Can't Get A flat? Couples Are Just Too Choosy

Source : The Straits Times, Nov 26, 2007











I REFER to the report, 'No (HDB flat) = No (wedding)' (ST, Nov17).

I have been living in Bukit Merah for more than a year.

My parents live in Bukit Timah, my in-laws live in Toa Payoh, and my workplace is in Jurong.

Our home is nowhere near any of our parents'. However, we still picked this place because we were glad that we managed to get a new unit.

Even if the Circle Line is completed, we are not close to any MRT station. I have to board three buses to reach my workplace. Otherwise, it is two buses and one MRT ride.

There are newly-weds who want a home in a prime location, at a cheap price, and they also want to live near their parents.

The Government cannot meet all their demands.

I have seen TV interviews where such couples complained about not getting a flat of their choice. They also complained that resale flats were too expensive, even though both spouses were working and should be earning more than $6,000 a month.

Well, everyone wants a cheap and good deal, but how realistic is it?

Unfortunately, there are newly-weds still living in their own world.

Have they considered living with their in-laws first? Has this become an alien concept?

There must have been many picky couples who gave up their queue numbers in the HDB sales exercises.

In our case, there were 50 more applicants ahead of my husband and me, but they must have chosen to give up their chance of selecting a flat. That was how we managed to get our new flat.

The queue numbers given out by the HDB are more than the number of units available. However, there are still available units even after the end of the selection procedure. So the remaining units are put up for sale again.

Those who have decided to take the flats either don't mind settling for a lower-floor unit, or a further location from work, or from their parents' homes. This should be the mindset of couples looking for a new flat.

My advice is: Don't be too picky and expect too much. Don't start complaining to your MP when you cannot get a flat. Especially if you had a queue number, but chose to give it up.

Jenny Yap Chen Ni (Ms)