The weekend that just passed started out like any other weekend... breakfast together with Chris ( usually he's off to work before Madison gets up), then off to music class at United square for the 2 of them while I usually have patients to see or attend to.
Sometimes in the afternoon Chris and I go property hunting. Usually he's the one looking up the ads for interesting property to go and look at. This weekend was no different. Except that he saw an ad for a property that had just been completed and just received its temporary occupation permit (TOP). It was a property that we'd been kind of interested in, but thought that it was overpriced in the current property market.
Anyway, Chris called the agent up, and arranged for a viewing. The agent, Joshua, just happened to be the same one that took us to see another property previously, a few months ago. We didn't like what we saw then, so didn't hear from him since then.
The property we saw is called Montebleu. It's across the road from where we live at the moment, so it's still close to work and the grandparent's place. But, it's a small upgrade from district 12 to 11.
Joshua took us to look at a 4 bedroom suite on the 32nd floor first. It was quite large ( by Singapore apartment standards) at 1800 sq feet. The view was amazing. We could see Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer and even mountains in the distance that was probably Indonesia. The rooms were a little small, but the living area was decent. Madison had a field day running through the apartment.
Unfortunately, the asking price was exhorbitant. SGD 2.5million.
So we went downstairs to have a look around at the grounds, admire the poolside. Just as we were about to leave Joshua asked if we wanted to see the 3 bedroom apartment. We thought, why not.
The 3 bedroom apartment felt much smaller in comparison to the suite we'd just seen, but the layout was good. Made the 1100 sq feet feel bigger than it was. It had 3 bedroom, which is what we need, and a larger living area than what we have at the moment. It wasn't cheap per square foot, but the quantum was within our budget. Also within what the bank would lend us.
So... we made an offer to the agent and he said he'd speak to the owner.
On Sunday, Chris found another advertisement for the apartment but at a lower price. He called the other agent up and this other guy said that if we wrote out the 1% deposit cheque he'd drive over and deliver it to the owner immediately to secure the purchase!
I didn't feel quite safe handing over close to $15K to some unknown agent, so we called Joshua up. He said he knew the owner quite well and had been dealing with him for the past 3 years and was unlikely to sell at the lower price.
Anyway... I felt like I needed to see the apartment again to confirm that it was what we really wanted. So we drove over to see the apartment again. Once we were there Joshua told us the owner was good to sell, albeit at the price that was originally offered.
SO we did the deed. Signed the option form and handed the cheque over to Joshua. The owner did not renege on his agreement and so we are the new owners of the apartment!
Now the scramble to put the money together for the deposit!!! ARGH....
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