Late pregnancy does pose difficulties for the English mother looking for a house. A swimming pool will be ideal but no condo apartments were wanted.

There were three types of low rise housing for her. 
The bungalow, the semi-detached, the maisonettes in condos, a ground floor condo. 

Bungalows in Districts 9, 10 and 11 rent for more than $6,000 generally. One was shown to her (see pictures below) but it does not have bigger bedrooms and air conditioning in the living and dining areas.  There were 2 more bungalows without pools renting around $7,000.

The Gentle Villas semi-detached was favoured, being less than 5 years old, modern and had 5 bedrooms, bright and near the Novena Square shopping mall and Novena subway. But she needs to climb 3-stories to the master bedroom of the 3rd floor.  PICTURES OF GENTLE VILLAS.

A Villa delle Rose lower maisonette was ideal as there's the tennis court which the husband likes and the swimming pool and playground for the children.  However, the rent asked was around $9,000.  There are around 5 upper maisonettes for rent, but it means a 3-storey walk up every day.  Very tiring.

A Sommerville Park upper maisonette in a condo, renovated, was asking $6,500 rental. It has 3 bedrooms and was renovated.  Again, it was a walk up. 

A Habitat II maisonette in a condo was asking around $7,000.  She did not like the spiral staircase going upstairs as this may be a danger for a toddler.

A ground floor condo in River Place with a large patio of around 20 sq. m and 3 bedrooms fronting the Singapore River was considered too small. The inside area was 1500 sq. ft and rent asked was $6,800.

No decisions were made.

SURFERS WISHING TO RENT ANY OF THE ABOVE, email judy@asiahomes.com.  Or tel: +65 9668 6468.

  
DETAILS OF GENTLE VILLAS.
Gentle Drive, 5 min walk to the Novena Square shopping mall and subway.  Completed: 1996.  71 units. Majority semi-detached.

Semi-detached: 205 - 361 sqm (land area).

Bungalow: 410 - 798 sqm (land)

For the semi-detached,
Level 1: living/dining, one guest room and one very small maid's room, powder room.
Level 2: family area in front and 2 bedrooms with common bathroom.
Level 3: 1 bedroom in front (attached bath) and 1 bedroom behind (attached bath). Bright light enters from side and windy.

Finishes: Living and dining - grey granite tiles
Bedrooms parquet.

Facilities: Playground, one car-park lot.  Nearby Revenue House has health club membership, mainly gym.

Occupancy rate: Above 80% as there is a large Caucasian expatriate community and the location near the Novena subway is an attraction.

Competitors: 4+1 condos with spacious bedrooms in downtown and swimming pool for rentals of around $6,000 - $7,000.

Newcomer expat: Please contact Asia USA judy@asiahomes.com to help you get the best deal.

Investors to note: 99-year lease. Rental returns have dropped considerably. Rentals used to be $10,000 2 years ago. Now, around $6,000 - $7,000. Attracts a very small group of Caucasians who want houses and proximity to the international schools in Paterson Road (10-minute bus ride) so that children need not wake up early to go to school.

1. Location near Orchard Road and 5-minute walk to the Novena subway which is 2 stops from the Orchard subway.
2. Bright kitchen and living rooms as there are many windows.
3. Privacy with only 71 units in a residential low rise 2-storey development.
4. Kindergartens for Caucasians in vicinity.
5. Cold Storage Supermarket at Novena Square shopping mall within a 5-minute drive.

Disadvantages:

1. Some units with backyard face commercial retail shops at Novena Road but these units get rented too, but not so easily. 
2. No views as to be expected for most units.
3. No condo facilities although there is a playground and some facilities from the Inland Revenue House Building. American and Tanglin Clubs are just 5-minute drive away.  
4. 3-storey with the master bedroom on the 3rd floor. This may be daunting to a 7-month pregnant mother in one visit in July 2001.

PICTURES OF GENTLE VILLAS


For more Information :
judy@asiahomes.com, tel: +65 9668 6468

FOR RENT
July 13, 2001
District 11.
4 bedroom plus maid's room.
Bungalow with big garden $6,500. 5-min drive to Orchard Road. Quiet cul-de-sac.   3000 sq. ft built in and 9000 sq. ft of grass land.

New kitchen and bathrooms. 3  bedroom, a maid's room and a store room. Ceramic tiled and window unit air conditioners. 

The rent is below market rent of around $15,000 in this Caucaian enclave.   Suits a couple with one child or no children.  An expat who wants a garden, not a high rise condo. You can install an above ground pool as the land is large.   Expats who are romantic will like this colonial bungalow.

Rental in District 11 being $6,500 is value for money. Colonial single storey bungalows have smaller bedrooms unlike modern massive detached houses.		Live in a historical house. Not many single storey bungalows in Singapore nowadays.

Tel: +65 9668 6468, email judy@asiahomes.com now.