Beyond the Central Region: Best Places For Expats to Live in Singapore

Welcome to Singapore. Known for its political stability, multicultural and multiethnic demographic, Singapore grew from a tiny fishing town into a bustling financial hub that is a magnet for talents regional and international. A growing pool of expatriates flocking into the lion city only means one thing: real estate is heating up and getting more competitive. For those that have just recently received job offers to Singapore, fret not. Here’s a rundown of the best areas for expats to reside in Singapore.

Kanebridge spoke with a rising real estate agent in Singapore, Denyse Chong for her insights on these trends in Singapore.

District 9: Orchard, Cairnhill, River Valley

Not only are the properties in these areas near to the Central Business District (Raffles Place, City Hall etc), it also boasts Singapore’s famous Orchard Road Shopping Belt! Cafes, restaurants, eateries, and groceries are easily accessible when you need them, and work is only a short 20-minute commute away! Within District 9, River Valley would be my personal favourite. The Riverfront Lifestyle promises a very chill, relaxing environment that you’ll be excited to come home to after a day of work.

District 10: Bukit Timah, Holland

Expats with children will most likely bookmark this district as this is the place you’d want to be when considering education options for your adolescents. It is surrounded by elite junior institutions such as Anglo Chinese School, Raffles Girls, Nanyang Primary, to name a few. It is also home to the Singapore Botanical Gardens where you can bond with your family over picnics. It is slightly farther out than Orchard, but even then, reaching the CBD will take you no longer than 30-mins.

District 3: Queenstown, Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru is known for its “quaint little vibes” with walk-up apartments, shophouses and local coffee shops. You’re also inbetween either CBD, or the Telok Blangah offices. For some weekend fun, you can easily pop by Sentosa’s beach clubs for drinks.

What is the community vibe like in those areas you have recommended?

Depending on where and which part of those areas, it can be pretty fast-paced, especially during rush hours. More so for the dwellings along the Orchard stretch. Foot and vehicular traffic can get quite heavy at the end of the day.

Rivey Valley is a nice quiet neighbourhood. You would meet fellow expats at the cafés in the area having brunch on weekends after walking their dogs, or fellow neighbours going for a run or cycle along the Singapore River.

Queenstown and Tiong Bahru presents more of a local vibe with more public housing located in the area, compared to D09 and D10. If you’re looking to immerse yourself into local culture, this area can be very interesting too!

What is the ideal age of a property to purchase in those regions?

Depending on your budget. If it’s within your financial means, purchasing a BUC (building under construction) property/brand-new property directly from the developer will be better as there are lower risks incurred from progressive payment. You are also at lower risks amidst a hike in interest rates as your loan would be disbursed progressively and not in entirety. Alternatively, you can also consider projects that have just obtained completion, so the wait is less, and you can move in immediately.

If you’re in need of larger living spaces, I would recommend going for slightly older developments (10 years of age and above) as you would get more liveable space for the same amount of beds and bath layout. However, this is location subjective. Finding an older development may also command a higher premium than a developer’s new release due to prevailing PSF prices.

Should I rent or buy outright? Are there any significant barriers to entry for purchasing a dwelling in Singapore?

If you’re here for a short but good time, renting would be a better way as you get to explore a variety of properties during your stay here.

Barriers of entry for purchasing a property include the upfront cash on hand required amounting to 25% of property price, as well as the additional buyer stamp duties foreigners would be required to pay, above the property price, at 30%, payable in cash. This represents a huge quantum.

Freehold or Leasehold?

It should be pre-requisited on what your goals are. If you’re purchasing and intending to pass the property down to your children, I would say freehold. But if you’re intending to invest, leasehold is equally competitive. The returns on investment may even stand to be better than a freehold property too.

Is it more popular to stay within the city? (Or is staying within the city fringe an upcoming trend, if so, why?)

While I believe it used to be popular to stay within the city due to close proximities to the office, nowadays, staying within the city fringe is getting increasingly popular as well. Furthermore, City Fringe property prices are much lower than that within the Core Central Region (CCR). Our Public Transportation is reliable and cost-efficient. This allows for more expats to rent at city fringe places for bigger spaces at the same budget. (An equivalent 2-bedroom rental in the city would translate to renting a 3-bedroom in the city fringe). It is a consideration for Expats to want to “detach” from work by returning to their home slightly further away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

You may wish to contact Denyse for further assistance if you’re looking to relocate to Singapore for work.

Denyse Chong

(65) 97116664

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A bold 1950s home in Palm Springs, California, adorned with eight colorful murals by the late artist Shawn Savage, is coming to market ahead of the city’s annual Modernism Week.

The white stucco home on El Camino Way, built in 1954 and recently renovated, has an asking price of $2.295 million. Its staggered facade features three playfully abstract murals on either side of double-height hot pink doors.

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The sellers are Los Angeles-based partners John Freeman and Mathieu Faure, who knew it was “the one” when they saw it after several months of searching in the winter of 2023. “It’s a happy house,” Freeman said. “We really liked the feel of the house: the uniqueness, the openness, the brightness—and the art.”

Located in the Mesa neighborhood of Palm Springs, which backs up to the San Jacinto Mountains, the 2,237-square-foot house features three bedrooms, an angled bonus room and a yard with a pool, desert mountain views and another colorful mural running alongside the pool.

“I never thought in my life I would have a house with pink doors,” said Faure, a producer at Apple TV who is originally from Paris. “It’s so colorful, it’s so different. And so Palm Springs.”

Abstract murals can be found on the facade.Patrick Ketchum

The layout of the home creates a smooth flow from the front doors through the open-plan common area—a foyer, bar, and living and dining room—into the kitchen around a fireplace wall and out to the yard. A corridor leads to a private bedroom wing, where the primary suite has floor-to-ceiling windows and the primary bath is only a tad smaller than the bedroom.

Faure has filled the home with Jonathan Adler furniture, rugs and accessories, riffing on the energetic California vibes of the house to create an aesthetic of “modern American glamour,” he said.

“It was enjoyable for me to play with different types of furniture and make this house ‘happy chic,’ as I describe it,” he said.

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“He did a fantastic job,” said Freeman, who is an attorney and consultant. “It does kind of bring a smile to my face whenever I walk into the house.”

Since the furniture and decor were chosen for the particularities of the space, the couple is open to selling them with the home. Their West Hollywood house is already furnished; the collection doesn’t match the vibes of a Houston loft they bought near family; and Faure can’t imagine these pieces in New York—where he’s lived in the past—he said.

The duo bought the Palm Springs house for $1.925 million in 2024, according to property records, and will list the home Monday. They are represented by Stewart Smith, Patrick Jordan and Kevin Stanley of Bennion Deville Homes/Luxury Portfolio International.

The previous owners had purchased the home in 2021 for $975,000 and then spent more than two years and $700,000 on the renovation, according to Realtor.com. They commissioned Savage, a local Palm Springs artist and painter known for his joyful abstract work, to decorate the home.

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Savage, who died in 2024, lived in the Coachella Valley from 2003, and his work can be found in various local institutions and is on exhibit at the Illumine Gallery in Palm Springs. “Some artists pass through a place. Shawn Savage became a part of it,” the gallery’s description states.

Unsurprisingly, the murals invite lots of friendly conversations, as well as guided tours and interested lookers, but never to a degree that it disturbed the peacefulness of their home or the neighborhood, the sellers said. “It felt like living in an art gallery, and you have the exterior that you would share with the world,” Faure explained.

The neighborhood also played a role in their decision to buy, because of its access to the hiking trails of the San Jacinto Mountains, the lack of through-roads and the neighborly environment.

“It’s a very friendly place,” Faure said.