“I have dreamed of owning my own home since I was a child. I remember using Lego bricks to ‘build’ the houses I wanted to live in,” says Daniel, who currently lives in his four-room second-hand apartment in Bukit Panjang.
Daniel, now 38, is a freelance writer and content creator. He is also a bachelor. As a single homeowner in Singapore, Daniel admitted that his search for a home was very different than if he were married.
In Singapore, single people and married couples have different eligibility criteria for accessing public housing. First, single people must wait until they are 35 years old to be eligible for an HDB flat.
If singles in Singapore want to buy a home before the age of 35, they can opt for other properties. Examples include HDB resale flats, condominiums and landed properties. However, these properties are often more expensive.
How did Daniel tackle buying a home in Singapore as a single man? Read how he secured his 4-room HDB resale flat in Bukit Panjang – a home that ticked all his boxes.
Window shopping for houses since he was 30
It was clear to Daniel from the beginning that he would buy an HDB flat because they are cheaper than private properties.
To get an overview of what was on offer in the market, at the age of 30 he started searching for potential homes on PropertyGuru.
“For me it was just window shopping,” he said, giggling.
“PropertyGuru was the only platform that came to mind when I thought about buying a house in Singapore,” he added. “Their search and filter feature helped me shortlist possible neighbourhoods where I wanted to live.”
Daniel also explored the PropertyGuru Guides, which proved to be an important source of information for apartment hunting in Singapore.
“This minimized the doubts and fears of buying a home for the first time.”
Buying a home during the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
In May 2020, Daniel celebrated his 35th birthday. This was a milestone he had been eagerly awaiting: he was finally eligible to buy a HDB flat.
Despite being in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, he believed it was time for him to leave his family home and continue building a life for himself.
He also planned to participate in the great layoff phenomenon – in which a significant number of people left their jobs in the wake of the pandemic after securing an apartment.
“I had been working at my previous company for years and building contacts in the creative industry, and I felt like now was the right time to take the plunge and become a freelance content creator,” said Daniel.
One of the reasons Daniel felt confident about breaking his contract in the middle of buying a home was PropertyGuru Finance’s mortgage calculator. This home finance tool helped him estimate his likely monthly mortgage payments and effectively plan his monthly expenses based on the homes he was considering.
“PropertyGuru Finance helped me narrow down the range of properties I could afford. It gave me the courage to quit my job.”
Find your dream 4-room HDB resale apartment in Bukit Panjang
Daniel viewed about 30 units across Singapore before settling on his “peaceful and tranquil” 4-room HDB resale flat in Bukit Panjang.
Shortly after he had fulfilled his childhood dream of owning his own home, he did not do things by halves when it came to renovating his house.
“I wanted to create a home that would be my sanctuary. That would have everything I needed for a balanced life, especially since I work from home most of the time. I realized that it was important to have places in my home where I could separate myself from work, collect my thoughts and relax.”
This meant he needed to have dedicated spaces to pursue his hobbies. He wanted a dedicated space for yoga and a kitchen big enough for baking and cooking.
So he prioritized mental rest and relaxation: “I combined two bedrooms into one master bedroom so I could do my morning yoga without changing rooms. Inside, I chose a muted, neutral color palette to declutter my mind.”
He has also created several areas in his home for mental “downtime.” These spaces include his reading area, his sofa, and his breakfast bar.
“Overall, I’m thrilled with the space I’ve created for myself. It’s the home I dreamed of and worked hard for. And I hope it shows anyone who’s thinking of buying and renovating their dream home themselves that it’s entirely possible and extremely rewarding.”
Read stories of real people and their journeys home. Are you still looking for your dream home? Browse properties for sale on PropertyGuru or Compare mortgage loans on PropertyGuru Finance.
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