I’ve Lived At Urban Vista In Tanah Merah For 6 Years: Here’s My Review Of What It’s Like To Live Next To An MRT
Cheryl has been writing about international property investments for the past two years since she has graduated from NUS with a bachelors in Real Estate. As an avid investor herself, she mainly invests in cryptocurrency and stocks, with goals to include real estate, virtual and physical, into her portfolio in the future. Her aim as a writer at Stacked is to guide readers when it comes to real estate investments through her insights.
In our previous coverage of Urban Vista, we delved into the factors driving its resale market performance. This time, we shift our focus to what it’s actually like to live there, through the eyes of B and his partner. So whether you’re pondering an investment, contemplating a move, or simply curious about life in the East, their firsthand account sheds light on what living at Urban Vista is like.
For the benefit of those less familiar with the area, Tanah Merah is often characterised by the two rows of condos that flank both sides of the East-West line train track, which includes projects like The Glades, Grandeur Park and the upcoming Sceneca Residences.
Over the lengthy period that B has been living at Urban Vista, they shared that they loved the convenience offered but are not the biggest fans of the project itself.
Sitting on one of the smallest sites in the area (13,998.5 sqm), Urban Vista is a rather new 99-year leasehold project completed in 2016 and offers 582 units. It provides a wide variety of unit types, ranging from 1- to 5-bedroom units and also has dual-key layouts.
One clear lifestyle difference in comparison to most of its neighbours (like East Meadows, The Glades and Grandeur Park Residences) is that Urban Vista is much more compact. As a result, the residential blocks are rather densely located.
B and his partner officially moved into the apartment in 2018 and here’s what he has to say about his experience so far.
Initial impression of Tanah Merah and how it has evolved
“Honestly, staying in Tanah Merah was not my first choice. My initial goal was to find an apartment within my budget that was still convenient to commute. Seeing that Tanah Merah is located almost at the tip of Singapore’s East side, I had the impression that it would be inaccessible to get into town”, shared B.
This impression of the neighbourhood was a rather common sentiment, as many people unfamiliar with the location have shared the same concern.
“If not for the price, I would have probably looked elsewhere”, he added.
However, after half a decade of living in this neighbourhood, he feels that he might have found a gem.
“It didn’t take me long after moving in to realise that getting to most places was extremely fast and convenient! That was a very pleasant surprise since I was prepared for the worst. This is largely due to living just across from the station and is probably one of the biggest perks to living in Urban Vista”.
In addition, Tanah Merah Station has been earmarked to be integrated into the Thomson-East Coast Line by 2040, so residents in the area can expect even smoother travelling experiences in the future.
“My fiancee and I are avid travellers, so it is great that we are located a short train ride from the airport. I didn’t expect ourselves to enjoy the location so much”, B shared further.
What Made Urban Vista Stand Out
Seeing that B and his fiancee have been living in Urban Vista for more than half a decade, it’s safe to say that their overall experience has been quite a positive one. Like most tenants, the deciding factor was their rental price.
”Even with the recent rent increase, I felt that the price is still within a reasonable range, which is probably the main reason why we are still living here. It helps that we get along well with the landlord, too”, added B.
And given that Urban Vista isn’t the biggest condo around, it may be surprising to some to find a mini-mart within the estate. In addition, there are many malls located less than 10 minutes away. This includes Bedok Mall, Changi City Point and Changi Jewel for a wide variety of dining, shopping and grocery options.
A Look Behind Urban Vista’s Facade
On the flip side of things, B has less positive things to say about the overall maintenance of the project and its amenities.
“This might sound harsh but the maintenance is not done well at Urban Vista at all. I’ve seen plenty of broken tiles littered throughout the project, the pool furniture has been broken for some time but not been repaired or replaced and the equipment in the gym is just rusty and sticky”, B explained.
Due to the MRT constructions on one end and Sceneca’s construction on the other end, there has been constant noise throughout the day.
“I’m quite used to the construction noise by now, but if you’re sensitive to it, you’ve got to be prepared for it to last into the night. Sometimes even till 3 in the morning. Because of the heavy construction around our condo, the dust and noise make it difficult to use any outdoor amenities”, advised B.
He added that this could mainly be due to the tenant-heavy resident profile. This can sometimes be an issue as tenants are not living there for a long time and may take less good care of the place. Also, as the owners themselves are just renting the units out and not living there, they are less incentivised to ensure that the place is kept well.
This also plays a part in the overall community spirit. “I personally don’t think that it’s a problem but if you’re looking for a wholesome and well-bonded community, then Urban Vista is not it for you. Everyone practically minds their own business and it’s quite a closed-off community”, he shares.
On the whole, he hopes that management can take more charge in maintaining or improving the environment of the project.
Considerations other buyers should know
This may not be the biggest bugbear for buyers, but the car park at Urban Vista can be quite tight at several corners. As such, those who drive bigger/longer cars may want to be well aware.
Staying at Urban Vista
When asked how long are they planning to stay in Urban Vista, B concluded that it would be solely dependent on the future rental price.
“We live a very convenient life here and we have a good landlord, these two things I’m grateful for. However, if the price continues to increase, then I guess it’s time to find a new home because I’m sure we can get a better-maintained condo for the same price”.
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