Factors to Consider When Renting an Apartment

Where to live? This is one of the major problems expatriates initially face when moving to Singapore and to best evaluate your circumstances the following factors, amongst other more personal issues, need to be take into consideration:

International Schools
Commute Times
Kindergarten / Junior School / High School
Future Needs
Shuttle buses provided (especially for after school activities?)

Office Location
Commute Times
Your working hours - flexible or not?

Transportation
Will you have a car
Will your spouse/children need access to a car during the day?
Will you be using public transport (air-conditioned buses, MRT or taxis)?
What are your working hours?

Shopping
Local stores for milk, snacks, emergency food stuffs
Stores focused on imported foodstuffs or foreign foodstuffs made locally
Opening hours
Wet Markets for fresh local products

Where are your friends living
Yes, of course you may not know them yet, but even if you don’t know anyone here, find out where your future work colleagues live ? If you have friends here already you may wish to live close to them - but not next door
To generalize: families live close to international schools and singles/ couples live in the city or close to stations on the excellent Underground (MRT) lines.

What access is there to 'Green Space'
Either within the shared facilities of a condominium or easily accessible parks
Is there a golf club/international club within a short walking distance of ride by car?
If you play golf, tennis, go sailing, horse-riding or other sports – where are these facilities and will their accessibility, or lack of, affect your choice of location?

Hospitals and Clinics
Singapore is well equipped with a number of private and governmental hospitals in close distance of almost every corner of the country. Even if a family member has a medical condition your choice need not depend on proximity of a clinic with 24/7 emergency service available.

Restaurants and Entertainment
How often do you eat out (you will eat out far more in Singapore than you ever did at home)?
Is this an important consideration for you to live in walking distance to Singapore's nightlife or don't you mind getting into a taxi for a short drive home.

Airport Access
How often do you need to travel?
Do you want to live close to Changi airport ?
Is a longer trip time to the airport a consideration?

Your Choice: House or Apartment
You might think you know the pros and cons of living in a house or an apartment, but in Singapore these reasons will probably be very different from those of your home country.