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Ref: 906021
Subject: What is cluster housing? When is a a maid's room not a maid's room?
Photo: Compass at Chancery Cluster Houses. $6,000-$6,500 for rent.
Email david@asiahomes.com or call +65 9668 6468.

Asiahomes Internet's management hopes the following email correspondence will help to answer the FAQ and queries of new expats relocating to Singapore.
Some answers are given. For more details, email david@asiahomes.com

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Email No. 1

From: David Sing
Sunday, May 30, 1999 12:37 AM
Subject: Singapore house for rent - your email Apr 22

Did you receive my email reply about finding a house, townhomes in Singapore? If not, please let me know. My mobile is +65 9668 6468. Tel is 254 2728, 254 3326. Will you be coming to Singapore?

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Surfer wrote:
David,

Yes, we did receive your email and thank you for following up with us. We have received word that we will be arriving in Singapore on July 19 and will be staying in a hotel for a few days. We will then be moving into temporary housing in the Bukit Timah area until we are able to find permament of our own. Below, I have listed some of the amenities that we will be looking for.

My husband's office will be in the Shenton Way area and we have a son who will be going to SAS. We will not have a car so my husband will be taking the subway or bus to work. We currently do not have a car here so riding the subway or bus 30 minutes each way is no problem. We would like to have our residence to be within a 10 minute walking distance of the subway or bus.

MOST LIKELY A CONDO AS HOUSES TAKE MORE TIME 10 MIN WALK. But will show you houses near the SAS.

We are also planning to join the American Club. Also, because of using public transportation, we would like to be in a convenient area for restaurants and shopping.

ORCHARD ROAD AREA WILL BE THE BEST.

Our housing allowance is $3,500 to $4,500 American dollars.

US$4,500 will be AROUND SINGAORE DOLLARS $7,200.

We are interested in looking at houses with a pool. I know they are rather expensive in Districts 9,10,11 but maybe closer up towards the school would be more in our price range.

EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE NEARER THE SAS DUE TO SHORTFALL AND HIGH DEMAND. DETACHED + POOL RENTING ABOVE $10,000. ABOVE-GROUND POOL of around 15 feet long. IS THAT SUITABLE? HOUSES WITH POOL RENT ABOVE S$8,000 but there may be a few outside the prime expat areas.

We will need something partially furnished as we have some of our furniture.

NO PROBLEM HERE.

We are currently living in an apartment and would also be interested in looking at condominiums as well. If in a condominium, we would like a large pool with possible gym facilities and tennis court. We plan to have a maid and want to have plenty of room in the house/condo to move about so we are thinking square feet needs to be over 2,500.

NO PROBLEM FINDING ONE CONDO OVER 2500SF. I HAVE A MAYSPRINGS PENTHOUSE (west singapore, brand new, non-expat area, nearest subway will be Chua Chu Kang BY BUS,please refer to my website for subway LOCATION in SUBDIVISION LISTINGS ) and others.

Our container should be arriving in Singapore around August 1 so maybe we can cut down on rent by leasing and moving in within a month. This is just a thought.

IT IS POSSIBLE IF WE PLAN AHEAD AS I HAD DONE FOR SOME EXPATS.

Could you please send us back your comments regarding the above, especially about our housing allowance and the type of housing we have requested. Are we out of our price range?

NOT POSSIBLE TO GET DETACHED WITH IN-GROUND POOL AT S$7,200 BUT DON'T GIVE UP HOPE FOR CERTAIN NON-EXPAT ENCLAVE AREAS. BIG CONDOS - NOT A PROBLEM. ARCADIA GARDENS MAY BE A POSSIBLITY but you are leaving in a big expat community isolated from the main shopping areas and convenient public transport. You do have a mini-mart.

If a house is not available, we would definitely not mind a highrise condominium.

FABER PARK+ POOL MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR AROUND $8,000. Much depends on timing and Landlord's wish to rent out fast.

One last question, what is the standard real estate commission? Here in Buenos Aires, the leasing party pays the real estate commission!!!!!

NO COST TO YOU AS PROSPECTIVE TENANT. The Landlord pays.

Thank for your help and we look forward to hear from you soon.

I THANK YOU for responding. There should be many choices of good quality condos with your budget.

Does your company have a policy of NOT allowing you to use outside realtors? Some powerful human resource manageresses in foreign companies here insist on only their retained realtors due to connections or policies. Please check for me. Thanks.

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Email No. 2

Wed Jun 02 05:43:04 1999
Subject: Utilities on condominiums

David,

A quick question for you. In regards to utilities, are there set fees charged each month or are they charged on an individual usage basis?

INDIVIDUAL USAGE BASIS.

Are any included in the rent?

CONVENTIONAL PRACTICE- NO, BUT YOUR REALTOR MAY BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE FOR YOU TO INCLUDE IN THE RENT.

I also wanted to know if we would be able to afford the cluster homes with communal pool with our budget?

CHEAPEST TYPE IS AROUND S$6,000 RENT PER MONTH.

What about terraces or semidetacted homes with pools?

THEY ARE CALLED CLUSTER HOUSES IF THEY HAVE A COMMUNAL POOL. There are cluster houses with all units being detached and they are rarely available. Rent will be around $9,000-$15,000.

PHOTO OF COMPASS AT CHANCERY - Cluster houses. Published by Asiahomes Internet.
Photo-Ads: Realtor David Sing, Asia USA Realty (Singapore) asiahomes.com Pte Ltd.

Brand new 4+1 at $6,000 - $6,500 at Chancery Hill. 5-minute drive to Orchard Road. Around 10-minute walk to the Novena subway. Tranquil expatriate enclave residential area.



Built-in around 2500sf. Attic room has attached bath. 3 bedrooms on level 2. Maid's room at basement together with the basement carpark lots. There is a separate bathroom next to the maid's room. Although the size is decent, there is no air conditioning for the maid's room (99% of the maid's room in Singapore do not have air conditioning) and ventilation may or may not be a problem.

Main complaints of Caucasians/Americans are that the master bedroom is small (hardly able to move when you fit in a king-sized bed) and there is no garden.

Contact david@asiahomes.com or tel: +65 9668 6468.

I think no matter what, we are going to want a four bedroom. If we do get into a condo, are there plenty available with swimming pool and tennis facilities? YES.

Also, what type of facility is provided for a live in maid in both houses and condos?

A MAID'S ROOM in some housing with separate bathroom. In some brand new condos, you have to be careful as the room is so small (less than 50sf)that it will be tough to squeeze in a person.

Here in Buenos Aires, all the houses and apartments provide a bedroom to accommodate a single bed and dresser and a bathroom. Is that similar over there?

YES, except that the MAID'S ROOM in some new condos are more a store room of less than 50sf. Strange enough, the Developers still provide a maid's bathroom! Many Caucasians find it inhumane to let the maid sleep in such a small "utility" room.

I guess that is all for now. My husband is checking with his company in regards to using a specific realtor and we will get back with you.

Thanks again,

Surfer