ place.

Amenities

A bowling alley, a supermarket, a movie theatre, a swimming complex; all these amenities sound good and enticing but is more really merrier? What are the amenities that we value and truly need? If you are not a frequent movie goer, a movie theatre nearby will not appeal to you but if you have a dog that needs to be walked daily then a park or garden nearby may be something that is high on your priority list!

Of course, if you are looking to live in a private condominium, you will be able to take a dip in the pool any day any time. Private condominiums also come equipped with tennis courts, in-house gyms, barbecue pits, function rooms and many more. While all these extra amenities may be wonderful, they do come with a price tag as you will be required to pay monthly maintenance fees. Furthermore, if you do not end up using these amenities regularly, you may be paying for things that you do not need.

Orientation

North, South, East, West, who’s the best? Facing the east means having the morning sun shining brightly at your face early in the morning while facing the west means coming home to a heated house, literally. Don’t like either? Then the north- and south-facing flats may not receive much natural light and your clothes may take a longer time to dry. Rather, many recommend getting a unit that faces either the south-east or the north-east. Such a flat allows you to get indirect morning sun as well as a cooler afternoon, the best of both worlds!