Selecting the House: Dream House I

It has officially come to a point to start looking for a place we can call home. A place we want to come back to after a day's work. I was contemplating typing about this because I thought it would be better to talk about it only after we got a place but what better time to remember and have as a memory than the first time you look at a place - a potential place that could be yours.

We wanted to only start looking for a house next year but we figured it was no harm looking around and seeing our options. The advice given was to have a plan in mind before heading to a place so that we can attempt to visualize how the house would look like if we bought it. So I've got a few ideas up my head that I do want in my house. :)

For both of us, we somewhat decided to opt out of the whole BTO thing because we felt that it was pretty silly for two reasons. 

(1) We didn't like the idea of buying a house long before we get engaged. (and I did mention that if he wants to get a place with me, he better propose then. Tee hee)

(2) From reason (1), it will obvious that if we applied for a BTO after getting engaged, and get married in 2015, we would not have a house then because it takes at least 4-5 years before the house keys are handed to us. 

Above is the house plan for the first house we visited. Kind of love it but it doesn't feel like the one. I don't know. Some say that you'll know the house when you see it. Guess I have yet to see it to know how it feels like.

Here's some things I learnt while searching for a place (do correct me if I am wrong)

>> You can have a maximum household monthly income of 10k to get the grants. (Or was it 8k?)

>> If you are engaged, you must have proof of marriage by the time you get your key so as to get all your grants. 

>> It's a 20k + 10k + 10k grant to make 40k but honestly, which amount for what I don't know. Hahaha! There's the near parent house, new applicant....etc. Really no idea! Haha!

So, we are trying to get a resale house for now. It's not going to be cheap, searching for it is going to be tiring, but I guess it does pay to get something from the mature estates. 

Goodness, I'm already starting to feel like a grown-up. Just a year ago, I didn't even know the roughly prices of houses (such a bimbo). Now, it's all about pricing, size, level, structure, pillar position and all. 

M