A private upgrade

Homeowner Adelin tells us why she chose to upgrade from a HDB flat to a private property, sharing handy advice for prospective homeowners.

- YAIZA CANOPOLI

Can you tell us a little bit about your home journey? 

My husband and I were quite fortunate because we first got a sale-of-balance flat near an MRT station 15 years ago. We had that house for about seven years, but we eventually started opening up to the possibility of moving to a private development, because of the facilities and our plans to have a kid. It took us many years to finally decide on this unit-we actually saw so many over the years.

When we first saw this unit, we couldn't sell the flat yet, because the minimum five-year period wasn't up yet. The asking price at that point was also rather high. But ironically, two years later, the prices kind of softened and the unit was still on the market. I made an offer but knew the place would need a full remodel. It was actually a three-room flat originally and we turned it into a four-room flat.

So why did you decide to upgrade?

First of all, the space, and then of course the investment. We wouldn't only be getting more space but also secure our wealth preservation in the long run, since we would have the ability to pass on the property. We were also at a point where we were quite comfortable so it was an affordable upgrade for us.

You said you viewed a lot of different units. Why did you choose this one?

This unit is around 1,600 square feet, so it's pretty spacious. I saw the potential in it, how I could remodel the entire space. We really like this environment as well, it's really quiet and slightly more affordable than the surrounding area. It's not too far for my kids to go to school either.