DBSS?

A few weeks ago, I watched a news report about the DBSS (Design, Build and Sell Scheme) project. From what I have gathered, the aim of this project is to build flats with designs resembling that of condominiums and in good locations like Tampines and Bishan. Of course, all these perks come at an additional price too, with the apartments under this scheme costing significantly more than normal HDB flats. If my memory does not fail me, I recall that the reporter mentioned that the cost of one particular apartment reached around $800,000 to close to a million! Thus, many people were turned off by the sky-high prices of the flats, especially newly married couples who were looking for a comfortable place to stay in.

In my opinion, I am very much against the DBSS. I mean, what is the point spending so much money for a condominium wannabe? Furthermore, it's not like the flats under the DBSS is much cheaper as well; rather, it is the exact opposite! Eight hundred thousand for a flat that only differs from a normal HDB flat aesthetically? What's the logic in that? I find it sad that there are some people who are willing to splash out huge amounts of cash for the DBSS flats, because honestly speaking, I find their acts very foolish, as I do not see very distinct advantages of DBSS flats over normal HDB flats. Also, some might argue that the DBSS flats differ very much from HDB flats because its design resembles that of condominiums, and therefore Singaporeans get to enjoy condo-like apartments for a lower cost. However, I seriously do not see the similarity of DBSS flats and condominiums. I live near the Tampines MRT station, which has a plot of DBSS flats nearby. At first glance, the flats looked very elegant, mostly due to the fresh coat of white paint on the outside. However, with further scrutiny, I realised that there was not a lot of differences between these flats and the normal HDB ones. In my opinion, I feel that the main draw of condominiums, other than the better living conditions, are actually the plethora of facilities available for residents to use, and the security provided by the security guards constantly guarding the condo 24/7. These two factors were absent from the DBSS flats, which begs the question: What's so great about it? What's so great about spending more money just for something that looks good on the outside. Sure, there are cupboards and wardrobes pre-installed in the flats, but this doesn't cut it. I'm sure it takes more than aesthetics and pre-installed furniture to persuade potential buyers to spend more money.

In conclusion, I reiterate my view that the DBSS project is negative and brings no significant benefits for the buyers. For better or worse, condos are here to stay, and there is really no point in introducing a new type of apartment that has a higher price than normal HDB flats but offering nothing significantly new other than the price. If one can afford to buy these premium flats, then why can't one save up a little longer so as to be able to spend the money well on a condominium with proper facilities? However, this is only my view, and I'm sure that there are people who would argue against my point. What do you guys think? Are you willing to pay more for the DBSS flats?

Cheers,
Roystan