Monthly Archives: August 2009

Buying the ultimate home

With only about 2,400 units of good class bungalows in the market, almost any GCB would be a rare find

THEY are wealthy and successful people who can probably afford to buy any home they want, but many of them are being drawn towards good class bungalows (GCBs). There are only 39 designated GCB areas in Singapore and Binjai Park is one of them. However, these areas are not all equal. Douglas Wong, director of luxury homes at CB Richard Ellis says: ‘Some GCB locations are more prestigious than others.’

For instance, the current asking price for GCB land in the Nassim area is between $1,500-$2,000 per square foot (psf) whereas in Chestnut Drive, GCBs have been known to have transacted at around $550 psf, says Mr Wong.

There are also pros and cons to buying either an old bungalow or a newly built one. ‘Some old GCBs have unique architectural features and come with a rich heritage. Buyers, however, have to be prepared to set aside some money to refurbish and upgrade the building and fit it out with modern conveniences,’ says Mr Wong.

New buildings, he says, can be tailored to specific tastes but also be expensive. But what usually pushes up prices is the location. Continue reading

Difference between managing private and public flats

I REFER to Monday’s commentary, ‘En bloc debate, HK style’. Our laws are sufficient to run our private estates. In most management corporations (MCs), lobbying for support is prevalent where most members are inactive. Therefore, the estate is run by a minority, who are unpaid volunteers.

It is therefore natural that the active members will run the estate in their own interests. However, the law lays down strict requirements to document support obtained by lobbying, to ensure such lobbying is valid. This is laid down clearly in the First Schedule of the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act.

This brings me to a point about the powers the management council has under the law, to compel dissenting owners to comply with the house rules of the MCs.

An application to the Strata Titles Board for an order is not costly. As long as a house rule is properly enacted, and owners are given ample notice of the Continue reading