Couple found their dream house as they set aside lofty expectations

He knew that if he and his 33-year-old Singaporean partner, “Nellie,” decided to settle down and buy a home together, it would be a step in their relationship. The circumstances in which he found himself were not favorable at first.

North Gaia at Yishun within short walking distance to Junction 9 where residents can access to its food court, supermarket, restaurants and also the retail shops.

Nellie worked in the maritime industry for 17 years (his partner for 7). In late 2020, Nellie sold a private home under his name so that they could move in together.

You are unable to wait, so apply for a BTO

Nellie had just sold his private property so he must wait at minimum 30 months to apply for a BTO apartment. This is part HDB’s eligibility requirements.

After the initial 30 months, the BTO flat will take 4-5 years to become available (only if the applicant is successful). Nellie and her partner weren’t willing to wait that long. They were also concerned about possible delays in completion due to COVID-19.

They began to look for a property to resell and started house hunting.

“My partner and i looked at many projects, including resale DBSS [Design, Build & Sell Scheme] to Executive Condominiums, (EC), which are those that have completed their minimum occupancy periods (MOP).

“To our delight, the prices that sellers wanted left our mouths watering. We had to pay COV (Cash Over Valuation), which was a significant amount. This forced us to pause and rethink our decision.

The right expectations and balance

Nellie and her partner had high expectations at first.

They were looking for a place on a top floor with a great view, good amenities, and a wonderful neighborhood. These came at a high price so they lowered their expectations.

Nellie and her partner finally found the perfect balance in the resale condo that they looked at. It was more expensive than a resale HDB apartment, but it provided more facilities, privacy, and security.

With the assistance of their agent, they selected a 1,001-sqft apartment with 3 bedrooms at La Fiesta. It was completed in 2016 and is a 99-year-leasehold condo located opposite the Compass One shopping center. Sengkang MRT is just an overhead bridge away.

The apartment was priced at S$1,249 per square foot, which was within their budget. They were also pleased that it was well-maintained and relatively new, which was an important criteria during their search.

Nellie and her partner decided that they would not compromise on space when building the apartment. The living, kitchen, and dining areas were merged into one large space, creating a communal, free-flowing area instead of having separate, traditional spaces.

“We were impressed by the potential of this space when we first saw it. Another plus was the cleanliness of the grounds. The mature nature of the neighbourhood was a plus. However, it retains some youthful aspects in some areas. We also considered the rentability of this development, which helped us make our decision.

The role of agent is that of mediator

Nellie and her partner had disagreements during the house-viewing process and selection process. They didn’t always see eye to eye in everything.

He said, “This is where your agent plays an important role.” He should be friend to both of you, understand the situation and do his research to make the best recommendations for you.

Nellie and her partner, Nellie, are happy to live in La Fiesta’s fully furnished apartment, sipping wine.

Nellie is proud of his kitchen. He and his partner took the bold step to remove the condo cabinets and walls that separated the living and kitchen areas. They went with shelves instead of upper cabinets.

Advice for home-buyers

Nellie, who has sold a private home and purchased a condo resale condo in his own name, advises homebuyers to “understand and compromise”, especially when purchasing with a partner.

“People have high expectations for their first home and often miss out on good units due to different priorities and checklists. This is what I learned from my own journey. There were also many other areas to be aware of. Renovation, bank loans, furniture, appliances, and time to move in.

These are important things to be aware of and talk about with your partner when you’re house hunting.

It is crucial to find a competent agent. Although you can find a great home by yourself, they can help you determine the potential value of the property and whether it is worth the extra money. They can help you negotiate the price and make sure that everything goes smoothly, especially if there is a resale unit from a former owner.

Nellie and her partner have a dream to one day own a second property and rent it out. They are happy with their home for now and hope that their sharing will help other homeowners make better decisions.