1. The flat price is low when compared to my estate's neighbours (aka ATAS Bishan / Matured Shunfu). Well, of course, you must understand that when i use the word low, its not really that the price is low, it is just less costlier. After all, its a HDB flat under the PAP GRC, and according to them, its important to maintain the price of the HDB flat, and even ensure that it appreciates. (see, that's why you should buy now, cos the price will only go up)
Let me share with you some of the improvements that my estate underwent in 20 years.
2. My living room window used to oversee a huge empty field. I have had fond memories of flying kites, playing catching and watching my neighbours play soccer in that huge green field. When my parents bought and chose the flat, they thought that the field was too tiny for any buildings to be built, and that we would always get an unblocked view. Boy, were they wrong. The government eventually sold off that plot of land to a private developer and a condominium now stands there. So now, we get an unblocked view of a swimming pool instead. I mentioned that its a really tiny plot of land right? So there is only ONE block in this condominium, and it is in such close proximity to my flat that i can actually peer inside THEIR living room and see what shows they are watching on their kick-ass gigantic plasma TVs. My estate is really a good buy, right? Makes you feel like you are living in the condominium too. Every evening when i come home from work, i will walk past the high and mighty gates of the condominium, and i can smell their lovely BBQ smells. Free Smells, folks! During the weekends, the kids will run around their swimming pool screaming, but hearing the commotion, i feel like i am living there too. It's ok if you have no money to buy the actual condominium, you get a good view of it everyday.
3. Over the 20 years, the public transport around my estate has improved SO much that i can't believe it. Seriously. We used to have only one public bus that brings us to Bishan MRT, after 20 years, we have THREE buses! WOW! Thats a 200% increase, guys. And one of the bus actually brings us to TOWN! So judging from past records, if we get 2 new buses in 20 years, its reasonable for me to project- say another bus in 10 years down the road? Yup, we will probably have FOUR buses by 2020. Woohoo! As for the bus frequency, they have so much potential for improvement, it only strengthens my point that my estate's price will rise in the future. I had to wait for 15 mins today for the bus that brings me to Bishan MRT, on a weekend afternoon. The other bus to Town had an estimated frequency of 25 mins. All stats provided by the SGBUS app on iphone (proven to be largely accurate). There's only got to be room for improvement in the future right? Next time, when they FINALLY decide to increase the frequency of the buses, i am sure the flat prices will appreciate.
4. And i am proud to say, hey, we are going to get an MRT soon. YES!! MRT!! In 10 years' time. Not that a long wait right? Only ten years. Although we are not quite sure where it will actually be yet, but its a guarantee that your flat price will increase, ok? Just bear with the noise and dust and maybe cracking walls during the construction, your flat price will go up soon. Meanwhile, you can always rely on your trusty bus to get around- rem to download korean dramas to watch while waiting for the buses. It keeps the wait more bearable and you wont even notice that you have "wasted" that much time waiting.
5. There's going to be a funeral hub round the corner. Wow, how many estates can boast of having this feature? I guess the government really likes my estate too much to give us such incentive. It's all part and parcel of life, right? Someone has to have it in their backyard in little crowded Singapore and we are the lucky chosen one. If our flat value is going to depreciate because of this, it would probably already have, when the news was announced. So don't worry about the flats losing value just because the funeral hub is here. PAP will guarantee that the price will go up, k?
6. Yes yes yes, we heard your complains about the funeral hub, says the government. So guess what improvement they implemented next? They built several blocks of factories with neon lights to segregate the funeral hub from our HDB estate. Isn't it ingenious? You won't be able to hear the rituals now, instead, the blinding neon lights can block your view and sounds of the huge trucks and lorries will deafen your ears. Perfect solution, isn't it? Never mind that the factories with neon lights stick out like sore thumbs among the condominium and hdb estate. It's all part of the improvement plan for the estate. The factories are hiring cleaning ladies for their offices and look, housewives can now walk there to work part time! (I have really seen written ads stuck on to my lift by offices in these factories looking for cleaners) Now my estate can also boast about having another feature- Factories/ warehouses/ offices nearby, good for job-seekers.
7. And also, finally, there is lift upgrading program here too. (how convenient to announce the upgrading program after 20 years during the election year, huh?) Yes, i know that almost EVERYBODY else has had their lift upgraded already, but it is finally my estate's turn. Not that i would have needed it actually, because i stay on a floor with a lift. I know i sound selfish, but the truth is that i am not looking forward to it at all:- i would have to endure the construction and at the end of the day, i would have to wait longer for the lift because it will stop at every floor. Oh well, think of the perks. It just gives me an opportunity to climb the stairs, which is good because exercise is good for health. Or i can just watch korean dramas while waiting for the lift. But i digress- lift upgrading program = flat price will appreciate!
8. There is a tiny convenient store that is just round the corner. The price is exorbitant, but thats economics for you. Monopoly, ok? Otherwise you can always take that 15 min interval bus to our matured neighbour's market for cheaper grocery. Or, you can take a short 15 min walk to a neighbourhood shopping mall that has:- *gasp*- NTUC FINEST. Just make sure you don't buy ice cream or it will melt by the time you walk back home. Also, try to avoid walking alone to the mall at night, because the road is dark and quiet, not to mention plagued with BATS. Its great that there are no shops in very close proximity. In all my 20 years of living here, i have never had the urge to eat supper late at night, eat snacks on impulse, or the occasional ice-cream when the weather is unbearable. To do all these, you would either have to buy them from the exorbitant store, take a long walk to the mall, or a bus ride to the market. But i must admit, my family usually stocks up on food supplies as a result, and all my friends have loved coming to my house because it resembles a mini-mart. And also, instant noodles supplies are recommended to potential buyers of my estate. Very important when you are feeling too lazy to buy lunch and get sick of the fast food delivery. (Keep pizza hut/kfc, macdonalds on speed dial)
9. The bats that i mentioned in (8) reminded me of the time when a BAT flew into my house. Major plus point for animal lovers to invest in my estate! How many of you have seen bats in Singapore before, let alone have one in your house? Also, i must mention that you will never be afraid of being alone while waiting at the bus-stop along the main road (about 10-15 mins walk only) near my house. Trust me, you will always have furry companions (monkeys) hanging around to accompany you. Just don't antagonize them, and DO NOT feed them ok? Oh, and a wild cock was spotted somewhere in this estate too. Plenty of stray cats and dogs as well. And the occasional dead fishes that a certain neighbour keeps throwing out of his window. Of course, if you come home late at night, you will also be able to spot the huge rats scurrying around, cockroaches feeling their way, and friendly toad sounds from the grass patches by the roadside.
Now, animal lovers, what are you waiting for?
10. Last but not least, my estate definitely encourages us to spend quality family time at home. The carpark space right below our flat is so limited, that if you reach home after 9pm, i can assure you that you will probably have to park your car in the alternative multi-storey carpark, which will take you ten minutes to walk home. And taking into account that you will have to spend another ten minutes to walk to your car the next morning, you are better off scheduling your social activities to reach home before 9pm. Otherwise, you can always take the public transport / taxi when you engage in activities late at night, in that case, you don't have to worry about parking space at all. You can also expect my estate to be nice and quiet at night, since most of the people would already be home. Also, the lack of shops nearby ensures that there aren't much people walking around (apart from the occasional joggers and dog-walkers).
So there:- ten reasons why i love my estate. There is so much upside potential to this buy!
P.s.: Whether it is worth sloughing for the next 30 years of my life to pay for this would be something interesting to think about....
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