A license to be nosey!

One of my favorite shows is Househunters International. I just love looking at what a buck buys you in all the different countries featured. Heck, Tom likes it, too. Truth is, we both love shopping for houses. Real estate is just so darn interesting. I not only like seeing the space, but how people live within the space. Hey - I'm a reporter, the nosiest person on the planet! 

I spent Friday hanging out with Wendy, a realtor who came highly recommended. Apparently, that's a very rare thing. Everybody I talk to seems to hate their realtor so fingers crossed Wendy is as good as folks say she is. Wendy is Chinese and has been a realtor here since 1994. She knows her stuff and specializes in ex-pat relocations. Her clients are primarily British and Australians.

Of course, nobody will ever replace my buddy Harriet, our realtor in Westchester. Harriet has the patience of a saint. She has shown us DOZENS of properties and just when we were about to pull the trigger, we moved here! On occasion, the kids would have to tag along and Maisie always insisted on wearing her princess dress. Harriett would carry around baby Hudson so I could wander about the various homes. We saw so much of Harriet at one point that Maisie told me Harriet was my best friend! Of course, we may move back to Westchester and buy a house so there's hope for Harriet yet. 

Just in case we do move here permanently (whatever that means) in January, I decided I'd better see what we can afford here in Singapore. Like New York, Singapore is an island and darn pricey. Orchard Road is Singapore's version of 5th Avenue. The closer you are to Orchard, the pricier the real estate. The older the building, the bigger the flat, but the fewer the amenities. There is a staggering array of choices. Sure, I'd prefer a huge apartment in a new, fancy building, but I don't think that'll be an option. If we come, we won't have an Exxon expat package.

I learned something very important: wear easy-to-slip-on-and-off shoes! In Asia, shoes are absolutely not worn in the house, including the apartment where we are now living! I totally spaced and wore these complicated, lace-up sandles. Doh! In fact, every apartment we saw had a shoe closet by the front door where the entire family stores shoes. Of course, Tom has more shoes than any woman I know so I'm not sure where the rest of us would put our footwear! We have one where we're living now, too, but we only brought a few pairs of shoes each. When I told Wendy and another realtor that Americans wear shoes in the house - and even in the bedroom - they both looked like they might faint. Seriously.

The listing agent for the apartment must be there to show every apartment which means you have not one, but two realtors with you at every showing.

Also, most apartments here really maximize storage, far more than NY apartments. Many architects are Japanese and they really understand how precious space is.

Another tip from Wendy is that you want an apartment on a higher floor, particularly in the older buildings. If you're above the treeline, you get more sunlight and a breeze. That's not just important for light, but to keep mildew at bay! 

RIVER PLACE

Wendy first took me to a brand new building called River Place near the Singapore River's Clarke Quay. The building has an amazing common area with a resort-like pool. There was even a splashground! Truly, I felt like I was on vacation as I wandered through the shared spaces such as the game & meeting rooms, rooftop tennis courts and gym. 

I saw two, very different apartments here. The first was 2350 square feet and was a 3+1. The +1 means that there is a room for the helper. That's not saying much. Many helpers sleep in toddler beds because that's all that will fit.

Anyway, the first apartment had a nice galley kitchen, a dining area, 2 small bedrooms downstairs and a VERY small living room. Upstairs, was a nice master bedroom with a large room (and separate bathroom) just outside the master. There was a deck complete with a hot tub outside that room. Very nice! If it wasn't for the small living room, I could make it work.

The second apartment here was on a lower floor and single story. It was 4+1 and laid out better, but not as nice, nor as large coming in at only 2067. Once again, the main living space was just too small. I think I could fit a couch and nothing else! 

CHANCERY GROVE

 

Next, we drove to what's called a landed house which was kind of far from everything. I'm not sure what neighborhood this was exactly. I just know that it's a 15 minute walk to the MRT (subway) and just as long to the grocery. That alone means it wasn't for us, but it was still good to take a look.

I thought a landed property would mean - oh I don't know - land. Uh no. The yard is the carpark that some folks have turned into living space. Also, there's a common STRIP of grass that everybody shares in the back that is used for drying laundry and walking to the pool. That's it. And oh - the washer/dryer is on the back porch, outside, sheltered from the rain.

These units do have a common pool, but it's not very fancy - not unlike a pool an American might have in her own backyard. 

Turns out landed houses are kind of like townhouses. The two units I saw here had a living room on the first floor, dining room and kitchen on the second floor, a master on the third, two small bedrooms on the top floor. The basement had small rooms, too. It made me think of living in Bronxville without the charm (or the fabulous neighbors I still miss to this day!) The second unit we saw had a sunken living room in the living room!

THE IMPERIAL

 

This is another new building around the corner from where we are now. I saw a 4+1 here that was 1905 square feet and the priciest of them all!

The main room was fabulous! The living room and dining room were together with a gorgeous treetop view. I could see the Marina Bay Sands Hotel (the one that looks like a boat on stilts) and a gorgeous Hindu temple that sits below the fabulous balcony. The kitchen was also pretty huge. U-shaped and recently upgraded, it opened to the living area. 

The bedrooms were really small and there was no extra room that might make a good play space - such a disappointment. Storage here also really sucked. Bummer. The main room was so nice, but it just wasn't going tocut it. By the way, here I learned that Asian king-sized beds are not even close to the same size as U.S. beds!

THE DRAYCOTT

This building is off of the other end of Orchard, closer to the kids' for-now school, my friend Heather's place and the Tanglin Mall (fondly known as the expat mall). The Draycott is a much older building with circular apartments. It's in a great location, but the pool and playground are pretty average. The lobby is in the middle of renovations.

We went to see an apartment on the 2nd floor and accidentally met another listing agent who showed us a 4+1 apartment on the 25th floor first. WOW! This place was HUGE! I loved it! I have no idea how big it was because we weren't supposed to be seeing it so the agent didn't have the details.

There was a giant circular living room with the dining area there as well. The kitchen was really large with an island and room for a breakfast table even. The 4th bedroom adjoined the helper's room. Odd because the helper's room was also accessible by an outside balcony that connected it to the kitchen as well as the powder room. Apparently, having the helper's room out on the back balcony is not that unusual. Who'd a thunk? There was lots of storage, as well.

 

The apartment on the 2nd floor was not for me. It was dark and smelled of mildew (proving Wendy's theory about upper vs. lower floors). The kitchen was brand spanking new, but only opened to the outside balcony (no wall!) and not the apartment. You'd literally have to walk outside to access the frig! Then again, it might be an excellent diet tool though not for the helper as the kitchen was conveniently located next to her room.

Of course, we're not renting anything today, but it's good to get a feel for what's here so we know what we'd need to make it work if we do come back. Wendy says rents go down in January as a lot of expats contracts are up and there are a lot more apartments available so landlords are more negotiable. Oh - by the way - the rent here is negotiated just like if you buy in the States. Wild! FYI, you can buy condos, but not land. Renovations are about half the price as in the U.S. too.

So there you have it. My first day of house hunting. I'm just thankful I don't have to pick a house like I would on the TV show. Say - if I come back, you think maybe I could do an episode of House Hunters here? Hmmmm....