Reference: 811221
Subject: Realtors, Closing on English couple with 2 daughters.
Location: East Coast.
For Rent: Kew Green, Kew Gate, Kew Residencia, Panoramic sea view in biggest 3+1 Mandarin Gardens, and Meyer Tower, private Villas Laguna and Laguna Green's English-architecture apartments (see article).

This article provides the answers to the training lesson for New Realtors of Asia UsA and refers to

Below is the assessment of an older English couple with 2 big children on a house-hunting visit 12 noon - 3.30 pm for housing 3+1 in East Coast. Surfers interested in the listings shown below, please email drsing@asiahomes.com or call (65) 9668 6468 or visit www.asiahomes.com SUBDIVISION LISTINGS.

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to advertise in www.asiahomes.com.
Expats relocating to Singapore use this website frequently as a starting point (see "About Asiahomes Internet" as it is full of information and photographs on Singapore rental housing. You have 90 days and 24-hour exposure of your property direct to other prospects including realtors. Email drsing@asiahomes.com

House hunting Listings below are available for Rent as at November 22, 1998:

1. Kew Green. 4+1 3,025 sf (281 sqm). Type A3 $4,500 p/f. Facing new semi-det and minor quiet Kew Crescent Road. Cluster housing, 3-storey condo townhouses with basement and roof terrace. Jacuzzi on roof terrace (garden).
2. Kew Green. 4+1 3,025 sf (281 sqm). Type A3 $4,500 f/f with $10,000 furnishing budget. Facing Upper East Coast Road, green trees. On higher ground not road level.
3. Villas Laguna 3+1, 2,000 sf.$4,000 p/f. Ground floor with garden, facing blue clean swimming pool (medium size). 31 units only, 4-storey building giving much privacy. Living/dining split level. Automatic sideways sliding gate, may have no 24-hour security guard as none was seen during visit on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. and the postman had to enter by side-gate, reverse his motor-cycle near to the sliding gate to activate its opening! Visit www.asiahomes.com SUBDIVISON LISTING - Villas Laguna Report for details.
4. Laguna Green 4+1, 2,196 sf, $4,500 p/f, 3rd floor. English Victorian-style apartments and ambience. Developer-Landlord had left, unable to view on Saturday afternoon. Likes the quality and concept.
5. Meyer Towers 3+1 1,800 sf. $3,000. 17th floor, Fantastic sea and ship view from big balcony fronting East Coast Expressway. Ceramic-tiled flooring in living/dining unlike marble flooring in new condos such as The Makena or Costa Rhu. Old ktichen cabinets can be replaced. Condo upgraded but not with ceramic-tiled flooring in lobbies. See www.asiahomes.com SUBDIVISION LISTING - Meyer Tower Report for details.
6. Mandarin Gardens 3+1 2,030sf, $4,000 f/f. 20^th floor. Panoramic 180 degree sea and ship views in living and 3 bedrooms. This 2,030 sf is the biggest of 3-bedroom units in Mandarin Gardens, and has 2-levels. Balconies in living and in master-bedroom (upstairs) to appreciate the sea views. Window grilles can be put up if you have small children. Available January 1, 1999.

Cancelled further viewing as the Kew Green townhouse was the choice.

7. Kew Residencia 4+1 2,110 sf $3,400. Cluster housing like Kew Green but no jacuzzi on roof terrace. Lower density with 37 units of cluster houses compared to 111 units of Kew Green's. Can only be viewed on weekday, but prospect would be leaving Singapore on Sunday.
8. Kew Gate 4+1, 2,200-2,600 sf $3,500 p/f. Cluster housing with roof garden plus patio (PES or private enclosed space) $3,500 p/f.
9. Kew Gate 4+1, 2,200-2,600 sf $3,300 p/f.
10. Kew Gate 4+1, 2,200-2,600 sf $4,300 f/f. Show house.
11. Bayshore Park 4+1, 3,300 sf $5,500. Penthouse. Big balconies, sea views from balconies & master bedroom. Seen during earlier visit.
12. The Waterside 4+1, 2,400 sf $4,000. Views of city and partial sea view. No balconies. Wife didn't like the condo.
13. Costa Rhu 4+1 $5,000. River views from big balcony. Does not want the high density living in Costa Rhu Condos.

Conclusion: Top choice is Kew Green. The Owner's representative had switched on the air conditoners 10 minutes before arrival and was very friendly, pointing out the features such as the safe Although this unit was facing Upper East Coast Road which is a moderately busy road, there is very little traffic noise. This is due to the fact that it is NOT on road level, being up a slope and NOT too high as the Mandarin Gardens since traffic noises travel upwards. An airplane was seen from the windows of the master bedroom but there was no noise.

The green environmental type view attracts most Caucasians. The windows of the living and master bedroom were filled with a complete view of tall green trees, as if one is living next to a park or tropical jungle or seeing a greenery painting. No high rise, back to nature, anti-stress ambience rarely found in a hectic rat-race in Singapore.

Rental of $4,400 fully furnished is under negotiation. The Owner permits $10,000 maximum for furnishing and this may be insufficient for washing machine cum dryer, day and night curtains, fridge, living and dining sets, beds for 4 bedrooms and TV stands.

N.B: Kew Green townhouses generally rent around $4,000 p/f and although $3,500 cannot be discounted in this rental decline market. The living cum dining rooms are really small and in Asia USA's opinion, a dining table with 6 chairs and 2-seater plus 2 chair living set will fill up all space! A small dining table with 4 chairs will be more appropriate, with some garden table and chairs in the small garden outside the living room.

There is a family room upstairs but it is 50% the size of the living cum dining room, sufficient for one writing desk and chair. There is no maid's room as the utility room is too small for the maid; however, it may be a home for the Shih-Tzu dog. As there are 4 bedrooms, the maid can be accommodated in one while visitors take one. The parents take one and 2 daughters share one bedroom. The family room can be the study room. Asia USA recommends a sofa bed for the guest bedroom as the room is small despite the fact that the built-up area is over 3,000 sf.

The roof terrace or garden is relatively spacious. Besides the jacuzzi, there is the possibility of pitching a TENT and having 10 - 20 friends over for barbecue and beer! This roof terrace's jacuzzi is fun for bigger children as Singapore's cluster houses and condos seldom have private jacuzzi.

A safe in the master bedroom, provided by the Developer, may be useful for the wives to keep the diamonds. The gym is small but it is important as many younger and some older Caucasian wives do work out. Without the gym, the wife will not accept this condo.

As grandparents are afraid of heights, the Kew Green or cluster houses will be best for this family. No sea views but the beaches are 5-minute drive by car. There are buses to the United World College and possibly the American School. The journey takes around 30 - 45 minutes but the East Coast amenities and beaches are more important for this couple rather than proximity to the UWC.