duhzzz

Checkout 1. Ikea for cheap option. but not so good. 2. Spotlight @PS

Found out on the news today that some HUDC units in Hougang are going to be privatized. Some qns that came to my mind: 1. What is HUDC? How are they different from EM? 2. What are the advantages of privatizing it? 3. After privatizing, can build facilities e.g. swimming pool? 4. Can EM be privatized as well? Any body knows the ans?

90% will regret getting many contractors doing many different things. Not much cheaper either. I've tried to manage a few but ended up the price is about the same. So eventually gave my ID to do most of the work.

Nope. No kitchen. Did living room, dinning, balcony, master b/r, master toilet, and painting for whole house. Some electrical as well.

Here are some photos to share. =) Floor plan: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkoGIbTFGn4/S5N0...-h/Picture2.jpg Before 1: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkoGIbTFGn4/S5N0...-h/Picture3.jpg Before 2: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkoGIbTFGn4/S5N1...-h/Picture4.jpg After 1: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkoGIbTFGn4/TJ4N...0/After%201.jpg After 2: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkoGIbTFGn4/TJ4N...0/After%202.jpg

Got my 5RM EM at Hougange ave 1 (Near Lor Ah soo). Total reno cost adds up to 15k only =) Jus finished reno. Changed several things myself eg. Door knobs, electrical power points etc etc. So in summary, reno might not be very very ex. Jus be selective in the things that you do and of cos, compare and bargain more! Move in for 2 weeks and love the place so much. So many good eating places nearby and so many cheap shops. Tried walking to kovan mrt, norm walking 7mins for me, 10 min for my wife. Fast walking 5 mins can reach liao.

Indeed very unique. Four storey block 1st floor unit has a gardening plot with a bigger "Balcony". 3rd floor unit has a tapered high ceiling and with "private" lift. You can do anything to that gardening plot. Saw some ppl planting, some turned it into a alfresco coffee place. (Coffee bean like tentage) But still dun think the extra 4sqm land (bigger balcony) commands 100k COV more. Not easy to earn 100k!

I went thro a hard time too before signing the OTP. Went to view the house and really liked it. The only thing the agent mentioned was to sms him our price and he will check with his other buyer's price. Before he left, he "Assured" us that he would be fair to both buyers. Well, we initailly trusted him, but after an hour after we called him to tell him of our price, he told us the flat is SOLD!!! As we really liked the flat and felt that he was being unfair to us, we went to seller's house on the same day, and waited till 11pm when the seller came home and explained the entire situation to the seller. The seller called for the agent to her house immediately to explain himself and he came only 1 hr later, which is 12am midnight plus. Eventually the seller decided to sell to us as we paid the amount that the seller requested initially (55K!). Strangely, he agent revealed to us that his other buyer was his direct buyer (So he will earn 3% from this sales) plus the buyer wanted him to sell his current flat too. So in total he will earn 5%!!! But if he sell to us, he will get 2% only. Bottom line, trust no one. Easy too fool young buyers like us as this is the first time that we are buying a property. Many unethical agents in this line and that's why government is stepping in too.

Hi, You can actually contact the seller yourself if u think that the agent is not being fair to u. Unless the seller sign the agent as the sole exclusive agent, he can seal the deal with any other agents. Or you can even do it yourself if you do enough homework? HDB websites have all the regulations and procedures. Just need to find time to read them carefully. And can always call HDB or email them if you have any enquiries. Can save ur 1% sales commission.

I paid 55K COV for my flat which was approved in May and thought that i overpaid. Recently checked HDB website and found out that someone else bought another unit in the same block at 100K more!!! Madness!!!! From HDB Resale prices website: 111 Hougang Ave 1 01 to 05 133.00 Improved-Maisonette 1983 $480,000.00 May 2010 111 Hougang Ave 1 01 to 05 137.00 Improved-Maisonette 1983 $580,000.00 May 2010 Or perhaps I've got it at a good price? =)

I paid 55K for EM 3 months ago... Felt that it was alot, but dont think I'll ever find another such unique house. So impt thing is you must see value and feels comfortable in the house. =)

Well....i definitely prefer old estate, even though I am driving. Ppl considering new estate, I suggest you take a drive down to new estate eg. Punggol, and u'll appreciate matured estate even more. Dont be fooled by "Near mrt, got bus stop, very convenient." Seeing is believing.

Any cheaper lobangs?? haha...my fren drafted the PA himself for his ROM as his fiance is under 21yrs old and he paid $25 only jus to get a lawyer to witness and get it signed.

Dont really understand how ur Floor plan is like....any pics? btw, you can purchase ur unit's floor plan online thro HDB Website @ $5

WAh...ur COV higher than mine =)

My agent asked me to find a lawyer.. =|

Hi, I'll be missing my first appointment due to work overseas. My agent as well as HDB officer gave me 2 options, 1. Postpone 1st appointment date 2. Apply for power of attorney. Has anyone did the 2nd option before? Can share the details required to draft the letter? My fren suggested that I draft the letter myself and get it signed together with my fiance at a law firm. Will cost only about $25 if tt's the case.

using time is subjective... each person's walking speed different... go by distance, <300m?

1st Apppointment nxt month, Hopefully getting keys on 1st July. No $ for reno...lol...cos getting married this yr as well... Soooo Broke....

Well...some flats could be undervalued. =) And for all you know, ur COV might actually raise the valuation in that area.

2 hrs of negotiation cos the seller's agent wanted to close the deal with his direct buyer even though our bid was higher. Wanted to give up initially but ended up fighting for it and got it eventually but at the max COV tt the seller wanted. Good that you have found e unit tt u liked.

jtcp82: The locations is http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel...vel_site_84256/ 5 mins walk: Wet market, 2 coffee shops, police post, Community centre 15 mins walk: Kovan heartland mall, MRT Think ammenity wise quite ok ba. beachfox: I was in the same situation as u. Quite dramatic in fact. Seller's agent does not favour us cos he has another immediate buyer and the buyer is hiring him to sell his existing house too. End up have to go down to the owner directly to negotiate with her directly at 11pm till 1pm!!! And paid for the 55K COV tt the owner initally requested. Bottom line is, if u really like the unit, u really dun mind paying alot more than what u intended to pay. Our initial budget was 30K max. =(

Did u view in Jan this yr also? http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkoGIbTFGn4/S5N1...40/Picture4.jpg We were attracted by the high ceiling roof design as well as the layout. Dun mind the smaller area cos we dun wan to clean another extra toilet upstairs. I've been keeping up with the recent offers from the few blks. 3 Units sold after me according to their respective agents, Val: 465k, Selling at 600K, 580K and 610K. Dunno how true also. Do agents purposely report higher selling price in order to push the COV higher the nxt time rd?

Yea. Perfectly true. I bought mine in Jan 2010 at VAL: 425K COV: 55K Is is overpriced? Felt that it was slightly undervalued, dunnoe true anot... Btw, it is 27yrs old only. Not Late 70s. And the entire place is nicely upgraded.

Has anyone been to Hougang Ave 1, Blk 111 or 120 or 122? Their EMs are really unique. - 4 Storeys in each blocks - Lower unit (level 1 and 2) has a cordened off area for Gardening/ Coffee table/ Alfresco etc. - Upper unit has slanted tiled roofing that really looks like a Private house, with high ceiling (Due to slanted roof) on the second floor of the EM - Upgraded Lift (For level 3/4 EM units, less than 8 in each block)