If you were offered an opportunity to live in what’s essentially a landed property in Singapore for just $1,800 per month, would you take it? That’s what you’d get if you were to buy this $988,888 HDB terrace house at 46 Jalan Bahagia in Whampoa and factor in some girl math.
For the uninitiated, there are 285 public terrace houses in Singapore. These HDB terrace houses have a lease of 99 years, similar to regular HDB flats, and they can be found in Queenstown and Whampoa. These days, these coveted 2-storey houses sell for upwards of $1M. However, one particular HDB terrace house at 46 Jalan Bahagia bucks the trend as it’s currently listed for just $988,888.
Live in an HDB terrace house for $1.8K per month
Whampoa HDB terrace houses.
Image credit: Google Maps
With an asking price of $988,888 and 46 years left on the lease, that works out to $21,487.57 yearly if you were to live there till the lease runs out. Further break that cost down and you’d get a monthly “rent” of approximately $1,791.46. While it’s all very girl math-y, that seems to be a reasonable price for a landed property in a fairly central and well-connected part of Singapore, no?
Zen garden in an HDB terrace flat.
Given that the asking price for other HDB terrace units often exceeds $1M, it’s only natural to wonder why this one’s an exception. The reason is simple—the unit measures only 990sqft, which is comparatively smaller than the HDB terraces that make the news. In comparison, a nearby 1,603sqft unit at 47 Jalan Bahagia is asking for a cool $1.6M, while a 1,873sqft unit at 58 Jalan Ma’mor is listed at $1.65M.
46 Jalan Bahagia terrace going for $988,888
Units at 46 Jalan Bahagia.
Image adapted from: Google Maps
Make no mistake, 990sqft is still plenty of space, especially when HDB flat sizes continue to shrink out of sheer necessity and land scarcity. Plus, the unit has been renovated and is in move-in condition, which means you don’t have to shell out extra to call it “home”.
Wet kitchen and laundry area in the covered backyard.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
The unit has a fairly squarish layout, making it easy to decorate. There’s a modern and sleek dry kitchen indoors, while the wet kitchen is situated in the covered backyard so you’ll never have to worry about strong cooking smells permeating the rest of your home. A washer and dryer unit also shares the space, however, so the dryer may see a lot of use if you want to avoid having clothes that smell like food.
Dry kitchen and skylight.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
It’s easy for old HDB units to feel gloomy due to a lack of natural lighting, but here, the addition of a skylight, a glass partition, and a glass door leading to the backyard all help to brighten up the place.
Entrance and living room.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
Similarly, the living room eschews a regular front door in favour of full-length bi-fold glass doors to visually open up the space and let in more light. The shiny flooring further reinforces the illusion of a bigger space.
Bedroom on the second floor.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
The 2 bedrooms, situated on the second floor, feature simple yet timeless built-in carpentry in the form of storage closets and wardrobes.
Built-in closet in the bedroom.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
These factors contribute to a primed blank canvas for you to transform into your dream rooms without any hacking or dismantling needed.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
The only areas that seem to need a bit of TLC may be the toilets, which look a tad dated. The one toilet pictured in the listing has a sink counter and cabinet that needs a touch up, and the materials used don’t really gel well with the walls.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
The biggest draw here has to be the front yard, an airy space that lets you lounge outdoors and chill while maintaining some privacy—just like a “real” landed property. The addition of bamboo rollerblinds above the half-walls separating you from your neighbours help add even more privacy should you need it.
One thing to note here is that there’s no space to park a car in the front yard. If you do own a car, you’ll have to season parking in a public lot outside the house.
Amenities and transport options near 46 Jalan Bahagia
No worries if you don’t drive—the nearest bus stop is only 220m away or about 3 minutes on foot. From there, Toa Payoh and Boon Keng MRT stations are just a short bus ride away.
Image credit: Google Maps
SAFRA Toa Payoh is right across the expressway, and if you walk a bit further, you’ll come across the famed dragon playground. The nearest supermarket, FairPrice Lorong Limau, is about 700m away and totally walkable. There are also Giant and Sheng Shiong supermarkets, though those are a little further away.
Image credit: Google Maps
As for food, you have the option of dropping by Whampoa Food Centre and Whampoa Drive Makan Place, both about 8 minutes away on foot. To top it off, there’s the Whampoa Community Club and Whampoa Park—there’s a dedicated pet park within the latter for your furry friends to hang out.
For your shopping needs, there’s Shaw Plaza and Balestier Plaza, both about a 15-minute walk away.
$1.8K monthly ‘rent’ for Jalan Bahagia HDB terrace house
Image adapted from: Google Maps
Although there’s only 46 years left on the lease, this $988,888 HDB terrace house at Jalan Bahagia could be a prime purchase for homeowners itching to experience landed living. With a bit of girl math-ing, a month’s rent in this 3-bedroom home works out to slightly under $1,800, which is still far cheaper than anything you’d find on the abysmal rental market today.
Furthermore, amenities are aplenty if you choose to live here, and floor space within the house isn’t an issue either. So, if you have a spare $988,888 just chilling around, you know what to do.
For more unusual HDBs in Singapore:
Cover image adapted from: PropertyGuru
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