|
15 & 19 Leonie
Hill, East & West Towers. Completed: Around 1984.
210 units.
4-bedroom: 214 -
243 sq. m
The 214 sq. m units do not have private lift lobbies and have small
living areas. They do have a separate family area (for use as a
study area or for children to play). This family area is outside the
master and two bedrooms and is around 7 sq. m.
The 243 sq m units have a longer living area and a large family area
after entering from the private lift lobby. Kitchen areas for both
types are similar and semi-circular. A long dining table with 8
chairs will just fit into this area. Large ice-making fridges cannot
fit into the kitchen. Some tenants put them in the dining area or
the utility area. The maid's room is quite dark and tucked away
behind the kitchen.
Penthouses: 5
or 6 bedrooms. 448 - 492 sq. m. with big patio of over 1,000
sq. ft or a big pool. Some have 5 or 6 bedrooms and a big patio on
the first level near the circular master bedroom or a swimming pool
plus sauna and gazebo above the 2nd level. Spacious patio and
terraces.
Penthouses have 2 levels. Some owners have split the
penthouses into 2 separate units to rent out individually.
Therefore, one unit may have an odd-looking circular area outside
the kitchen. This will be the lower floor.
Whole condo looks good with recent upgrading. Koi pond and running
water near the security area gives a good feeling. Squash
courts being upgraded on a visit on Sep 2, 2000.
Interiors:
Living and separate dining area - white grey-streaked marble unless
replaced by wood or black granite; bedrooms carpeted or parquet
depending on the state of renovation. Light brown kitchen cabinets.
Deep blue bath tubs and sinks in the master bedroom. Another light
yellow bath tub in bedroom 2. Common bathroom has shower. Maid's
bathroom may have a squatting toilet bowl.
Ducted central air conditioning with one control in the living room
and one at the master bedroom. However, all bedrooms must be
air conditioned as there is no individual control for each of the
four bedrooms. Said to be the only condo with a new central
air conditioning system (excluding the piping) after a major
upgrading exercise.
Facilities:
Swimming pool, children's pool, tennis courts x2 newly
resurfaced, squash courts x2, sauna, playground connecting one block
to another via grassland, 24-hour security, covered car park, new
good-sized gym. Indoor table tennis table and basketball
practice area.
Completed in Aug 2000. $1 million spent on Hitachi cooling tower &
piping system for air conditioning system. Renovated visitor's lobby
with sandstone walls and a waterfall koi pond.
Golf putting green, practice bunkers, 3 driving cages. Pool
table, private function area at basement of car park. All these
upgrading makes Horizon Towers a much nicer place to live in.
Much now depends on the interior renovation of each owner to attract
the tenants.
Investors to note:
99-year lease with effect from 1984. Selling prices around $1.5
million as at Sep 1, 2000. New investors are unlikely to
profit from enbloc sales as the site is on a 99-year lease. Rentals
are around $4,500 in Dec 1 2002.
Easy
to rent if completely renovated in pastel colours which
suit the Caucasian culture.
In 2001, there is the enamel spraying process to make the bath
tubs and wall tiles look new. This saves a considerable amount
of costs of replacement and hacking. Spraying is best done in
pastel, non glossy colours.
Many Owners want to express their creativity using various colours
for various bathrooms, but it may be wise just to have white
bathroom accessories.
Do not make the same mistake as one owner, reference to report: German
expat with $9,000 budget not used to the blue, green and beige
bathroom of Horizon Towers
Advantages:
Great location. A 7 to 10-minute walk to Orchard or Somerset subway
and shopping or a 5-minute walk to the Great World City Shopping
Mall.
Bright and
spacious living and family rooms.
 Living area in granite in a penthouse. Circular balcony to
right. Circular master bedroom (far back to right). Door leads to
big patio of 1,000 sq. ft or to a big pool in penthouses.
Living area has a split level. Family area outside the bedroom
is sometimes used as a dining area.
Air
conditioning in kitchen in some units. Private lift
lobby for the 2600 sq ft units, not the 2400 sq ft units.Access card to apartment gives security.
Shopping malls
and supermarkets including one Cold Storage at Takashimaya Shopping
Center within walking distance. This condo attracts a large number of Caucasian families. There is a
resort ambience. The sand-coloured walls near the lift lobby
brighten up the visitor's lobby.
Disadvantages:
Many units have no views since the area is heavily built up with
condos.
Dated or worn out dark blue, pink and multi-coloured bath tubs and
sinks. Deep blue coloured master bathroom instead of white as in
modern condos. In 2002, there is the glazing method in which
bath tubs and sinks are sprayed white or any colours. The coating
may last two years and is cheaper than extensive hacking and
replacement of bathroom accessories and tiles.
Expats with big dining tables complain about the smaller dining
 area
and the small kitchen. Most owners who have renovated the kitchen do
not plan for a space for large ice-making fridge when they make
kitchen cabinets. Consequently, such fridges have to be put in the
dining area or utility area.
Small circular dining area (right, up stairs from living
area), circular balcony (top left).
Some expats don't like the circular bedrooms, the central air
conditioning system and the curved windows of the master bedroom.
In original design, there are only two air conditioning control
boxes. One controls air conditioning to the four bedrooms and the
other controls the living and dining areas. In other words, there is
no individual room control and a possibility of energy cost saving
if only one bedroom is air conditioned as you will need to air
condition all four
The living area near the window and the kitchen is sunken to around
1.5 feet deep and may be a danger concern to toddlers.
Renovated units and the lower rentals per sq ft basis make Horizon
Towers very popular with Caucasian expats who don't complain about
the disadvantages as location is great.
Occupancy Rate:
This condo is popular with Caucasian families who want to live in
Orchard Road and near Orchard/Somerset subway at lower rental rates
than equivalent floor areas in the newer condos with beautiful brand new fixtures and
fittings.
Contact
judy@asiahomes.com or tel +65 9668 6468.
Expats relocating to Singapore: email:
judy@asiahomes.com
for a comprehensive rental contract and best rental package for you.
|
March
24, 2011
For Rent
