Back to My Old Home at Tampines

After borrowing some books at Temasek Polytechnic library, I decided to go to Tampines Central for lunch. I took bus 518 outside Temasek Polytechnic thinking it would pass by Tampines Central MRT. It did not. I decided to alight near Yumin Primary School when I realised it be heading to Pasir Ris. 

I decided to take a look at my childhood home at Tampines Blk 207. Wow, the flat is very well-maintained even though its going to be 40 years old. I stayed here from 1981 to 1987 and spent happy days playing at Singapore iconic Dragon playground with my elder brother. 

I also went to look at the home at level 8 where I used to stay. I still remember if we went to the top level 9, we would be able to see Changi Airport tower. Alas, the view is now blocked by new flats. 

I have been staying at Tampines since I was a few months old. I hope to own a new home in Tampines and hope the government will allow Singles to buy BTO flat in mature estate like Tampines. If not, I have to buy resale flat in Tampines. 

View from level 8 at Blk 207 where I used to stay.

This used to be the iconic Dragon playground but now it's replaced by this playground made of plastics material.

I spent 6 years at Yumin Primary School. It's just a 3-minute walk from my flat at Tampines Blk 207.

The provision shop aka mama shop at my void deck area. We used to buy snacks and colourful ice sticks or ice pops here. I think there is change of owner.

Now there is automated parking system.

I used to stay at Tampines Blk 207 from 1981 to 1987. My 3rd younger brother was born in 1987 and he spent his 1 year old birthday at the new flat, aka the current flat we are staying.

Coffee shop near my home. We used to eat here.

HDB 2-room Flat- My Nice Home Gallery

Last week, I went to HDB at Toa Payoh with the plan to book a flat. Alas all the 2-room type 2 flat (45sqm) are fully taken. They only left 36 sqm 2-room BTO flat. I went to My Nice Home gallery to have a feel of what 36 sqm room is like and I didn't like it. My current bedroom is larger than the 2-room living room and bed room combined. My bedroom can keep 5 Billy bookshelves of 80 cm width each, a bed, a desk  and a wardrobe. 

Sometimes I feel unhappy that singles in Singapore are not as well taken care of as compared to married couples. Married couples get to purchase flats in matured estate and 2-room flats and above. Married couples with kids also enjoy child care leave whereas Singles have to help when they take child care leave. Singaporean singles can only purchase BTO flats in non-matured estates and 2-room flat. If Singles want to buy bigger flats in matured estate, they can only buy resale-flat aka second hand which I don't really like. I prefer a brand new flat.

Why can't they let Singaporeans Singles purchase 3-room BTO flat and in matured estate too? If I can't buy a flat to my liking, maybe I should retire in other place for a cheaper and nicer accommodation. 2-room flat here costs about $125000.00 depending on the level. 

Its not as if we want to be single. I don't want to spend so much money on condominium as monthly service conservancy charge is high and I need to plan for retirement alone. Most probably, in old age, I might stay in old folk home as my brothers will all get married. This month, my youngest brother will be hosting Chinese wedding dinner, even though early last year he already registered his marriage with his wife at the Registry of Marriage.

My Nice Home Gallery

I really want to buy this type 2, 45 sqm 2-room BTO flat. Its just right for 1 person. I don't have to spend too much time cleaning up. My new home will have lots of wood material, maybe pine and spruce wood. I like this resort bliss concept.

I have billy bookshelves instead of those shelves.

I also like this kitchen concept. Wood gives warm vibe which I love! I don't really cook as I'm too busy with work.

Hmm, maybe I place some succulents here. I love plants too.

This is a smaller 2-room flat of about 36 sqm. It is too small for me.

My current bedroom is so much bigger than the living room and bed room combine.

This is laminated wood, which doesn't emit warm feeling.

My Nice Home Gallery: HDB 5-room Flat

Today I'm going to share Singapore public housing, Housing Development Board (HDB) 5-room flat. This 5-room HDB flat has 4 rooms and 1 living room, a kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a bomb shelter room.  A typical 5-room BTO flat is about 110 square metres. Only Singaporeans are eligible for new flats or Build-to-Order (BTO) flats. I hope this scheme continues else Singapore permanent residents will buy more and drive prices up. 

BTO 5-room flat is only for family unit and Singaporeans singles are unfortunately not allowed to buy BTO 3-room flats and above. Singaporeans singles can only purchase BTO 2-room flat. This is a headache for me as I'm not allowed to rent out the room even after 5 years minimum occupation. If I want to buy HDB 3-room flat, I can only buy a resale one which means second-hand aka used home for me. The other option is to buy private housing which is very expensive and there is no grant. I monitor the situation and see how. Or I can buy a 2-room flat using my CPF. After 5 years, if I have more cash, I buy a private property for rental income.

Click here to view My Nice Home gallery on other public housing showflat.
Read my earlier post on 2-room flat showcase here.

4-room and 5-room show flats.

 Living room 

 Kitchen and dining area.

 I like this master bedroom design. This is the type of flooring I want for my home! I also like light pastel colour.

 

HDB Showflats My Nice Home Gallery

I'm currently taking a short course at Toa Payoh central. In the vicinity, there is a Housing Development Board (HDB) Hub where many properties transactions take place. Near the HDB hub, there is a showflat gallery where you can see different room types from 2-room flat to 5-room flat. For HDB which provides public housing for Singaporeans, a 2-room flat actually has 1 bedroom and a 5-room flat has 4 bedrooms. In Singapore, about 80% of Singaporeans live in public housing flats. Currently I'm staying with my family in a 5-room flat in Tampines. Older flats are much bigger compared to new flats. The flat I'm staying is about 120 square metres. All HDB flats have 99-year lease. So actually we don't own the flat. After 99 years, we have to return to HDB or if we have descendants, they have to return to HDB. Anyway, not many Singaporeans live beyond 100 years old. 

For me, I plan to buy a 2-room flat since now there is single housing scheme which allows Singaporean singles to buy a brand new 2-room flat. In the past, singles have to buy from the resale market. It is very competitive and challenging to get a brand new 2-room flat as interested parties have to ballot for the unit as there are many singles in Singapore. I really hope to get one 2-room flat as the size is just right for 1 person. For me, I'm interested in the 45m square size flat as I have many bookshelves. Looking at the 45m square size living room, I'm not sure if it can fit all my bookshelves. 

Anyway, what I like about the new 2-room flexi flat is there are many elderly-friendly facilities like emergency alarm, handrail holding. I reckon I be staying in this 2-room flat till old age alone. So these facilities are quite useful for me in time to come. 

Click here to view HDB My Nice Home gallery. This is like an online interactive gallery to view different flats from 2-room to 5-room flat.

How to get there?
Just alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. It takes about 5 minutes to reach HDB hub. 

45 square metres 2-room showflat.

 36 square metres 2-room showflat.

Living room inside 45 sq m 2-room flat. For me I don't like black and white theme. I prefer Scandivanian style with lots of wood material and pastel colour. 

Kitchen inside 45 sq m 2-room flat.

  There is 1 toilet inside 45 sq m 2-room flat. 

Bedroom inside 45 sq m 2-room flat. 

This bedroom is small. Just enough space for a Queen size bed and wardrobes. For me I'll buy single bed, study table and a wardrobe. Living in the older 5-room flat, I'm used to spacious space. My current bed room has a single bed, 1 wardrobe, 3 bookshelves and  two study tables. My bedroom size is twice or triple the size of current bedroom in new flats.

Living room Inside 45 square metres 2-room showroom

 There is 1 toilet inside a 2-room flat. Not enough room for jacuzzi bathtub. 

This is the shelter room. Guess most people will use it for storage too. I can keep my luggage inside here.

 Inside the shelter room.

 Next, explore the 36 square metres 2-bedroom showflat.

 This is the living room in 36 square metres 2-room flat. I prefer wood tiles and Scandinavian design with pastel colour. 

 The bedroom is just behind the living room.

 The toilet don't have room for bathtub too.

 Inside the shelter room.

 I like this kitchen design with wood cabinet. I love wood material so if possible, I also want to have wood flooring.