frostyapple

If your boys are in primary school, check out my blog : http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2011/08/progressing-from-picture-books-to-long.html Our local bookshops have a very poor collection of Chinese books. It is best to borrow from the library. I read 金庸 when I was in Secondary school. However, I think that the standard of Chinese is lower now, many secondary school students may not be able to read and understand 金庸 novels.

Recently I viewed 2 HDB flats. Flat A has its living room facing the flats shown in photo A. Flat B has its living room facing the flats shown in photo B. May I know if there is any problems with the Feng Shui ? Which unit is better ? Flat B's owner is divorced. Photo A Photo B

For me the location is important, must be close to Jurong Point and within walking distance to my kids' school. So I don't mind paying more if I find the right unit, even if I need to hack the whole house. I wonder if I will ever find my dream house ? I have been searching for 2 months already. A few days ago I saw one unit which is quite nice, highest floor, 4 bedrooms, reasonable COV $55K, but the problem is that I can hear the noise from the MRT tracks in the bedrooms !

It's so difficult to find my dream flat ! There is a flat which is exactly what I wanted, less than 5 mins to Jurong Point, opposite my old flat and near my kids' school, spacious, good layout, unblock, only thing is that I need to renovate the whole house which I don't mind. However, I offered $70K COV and the owner still does not want to sell ! There is no way that I am going above $70K COV because the unit requires renovation. The buyer is being very unrealistic right ? He is asking for $110K COV and I believe no one will pay that amount for a flat in Jurong West. Sian....

I was suspicious about why the seller readily accepted 55K and never asked for more. I offered 55K because the agent told me that the last offer was 50K, then I realized that she could have been telling lies. I should have tried to offer 45K first. The renovation is really old and I have to spend a lot of money to renovate the whole house. Anyway, that is not exactly my dream flat, my hubby wanted high floor, and I wanted an EA flat opposite my old flat. This unit is some distance away and not within walking distance to my kids's school, unlike my old flat.

Thanks for sharing. We actually offered 55K COV, thinking that the buyer will reject and then we will go up to max 60K. Who knows the buyer readily accepted 55K COV. However, they asked for 2 months extension after 2nd appointment which I am not comfortable with, because it is illegal. Also, I searched HDB website and found that there was only 1 flat in the immediate neighbourhood sold within the past year, even bigger at 147 sq m, also 3rd floor, and sold for only $528K in Jan 2011. I began to think that I am paying too much. So I withdrew the offer. My kids are going to primary school in Jurong West,so we need a flat here, and I do need at least 4 bedrooms, preferably 5.

The unit is facing other blocks of flats, there is a small garden on the ground floor with some trees, quiet. The renovation is parquet flooring in living/dining/bedrooms, that is why the valuation is high $553K. But the floor looks old and I definitely need to hack everything and lay new tiles. This EA is the biggest among all other EAs near Jurong Point which are usually only 130 sq m. I can partition 2 more bedrooms, total 5 bedrooms, and still have a spacious living room. Sigh...I have seen many EA units near Jurong Point and almost all are asking for $100K COV.

I have been searching for a resale EA in Jurong West area for a few months now. I intend to do all the paperwork myself, so that I do not have to pay a few thousand dollars of agent fee. I have helped to sell my mother's old flat last year, so I know that the paperwork is not difficult at all. Previously there are agents who offer to look for units for me, and I realize that the units they offer are all on newspapers and online, which I can easily find on my own, so why bother paying more than $6K agent fees for a $600K flat ? Now there is a new rule that one agent cannot earn commission from both agent and seller. I approach the agents representing the seller, and they all tell me that I do not need to pay any agent fee.

I am planning to buy an EA, 142 sq m, 3rd floor, within 5 mins walk of Jurong Point. I am offering 60K COV, and I am wondering whether this is reasonable ? What's your opinion ?