Singapore’s drive to be an attractive destination for the well-heeled of the world has been missing an important ingredient - until now.

Singapore’s drive to be an attractive destination for the well-heeled of the world has been missing an important ingredient - until now.

The ‘It’ factor? Homes with an unobstructed vista of blue skies and white sand, like those in glamour hotspots like Miami’s South Beach.

Now, luxury beachfront living has arrived here - for those lucky enough to afford it.

Welcome to Sentosa Cove, a gated community, which translates to the fact that unless you’re a resident you can’t just wander around these upscale properties.

The newly opened community at the south-eastern part of Sentosa is the only location in Singapore where foreigners who are not PRs can buy landed property.

This marks the first major step in attracting international jetsetters ahead of the completion of the country’s second integrated resort, Resorts World At Sentosa, in 2010 - after Marina Bay Sands, which will be ready in 2009.

Prices for this coveted property average $7 million to $17 million for a 7,000 to 10,000 sq ft plot. Throw in millions for a fancy dwelling, and you are talking big bucks.

When the development is completed, these will range from bungalows constructed by an owner’s own architect to terrace houses and apartment blocks built by developers that overlook the water or golf courses.

For now, just 10 bungalows and The Berth By The Cove - a condo with 200 apartment units built by home-grown developer Ho Bee - have been completed. A two-bedroom condo costs about $2 million.

Along with a rash of new resorts on Sentosa - six have been built so far - the upscale residential estate of Sentosa Cove is part of the island’s plans to draw an international elite set hooked on luxury living.

All property on Sentosa is 99-year leasehold, and a maximum of 2,500 residential units are to be developed on the 117ha estate (the equivalent of 145 football fields) over the next three years.

The people who have moved into the existing 10 bungalows and condo range from wealthy retirees and jetsetting businessmen to expatriate families from countries like Australia and New Zealand.

Apart from property owners, tenants have also rented units at The Berth, doling out monthly rentals which range from $5,000 to $13,000 for apartment sizes between 1,100 sq ft and 3,000 sq ft.

When Lifestyle visited Sentosa Cove three times over the course of two weeks, the quaint Venetian-like waterways, scenic footpaths and intimate driveways were also dotted with cement mixers, potholes and curious workmen peering into swimming pool decks.

But that hasn’t stopped an estimated 50 families living, or at least spending their weekends, in Sentosa Cove.

‘It’s a hassle dodging the trucks and construction,’ admits English language teacher and resident at The Berth, Mei-lin Murray, 31. ‘But it’s a small price to pay.’

Others, like New Zealander expatriate family the McGregors, hardly notice the chaos.

‘I’m oblivious to the construction,’ says Mrs Annabelle McGregor, 45, a housewife who lives in an ocean-front bungalow with her husband and three children. She declined to reveal the price of her property.

‘I can’t hear anything from inside the house because of the solid concrete walls.’

Apart from having to keep the doors to their bedroom balcony locked at night, the family say they are not affected by the construction of adjacent bungalows.

Meanwhile, the Chias, another Sentosa Cove family, leave the floor-to-ceiling windows of their apartment open because ‘we feel so safe here, especially next to neighbours whom we believe to be sophisticated folks’.

As for fears of piracy - and we’re referring to Jack Sparrow-type criminals and not bootleg DVDs - residents are feeling pretty secure.

One bungalow dweller, who declined to be named, says she sees police coast guards on constant patrol. When her security system was accidentally activated, Sentosa rangers arrived at her home within minutes.

Island living

SO IS living by the sea really worth the big money?

Well, this isn’t water-front living of the sort already enjoyed by Singapore’s East Coast inhabitants, who must cross a road or use an underpass to get to a bustling beach.

This is water-front as in a mere 10 steps between your yard and the sea. As in hearing the waves lull you to sleep or having your own boat moored on a private pontoon in front of your porch.

Housewife Doreen Chia, 56, says of her $2.45-million penthouse: ‘You have a cup of tea and feel like you have the whole world to yourself, watching the sea.’

She admits that ‘for the price we paid, we can live in an apartment right in town’.

But hear her talk lovingly of her favourite spot in her home - the sea-view roof deck - and you can understand why she opted for this idyll.

While island living spells exclusivity, it also means being a distance away from basic amenities - something no Housing Board heartlander ever has to suffer from.

The estate has no mini-mart, restaurant or post office. Sentosa Cove spokesmen say that these facilities will be built soon at the Integrated Arrival Plaza, a building near the community’s entrance.

The Murrays, for one, bought a car when they moved to Sentosa Cove. ‘It’s not that much of an inconvenience,’ says Mrs Murray, 31, an Australian who has lived in Singapore for the past 10 years and did not buy a car till now.

They even invested in a boat - named Alysha Mei, after Mrs Murray and her daughter - when they bought their condo, which comes with a private berth. They declined to reveal the price.

‘Instead of going to the supermarket every other day, we drive to VivoCity to buy our groceries for the whole week on Saturdays.’

Not that anyone who can afford property on the Cove would have problems keeping up with car payments. But those without a driver’s licence can rest assured that they won’t be left stranded on a desert island.

Shuttle buses run every 15 minutes from the Integrated Arrival Plaza to other parts of Sentosa.

Expect, however, to change buses from the Cove to the Sentosa visitors’ centre just to get out of the island.

The McGregor family’s three children - aged 13 to 17 - have to take two shuttle buses before they get to the HarbourFront bus interchange, from where they get a ride to their schools.

Still, many would say that these seem like tiny inconveniences in exchange for 24/7 resort living by the sea.

This is water-front living, as in hearing the waves lull you to sleep and having your own boat moored on a private pontoon in front of your porch

Source: The Sunday Times, 08 April 2007