hello88

y not make a trip down to the block and check with the neighbours

Hi, its good to know both of u going to let nature take its course and that u're also aware of your problem (ie irregular menses). I also have super irregular menses, never 28 days, sometimes MIA for 2-3 months then suddenly come. Can u imagine having to waste $ as scare to be embarrass so had to 'wear' to stand by. I also got super super heavy ones and had to 'double' protect myself.

i took stay near parents grant for my 1st flat and the grants went into our cpf and thereafter hdb compute the initial deduction then compute the housing loan. 50% of the grant into my cpf a/c and 50% to my hubby's cpf a/c. i sold my 1st flat at a 'lost' (paper lost) and even though i sold my flat at 1k above valuation....the cheque had to be submitted to the hdb officer on 1st appt. sob sob.....

oops, dunno what happened as I checked before I click submit. Anyway, we had sufficient CPF monies to buy the 2nd resale flat so we bought it first before we sell our 1st resale flat. Didnt top up cash as got enough inside CPF and we also bought the flat at below valuation. After the 2nd flat housing loan was done then we got the monie from into our CPF after sale of 1st resale flat. We channeled it into investment. Would wait a couple of years more and with the investment then we would clear our loan at area office as we're mindful of the withdrawal limit ruling so cannot anyhow go area office to reduce the housing loan. Once we ready to clear it entirely then we'll go area office.

anyone know where to get? Want to get those 100% stainless steel as those plastic pegs dont last.

i think its not avail locally. If I'm not wrong, bigtoes in this forum bought it from dunno which country. Hers was a semi-circle doormat. U may wanna PM her.

yup, that's the issue that upgraders have to worry abt. During my time, we didnt consider much abt it though we're not exactly CPF rich. Our CPF was wiped out after we signed on the dotted line. We took 30 years for our housing loan just to play safe and intend to pay off within the next 5 years (we're mindful of the withdrawal limit so must ensure that we have sufficient that we area office to clear the loan). Our CPF was down to zero but $ came in again after we sold our flat. We didnt reduce the housing loan (because we're mindful of the withdrawal limit again) and have dump most of it into investment. Really hope to clear the housing loan in less than 10 years.

buying and selling? Most people would advise to buy first then sell. I bought my 2nd resale flat (upgraded) then I sold my place, I think the duration was about a month later. Went for 1st appointment for my newly bought flat then about a month later then went for 1st appointment with buyer of my 4-room flat. During that time, really felt as if always going back to HDB hub as it was 1st appointment X 2 and 2nd appointment X 2. Done some negotiation with seller and buyer as seller wanted to delay completion as she wanted to stay on after 2nd appointment. Seller's request came in pretty late and we also had to ensure that we start renovating the flat before 7th month and moved in at specific dates as had to hand over keys to our buyers. Luckily we managed to sell our flat unlike a friend of mine...here's what happened. My friend went ahead to buy a flat (downgraded), gone for 1st, 2nd appointment, done simple reno and moved in. Throughout the entire period, she tried to sell her place w/o any luck. A number of buyers 'complained' about the layout as the previous owner had knocked down a room to make the MBR bigger. I think she couldnt sell due to the weakening property market as there were more supply then demand. I think she had no choice but to pay housing loan for both flats. For my case, I started to pay housing loan for my new flat after 2nd appointment (or was it upon completion of sales??? cant recall). The HDB officer told me that the housing loan for my old house would stopped (terminated) once I go for the 1st appointment with my buyer (to sell my flat).

if u took grant for the resale flat then u have to stay for 5 years then can sell.

wow, more and more EM owners in Hougang coming onboard. Where's your EM? probably should be able to keep it within your budget if its just floors and 2 toilets.

Hi Jessie, which part of Hougang? Me at Ave 7 congrats and welcome. so where's your EM located? looking forward to seeing your pics.

not too sure but I know that Sin Ming Ave's exec flats has got one of the biggest floor area around other than those HUDC floor area. The area also looks not bad in terms of Feng Shui as its like on hill top. Hubby been to one of those EM (he still wondering why its called EM) to help a friend's friend to shift house. All the rooms, living room, kitchen....all on 1st storey. No balcony (maybe owner had extended into living room)....1st storey is considered huge then there's a staircase leading to 2nd floor...which is like a small corridor aka storeroom as that's where the family kept all their stuff so 2nd floor actually nothing much.

would wait to see if existing tenants wished to re-contract, if they do then we'll of course get the tenants to re-contract directly with us and not via agent. But like what u mentioned earlier, we'll have to 'reject' the tenants request for extension first (i.e to void the existing tenancy agreement to work round that **** clause). Hmmm.....both sides (landlord and tenants) have to inform agents that tenants do not wish to extend right? Wonder if there must be a break of few days between the existing tenancy agreement and my new agreement once I get it done. thanks. Hopefully the existing tenants 'extend' their stay (via us directly) as they are good tenants and not easy to find good tenants around.

Thanks...wonder how much does it cost to get a lawyer to draft a tenancy of agreement. Anyone got lawyer to recommend. I wont be 'gun down' by the agency if the agent eventually found out that we and the existing tenants 'pa-gat' and lied that tenants did not wish to extend contract right?

haiz...too late liao because we gotta abide to the 1st tenancy agreement signed last year. My parents dont mind to pay the agent half a month commission if the existing tenants want to continue staying once the existing contract expires. However, I'm thinking as to how to omit out that stupid clause in the next tenancy agreement that my parents going to sign.

just checked thru the Tenancy Agreement. Looks like gotta let the agent earn comms again as there's this clause ....'In the event that hte Landlord should grant the Tenant an extension of the said term herein then the Landloard and the Tenant shall pay the agency another commission equivalent to one half (1/2) of the new monthly rental plus GST for every year of extension'. **** it cos agent not doing much and I'm always the one helping my mum to go HDB online to update the subtenant records whenever there's any changes.

flat was sublet to tenants for one year through agent and had paid the commission to agent. One year contract due soon and tenants wished to continue staying. Can we diy or must go thru the same agent and let him earn comms again?

2 months nia. I think my sellers havent even changed and its going to be 3 years soon. IRAS had sent cheques to her, CPF letters, etc. Initially, for the 1st 3 months we would deliver it to her since she moved to nearby estate but after that we stopped doing it as she's supposed to change her address. Now, whenever I received their letters, I just 'dump' it back to the letterbox for 'non-delivered'.

yup, date of val rpt must b valid at time of submission especially during resale mkt hike when 1st appt date can take up to more than 3mths.

wow, your son gonna occupy the MBR and convert the other 2 rooms in one. Stopping at one?

yup, have to agree on the common toilet upstairs if only 2 of u staying. Why not keep it simple w/o shower screen if u dont need to use the toilet for the time being. Just need to wash it occasionally when u feel like it. Visitors can use it if the loo downstairs is occupied or maybe when ur parents or in-laws moved in with u in the near future. Anyway, GMC (ex-EM owner in this thread, already sold his EM last year) got the contractor to sealed up the door way of the toilet and merge it into an attached toilet for the bedroom nearest to the toilet for his kid. I'm not sure if the value of the house would be affected if u merge it with the MBR bathroom. I do know that some flat values are affected when owners knock down a bedroom wall to merge into a bigger bedroom.

- converting your Wash area downstairs to WC would be around 300-400 estimated but wld definitely cost more if u wish to hack and re-tile the flooring and wall tiles plus getting a WC. - 4k air con? I think its an inverter system 4, bedrooms and study room inclusive but if u want the living room then might cost more to go for a system 5. Do check the electricity loading for your blk. - 3k re-wiring should be able to cost both upstairs n downstairs. U can bargain on this and get the electrician to install cable point for all the rooms including living room, telephone points for all the rooms, many powerpoints around the house as well as the kitchen. If u're getting designer switches then might cost more. - shifting toilet bowls and sinks within a bathroom? It depends on the P-trap as u might not be able to switch the toilet bowl due to the piping/sewage layouts. U'll need to source around for new WC and sinks unless u dont mind using the existing ones. Anyway, labour for shifting/installing can range from $80 to $200 depending on contractors. My area also no city gas but we're fine with using cylinder gas and in fact, we prefer it that way. The uncle would deliver it within 30mins (longest). electric stove? U mean induction hob? I think it depends on the electrical loading of your block as I read from HDB website previously that there's some restriction on this such induction hob for older flats. Anyway, we have bought a Taiyo induction hob (for CNY streamboat) and saw another brand at metro the other day saying that its actually much more economical as compared to using gas. I'm not too sure abt it Renovation definitely cost alot more nowadays especially if u need to overhaul the whole EM as everything more costly now eg. sand, cement.

congrats on getting your EM in Woodlands (EM kakis database updated ) it'll depends on the type of railings that u're going to change to. Wooden, stainless, glass, wrought iron, etc. Got to factor in the labour to remove existing railings. Are u going to change the existing flooring for the staircase? this is important as remove the existing railings would damage existing flooring. 3.5k? It depends on the brand and durability of the laminated flooring offered by your contractor. There's several well known brands and many not so popular brands of laminated flooring in Spore...got to find out the grade to, whether its AC3, AC4 or AC5.

wow, yr wifey must be very fortunate that u do the cooking. Really need a passion to cook. My hubby likes to cook but then.............. so we decided that its best that he stays out of the kitchen. For me, I also dont like cooking and I prefer to bake and make desserts. Luckily, my parents moved in with us so the cooking is done by my super duper good cook mummy No wonder I cant lose the kilos

sorry, cant recall the quote but i think close to 3k hahaha.....sign n sign till blur blur as we're all so used to typing on computer. Hmmmm....so more or less only pay the COV on 1st appt right.