“Ah boy/girl, when are you moving out?” is an unavoidable question you’ll get from your parents once you get married. And unless their wedding gift is a freehold condo in your name, you and your partner will be left house hunting. We won’t fault you for scouring through only resale listings too since waiting for a BTO could take years.
To prep you for that inevitable reality, here are 7 of the best estates for newlywed couples to settle down in. From the East to the West, there’s a neighbourhood waiting for you to carve out a private space you can call a forever home. You also won’t have to spend all your wedding angbao money on a home in these estates.
This list of estates factor in their proximity to amenities, affordability based on 3- and 4-room options, and other intangible benefits like how hip a neighbourhood might be. All housing price data is also accurate as of 16th June 2022.
Ang Mo Kio – For a central location if you don’t own a car
Image credit: TheSmartLocal
For the couple that: wants to live in the heartlands near parents and also near town.
How often can you say you live in an award-winning town? Yes, that’s right – Ang Mo Kio is one of the few towns that bagged the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) Outstanding Buildings Award back in 1983 for its design. Aside from that flex, newlywed couples who find themselves residing in Ang Mo Kio will come to find that the estate has plenty of perks.
It’s mainly serviced by the North-South (Red) Line and it’s a quick 20-minute trip to Dhoby Ghaut MRT. The greater Ang Mo Kio planning area – which extends all the way to Yio Chu Kang – also has the Thomson-East Coast Line and the upcoming Cross Island Line. This makes public transport a viable option, although there is also the CTE and SLE for motorists too.
The Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club.
Image credit: TheSmartLocal
Ang Mo Kio is also undergoing a slow-but-steady modernisation, including the opening of Uniqlo’s first neighbourhood outlet. But it’s still far from being gentrified, with many long-time residents telling us that the heartland spirit is still strong thanks to spots like the iconic S-11 food court, quaint shophouses, and Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club.
If all that isn’t enough to convince you, perhaps the housing market in Ang Mo Kio will. Since the start of 2022, the average 3-room resale flat sold for $366K, while a 4-room resale flat went for $577K.
A quick glance at the property market now shows that there are some 3-room listings at 785-880sqft, while 4-room listings start from 990sqft and go all the way up to 1,173sqft. These are some roomy flats, and you won’t get any shoebox spaces up in this part of town.
Over 86 blocks in the neighbourhood were also put through the Main Upgrading Programme from 1990-2012. This initiative added more floor space in the units that homeowners can turn into a utility room, a kitchen extension, or a new toilet.
If your vision of married life is evening walks through the heartlands while remaining close to all the action in town, Ang Mo Kio might be the right fit for you.
Clementi – Near trendy spots like Holland Village & Orchard
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For the couple that: hikes together in the day, and drinks together at night.
Clementi is no longer the swamp land it used to be. Residents here have the best of both worlds with a rising business hub to the west and plenty of trendy food and drink options to the east. And who can forget the eponymous Clementi Forest right at its doorstep, perfect for nature lovers who want to burn off all those calories earned from Holland Village with a hike.
Clementi Forest is just a stone’s throw away from civilisation.
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The location of the mature estate might be off-putting to some at first, but there are plenty of considerations that can change one’s mind. First, both the neighbouring Jurong Lake District and Buona Vista are Singapore’s upcoming commercial and business hubs. And when they eventually flourish, you know what they say: a rising tide lifts all boats.
For the younger couple that wants to unwind after a long day at work, they can also just hop over to Holland Village and clink two pints of beer underneath the iconic windmill. There is also more than just the Clementi Forest for weekend jaunts. Clementi Woods Park and West Coast Park are just a little further south for some variety to any hiking plan.
The average price of a 3-room resale flat sold in Clementi in 2022 is $411K, while the average price of a 4-room resale flat is $675K. If you’re not keen on breaking the bank for one extra bedroom, a 3-room flat would make more sense in this case.
Geylang – One of the most affordable central locations for a 3-room
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For the couple that: wants to keep their budget low while living in a kampung-esque community.
As Singapore grows up into a concrete jungle, more neighbourhoods are shedding their charming kampung vibe in favour of bubble tea shops and minimalistic cafes. Not Geylang. The central-ish mature estate still has plenty of heritage and culture left for newlywed couples to discover.
Every year during Hari Raya Puasa the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar rolls around, turning the quaint estate into a buzzing spot celebrating the holiday. Dotted around the neighbourhood are also plenty of 24-hour eateries for night owls who are craving a bite at 3am.
But that’s not why living in Geylang is worth it. The affordability of the resale flats here plays a big role in why many house hunters are turning to this neighbourhood. An average 3-room 692sqft resale flat in the first half of 2022 went for $341K ($492/sqft), making it one of the most affordable neighbourhoods rivalled only by Jurong West ($338K) and Woodlands ($341K).
However, Jurong and Woodlands do not have the same proximity to the heart of Singapore compared to Geylang. There are also a myriad of public transport options like the East-West Line, Downtown Line, and Circle Line easily accessible.
Sure, it might be near the red light district, but let’s be honest: the providers of certain vices have since mellowed down significantly, and the area is no longer the shady destination it once was in its heyday.
Marine Parade – Beachside vibes near Siglap and Joo Chiat
Image credit: HDB
For the couple that: spends every weekend by the beach & loves the heritage around Katong and Joo Chiat.
It’s easy to see why Easties love repping their hood so much; there’s just so much to love about living on the East Coast of Singapore in a neighbourhood like Marine Parade.
While there are not many public housing flats in the area – only 7,862 as of March 2018 – newlywed couples that find themselves settling here will be privy to all that Marine Parade and the neighbouring Joo Chiat, Siglap, and Geylang have to offer.
There are also plenty of pretty murals around East Coast for casual #OOTDs.
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That includes all the iconic food haunts along Beach Road, Coastal Playgrove at East Coast Park, and a quick 10-minute journey into town. My colleagues who live in the area have also bragged about how close they are to the beach.
If buying a condo in Marine Parade is a bit out of reach at the moment, you can always settle for a resale flat here instead. The average 3-room resale price in the first half of 2022 is $404K and boasts an average square footage of 731sqft. Those with a little more wiggle room in their budget can opt for a 4-room resale flat instead that runs for an average of $508K for 914sqft.
Serangoon – Near to NEX, Chomp Chomp & food hotspots
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For the couple that: has an Instagram account dedicated to cafe hopping and discovering the best hawker spots.
The last mature estate on our list – for now – is Serangoon. Occupying a sizeable part of Singapore that includes Lorong Chuan and bits of Ang Mo Kio and Yio Chu Kang, the former kampung has become one of the most sought-after heartland neighbourhoods to reside in.
Younger couples who are in tune with the food scene and are regular readers of Eatbook will appreciate the many cafes, iconic hawker centres, and bakeries strewn throughout the whole estate. Although the mecca of Serangoon food might still be Serangoon Gardens, it doesn’t hurt to have Chomp Chomp’s delights be a hop, skip, and jump away from your HDB block.
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Couples who find themselves seeking a resale flat in Serangoon can expect to fork out around $450K for a 3-room flat and $570K for a 4-room flat based on current property listings online. However, data from the first half of 2022 has shown that the average 3-room resale flat in Serangoon sold for $373K, while an average 4-room flat sold for $534K, meaning there is plenty of room for negotiation.
There are also a selection of executive maisonettes in the market for house hunters who have a bigger budget and need the space.
Getting around also is not an issue for couples who are still saving up for a car. Serangoon has access to both the Circle and North East (Purple) Line; the Cross Island Line at Tavistock and Serangoon North will also be up and running in a couple of years.
Jurong East – Affordable location for those working in the West
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For the couple that: works in the West and doesn’t want to spend 1 hour on the MRT.
One non-mature estate that shouldn’t be overlooked by newlywed couples is Jurong East. Yes, it might be slightly further out west, but hear us out.
With the Jurong Lake District set to become the “CBD of the West” by 2040, now is the time to get settled down there before prices start skyrocketing. Living in the west of Singapore is also great for couples who have jobs in places like Fusionopolis, Singapore Science Park, and even Harbourfront.
Commuting can be done easily via the North-South and East-West Lines, with the Circle Line at Buona Vista also just 3 stops away. It’s actually not that far when compared to Jurong West.
Image credit: TheSmartLocal
Another reason to start searching for resale flats here is because Jurong East is a non-mature estate. Your neighbours might be younger, and there’s a certain buzz in the West with malls like Jem, Westgate, and IMM all within walking distance of each other.
You can even go for date nights at the ice skating rink, Science Centre, Jurong Bird Park, and Lakeside Garden. If you often invite friends over for board games, they don’t even have to bring their passports too.
Those considering a home here will be happy to know that a 3-room resale flat starts from $400K, while 4-room flats around $680K even though they are rarer. And these are just the prices on current property listings. The average sale price of a 3-room resale flat in 2022 here is $355K, while a 4-room went for $472K, a far drop from the $680K commanded by some current listings.
So while the distance from town might put off some couples from finding a home in Jurong East initially, we hope these factors help them reconsider.
Sengkang – Newer flats with plenty of school & childcare options
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For the couple that: wants to start a family soon.
It has been more than a few years since Sengkang reached its peak as one of the prime BTO estates. With plenty of newer housing developments that were launched within the last decade, resale flats are now a dime a dozen over in the North-Eastern part of Singapore.
For newlywed couples who are eager to add a bundle of joy into their lives, Sengkang is one of the better estates to settle down in thanks to the many childcare centres you can enrol your child into. The long lease periods left on many of the resale flats means that your child will still have a home well into their 80s or even 90s. That’s one of the perks of living in a non-mature estate.
After-work activities can also be done without having to leave the neighbourhood. From shopping at the many malls – think Rivervale Mall, The Seletar Mall, Compass One, and Rivervale Plaza – to enjoying a brisk walk by the park connectors, there’s little reason to leave Sengkang for day-to-day activities.
Image credit: TheSmartLocal
Getting around is also relatively easy thanks to the LRT network and main train stations Sengkang and Buangkok. Units nearer to these amenities will definitely compel a higher price of at least $650,000.
But if you can live with a 5 to 10-minute walk, you can always score a resale flat in Sengkang for around $410K for a 3-room and $513K for a 4-room. These prices are averaged based on successful resale transactions in 2022, so don’t go overpaying!
Best estates to live in for newlywed couples
Waiting 5-8 years for a BTO flat to be ready – and that’s not factoring in the luck required in the ballot – can be a tad too long for newlywed couples who are ready to leave the nest and start their own life. Opting for a resale flat will let them settle in a lot quicker. Plus, there are many HDB housing grants that will help bring down how much you have to pay for a resale flat.
These 7 estates listed here are some of the best choices for newlywed couples to start their search in, and each of them caters to a different crowd. Whether you’re looking for a forever home in the West or want to live near your parents in the heartlands, there’s a neighbourhood out there waiting to welcome you with open arms and that signature kampung spirit.
Read other related articles:
- What are walk-up apartments in Singapore?
- Feng Shui tips to follow at home
- Guide to HDB housing grants
- How to apply for a BTO as a student
- Rent a flat or buy a resale?
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal
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