Welcome to our Blog which records our journey which started from the search of a HDB Resale Unit to finally the purchase and renovation of our Jumbo BnB!
Our initial 3 main search criterias were: 1. LOCATION – Close proximity to MRT as we do not own a car and are too lazy to walk long distance. We are willing to pay a premium for location as we see it as savings from not buying/maintaining a car. 2. HIGH FLOOR – Great view, more windy, less insects, less noise from playground and void deck activities. If you get the top floor, you have the added advantage of not having to deal with waste pipes! In all honesty, for greater privacy, 5th floor is the lowest recommended before pedestrians can peer into your house from the ground level. Another consideration is that low floor units are too close to the base rubbish bin in the chute thus every time you open the chute, it is like you are under a chemical attack. 3. Non-Corridor Unit – For greater privacy. Our other concern is that we might get evicted by our neighbours as we are noisy… ok very noisy, not us actually but our Home Theater System and propensity to watch action movies…
Using the above 3 search criteria, we spent 3 months scouring the TPY & Bishan areas. The prime candidate was the Blk 79 A-E series near TPY MRT. However the COV and valuations were crazily high. But we must admit the view from those above 30th floor was crazily good!
To cut a long story short, we settled for a 5-room unit near Braddell MRT. It only fulfills one of the above 3 criterias (i.e. location); it is a low floor and corridor unit. However it has one unique feature – it is made up of 2 adjoining 3-room units (total 6 rooms if you count the 2 added utility rooms) – which makes it very exciting to do up! =) Being travel bugs, we love hostels and this unit offers us the chance to do up our house like a hostel… hahhaha it wld be like living eternally in a travel hostel. We made an offer to a very nice lady and her mum on the 2nd day and ta da – the Reno Journey begins!
PS You cant actually rent your HDB out as a BnB as it is against the regulations and you might lose your unit. Read http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/two-lose-hdb-flats-renting-them-tourists
Jumbo Bnb 