Bought the 30 years old house - free upgrade!

Sharing a little heart-to-heart about our decision to buy a 30-year-old resale home.

We sold our BTO after 5 years, made a good profit, and used that to upgrade. The best part? The profit fully covered our renovation—so technically, it feels like a free upgrade. No regrets at all. 🙌

It wasn’t an easy search though. We were super particular—had to be a corner unit, high floor, within budget, and with the right vibes. We viewed about 6–7 houses and honestly worried that we wouldn’t find “the one.” But thank goodness we did, and when we stepped in, it just felt right. 💫

What drew us in most was the space (something I’ve always wanted 💭) and the fact that it’s near my parents—super convenient for family life.

We’re not sure what the future holds, but for now, we’re looking forward to at least a good decade of making memories here. 💕

What would you prioritize?

Space?

Facility?

The profitability?

Sometimes, it’s about choosing what feels right for your season of life. And for us, this feels just right. 🌿

2025/8/28 Edited to

... Read moreWhen considering buying and renovating an older home, especially one around 30 years old, one key strategy to minimize costs is leveraging your property's potential for profit, as we did by selling our previous home before upgrading. Renovations don’t have to break the bank if you plan carefully and prioritize what matters most—be it space, location, or future resale value. For example, focusing on targeted upgrades like modernizing the kitchen or bathroom can greatly enhance both functionality and appeal without a full overhaul. Choosing a high-floor corner unit, as we did, can also add value and enjoyment. It’s worth viewing multiple options and trusting your instincts until you find a home that simply feels right. Another tip is to incorporate DIY touches or source materials smartly to stretch your budget further. Finally, proximity to family and conveniences adds intangible value to a home, making your living experience much richer. Buying older homes to renovate can be very rewarding, combining financial savvy with creating a personalized space for your life season.

11 comments

jeff lim's images
jeff lim

How much did u buy your resale flat for? How big is it?

Related posts

FREE China Number 🇨🇳 1 Minute Tutorial
First Time going to China? Refuse to pay 💸💰 for a China Telephone Line? Here is the tutorial video I promised you Do remember to download WeChat ‼️ Search : Esender 易博通 (Yi Bo Tong) I will put in comments for you to copy Follow & Message Click On Esender then click on Registrati
Joves&Co

Joves&Co

181 likes

AUDIO HOUSE APPLIANCES SAVINGS HACK 🛒 MUST READ ‼️
Hello, we are finally back! 🤭 We recently bought a few appliances from Audio House and wanted to share what the visit was really like. We waited for the Audio House Day Sale in July because several salesmen mentioned that the eCashback would be higher 💰 and we noticed many other shoppers were als
ovenlettershome

ovenlettershome

65 likes

Been using this daily contact lenses for 2 YEARS!
No need to go JB for affordable contact lense, the store is in Somerset 🤯 I used to be a colored lens girly, the kind who stretched one pair for months at a time. Then I came across an article that explained how damaging that actually is for your eyes and how crucial proper eye health really is.
Natania

Natania

368 likes

3 years.. to get deceived and cheated on
hi zesties! never expected my first post to be so negative. its gonna be a long post cuz i dont wanna dwell on it anymore after this, so please bear with me HAHAH. my friend told me not to air out my dirty laundry but i feel like i should post this as he is out there ruining my reputation by bla
reimi ദ്ദി ˃ ᵕ ˂

reimi ദ്ദി ˃ ᵕ ˂

720 likes

DIY fluted glass upgrade!
Small DIY, big difference. Upgraded our plain service yard bifold door with fluted film for a more premium look. Now the water pipes are hidden from inside view and the space feels so much softer! Definitely worth to try GUYS! #singaporerenovation #renovationtips #housereno #singapore
Ivy Lee

Ivy Lee

374 likes

4 Room BTO after 6 years
My review on a few items that we have lived with and thought might not be worth it to splurge over the last 6 years. 1. Bidet - no matter how expensive (yes we bought expensive bidets amounting to $80 - 100++) it will get spoiled, water trickling out often. This one has been like our 5 - 6th one
Rizz

Rizz

44 likes

Can you buy a house in your 20s?!! 🏠✨
A lot of people assume the answer is automatically no, but in Singapore, it usually comes down to how early you start building wealth and preparing for the downpayment. Most people who manage to buy in their 20s aren’t necessarily earning extraordinary salaries (like me when I bought my first house
Alynn Ting

Alynn Ting

30 likes

5 Home Upgrade you won’t regret
1. Pull-Out Try – Maximize storage with easy access. 2. Hidden Switches – Clean lines, clutter-free walls. 3. Kitchen Glass Door – Let light in while keeping smells out. 4. Corner Open Door – Smart design for tricky corners. 5. Shoe Cabinet Door Hiding Bomb Shelter – Functional AND surprising!
Ecasa Studio

Ecasa Studio

172 likes

💛Hotel near Beijing Road with a free upgrade!🇨🇳
🏨 Where we stayed in Guangzhou – budget price, surprise upgrade! 🇨🇳✨ For our 6D5N girls’ trip, we booked a Deluxe Triple Room at Echarm Hotel (Yuexiu Park Subway Station)… but somehow we got upgraded to a Family Room at no extra cost?! Still not sure if it was a system glitch or pure luck, but we
ophe

ophe

36 likes

Honest Review: Bubble House+ Jurong from $59
If you live in the West, you know that finding a decent spot for a full-day reset usually involves a long commute to the city. So, when I found out about Bubble House+ Spa, I had to check it out. It’s super convenient to the West hub, and honestly, the current promotion is a steal. Here is t
Emmeline Low

Emmeline Low

116 likes

LIFE OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR 30S
On 18th March 2025, my husband received the retrenchment news 😱😱 This was his only job throughout 7 years of his working career path, one word to sum it up >>> LOST <<< Unfortunately the economy isn’t at the best for tech roles, it’s gonna be 10 months of unemployment soon! But
Jean Kuah

Jean Kuah

252 likes

Married the Tinder guy who bought me Hokkien Mee
Went on 3 dates with three different guys & married the third :) Stated clearly in my dating bio back then that I was looking for the best Hokkien mee in town. First guy: went to a casual Japanese restaurant. We were both students doing our internships! He offered to cover the bill but I sa
Nom & George

Nom & George

137 likes

We Paid Off Our 30-Year HDB Mortgage In 10 Years!
When my wife and I bought our new HDB flat in 1999, we took out an HDB loan at 2.60% for 30 years. The purchase price of our 5-room, 121-square-meter flat was $258,000 (totaling $258,910.75 after including the stamp fee; if you're wondering why it was so cheap, remember this was over 20 years a
Yao

Yao

164 likes

We got a free TMC room upgrade!✨
We were initially deciding between premier single room ($888+) and 1-bedded room ($788+). The difference between the two is that the premier single room has a drink station machine in the room itself, sofa bed slightly bigger, and is situated on level 3 where the other suite rooms are (so there
spoonsofdelights

spoonsofdelights

18 likes

This small upgrade made my home easier to live in.
Most homeowners don’t think much about sliding doors until they start getting noisy, hard to slide, or annoying to clean. This center opening sliding door features a synchronised soft-closing system and no bottom track, giving your home a cleaner look and smoother everyday experience. Clean.
Spacedorsg

Spacedorsg

77 likes

Almost 30 and I Still Choose Hostels
To me, travel will always be about experiences more than comfort. Hostels make the world feel just a little bit closer and a lot more human. ✨ Follow along as I bring the world a little closer to you, one trip at a time. #lessons #travellessons #travel
Hazel

Hazel

41 likes

See more