Thanks bro I really need brutal, honest feedback. Even if homestay, I need to get value for the dollars. Pricing I think a bit steep.
Just on face value, $2k psf for D21 can hardly be called value for money.
However you might want to make a list of pros and cons and see if: (1) your list of pros outweigh your cons; and/or (2) if your cons can be mitigated.
List of cons as provided by others + an overlay of my own views as an ex Goodluck Gardener:
- MRT is walkable but not walkable
- Potentially limited capital appreciation (but who knows for sure? Goodluck Garden was going for $1k psf literally <3 years ago..now people are queuing up to pay $2k psf!+1 to capitalism)
- Low rental yield (this I believe)
- Oversupply in the area (I think so)
- Cramped blocks (We know so)
- Not really bukit timah but having bukit timah in its name (that's more personal as to whether or not it is acceptable to you. In my many years of living there I always told my friends I kinda stay in Bukit Timah, but more like in the slums cos you know, paiseh)
Then you look at potential pros:
- FH status (Does it really matter to you?)
- Good feeling from staying in a newbuild condo (That will wear out quickly + you can find cheaper options elsewhere)
- Food (Near Cheong Chin Nam and Bt Timah Food Centre. It is convenient but the food isn't great. Also where in Singapore are you not relatively close to food?)
- Distance to MRT (I think can be considered a pro as before downtown line was built, the closest MRT to Goodluck Garden was Clementi, with only 1 feeder bus there! Now you have an MRT only 3 bus stops away / ~15 minutes walk to one of the newer MRT lines in Singapore, which can take you to all the condos along Bukit Timah that you cannot afford)
- Greenery (it is quite nice to take a walk in Bt Timah Nature Reserve / Bt Batok Nature Park. But it is also near enough / far enough for the walk there to be considered exercise in itself)
- Proximity to Pei Hwa and BTPS (Only relevant if you have kids studying there. Pls don't buy a place near Pei Hwa just to get priority admission as the odds are really stacked against you even if you live nearby)
- Shopping: "Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, Beauty World Centre, Beauty World Plaza and Bukit Timah Plaza. Your shopping needs will definitely be fulfilled with plenty of shops and megastores such as Giant Supermarket" (not my words...copied this from one of the Forett websites. Yes, I am sure this list of world class retail options will increase the value of your home. Also please do not be fooled, the Giant in Beauty World is very not giant. NTUC finest in BTP is quite good tho)
- Others??? Maybe you grew up in the area and wanna live there for sentimental reasons?