Singapore real estate, tips for expat husbands on houses, condos and apartments, sponsored by asiahomes.com Singapore

This article is meant to educate the expatriate husband who is usually top in his profession, otherwise he will not be in the regional business arena.   You must also do your research rather than listen to your office colleagues, realtors not knowledgeable about the residential leasing market, good friends as to what is a "good home" and how much is the market rent. If you find one, do be decisive, rather than try to haggle to squeeze every ounce of blood from the "desperate" Landlord.   The market has turned in favour of the Landlord as from March 2000.

Case 1. In this case study, the semi-detached house was one year old, with light-coloured marble flooring in the living/dining areas, marble tiling of the bathrooms with dual basins, shower cubicle as well as a white long bath in the master bathroom (uncommon in new houses).
Description in:
Photos of a upscale semi-detached house in the wrong location

It was "vacant" for one year. This does not mean that the Landlord could not find a tenant. He could be using it as a "holiday home" for this S$1 million house or he could just be to rich to bother marketing it seriously, since it is not in the expatriate favoured location. Once your wife likes it, try NOT to procrastinate over small items.

Case 2. The wife prefers a low rise, tranquil and spacious, near to the United World College (UWC).   A 4+1 3700 sq. ft condo on the ground floor, facing the gardens and a waterfall cascading into a koi garden pond was ideal.

No traffic noise. 15-minute bus ride to the UWC and near Orchard Road. Rent asked was $9,000. The husband listened to office colleagues' advices that there are many "cheaper units", no problem finding one as the price was too "high".    If the offer of $9,000 was agreed, the condo would be rented. With procrastination and demands for new air conditioners, new door and other things at $8,700, the Landlord could not be bothered to negotiate further and even had higher offers. Such units are rare.

Case 3. The wife accepted this penthouse although she wanted to live in a waterfront condo. It was brand new and near to Orchard Road. Being brand new and spacious (over 4,000 sq. ft) were 2 important criteria. The husband did not demand much even though the Landlord was nonchalant and procrastinated, maybe hoping to get his asking rent of $20,000. The husband had to pay out of his pocket the difference from his housing allowance which was less than $20,000. At least, the wife will be happy in this unit. That means a lot to an expatriate husband who has to work hard in this competitive world. Domestic bliss is always important as you can't be fighting on the home front as well.

Email below refers to an expatriate husband who was indecisive.

From - Sat Mar 18 07:11:29 2000
From: "......"
To: "'Dr Sing Kong Yuen'"
Subject: RE: Letter of Intent for Burgundy Dr
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 13:46:19 +0800

David
It will have to be option 2:. 22nd April.
I really do think though that he should provide a fridge ( that would surely be normal practice , do you agree ?) , and we will buy the other 3 items you mention Having said this though , I would not like this deal to fall down on the cost of a fridge ! What do we need to do next ?
Kind regards

(March 18, 2000. 7 a.m. The Landlord did not respond to offer as he said he had to "consult" his wife although he promised to reply within an hours yesterday. He thought that the draft LOI was a sure thing and had wanted a Apirl 1 2000 commencement date. Instead, the prospective tenant wanted May 1, 2000 commencement date, changing it from April 27 and one month's security deposit instead of two, new fridge, washing machine, dryer, micowave oven )

From: Dr Sing Kong Yuen
To: .......
Subject: Letter of Intent for Burgundy Dr
Final offer for rent of $3,800 and one month's security deposit rom Landlord as follows:

1. Commencement date on April 1, 2000. He will provide the fridge, washing machine, dryer and microwave oven.

2. Commencement date on April 22, 2000. Take the house "as it is", i.e. without the above items. I will advise that you make your wife happy by giving her what you want, so that you can focus on your career. It is extremely difficult to get such a nice house. Yesterday, I went with another expat to look at semi-det for $6,500 and none was suitable, except Burgundy Hill. Unfortunately, the rent was way below his budget and he will lose out if he takes it.

See
Hunting for the ideal house with spacious living areas, dual basins, shower cubicle and white long bath in the master bedroom. for the report of this house-hunting visit.

I recommend you take the April 1 commencement date unless you want to buy your own appliances.

Pl do not delay longer. I am not trying to do high pressure sales, but I have seen expats losing out on good houses because the husband comes on with many demands. My mobile is +65 9668 6468. Best wishes.

LETTER OF INTENT
Date: 13 March 2000
To: Owners
From: Dr Sing Kong Yuen, Managing Director > Asia USA Realty (Singapore) asiahomes.com Pte Ltd > Tel: +65 9668 6468, 254 2728, 254 3326 > Fax: +65 256 0501, 4545 843.

SUBJECT TO CONTRACT > LEASE - BURGUNDY DRIVE, SINGAPORE > This is to advise that my client, ..... intends to rent the above-mentioned > property on the following terms and conditions:

1. Premises: Burgundy Drive, Singapore

2. Tenant:

3. Occupant:

4. Monthly rental including maintenance fees: $3,800 payable in advance and without demand on the 1st day of every calendar month.

5 Security deposit: Equivalent to 1 months' rental payable upon signing of the tenancy agreement.

6. Tenancy period: Two (2) years, commencing from 1st May , 2000.

7. Diplomatic Clause: Applicable only after twelve (12) months from the commencement date by giving 1 months' written notice in advance or 1 months' rent in lieu of notice to terminate the lease.

8. Good faith deposit: 1 month's rent which will form the first month's rent upon signing of the tenancy agreement will be forwarded once the Landlord accepts this letter of intent. On receipt of the good faith deposit, the Landlord will not lease the above mentioned apartment for the next 6 weeks . The tenancy agreement will have been signed within 21 days on receipt of the good faith deposit unless an > extension is required by either party.

9. Employment Pass: The Tenant will be given an employment pass by the > Singapore Government. This should be no problem as ....regularly employs expatriates in Singapore. If the terms and conditions of the tenancy agreement are not agreed to by either party and the Tenant's application for employment pass is rejected by the Singapore Government, the Landlord undertakes to refund the good faith > deposit in full within 3 days.

9. Landlord to provide the following services/items:
* Thorough cleaning of the apartment. > * Ensure that electrical, plumbing systems, electrical appliances are > in working order. > * Marble and parquet flooring to be polished or waxed. > * Servicing of the air conditioners before commencement of tenancy. > * Landlord to bear the cost of the maintenance of air conditioners in > the premises during the period of tenancy. > To include the following items: > * A new washer. > * A new dryer. > * A family sized fridge. > A new microwave oven. > Day & night curtains & lightings to all rooms.

10. The Tenant will pay for the following services: > * Payment of stamp fee and the maintenance of the garden.

11. The Landlord will pay Asia USA Realty, one month's rent for a 2-year > lease upon signing of the tenancy agreement. > > Dr Sing Kong Yuen, David > Managing Director > Asia USA Realty. > > IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have hereunto set their hands the day and > year first above written:- > SIGNED by the Landlord > stamp > > In the presence of: > Name: > NRIC No. > > SIGNED by the Tenant > > .... 15th march 2000 > > In the presence of: > Name: > Company stamp.