Living in JB

[matix]

By the way, quite excited that they are opening up the taxis from SG to Johore and vice versa in July. This will really help people travel from both sides. The devil is in the details, I wonder what they would do for the taxi driver to facilitate multiple trips in a day though.

It would be very good news for people who are taxi drivers and want to drive in their family and friends in for sightseeing as well.

Yes, this is very good news for my wife, who does not drive. She has finally taken the courage to go learn driving. But this news will take some pressue off her when we moved to EL next year. I have told her that it will be easier to get a licence in Malaysia and just get a Malaysian car, but she insisted on getting a Singapore one as she is worried about emergencies when she need to drive back to Singapore. With this, she can easily call a cab and get to Singapore. But I wonder how does one get back. I suppose you will still need to go to Rochore to take the cab back right?

 

[euphony]

thanks bro wuqi for the encouragements. i mull over what you say too.

 

[gregorian]

Hi gregorian, you can also check out Nusa Idaman's semi-d with a built-up from 3100sqft and bigger and the price of RM688k and above. It's a 2.5 storey concept and is well above the RM500k minimum limit for foreigners to buy. The project is also in a G&G area and these are new units that you buy direct from the developer. So far, it seems that Standard Chartered's packages are good; I got mine from them at BLR-2.3% for the first 3 years and BLR-2.35% for the subsequent years. If you buy from the developer, they MIGHT have deals where they will pay for all legal fees, etc. As the buyer, you only need to pay the downpayment. Have a look at Nusa Idaman's sales office; the project is under UEM Land, a big property player in Malaysia and owner of most of the land in Nusajaya.

Thanks Vincent I will check the area this weekend! Maybe we will be neighbours soon!

 

[cathylmg]

By the way, quite excited that they are opening up the taxis from SG to Johore and vice versa in July. This will really help people travel from both sides. The devil is in the details, I wonder what they would do for the taxi driver to facilitate multiple trips in a day though.

It would be very good news for people who are taxi drivers and want to drive in their family and friends in for sightseeing as well.

I have a relative who works as a taxi driver. Inordered to be able to drive a taxi into Johor, the taxi driver have to pay S$1000 on a yearly basis. They will charge S$50 per trip. Same as taxis from Johor, its a RM$50 to any destination in Singapore.

 

[cathylmg]

Yes, this is very good news for my wife, who does not drive. She has finally taken the courage to go learn driving. But this news will take some pressue off her when we moved to EL next year. I have told her that it will be easier to get a licence in Malaysia and just get a Malaysian car, but she insisted on getting a Singapore one as she is worried about emergencies when she need to drive back to Singapore. With this, she can easily call a cab and get to Singapore. But I wonder how does one get back. I suppose you will still need to go to Rochore to take the cab back right?

i would advise you not to get a licence in Malaysia as you(your very own self) will not be allowed to enter Singapore for 1/2 a year after you get the licence or else your licence be disqualified. So please get your licence in Singapore.

 

[gregorian]

Welcome Gregorian, have you made the move? If so, would you like to share your experience with us?

Greeting Wuqi,

Thanks for asking. yup. i am looking at a cluster house in HH. it has a big garden and facing the golf course seliing around 9xxk. do you think it's worth it for me to get it?

your advice is greatly valued.

 

[wuqi256]

Actually I saw one even lower at RM23K, an old Proton Saga. I was getting my car washed at Giant (Bukit Indah), and there were several 2nd hand cars parked nearby with sales price tag on it. The salesman there was very friendly and started chatting with me. Was told that the top of the range Proton Perdana was no longer available, but it is the Ispara? now.

Back to car wash... I was persuaded to do the fogging for the car at RM25. The car had a nice smell after the treatment, and was told it will last for 1 week. But it actually only lasted about two days. I will not recommend it.

Thanks Matix, do you mean RM 2.3k? Gosh, really can get it cheap. As long as still can drive, just slowly spend some money to fix and you can get a cheap ride. Thanks for sharing about the fogging.

 

[wuqi256]

Yeah it is very important to get behind the marketing brochures and the slick talk.

The brochures i saw on Kulai were fantastic and impressive. But when i checked out the place by doing more research i realised its not for me.

Similarly Kempas Utama had some great marketing going for it. I was attracted to the Smart Home concept they had. In fact they offered a lot more stuff than Setia offers in terms of value for $$. But a visit to Kempas Utama and i decided i dun wan a part of it.

Agreed, actually Kulai isn't too bad but its a bit too far although the property prices there are still very low. Its only good for people who don't need to travel back to SG daily/ weekly or who don't mind the longer distance to travel.

 

[JB_Dream]

Thanks LeMans. Indeed the interest rate is on the high side...

Just a question, I recalled reading somewhere in the thread where the guards are extremely strict and do not allow anyone to enter unless the owners @ home. In this instance how can I really 'feel' the surrounding???

I went to LF sales gallery before and nearly 'sold' by the concept especially when freebies thrown in...

 

[JB_Dream]

Many thanks Wuqi!

I understand you do bring your relatives to view HH thus grateful if you can recommend any agent to me? I am keen in HH but from their website most units were sold or beyond my budget. Any idea when they releasing new units?

 

[JB_Dream]

Thanks AP, will pop by their office!

Yeah, actually my wifie likes HH...or maybe she has not seen other projects

 

[LeMans2011]

Yes, this is very good news for my wife, who does not drive. She has finally taken the courage to go learn driving. But this news will take some pressue off her when we moved to EL next year. I have told her that it will be easier to get a licence in Malaysia and just get a Malaysian car, but she insisted on getting a Singapore one as she is worried about emergencies when she need to drive back to Singapore. With this, she can easily call a cab and get to Singapore. But I wonder how does one get back. I suppose you will still need to go to Rochore to take the cab back right?

Cabs will be really ex, i have not verified but one JB cab driver told me he can take me to Rochor for MYR120 (of course i do not know how much it can go down since i was not interested)... i think the bus from Bukit Indah to Jurong East is a very good option

 

[LeMans2011]

I have a relative who works as a taxi driver. Inordered to be able to drive a taxi into Johor, the taxi driver have to pay S$1000 on a yearly basis. They will charge S$50 per trip. Same as taxis from Johor, its a RM$50 to any destination in Singapore.

RM$50 from JB to anywhere in SG? That's quite cheap - do you have the contact please?. I paid RM25 to get from City Square to Bukit Indah

 

[LeMans2011]

Actually I saw one even lower at RM23K, an old Proton Saga. I was getting my car washed at Giant (Bukit Indah), and there were several 2nd hand cars parked nearby with sales price tag on it. The salesman there was very friendly and started chatting with me. Was told that the top of the range Proton Perdana was no longer available, but it is the Ispara? now.

Back to car wash... I was persuaded to do the fogging for the car at RM25. The car had a nice smell after the treatment, and was told it will last for 1 week. But it actually only lasted about two days. I will not recommend it.

Hey guys,
Why not just get a brand new MYVI? Its about MYR50k but for the peace of mind. You dont want to have a car breakdown in JB

 

[LeMans2011]

Greeting Wuqi,
Thanks for asking. yup. i am looking at a cluster house in HH. it has a big garden and facing the golf course seliing around 9xxk. do you think it's worth it for me to get it? your advice is greatly valued.

Ok... i am not the expert in horizon hills and the question is not directed at me either... but just want to share with you the clusters at Nusa Duta and Bestari Heights are worth a look

 

[LeMans2011]

Thanks LeMans. Indeed the interest rate is on the high side...
Just a question, I recalled reading somewhere in the thread where the guards are extremely strict and do not allow anyone to enter unless the owners @ home. In this instance how can I really 'feel' the surrounding??? I went to LF sales gallery before and nearly 'sold' by the concept especially when freebies thrown in...

Hello JB_Dream,

Just drop by the HH clubhouse property gallery and get a sales to show you one of the units.. mind you they are very focussed and if they do not have what you want they might not even bother to show you around... hence ask them what they have first (should have some semi-D units). Well in fact driving in all the way to the clubhouse would already give you a feel of the environment

Leisure Farm is nice, the one unsure thing is: will they ever get an exit to highway direct? For now you need to pass through Gelang Patah town and some kampong areas and will only arrive after 6km of drive...

FYI - i shared with bros earlier several cheaper places are pretty good as well... Bestari Heights, Nusa Duta and Nusa Idaman

 

[LeMans2011]

Field Report: My Visit to Senibong Cove and Straits View Residences
Arrived Senibong Cove at 4:20pm - closed at 4pm damn! I think their units are mostly sold. They have built a nice big road to this development. It is pretty near the sea.

Went over to Straits View Residences. Very nice! My favorite is the 2 storey semi-D with 3400 sft built-up and double volume ceiling. Land is 40 x 104 feet, nice! The house feels very broad and nice but maybe too much glass too little concrete... this must be the best i see in JB after East Ledang semi-D. Was told it was sold at 1.1m during first phase last year but not available now. They are selling the 3 storey-type with 4185 sft built-up but land only 40 x 80 feet. The present pricing for the semi-Ds here are RM1.4m to 1.5m... seems like they are riding the wave and have raised the price significantly. This is the development they advertised in Straits Times at S$588k. This is beside Straits View Condo, near the golf course, and very near to Jusco. It is quite easy to get to Woodlands from here.

Both these development are in Permas Jaya. I think the new road does help to connect these 2 developments to Immigration and avoid the messy local traffic. I can see segments of the highway already built.

Apart from price... my issue is once you get out of the development it is really the local JB outside. It took me quite a while before i finally got out of the messy and intimidating local JB traffic... and back to good ole Nusajaya

 

[wuqi256]

Thanks Lemans2011, its actually ok to have an old car, provided you go to a mechanic and get it checked out first.

The JBJ "lulus" status will be given after inspection to just about any car so if you are tied for budget, then a 2nd hand car may be the best option. If you have more than one car, then having the 2nd car as an old car may be ok. Tow truck service is about 100RM. My relative just went to fix up his car today, with autogear box and engine oil change plus new radiator, recon gear box(3 months warranty), centre cones for his rims to stabilize things, balancing, etc for a total of 3k RM.

You can also get a Proton Saga 1.3 L for about 40k RM.

 

[Analytical Professor]

The taxi charge is a real issue to get to Spore if that is the price.

Now assuming someones wife takes the bus to Spore from Bukit Indah there is the other issue of getting from the Taman you are staying in to the Bukit Indah Causeway bus terminal.

Now this need not just apply to NJ and Bukit Indah. Its also applicable to Kempas Utama, Setia Tropika, Mont Callista and so many other developments.

And this is one of the real issues i had mentioned earlier. Though i know several forummers may ride roughshod over me by suggesting that you can take a taxi.

Not everytime people can afford to take a taxi.

And what about those times when you wanna go to the mini mart or provisiion store?

Its still quite a distance that is definitely not walkable.

Cabs will be really ex, i have not verified but one JB cab driver told me he can take me to Rochor for MYR120 (of course i do not know how much it can go down since i was not interested)... i think the bus from Bukit Indah to Jurong East is a very good option

 

[matix]

i would advise you not to get a licence in Malaysia as you(your very own self) will not be allowed to enter Singapore for 1/2 a year after you get the licence or else your licence be disqualified. So please get your licence in Singapore.

Hi Cathy

No. It is not me getting Malaysian license. I already have a Singapore license and will be driving my Singapore car. It is my wife who doesn't have a driving license yet who will be getting a Malaysian license, getting a Malaysian car, and for driving in Malaysia only. But your post still makes sense as it seems the Singapore license is still more friendly as we can also drive Malaysia car in Malaysia only, and still drive Singapore car back to Singapore. We will have to ponder over this point...