I know this is going to sound like “copium” to some of you still grinding for that 5Cs dream, but I finally pulled the trigger. Six months ago, I sold my 2-bedroom condo in Pasir Ris and moved back into a 4-room resale HDB in Hougang.
Best decision of my life. No regrets.
The Reality of “Living the Dream”
I stayed in that condo for about seven years. On paper, it was great. I had the gym, the pool, and the “prestige” of a private address. But the reality was different:
- Maintenance Fees: Paying $400+ a month for a pool I used maybe twice a year and a gym that was always packed with people filming TikToks.
- Space: My 2-bedder was “compact.” After marriage and a kid, the place felt like a shoebox. Every time we bought a new appliance, it was a logistical nightmare.
- The Stress: My monthly mortgage was eating up a huge chunk of my take-home pay. I was one bad performance review away from a financial crisis.
The Switch
I sold the condo during the recent peak and managed to walk away with a decent capital gain. I bought an older 4-room HDB resale. Even after a full renovation, I still have a massive six-figure sum sitting in my CPF and high-interest savings accounts.
Here’s why life is actually better now:
- Financial Freedom: My monthly mortgage is now fully covered by my CPF OA. I don’t touch a single cent of my cash salary for housing. The peace of mind is insane.
- Space and Layout: Older HDBs are built differently. My living room is actually a living room, not a narrow corridor. My kid has space to actually run around without hitting a wall.
- Convenience: I moved to a mature estate. I have three coffee shops, a wet market, and a Giant within a 5-minute walk. At the condo, I had to drive or Grab just to get a decent bowl of minced meat noodles.
- No More “Keeping Up”: In the condo, there was this unspoken pressure to drive a certain car or dress a certain way. In my HDB block, nobody cares. I go downstairs in my FBT shorts and slippers, and it’s perfectly fine.
The Bottom Line
If you’re struggling to keep up with condo payments just for the sake of status, seriously consider if it’s worth it. Moving back to HDB didn’t feel like a “downgrade” at all—it felt like I finally stopped paying for a lifestyle I wasn’t even enjoying.
Status is temporary; liquidity and sleep quality are forever.
TL;DR: Sold the shoebox, moved to a spacious HDB, cleared my cash mortgage, and I’m much happier. Don’t let the “private property” trap stop you from actually enjoying your life.