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Internet property advertisements for Owners and Realtors at S$13.50/40
words/90 days, targetted at US/European expats relocating to Singapore.
UNIQUE SINGAPORE HOMES
ECLECTIC HOUSES - ROMANTIC
CONSERVATION SHOPHOUSES
Rentals have dropped in 2002, but
not considerably for the Emerald Hill shoophomes
Ref: 812029
Location: City/Central.
Eclectic Houses - Romantic Conservation Shophouses.
Case study: Closing on a
romantic American.
For Rent: 4+1, 3,000 sf, $9,500
p/f at Everton Rd. Use as SOHO (home office). 5 other units at Blair Rd, Spottiswood Park and Neil Roads from $6,000 - $10,000.
Email judy@asiahomes.com or
call (65) 9668 6468.
Date of report: December
2,1998.
Location: Everton,
Spottiswood Park, Neil and Blair Road, 8-minute walk to Outram subway,
2 stops from Raffles Place, 3 stops from Suntec City. At fringe of
Chinatown, Singapore General Hospital and Shenton Way financial district.
Many buses and taxis. Singapore River, Boat Quay,Clarke Quay, Robertson
Quay where all young expats hang out and Raffles Place/Shenton Way and
Suntec City, within 5-10 minutes by taxi.
Features: 2-storey
shophouses, now restored as conservation homes. Around 2-3 years old after
restoration. Some are well designed to give modern comforts without
sacrificing much the historical ambience.
lst floor. Ceramic tiled (white or
reddish brown or flowery mosaic flooring) in living and separate dining
area going to kitchen and utility area and out to car park lot (usually no
car park lot in these homes). Some kitchen have modern appliances, like
any new condo. Many living and dining rooms are not air conditioned. Water
coolers may be requested as locals usually don't use them and sweat
it out with ceiling fans.
The air well brings in light and the floor
may be used for bonzai plants or is landscaped to a miniature tropical
jungle with white pebbles. A few owners have converted the floor of the
air well into a koi fish pond. Some have fully enclosed the air well area
which is air conditioned too.
2nd floor. Wooden flooring in 3 or 4
bedrooms which are spread out in the front and back of the house. One
bedroom has attached bath. Common bathroom may be open to public view.
Skylight wooden framed windows in upper bedroom bring in daylight.
Starlight and starry nights viewed from the skylight windows elicits a
romantic feeling for Caucasians in love and in love with history. Bedrooms
are air-conditioned, usually with split-unit air conditoners although some
units have window units.
Owners &
Realtors:
Want to rent out
your property faster? Affordable global exposure to rent your Singapore
property faster.
S$13.50 for 40
words for 90 days is worth every dime as Asiahomes Internet is a
Singapore Internet Property Advertising agency focusing only on Singapore
housing. Its website and www.asiahomes.com
is read by surfers from the US and other countries relocating to
Singapore, know you have an apartment or house for rent. Email details to drsing@asiahomes.com
Advantages: Living in
history when these houses were used by migrant families from China and
India conducting commerce with the bum boats loading and unloading wares
and rice from the banks of the Singapore River. Imagine the
"coolies" (labourers) struggling to earn money to send back to
China or India. Many had become wealthy merchants and bankers. The sam-sui
women in red head-gear and blue "pant-suits" carrying heavy
loads of cement to build houses for the rich men. All these occurred in
the Chinatown area in which the Everton and Blair Road shophouses are now
conserved as homes and offices.
Great location as it is easy for anyone to
visit you since the Outram subway is within walking distance and
there are too many taxis. Suits expats who love to experience the British
colonial history and appreciate the noisy wooden floor boards and coloured
window panes and designs of the Peranakan shop houses.
Disadvantages: Caucasians
who survive on air conditioning may need to rent one where the living and
dining areas have air conditioning as most of them have ceiling fans only.
It may be quite humid in the evening and early morning since all
doors and windows are shut. Water coolers may be required as some bedrooms
may not have air conditioning. Electrically operated sky-light windows
need to be checked as some have malfunctioned. Everton Road area is full
of life and there are many Caucasians. Car parking is at the roadside as
the houses here don't have car parking lots. Watch out for the car park
wardens in grey uniform if you don't have season parking.
Type of expats. Suits
expats who love romantic Singapore River and British colonial history.
Single or newly married, arts-type or those who don't want communal
crowded conventional condos and houses. An opportunity to live in history.
Case study: Closing on a
romantic American.
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998
18:14:07 -0700 From: "xxx"
To: judy@asiahomes.com
Subject: Interesting
Housing....
Hello- I just happened to
'stumble' upon your internet page today... I will be sent to Singapore to
work from 11/1 for a large American/European company and have spent a wee
bit of time there looking at a few (8) places, but not
yet finding the one that grabbed me... For a little background: * I am a
single male, aged 32 * I will be in Singapore for at least 3 years * I am
the first of probably many to come and therefore my experience with
relators, areas, etc. will weigh heavily on future policy and contracted
companies * My budget, including all furnishings, looks to be about US$
6,500 (or about Sing $11,000) * I will have a car *
I have two types of
interests in homes: One is a conservation, or storefront home
that has a very eclectic (read untypical, interesting)
and modern interior.
Another is something on
(preferably, but understandingly from a Singapore security point,
unrealistic) or close to the beach *
Examples of something that
has interested me so far, but time has yet to allow me to investigate
would be Emerald Hill and Nassim Jade (saw exterior and had 'initial'
appeal. * A good kitchen and usable balcony relatively important * My
office is near Orchard Road.
I feel that my budget is
fair and that I should find something interesting in the two described
categories, but... Plan is to spend the first one month in a service
apartment, see a few places and not make any sudden decisions (unless
something really great is available) Can you help me?
Sincerely, xxx
A very tough case to close as the
"something really great" was not present in over 70 conservation
houses and Balinese semi-detached shown in various areas of Singapore.
Another realtor was also active house-hunting with this American, putting
pressure on Asia USA realtors.
With Asia USA, there were 3
prospective conservation homes for the romantic American. One was cool
with metallic staircases but was considered too far from Orchard Road and
nowhere located near the subway.
The second unit was within walking distance
of the Newton subway and had a car parking lot. The Owner wanted $10,000
rental and insisted that Asia USA's client paid the legal fees of the
Landlord and must use the Landlord's solicitor.
The third unit was an Everton Road house.
This area had been visited thrice. During the visits, a couple was taking
wedding photographs in the afternoon. A blonde lady was pad-locking her
antique shop. The evening sun added a warm glow during the last visit in
which the Landlord and the prospective Tenant got along very well.
However, the Landlord's lawyer recommended 3 months' security deposit
instead of 2 months as agreed. Fortunately the deal was not aborted. |
Last updated: 27 Oct 2002
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