Desirable districts to Live

[VictorVector]

Hello all - I am considering an employment opportunity in Singapore, in the Changi district, and I'd like some information about what residential districts would be best to look for housing in.  A modest budget, but would hope to find a comfortable apartment or condo with transit connections to Changi.

Perhaps a better question, if it helps, would be what districts to *avoid* -- if any.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[JDinEC]

You have a lot of good choices in terms of districts but in general just check out housing in the East Coast, I'd recommend the Siglap area.  You will be close to your office and there are a lot of expats in the area, restaurants, shopping, etc. near the beach and park (don't expect much from the Singapore beaches or parks but its better than nothing).  Housing prices are relatively modest and have been falling, you can get a nice large 2 or 3 bedroom condo for a couple thousand per month in a nice building with full amenities (e.g. pool, gym, sauna, tennis courts, etc.). 

[Are u sure?]

You have a lot of good choices in terms of districts but in general just check out housing in the East Coast, I'd recommend the Siglap area.  You will be close to your office and there are a lot of expats in the area, restaurants, shopping, etc. near the beach and park (don't expect much from the Singapore beaches or parks but its better than nothing).  Housing prices are relatively modest and have been falling, you can get a nice large 2 or 3 bedroom condo for a couple thousand per month in a nice building with full amenities (e.g. pool, gym, sauna, tennis courts, etc.). 

East Coast is grossly overrated. Only fools end up there. Traffic jams everywhere including at the only shopping centre and no MRT. East Coast has the worst transportation system.

[sure]

You have a lot of good choices in terms of districts but in general just check out housing in the East Coast, I'd recommend the Siglap area.  You will be close to your office and there are a lot of expats in the area, restaurants, shopping, etc. near the beach and park (don't expect much from the Singapore beaches or parks but its better than nothing).  Housing prices are relatively modest and have been falling, you can get a nice large 2 or 3 bedroom condo for a couple thousand per month in a nice building with full amenities (e.g. pool, gym, sauna, tennis courts, etc.). 

East Coast is grossly overrated. Only fools end up there. Traffic jams everywhere including at the only shopping centre and no MRT. East Coast has the worst transportation system.

MRT opens in couple of months. As for traffic jams, you get them everywhere!  Cannot avoid one lah.

[scanty]

'East Coast is grossly overrated. Only fools end up there. Traffic jams everywhere including at the only shopping centre and no MRT. East Coast has the worst transportation system.' 
 
What a silly thing to say.  Don't think there are any 'bad' areas in Singapore - it all depends on what your priorities are.  Live on the East Coast and never regretted it or anyone else I know living there. 
 

[Eat the Rich]

The Eastern Region MRT line is currently due to open in 2020 -just a little longer than a few months...

[Diva]

Since you are working in Changi area, why not consider those colonial bungalows in Changi area? Big spacious houses and good rental rates.

[Eat the Rich]

'East Coast is grossly overrated. Only fools end up there. Traffic jams everywhere including at the only shopping centre and no MRT. East Coast has the worst transportation system.' 
 
What a silly thing to say.  Don't think there are any 'bad' areas in Singapore - it all depends on what your priorities are.  Live on the East Coast and never regretted it or anyone else I know living there. 
 

He does have a bit of a point though. From the descriptions often given, a person coming to live in Singapore will get the impression that living in the east is somehow quieter and more tranquil than anywhere else in Singapore, and the weekends are spent wandering lazily along a palm fringed beach.

The reality is that the beach is lined by a 6 lane expressway and that condos with lovely sea views also have lovely expressway views and you are lulled to sleep by the roar of traffic rather than the gentle lapping of waves.

The park and beach are packed at weekends, and the number of tents pitched makes it look more like a refugee camp than a park. The traffic away from the ECP is actually worse than a lot of other areas. The jams on the ECP toward the city in the morning can be pretty dire and there is no MRT alternative

Still as you say, it depends on your priorities.

[scanty]

well I'm speaking as a mother of young children who was able to go to the EC park in the morning during the week or after school when it was lovely and quiet.  The OP  is planning to work near Changi so traffic shouldn't be a problem though to be honest I never found travelling into the city from EC a problem at all.  It's a great local area.  We could walk easily to Tangjong Katong, Geylang, Joo Chiat, East Coast Road, the Indoor Stadium for concerts etc.  Parkway Parade is actually a nice local shopping centre as is Kallang with quiet wide isled Cold Storage, Skating, Bowling, Cinema, Kids Play Areas. I could walk or cycle my kids to school through leafy suburbs.  The city, husbands work, Sentosa, Changi, Pasir Ris Park was always just an easy 10 or 15 mins drive away.  I don't know anyone who wants to move from the EC but know quite a few who are considering moving there once their leases are up but as I said - it all depends on your priorites.

[to Eat the Rich]

The Eastern Region MRT line is currently due to open in 2020 -just a little longer than a few months...

I live in the East Coast and the MRT is opening at my place in less than 5 months. It's called the Circle Line in case you didn't know, go to LTA website to find out.

[Pasir Ris]

I live on the East coast but if I was working in Changi I might consider Pasir Ris or maybe Changi itself (or the approach to Changi Village).  There are condos around there and some affordable housing.  Pasir Ris is quite a nice place as long as you don't mind being out of town a bit - I find that the longer I live here the more desirable somewhere like Pasir Ris becomes! 

Siglap is OK, easy to get to the beach and the Siglap area itself is useful for grocery shopping and eating out, but like an earlier poster says, the idea of being on the coast is marred slightly by the ECP running right past and the beach being like a zoo every Saturday and Sunday.  Plus it isn't that easy to get up to the Changi area from there (assuming the OP doesn't mean he'll be working at the airport). 

If you're looking for somewhere with MRT access OP, I'd suggest looking around the Simei, Tanah Merah or Kembangan areas, they've all got condos with easy MRT access (from the Siglap area you're looking at a bus ride to the MRT or a 20 min sweaty walk).

[Eat the Rich]

The Eastern Region MRT line is currently due to open in 2020 -just a little longer than a few months...

I live in the East Coast and the MRT is opening at my place in less than 5 months. It's called the Circle Line in case you didn't know, go to LTA website to find out.

I am sure that all those people who live on the part of East Coast that is actually east of Katong  will be delighted to know that. 

[locality x 3]

from history  - sought after districts: addresses in

dis 9, 10 and 11 (central)
dis 15 and 16 (east coast)

command better rental prices, and price per sq ft (local real estate transactions).
coincidentally better local schools tend to be located in those areas too. self-selective?

[wasssis]

We live on the east coast its the best place in Singapore to live. Great places to shop and eat etc Its quieter and has a great atmosphere around marine parade. Plus lots of great pubs as well.  You can get a bus right outside Parkway Parade up Katong Rd and will get you to Paya Lebar MRT. 

There are no bad areas in Singapore its totally safe everywhere but you may want to stay away from the little india and geylang district as they are red light areas where most of the low end folk and criminals, gangsters and loan sharks hang out.

Nobody in their right mind would ever want to live in those areas certainly not with a wife or their children. They are not dangerous to a visitor but you dont want to take chances and dont want your wife or kids to see hookers and pimps parading the streets night and day.

Stick to the east coast if you are working the changi district.  If you are very far out look at pasir ris or tampines but tampines is more of an hdb estate for locals.

[to wassis]

We live on the east coast its the best place in Singapore to live.

- yeah, in an HDB.

If you are very far out look at pasir ris or tampines but tampines is more of an hdb estate for locals.

- so you mean "don't stay in HDB estates, but wait a minute, I also stay. Ouch!"