Carabelle (D5, Freehold, Sim Lian)

[stalingrad]

I am not here to defend carabelle. I am here to tell the truth.

(1) Some stacks can be noisy, but many are not. At some stacks, you could hear a pin drop.

(2) How many condos in Singapore can boast of an Olympic sized pool, like Carabelle? Not many. I have been to many condos at bukit timah, many have pools that resemble bathtubs.

(3) How many condos have a gym as well equipped as that at carabelle? We have four treadmills and two ellipticals, plus variety of other machines.

(4) if cub 8 can sell for $1,300 psf while it is so close to PIE, what is the fair price of carabelle? is the current 900psf too high? How about hundred trees? it is closer to aye that carabelle, but many people felt no qualms about plunking down 950psf for one unit there.

(5) have you been to jurong point, west coast plaza, and imm recently? Not to mention that yet to be completed new clementi plaza. these are as good as any shopping malls at orcard. carabelle is close to all of these new malls. Plus we have a shuttle bus that takes you to clementi mrt, if you did not own a car?

In summary, it is hard to say what is over or under-priced. If you feel it is overpriced and feel content to stay in your hdb, all the kudos to you. as someone say, accept what you have and don't be too materialistic. but if other people are wiling to shell out 900 psf for this condo, who are we to say that it is overpriced? my wife certainly loves carabelle. she says that just the pool alone would make her choose this condo. if you don't swim, you would be happier living in hdb.

[Maninthestreet]

Previous post by Avatar:
"happen to travel along AYE a few weeks ago with my colleagues in my car and he commented what are these HDB blocks doing in a private estate...I took a look and told him these are not HDB and it is Carabelle condo....strange enough, nowadays, HDB are getting more and more better in terms of design and sometimes you may mistaken HDB as Condo or Condo as HDB...one thing for sure is...HDB will not built a unit with huge balconies.

In fact I am looking for a ready unit among Botannia, Carabelle, Infiniti...I took a look at units of Carabelle and got a shock that units are having two balconies and large aircon ledge area.. The kitchen area is even smaller than the balcony. Doing a comparison between Carabelle and Infiniti, I think both are along AYE and Infiniti is more attractive than Carabelle in terms of price...but among the three, the best is Botannia which is located far from AYE. I still waiting for an owner in Botannia to offer lower but if not, I will go for Infiniti instead."

Hi Avatar,

I see that both your recent posts are very negative "Carabelle". Perhaps you wish the current owners would reduce their asking price for their units there...by making them feel that their properties are not worth so much?

If you really like Infiniti and Botannia, by posting negatively on Carabelle, aren't you inviting others, who are interested in this area, to bid up the prices on the exact properties (Infinity & Botannia) you mentioned you wish to purchase...

Which leads me to think you actually do not mind the flaws of Carabelle and the property you are aiming for is actually ...

What the heck...what do I know....happy hunting.

[august]

every property has its + and -

is all a matter of asking price ~

[Avatar]

Hi Avatar,

I see that both your recent posts are very negative "Carabelle". Perhaps you wish the current owners would reduce their asking price for their units there...by making them feel that their properties are not worth so much?

If you really like Infiniti and Botannia, by posting negatively on Carabelle, aren't you inviting others, who are interested in this area, to bid up the prices on the exact properties (Infinity & Botannia) you mentioned you wish to purchase...

Which leads me to think you actually do not mind the flaws of Carabelle and the property you are aiming for is actually ...

What the heck...what do I know....happy hunting.

So you mean forummers here speaks an opposite tone? I wasn't thinking in that line as what you mentioned above but more of sharing my view and what I see on the three developments there.

I do mind the two large balconies of Carabelle for sure..which is typical of SimLian projects.

Well, thanks, not in a hurry but looking around....

[stalingrad]

Not to argue with you or anything. but your remark that carabelle resembles HDB estate is in my view ludicrous. Have you seen the parc? have you seen metropolitan. those do resemble HDB. carabelle doesn't like HDB at all. first, it is not a contiguous block, as is the case with parc. Second, it is almost entirely wrapped in glass. which HDB has that kind of construction? HDB is entirely brick and mortar.

[Avatar]

I am not here to defend carabelle. I am here to tell the truth.

(1) Some stacks can be noisy, but many are not. At some stacks, you could hear a pin drop.

(2) How many condos in Singapore can boast of an Olympic sized pool, like Carabelle? Not many. I have been to many condos at bukit timah, many have pools that resemble bathtubs.

(3) How many condos have a gym as well equipped as that at carabelle? We have four treadmills and two ellipticals, plus variety of other machines.

(4) if cub 8 can sell for $1,300 psf while it is so close to PIE, what is the fair price of carabelle? is the current 900psf too high? How about hundred trees? it is closer to aye that carabelle, but many people felt no qualms about plunking down 950psf for one unit there.

(5) have you been to jurong point, west coast plaza, and imm recently? Not to mention that yet to be completed new clementi plaza. these are as good as any shopping malls at orcard. carabelle is close to all of these new malls. Plus we have a shuttle bus that takes you to clementi mrt, if you did not own a car?

In summary, it is hard to say what is over or under-priced. If you feel it is overpriced and feel content to stay in your hdb, all the kudos to you. as someone say, accept what you have and don't be too materialistic. but if other people are wiling to shell out 900 psf for this condo, who are we to say that it is overpriced? my wife certainly loves carabelle. she says that just the pool alone would make her choose this condo. if you don't swim, you would be happier living in hdb.

I am here to say the truth about my opinion too but being a resident there, isn't your opinion not objective?

You haven't been to many condos, do you? What makes you think alot of condo do not have olympic size swimming pool?

I think your comments that condo having swimming pool resemble bathtub is exaggerating.

Having shuttle service has its disadvantage too as it will add on to your maintenance fee in the future as usually developers will only subsidy for the residents until a certain period.

Hmm..I see your previous postings that you have been ruthless in comments to other projects.
The funny thing is your posting on other projects that they are expensive (e.g if a project can sell so much, then Carabelle can also fetch so much), etc....but over here, you asking who are we to say that Carabelle is overpriced? So, who are you to say Cube8 cannot be selling at $1,300psf?

[Avatar]

Not to argue with you or anything. but your remark that carabelle resembles HDB estate is in my view ludicrous. Have you seen the parc? have you seen metropolitan. those do resemble HDB. carabelle doesn't like HDB at all. first, it is not a contiguous block, as is the case with parc. Second, it is almost entirely wrapped in glass. which HDB has that kind of construction? HDB is entirely brick and mortar.

Haha...I think you are just staying and moving around in District 5...to say that HDB s entirely brick and mortar is totally wrong! Maybe you stilll living in 1990s or before. Or you could be blind thereafter...

Sorry, those remark that Carabelle resembles HDB not from me, but from my colleagues...you didn't know how to read?

[teddybear]

How to compare Carabelle to Cube8's location (1 in D5 OCR and the other in D11 CCR)? The market is telling us that Cube8 is worth $1200-1400 psf despite close to PIE. The market is also telling us that Carabelle is worth less than an average of $900 psf (may be due to many other factors despite further away from AYE). At least Cube8 doesn't need shuttle bus, still can walk to Novena MRT station and Novena Square. If need shuttle bus means the condo must be damn ulu (i.e. very inconvenient located).
Ultimately, the residents would have to pay for the shuttle buses costs via their monthly maintenance fees (or see the shuttle buses discontinued). Olympics size swimming pool is big deal? (Please divide by number of units x number of bedrooms first and you will find that the swimming pool's volume per bedroom is actually no big deal - macam like EC if too many units in the condo estate as always too crowded).

I am not here to defend carabelle. I am here to tell the truth.

(1) Some stacks can be noisy, but many are not. At some stacks, you could hear a pin drop.

(2) How many condos in Singapore can boast of an Olympic sized pool, like Carabelle? Not many. I have been to many condos at bukit timah, many have pools that resemble bathtubs.

(3) How many condos have a gym as well equipped as that at carabelle? We have four treadmills and two ellipticals, plus variety of other machines.

(4) if cub 8 can sell for $1,300 psf while it is so close to PIE, what is the fair price of carabelle? is the current 900psf too high? How about hundred trees? it is closer to aye that carabelle, but many people felt no qualms about plunking down 950psf for one unit there.

(5) have you been to jurong point, west coast plaza, and imm recently? Not to mention that yet to be completed new clementi plaza. these are as good as any shopping malls at orcard. carabelle is close to all of these new malls. Plus we have a shuttle bus that takes you to clementi mrt, if you did not own a car?

In summary, it is hard to say what is over or under-priced. If you feel it is overpriced and feel content to stay in your hdb, all the kudos to you. as someone say, accept what you have and don't be too materialistic. but if other people are wiling to shell out 900 psf for this condo, who are we to say that it is overpriced? my wife certainly loves carabelle. she says that just the pool alone would make her choose this condo. if you don't swim, you would be happier living in hdb.

[teddybear]

To me, entirely wrap in glass is almost a definite NEGATIVE point. Wait till 20 or more years later and see what happen to these glasses? Why developers like to use glasses? Come on, most will know that the costs are so much cheaper than to use cement and sand! In future, the costs of replacement of the glasses rest on the owners (but cement and sand does not need replacement).

Not to argue with you or anything. but your remark that carabelle resembles HDB estate is in my view ludicrous. Have you seen the parc? have you seen metropolitan. those do resemble HDB. carabelle doesn't like HDB at all. first, it is not a contiguous block, as is the case with parc. Second, it is almost entirely wrapped in glass. which HDB has that kind of construction? HDB is entirely brick and mortar.

[xebay11]

Having shuttle service has its disadvantage too as it will add on to your maintenance fee in the future as usually developers will only subsidy for the residents until a certain period.

Hmm..I see your previous postings that you have been ruthless in comments to other projects.

MCs are not allowed shuttle services to be added to the maintenace fees, and ultimately, it just adds to the cost per residents, and also later there will be disputes by some residents who do not support the shuttle service as they do not need it.

Shopping in the West like IMM, JP, West Coast Plaza as Stalingrad suggests? Come on these are heartlander shopping areas, only good for picking up the usual quick grocery.

What goes around comes around for him.

[schoz]

An overpriced project now
Posted on Nov 12, 2009 by X Qiu
Carabelle was initially sold at a relatively low price; at 650k, you can secure a 883sqft unit at more than 7th floor half a year ago. Now for a similar size unit, the price has risen by more than 150k, a 25% increase in price - 10% higher than the record islandwide 15.9% increase in private property price!!

I personally do not think that Carabelle is worth at the present situation, simply because of four main reasons:

1) The quality is rather bad; I was there for viewing and the main gate to each block of the condo is already rusting. Isn't it suppose to be a new condo?! The interior finishing: average to poor; for e.g. the wardrobes are make of un-lacquered inferior quality wood.

2) It is far away from shops, malls, public transport -- not much amenities there.

3) The expressway is in front of the condo; peace and quietness is not what you can expect in Carabelle. Location is not ideal.

4) Condo facilities are the norm, land space is average.

In short, the price of Carabelle now is definitely not justifiable. Should Singapore's economy takes a dip or any imposed correction takes place, buyers who buy Carabelle now could find their property value depreciate markedly. Everything is cyclical - things go up and down.

I was there ready to buy since that region is near my workplace; however, I was rather disappointed with the development.

The above are just my humble opinions.

I feel all properties in sg is overpriced now. But still, if you dont get it,others will. For prices to go down again, need to wait for next cycle lo.

[xebay11]

I feel all properties in sg is overpriced now. But still, if you dont get it,others will. For prices to go down again, need to wait for next cycle lo.

How many cycles in a 30yr loan tenure? Don't forget to factor in the affordibility factor in the tenure of loan you can take.

[amk]

It's alright lah. Completely expected response from stalingrad.

How to compare Carabelle to Cube8's location (1 in D5 OCR and the other in D11 CCR)? The market is telling us that Cube8 is worth $1200-1400 psf despite close to PIE. The market is also telling us that Carabelle is worth less than an average of $900 psf

This is the most objective statement so far.

With FEO/CDL creating benchmark pricing everywhere in the island, I share Reporter's feeling that, in no time, there will be no project that costs less than 1k psf. That is, until the next crash.

[Avatar]

MCs are not allowed shuttle services to be added to the maintenace fees, and ultimately, it just adds to the cost per residents, and also later there will be disputes by some residents who do not support the shuttle service as they do not need it.

Shopping in the West like IMM, JP, West Coast Plaza as Stalingrad suggests? Come on these are heartlander shopping areas, only good for picking up the usual quick grocery.

What goes around comes around for him.

I think his view is restricted only to district 5 and his dear Carabelle is the best......Cube 8 selling at $1,300 psf and he think his Carabelle can be also at the same price. And his glass walls...haha..give him and his wife a fish tank and I think they can live happily ever after in it...

[stalingrad]

I think his view is restricted only to district 5 and his dear Carabelle is the best......Cube 8 selling at $1,300 psf and he think his Carabelle can be also at the same price. And his glass walls...haha..give him and his wife a fish tank and I think they can live happily ever after in it...

Yes, that is how we are. We are simple people, and easily contented. We live simply, and we eat simply. And we exercise regularly, and we do not engage in any bad activities, like gambling in the real estate market. But we live our lives fully, and have no time to deal with fools like you.

But no matter what garbage we hear from you and the uncouth loudmouth xebay, we are not selling carabelle to you for less than 1300psf.

[Condorich]

Yes, that is how we are. We are simple people, and easily contented. We live simply, and we eat simply. And we exercise regularly, and we do not engage in any bad habits, like gambling in the real estate market. But we live our lives fully, and have no time to deal with fools like you.

But no matter what garbage we hear from you and the other uncouth loudmouth xebay, we are not selling carabelle to you for less than 1300psf.

Sorry to Hijack, I don't think he will buy also. Anyway it is ultimately offer and acceptance, one party offers and the other party accepts, just like a marriage proposal. I'm sure you know things may be destined to fail from the very beginning. If you can find someone to buy from you at $1300 psf, we will all be happy for u.

Property prices is definitely over priced now.... can check on the prices after a major interest rate hike.... fools and their money is easily parted.

[stalingrad]

Sorry to Hijack, I don't think he will buy also. Anyway it is ultimately offer and acceptance, one party offers and the other party accepts, just like a marriage proposal. I'm sure you know things may be destined to fail from the very beginning. If you can find someone to buy from you at $1300 psf, we will all be happy for u.

Property prices is definitely over priced now.... can check on the prices after a major interest rate hike.... fools and their money is easily parted.

That is not the issue. I am not saying the market is overpriced or underpriced. I am saying that if you can live in the west, and enjoy everything that the rich folks can enjoy in prime districts, while paying a fraction of the price that they pay, you are ahead in the game, isn't it? In the case of Carabelle, the price is less than 1,000, and you get to enjoy more facilities than cube 8, and we are near all the new shopping malls that are as good as those at orchard, then why would you pay 1,300 psf for cube 8 instead of paying 900 psf for carabelle?

what can you get from owning a cube 8 condo that you cannot get by owning carabelle? just the bragging right about the district you live in?

[xebay11]

That is not the issue. I am not saying the market is overpriced or underpriced. I am saying that if you can live in the west, and enjoy everything that the rich folks can enjoy in prime districts, while paying a fraction of the price that they pay, you are ahead in the game, isn't it? In the case of Carabelle, the price is less than 1,000, and you get to enjoy more facilities than cube 8, and we are near all the new shopping malls that are as good as those at orchard, then why would you pay 1,300 psf for cube 8 instead of paying 900 psf for carabelle?

what can you get from owning a cube 8 condo that you cannot get by owning carabelle? just the bragging right about the district you live in?

Cube 8 trounces Carablle's location by a large margin being at the city fringe, much more foreigner friendly, to say the the new shopping malls in the West are as good as those at Orchard, last time I checked, I could not find Hour Glass, LV, Etienne Aigner, Zegna, Hugo Boss etc at the neighbourhood malls, wonder what are you smoking?

You are entitled to your preference for living at the Carabelle but please don't make foolish comparisons.

[stalingrad]

Cube 8 trounces Carablle's location by a large margin being at the city fringe, much more foreigner friendly, to say the the new shopping malls in the West are as good as those at Orchard, last time I checked, I could not find Hour Glass, LV, Etienne Aigner, Zegna, Hugo Boss etc at the neighbourhood malls, wonder what are you smoking?

You are entitled to your preference for living at the Carabelle but please don't make foolish comparisons.

How foreigner friendly do you want? Carabelle is bursting at the seams with foreigners. If any more foreigner friendly, we may as well call carabelle foreignbelle. the same goes with botannia, and the infiniti.

All those stores you are talking about, do you frequent those stores yourself? There is new york new york at west coast plaza, as well as starbucks. there is din tai fung at jurong point. in terms of retailers, john little is at jurong point. C.K Tang is at vivocity, together with many other brand name retailers. carabelle is only a short drive away from c.K. Tang.

[proud owner]

How foreigner friendly do you want? Carabelle is bursting at the seams with foreigners. If any more foreigner friendly, we may as well call carabelle foreignbelle. the same goes with botannia, and the infiniti.

All those stores you are talking about, do you frequent those stores yourself? There is new york new york at west coast plaza, as well as starbucks. there is din tai fung at jurong point. in terms of retailers, john little is at jurong point. C.K Tang is at vivocity, together with many other brand name retailers. carabelle is only a short drive away from c.K. Tang.

is CUbe next to Toa payoh ? with PIE in the middle ?

what amenities around there ?

[xebay11]

How foreigner friendly do you want? Carabelle is bursting at the seams with foreigners. If any more foreigner friendly, we may as well call carabelle foreignbelle. the same goes with botannia, and the infiniti.

All those stores you are talking about, do you frequent those stores yourself? There is new york new york at west coast plaza, as well as starbucks. there is din tai fung at jurong point. in terms of retailers, john little is at jurong point. C.K Tang is at vivocity, together with many other brand name retailers. carabelle is only a short drive away from c.K. Tang.

Foreigner friendly as in favoured by foreigners to buy as a holiday home due to proximity to Novena MRT and Orchard Road, this is favourable to the Indonesians.

Thoses stores or class of stores you mentioned can almost be found in any HDB Central Shopping centres and there are many neighbourhood shopping centre with condos now, so again there is no real advantage staying at the Carabelle.

[xebay11]

is CUbe next to Toa payoh ? with PIE in the middle ?

what amenities around there ?

Indonesians like the area due to the closeness to TTSH for medical treatment and also the Novena MRT and Orchard Road.

[proud owner]

Indonesians like the area due to the closeness to TTSH for medical treatment and also the Novena MRT and Orchard Road.

is it near Sky@11 ?

[stalingrad]

Indonesians like the area due to the closeness to TTSH for medical treatment and also the Novena MRT and Orchard Road.

thank god you are telling me that. I was thinking about moving to the novena area, to be close to all those hospitals.

[xebay11]

is it near Sky@11 ?

About 2-3kms on the other side of the PIE near SJI.

[xebay11]

thank god you are telling me that. I was thinking about moving to the novena area, to be close to all those hospitals.

Go check the map dude, Cube 8 is a comfortable distance away. Carabelle also quite near NUH.

[stalingrad]

Foreigner friendly as in favoured by foreigners to buy as a holiday home due to proximity to Novena MRT and Orchard Road, this is favourable to the Indonesians.

Thoses stores or class of stores you mentioned can almost be found in any HDB Central Shopping centres and there are many neighbourhood shopping centre with condos now, so again there is no real advantage staying at the Carabelle.

I am not saying that there are advantages to living in carabelle. I am saying there are no disadvantages living in carabelle vs. cube 8. In that case, what is the point paying 1,300psf for cube 8 instead of paying 900psf for carabelle, for for that matter, botannia or even hundred trees? plus, we have a huge pool that both me and wife love so much.

[xebay11]

I am not saying that there are advantages to living in carabelle. I am saying there are no disadvantages living in carabelle vs. cube 8. In that case, what is the point paying 1,300psf for cube 8 instead of paying 900psf for carabelle, for for that matter, botannia or even hundred trees? plus, we have a huge pool that both me and wife love so much.

That is good for you.

[stalingrad]

That is good for you.

Mmmmm...? is this xebay that loudmouth obnoxious xebay? what did you psychiatrist prescribe for you to calm you down?

[xebay11]

Mmmmm...? is this xebay that loudmouth obnoxious xebay? what did you psychiatrist prescribe for you to calm you down?

Me obnoxious? I am always calm, just wondered why you got so riled up that ppl are paying $1300 psf for Cube 8? Would I pay that kind of money for that location? No but everything is just willing seller willing buyer, every property has its price, opponents and proponents.