Singapore Property Walkabouts

Property Zai Kia was born out of passion and a need – I am a Singaporean on the cusp of my 30s who set out on this journey looking for my first home. This began in 2018 while my partner and I were Law and Medicine undergraduates.

As with most Singaporeans, we desired a HDB flat as our first and matrimonial home. We applied for a 43rd floor, 5-Room flat in Queenstown (SkyResidence @ Dawson) via the Sale of Balance scheme, which was sold by HDB for an astronomical price (then) of $700,000. Despite that, we knew that it was a ‘sure win’ for us if we were lucky enough to be balloted. Unsurprisingly, we were unsuccessful and I have kept the rejection letter till this day.

In 2021, after jointly considering 20+ condos over 2 years, we took the plunge (after a single viewing) and purchased a 2 Bedroom resale condo in District 10 as our matrimonial home. It was with some apprehension as we paid the highest psf in the development then. We were nevertheless happy that we had taken that leap of faith and settled on the biggest expense of our lives.

Since a young age, I have been intrigued by real estate’s ability to be an effective legacy tool, especially here in sunny Singapore, where demand for properties never seems to abate. Personally, this includes properties of all shapes and forms – from 3-room HDB flats and Maisonettes to condominiums and Good Class Bungalows.

The journey thereafter has taken me to more than 150 new and resale properties in Singapore, making me one of the most prolific viewers of real estate in my age group. The process has allowed me to develop a grasp of market trends and drivers behind buyer (and seller) behaviour while keeping practical considerations in mind. For the record, while I have traded legal statutes for balance sheets in the world of high finance, I neither hold nor intend to hold a Real Estate Salesperson licence, preferring instead to be on the “buy-side”.

As a matter of personal interest, I am also interested in the history and dynamics around Singapore’s most premium segment – Good Class Bungalows. With just 2800+ houses in 39 estates across the (mainly) prime districts, this site hopes to provide an insightful read into this unique category of homes which are far beyond the affordability of the common man like myself.

I maintain an active Instagram page: @propertyzaikia

New & Resale Condos Viewed (Since ~2012)

1. Marina One Residences (D01)
2. One Marina Gardens (D01)
3. Union Square Residences (D01)
4. W Residences Marina View (D01)
5. TMW Maxwell (D02)
6. Avenue South Residences (D03)
7. Commonwealth Towers (D03)
8. The Landmark (D03)
9. Margaret Ville (D03)
10. One Pearl Bank (D03)
11. Penrith (D03)
12. Promenade Peak (D03)
13. Riviere (D03)
14. Zyon Grand (D03)
15. Marina Collection (D04)
16. The Interlace (D04)
17. The Reef at King’s Dock (D04)
18. Bloomsbury Residences (D05)
19. Lyndenwoods (D05)
20. One-North Eden (D05)
21. Terra Hill (D05)
22. Canninghill Piers (D06)
23. Aurea (D07)
24. City Gate (D07)
25. Midtown Bay (D07)
26. Midtown Modern (D07)
27. 1953 (D08)
28. Piccadilly Grand (D08)
29. Uptown@Farrer (D08)
30. Haus on Handy (D09)
31. Irwell Hill Residences (D09)
32. Martin Modern (D09)
33. Residences at Emerald Hill (D09)
34. River Green (D09)
35. RV Altitude (D09)
36. The Avenir (D09)
37. The Robertson Opus (D09)
38. Waterscape @ Cavenagh (D09)
39. 19 Nassim (D10)
40. 27 Balmoral Park (D10)
41. Belmond Green (D10)
42. Chateau Le Fame (D10)
43. Chiverton (D10)
44. Cuscaden Reserve (D10)
45. Cyan (D10)
46. D’Dalvey (D10)
47. Duchess Manor (D10)
48. Duke’s Residence (D10)
49. Fourth Avenue Residences (D10)
50. Gisborne Light (D10)
51. Jervois Mansion (D10)
52. Juniper Hill (D10)
53. Leedon Green (D10)
54. One Holland Village (D10)
55. Park Nova (D10)
56. Perfect Ten (D10)
57. Petit Jervois (D10)
58. RoyalGreen (D10)
59. RV Residences (D10)
60. Signature @ Lewis (D10)
61. Skye at Holland (D10)
62. The Hyde (D10)
63. The Legend (D10)
64. The Sixth Avenue Residences (D10)
65. Three Balmoral (D10)
66. UpperHouse (D10)
67. Valley Park (D10)
68. Van Holland (D10)
69. Wilshere Residences (D10)
70. 10 Evelyn (D11)
71. 35 Gilstead (D11)
72. Adam Park Condominium (D11)
73. Dunearn 368 (D11)
74. Fyve Derbyshire (D11)
75. Kellett Court (D11)
76. L’Viv (D11)
77. Neu at Novena (D11)
78. Pullman Residences (D11)
79. Shelford 23 (D11)
80. Shelford Regency (D11)
81. Shelford Suites (D11)
82. Suites at Surrey (D11)
83. Watten House (D11)
84. Jui Residences (D12)
85. Kallang Riverside (D12)
86. The Orie (D12)
87. Botanique at Bartley (D13)
88. Bartley Vue (D13)
89. The Venue Residences (D13)
90. The Woodleigh Residences (D13)
91. Mori (D14)
92. Parc Esta (D14)
93. Park Place Residence (D14)
94. Penrose (D14)
95. Sims Urban Oasis (D14)
96. Simsville (D14)
97. The Antares (D14)
98. 8 Sandy (D15)
99. 16 @ Amber (D15)
100. Amber 45 (D15)
101. Amber House (D15)
102. Amber Park (D15)
103. Amber Skye (D15)
104. Arena Residences (D15)
105. De Centurion (D15)
106. Eighteen Residences (D15)
107. Emerald of Katong (D15)
108. Grand Dunman (D15)
109. Guillermard Suites (D15)
110. Liv @ MB (D15)
111. Nyon (D15)
112. Olloi (D15)
113. Seaside Residences (D15)
114. Seventy St Patrick’s (D15)
115. Straits Mansion (D15)
116. Sunny Palms Condo (D15)
117. Sunnyvale Residences (D15)
118. Tedge (D15)
119. Tembusu Grand (D15)
120. The Continuum (D15)
121. The Esta (D15)
122. The Makena (D15)
123. Meyer Blue (D15)
124. Meyer Mansion (D15)
125. Costa Del Sol (D16)
126. East Coast Residences (D16)
127. The Calypso (D16)
128. The Glades (D16)
129. Urban Vista (D16)
130. Venezio (D16)
131. Arc at Tampines (D17)
132. Coco Palms (D18)
133. D’Nest (D18)
134. Kassia (D18)
135. Parc Central Residences (D18)
136. Parc Komo (D18)
137. Parktown Residence (D18)
138. Pasir Ris 8 (D18)
139. The Santorini (D18)
140. The Tapestry (D18)
141. Treasure at Tampines (D18)
142. Affinity at Serangoon (D19)
143. Chuan Park (D19)
144. Ecopolitan (D19)
145. Jade Residences (D19)
146. Kensington Square (D19)
147. The Florence Residences (D19)
148. The Garden Residences (D19)
149. The Gazania (D19)
150. The Lilium (D19)
151. The Quinn (D19)
152. Amo Residence (D20)
153. Grandeur 8 (D20)
154. Jadescape (D20)
155. The Panorama (D20)
156. 8@BT (D21)
157. Daintree Residence (D21)
158. Floridian (D21)
159. Forett at Bukit Timah (D21)
160. Jardin (D21)
161. Ki Residences at Brookvale (D21)
162. Maplewoods (D21)
163. Mayfair Modern (D21)
164. Mayfair Gardens (D21)
165. Nava Grove (D21)
166. The Hillford (D21)
167. The Reserve Residences (D21)
168. View at Kismis (D21)
169. J’den (D22)
170. Sora (D22)
171. Hills Two One Hillview (D23)
172. Dairy Farm Residences (D23)
173. Midwood (D23)
174. Lentoria (D26)
175. Lentor Mansion (D26)
176. Lentor Modern (D26)
177. Rivertrees Residences (D28)

Besides condos, I have also started to view landed properties in my early 30s and am documenting the streets where I viewed in the hopes of being able to afford it someday:

1. Jalan Elok (D09)
2. Barker Road (D10)
3. Sixth Avenue (D10)
4. Hillcrest Road (D11)
5. Jalan Novena (D11)
6. Everitt Road (D15)
7. Joo Chiat Place (D15)
8. Onan Road (D15)

I have also started to delve deeper into cars, especially in the latter half of 2023. Cars were of great interest to me as a child and I have set out to better understand their performance, looks and reliability. I have had the good fortune of driving and test-driving the following cars, through friends, family and showrooms.

1. Aion V [2024 – Present]
2. Aion Y [2021 – Present]
3. Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce (Type 952) [2016 – Present]
4. Audi A4 (B8) [2008 – 2016]
5. Audi A5 [2017 – Present]
6. Audi A6 (C8) [2018 – Present]
7. BMW 218i Grand Coupe (F44) [2020 – Present]
8. BMW 318i (F30) [2012 – 2019]
9. BMW 318i (G20) [2019 – Present]
10. BMW 320i EfficientDynamics (F30) [2012 – 2019]
11. BMW 420i Gran Coupé (F36) [2013-2020]
12. BMW 520i (G60) [2023 – Present]
13. BMW 640i Gran Coupé (F06) [2012 – 2018]
14. BMW X1 (U11) [2022 – Present]
15. BMW X3 (G01) [2017 – Present]
16. BYD Atto 3 61kWh [2022 – Present]
17. BYD Seal Dynamic 61kWh [2022 – Present]
18. Deepal S07 [2023 – Present]
19. Honda City (GN) [2019 – Present]
20. Honda Civic (FE) [2022 – Present]
21. Honda HR-V (RV) [2021 – Present]
22. Hyundai Ioniq 5 Prestige 58kWh (NE) [2022 – Present]
23. Hyundai Ioniq 6 RWD 53kWh (CE) [2022 – Present]
24. Jaguar XF (X260) [2015 – Present]
25. Jaguar XF (X260) (2022 Facelift) [2015 – Present]
26. Kia Niro EV (SG2) [2021 – Present]
27. Land Rover Discovery (L462) [2017 – Present]
28. Lexus IS300h (2021 Facelift) [2013 – Present]
29. Lexus ES300h (2021 Facelift) [2018 – Present]
30. Lexus UX300h (ZA10) [2019 – Present]
31. Mazda 3 (BN) [2014 – 2018]
32. Mazda 3 (BP) [2019 – Present]
33. Mazda 6 (GJ) [2012 – Present]
34. Mazda CX30 (DM) [2020 – Present]
35. Mercedes-Benz A180 (W177) (2023 Facelift) [2018 – Present]
36. Mercedes-Benz C180 (W205) [2014 – 2021]
37. Mercedes-Benz C180 (W206) [2022 – Present]
38. Mercedes-Benz CLE200 (C236) [2023 – Present]
39. Mercedes-Benz E200 (W214) [2023 – Present]
40. MG 4 EV [2022 – Present]
41. Mini One 5 Door (F55) [2014 – 2023]
42. Nissan Note (E12) [2012 – 2020]
43. Nissan Kicks e-Power (P15) [2021 – Present]
44. Omoda E5 (T34) [2022 – Present]
45. Polestar 2 69kWh [2020 – Present]
46. Peugeot e2008 50kWh [2022 – Present]
47. Peugeot 408 (P54) [2022 – Present]
48. Skoda Octavia Style (NX) [2019 – Present]
49. Skoda Superb Laurin & Klement (B8) (2019 Facelift) [2015 – Present]
50. Suzuki Jimny (JB64W/JB74W) [2018 – Present]
51. Tesla Model 3 60kWh (2021 Facelift) [2017 – Present]
52. Tesla Model 3 AWD 78kWh (2023 Facelift) [2017 – Present]
53. Toyota Altis Elegance (E210) [2018 – Present]
54. Toyota Camry Elegance (XV70) [2018 – 2024]
55. Toyota Camry Elegance Hybrid (XV80) [2023 – Present]
56. Toyota Prius (XW60) [2022 – Present]
57. Volkswagen ID.4 (E21) [2021 – Present]
58. Volkswagen Golf (Mk8) [2019 – Present]
59. Volvo S60 [2019 – 2023]
60. Volvo S90 [2017 – Present]
61. Volvo XC40 [2017 – Present]
62. XPeng G6 [2023 – Present]
63. Zeekr X [2023 – Present]