cacky

lazurite: I totally understand how you feel. With housing loan and renovations will take up another sum of money. Even more so for us as we're holding our customary end of this year. It's like all coming at one shot. In times like this, you start wondering how the rest of the Singaporeans cope??? I mean, not everyone gets to bring home a 5 to 6k salary back per mth (if both combined still possible) but not everyone gets to have that kinda highly paid job. And then for those who opt to buy resale gotta top up a lot of cash for COV, you'd wonder where they find this kinda money? I'm one of those kids who ever since I started working, every month when I have leftover money, I'd give it to my parents and hardly any savings for myself, which is sad. The good thing is, my hubby can save very well. And I am ever grateful for that. That being said, the whole thing is gonna take a large chunk of our savings. And then after all this, you'll wonder ... where got money to have kids??? Baby bonus is not gonna go a long way. That's why in Singapore, people are never cash rich, merely asset rich. That being said, most of the assets belong to the banks anyway!!! 666: I agree with you on your thinking about monthly housing loan not needing to top up with cash and also if monthly repayment can be settled with 1 person's CPF. But that however, is the ideal situation. In today's situation, whereby a case of flat demands exceed supply, when you actually have applied for a flat and have one ready on your hands, it's hard to give it up. Even more so one that can get the keys so soon. My hubby and I took on this flat despite all odds (low floor, expensive etc) becoz we know what we want and that is a roof over our head fast. We cannot foresee ourselves living with our parents even after we have kids. I believe those of us who have actually applied for Bedok Central have thought it really thoroughly coz the price of the flat sure don't come cheap. And we just do the best we can to get by. Guess it all boils down to priorities in your life, what is important? Quality of life? Have a roof for the kids? etc To Everyone: Anyone knows ... once we get the keys, will HDB impose a certain period of time which we will have to start renovating? Or can we leave it vacant until we're comfortable with starting?

lazurite: What I heard from my friends is that even if you were to take a 30 years loan, if somewhere down the road, you 'strike it rich', or feel that you're more financially stable to pay off more per instalment and decide that you want to pay off in cash and shorten the loan period, it's still possible. And HDB actually will pro-rate the interest for you. So actually, even if you take a 30 years loan, there's always the option of shortening. But I'm not sure for vice versa if there's a penalty. Do call up HDB loan department to double-check with them on this ruling as I've only heard from a friend. Not too sure if it's true. But I think if it's done in such a way, no harm taking the 30 years loan first. My advice is always this, be comfortable with your instalment. Don't let yourself be the slave of the home loan. I know undeniably, it's tough coz we still have to pay instalments every month. But imagine if you are paying off more than you can chew every month, you find yourself having to stick on to your job even if it means that it sucks big time or that it's unbearable. And when retrenchment comes, you worry until you lose sleep. So make sure you have it all thought through that you're totally comfortable. That's how I feel.

I guess there's really no such thing as an ideal flat. It's what you make inside that matters, be it on the 2nd floor or the 17th floor. We didn't get ourselves a flat that we considered was a dream unit but my hubby and I feel that what matters is the people living in the home. There will always be pros and cons, be it whichever unit you want. There are people who spend a long time searching for resale units for their ideal unit. But it also depends on whether time is on your side or money, for that matter. COV these days are ridiculously high. Gone are the days where it's probably 10 to 11k. Even if there is, you'd seriously doubt and wonder if there's any problems with the unit. The key is contentment and making the best use of the unit you have. It took me a long time to accept this unit and also a lot of convincing from my hubby.

mscupid11: Thanks for the updates on Blk 221b. Guess after the windows are fixed, they should be more or less done? I also hope to be able to move in by end of this year. But throwing customary this year too ... so expenses wise very 'siong'. Gotta pace ourselves bit by bit. darcbleu: So you planning to get an L-shaped sofa still, even if it's placed against the short wall? I think hor ... irregardless L-shaped or not, any sofa on the short wall will be protruding, huh? That's why I think it's kinda weird, the living room space. Like you, I don't intend to extend any wall etc. It'll just make the place smaller than it already is. bubbly: It was a smart move of you all to have bought the place after the announcement. My question is, does HDB actually allow people to sell the house after the announcement of enbloc has been made? I mean, if that's the case, everyone would grab the opportunity to sell right??? Just wondering.

Errrrrr, hallo, Big Orange, I think you missed me out leh. I posted earlier ... will be in Blk 221B.

darcbleu: Thanks for responding so quickly. Actually, I should correct what I mentioned in my earlier post. I don't think the living area is weirdly shaped. Rather, it's quite a challenge given the small area. To be fair, the living area is squarish. My brother kept reminding me that I shouldn't set too high expectations on having a lot of furniture in the living/dining area as it's not big in the first place. But actually, I am just having the bare minimum which is a sofa, tv console and dining tables & chairs. I'm not even planning to have a coffee table. All I ever wanted was to have an L-shape sofa to lounge on. Is that a lot to ask for? *sigh* I really have been thinking about how to do this. Also, I'd like to throw this question to the floor. What do you think about doing renovation 'ala carte'? Which means, instead of hiring a renovator to do the whole thing as a package, I source individually for carpenters, wetworks etc? I know there are definitely disadvantages, but would like to hear advantages of doing so. Anyone can share?

Hallo ... count me into the gang ... I'm @ Blk 221b. Any one has any idea when we can get the keys for this block? tfujiwara8: You 2 currently overseas too? We all also. Now wondering if the payment has to be made twice, does it mean we have to fly back twice. *gulp* darcbleu: I'm having kinda of a headache over the living room area also. Coz if put TV at short wall ... it's too near the windows, might spoil the TV, plus the problem of reflection. Yet if we put on the long wall and have a L-Shape sofa ... I presume the L-shaped sofa will be placed against the short wall and definitely would be jutting out coz I don't think we can find a sofa that's only the length of the short wall which is 1.6m. Wouldn't it then be blocking the corridor that leads the the bedrooms? *sigh* That's why I think that the living area is kinda weirdly shaped. And I am still having headache over the dining area coz I don't want it to block the entrance of the kitchen, but it seems impossible not to block. Any good ideas?