Discover essential tips and insights on renting an HDB flat in Singapore. Explore options, understand costs, and find your ideal home with Dominic Choa Real Estate expertise.

HDB Resale Flat Portal: Your Ultimate Guide to Finding the Perfect Home Finding your dream home in Singapore doesn’t have to be a daunting experience. Th

Bukit Timah Turf City – What You Need to Know About Bukit Timah’s Upcoming Housing Estate Bukit Timah is traditionally known to be a prime residential area consisting predominantly luxury private condominiums and landed homes, as well as being located near the Core Central Region (CCR). But this could soon change over the next 20 to 30 years. So you see, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Housing & Development Board (HDB) has announced a development plan on May 2024 that will see the Bukit Timah Turf City being redeveloped into a new residential estate. More importantly, Bukit Timah will see the inclusion of Build-to-Order (BTO) flats for the first time in almost 40 years! Here is what you need to know about this upcoming estate. Bukit Timah Turf City had a colourful past Spanning 176 ha, Bukit Timah Turf City was once an area dedicated to sports and recreational activities, and most notably horse racing. Known formerly as the ‘Singapore Turf Club’, the site was used for horseracing from 1933 to 1999, and was a popular haunt for avid punters for over 66 years, According to the Minister of National Development Desmond Lee, “the site was zoned for residential use since 1998, but was leased out for lifestyle and recreational use until the end of 2023”. Since then, Bukit Timah Turf City has been home to a several sports associations such as a saddle club, country clubs, commercial spaces, and other sporting facilities. When the Singapore Turf Club shifted to Kranji, the site transformed into a shopping complex serving the immediate residents of the private residential enclave. Football match held at Turf Club Why the Need to Redevelop Turf City? Currently, the piece of land that was once home to Singapore Turf Club is not being utilised well, and has a high redevelopment potential to make the area lively like it once was. Additionally, Bukit Timah is made up predominantly of private residential properties, available only to a select few, which has cultivated the area’s reputation as a prestigious neighbourhood for the wealthy. Thus, through integrating public and private housing in the upcoming housing estates, this will foster inclusivity among people of different financial background and help breakdown any stereotypes of the area. Furthermore, those working or schooling in the area would be interested in affordable properties that are conveniently located in an esteemed neighbourhood. Diversify Housing options in Bukit Timah This area, together with the rest of Bukit Timah, is widely perceived as exclusive due to the surplus of private residential properties there, and its central and accessible geographical location. Therefore, a greater diversity of housing types would be beneficial to a wider group of people who are looking to live in a centrical location nearer to their workplaces, schools and the CCR. Furthermore, by introducing public housing in this area will allow children from diverse backgrounds to attend popular schools in the area. Better amenities and connectivity Bukit Timah Turf City’s rich history can be seen in the many buildings and structures that represent the former Turf Club’s distinct aspects, and will be studied for retention and repurposing to integrated it with the new residential enclaves in the future. Artist’s Impression of a repurposed Fairways Quarters and community space Other amenities will include recreational spaces and sports facilities, that will bring convenience to users and at the same time, showcasing the area’s distinct past. The new neighbourhood will be built around the former grandstand and the current oval shaped open space will be retained for recreational purposes. As for transport nodes, Bukit Timah Turf City currently has no bus services, and the nearest MRT station is Sixth Avenue. Therefore, improving the connectivity of Bukit Timah Turf City with new bus services and MRT lines would benefit both new and existing residences living in that area. What Can We Expect with the Upcoming Estate Bukit Timah Turf City is expected to yield 15,000 to 20,000 residential homes, both private and public, across four distinct neighbourhoods, namely Racecourse Neighbourhood, Stables Commune, Saddle Club Knolls and Tinggi Hills. Map of the 4 New Neighbourhoods in Bukit Timah Turf City To cater to the needs of future residents, these neighbourhoods will feature open public spaces integrated with historic buildings and structures, a variety of amenities including shops, community and recreational facilities, as well as improved transport connections. Additionally, the Bukit Timah Turf City is planned to be car-lite, pedestrian friendly and well-served by public transport. Due to this, there will be fewer spaces dedicated to car parking to free up space for more greenery and community spaces. Improved connectivity The area is currently served by Sixth Avenue MRT Station on the Downtown Line (DTL), which is 15 minutes away from the site. By 2032, Turf City will have its own MRT station on the upcoming Cross Island MRT Line. Residents will be within a 10-minute walk from either MRT station, increasing convenience and connectivity between Bukit Timah Turf City and the rest of the island, without the need for a private vehicle. Furthermore, new bus services may also be added to allow future residents to have more choices when travelling within and outside the Bukit Timah Turf City estate. Cross Island MRT Line Road improvement works will also be carried out along Dunearn Road, Bukit Timah Road and Eng Neo Avenue to accommodate anticipated traffic to and from future developments at Bukit Timah Turf City. Concurrently, a study is being conducted on the technical feasibility and impact of implementing a new exit ramp from the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) towards Tuas at Bukit Timah Turf City. BTO flats in Bukit Timah could be a’ golden ticket’ to enter popular Schools After almost 40 years, URA and HDB has announced that HDB flats will be included in this area. The inclusion of HDB flats aims to provide a more affordable housing option for Singaporeans who wish to live in this area. Existing HDB flats are older and area limited in

The Unique Neighbourhoods of Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Gardens Have you ever dreamed of staying in a place not dominated by towering high-rises but filled with greenery and low-rise houses instead? A place with its own unique flair and personality, where heritage and modern lifestyle blend seamlessly? Areas like Katong or Tiong Bahru might come to mind, but they can be a bit too upscale for some. What if we told you there’s a hidden gem in District 19 that offers the same charming living experience? Welcome to the quaint estate of Serangoon Garden, one of Singapore’s most distinct housing areas. A Brief History Serangoon Garden is a residential estate and a subzone in the Serangoon planning area, located in District 19. In the 1950’s the estate now known as Serangoon Gardens was built to provide housing for workers and their families in the area, such as teachers, labourers and airmen. These townhouses and bungalows, with their distinctive red roof tiling became synonymous with the area – a distinctive trait that a good number of houses retain, even today. As the area became populated, amenities and conveniences were built into the area, such as shops, eateries started showing up, and a recreational clubhouse, Serangoon Gardens Sports Club. Serangoon Garden Today: Amenities and Landscape Serangoon Garden has kept most of its landscape and architecture from the olden days, retaining its iconic look and feel, while offering modern conveniences to its residents. Many of the residential houses in Serangoon Gardens still retain their distinct red roof tiling, which can be observed over its low-rise skyline. Serangoon Garden Circus, where most of the shops were situated still stands, with their tenants hosting a wide range of food and services catered to the modern tastes of residents. The recreational clubhouse, now known as Serangoon Gardens Country Club, still stands, with members from the estate frequenting it for sports and recreational activities, as well as classes and enrichment activities for their children. The street food vendors that used to run their businesses out of carts along Serangoon Garden Way were also given a hawker centre to set up stalls and operate out of in 1972. The hawker centre, now known as Chomp Chomp Food Centre, is famous today for its selection of local food (famous dishes there include BBQ stingray and Hokkien Mee) and is one of the more well-known and frequented hawker centres in Singapore. Why Is Serangoon Gardens Such a Popular Estate? Serangoon Gardens is one of the most popular and recognisable estates in Singapore, and for good reasons. Kampong Spirit It is not uncommon to find people that have stayed there their whole lives, with their homes being passed down generations over the last 70 or so years of its existence. This gives the estate a warm, kampong feel with the community fostered between the residents of the estate that residents have fondly dubbed “the feel of an old English village”. A cosmopolitan village In addition to this expatriates, particularly those from Australia or France, tend to rent homes in Serangoon Gardens, due to its proximity to the Australian and French international schools. With an established community of foreigners and expatriates, there has been an increase in the number of businesses catered to the needs of these communities. You can find cafes and eateries at Serangoon Garden Circus serving western fare, as well as grocery stores such as Little Farms and a French grocer. The presence of these establishments within the landed enclave gives the neighbourhood a distinct, cosmopolitan vibe that can be likened to that of Holland Village. A Wealth of Amenities In comparison to other landed estates or enclaves in Singapore, Serangoon Garden offers more amenities to its residents. The mini hub at Serangoon Garden Circus offers everything for its residents, from food, to enrichment and tuition centres, as well as healthcare, and pet care shops. There is even a shopping mall, MyVillage with a FairPrice Finest for residents to do their shopping, along with dining options, and beauty parlours and hair salons. Scarcity of Housing in Serangoon Gardens Given the popularity of the estate, housing availability is scarce in Serangoon Gardens. This is especially so when we consider that most of the houses in the estate are landed homes. Currently, landed homes are high in demand, with a low supply. As a result, landed homeowners possess strong holding power, with the median price for a house in Serangoon Gardens in 2024 costing $4.62m, making it inaccessible for most homebuyers. With landed houses being scarce, costly, and mostly out of reach for most of us, we automatically look for non-landed private property options in the area. However, a search in the Serangoon Gardens estate would show that there are few condominium or private apartments. Table 1: Non-landed private projects in Serangoon Garden Estate (