If one wishes to have children, even 1 single bedroom suffices. Both my wife and I grew up sharing 1 bedroom with 2 other siblings. For her, early years was in a studio apartment. For me was better, in a kampung house shared with a dozen adults and many children. It was the norm for two adults and all their children to share 1 bedroom. A typical bedroom was just a queen sized bed and mattresses all over. If you want to come in, the mattresses are an unavoidable path for you.
It has been commented that 1-bedders are not suitable for families, but for those who who are keen to build families and need housing as they save up and do not wish to incur heavy loans, at the same time unable to get the HDBs of their choice, MM offers a potential lifeline to them as well. It is a viable short term 5-8 years solution until finances are more stable.
A typical family-sized apartment is in the range of around 1 million while a MM unit hovers around 500K. Although the difference in downpayment is relatively small, the loan incurred is double, with the potential for double / triple interest sometime down the road.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are people who buy mansions and huge PCs / HDBs who refuse to have children or defer it forever. They need their huge yards, fully functional kitchens, huge living rooms and bedrooms. And yet do not produce or produce only 1.
If family building should ever be a reason for MND to set laws making it tougher to own small apartments, then Mr Khaw should also set laws regulating that people who own larger apartments have an obligation to the nation to produce children (especially HDB). People who have large living spaces must show clear evidence of their best efforts to procreate.
E.g.
60-80 sqm - minimum 1 child in 3 years.
81-110 sqm - minimum 2 children in 5 years.
111sqm and above - minimum 3 children in 7 years.
My point is, would Singaporeans like laws like that? Or do you prefer the freedom to make rational and logical decisions based on your interpretation of your own situation?
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Originally Posted by evergreen
