Let’s face it: choosing the “perfect” condo unit is a minefield of myths and half-truths. Everyone from your know-it-all colleague to that pushy sales agent has an opinion on which block is best. It’s time to cut through the nonsense.
In this guide, we’ll expose and dismantle 10 common condo selection myths with a sharp and brutally honest lens. Expect some uncomfortable truths – all backed by real examples and studies – so you can make a genuinely informed decision (and not just parrot what the brochures say).
*(Spoiler: “rules of thumb” get broken a lot in real estate. Buckle up.)
Myth 1: Focus on the Block with the “Best View” Above All Else
The Myth: The block that offers the best view (be it city skyline, ocean, or greenery) is automatically the prime pick. Why settle for less-than-panoramic when you could wake up to a postcard every day, right?
The Reality: A great view is nice to have, sure. But newsflash: developers caught onto this a long time ago and have been designing projects so that many blocks have decent views.
For instance, Costa Del Sol in Singapore was built so every block enjoys an unimpeded sea view, and virtually every block at Skywoods faces lush greenery.
In modern condos, you’re less likely to find one block with an awesome view and others with terrible ones – they all tend to get a slice of something. This means paying a massive premium just for a slightly better view might be a fool’s errand.
Also, ask yourself honestly: how much will you use that view? If you’re the type to keep your curtains drawn or you’re rarely home during the day, an “unblocked sea view” mainly serves to inflate your purchase price, not your quality of life.
The money you’d save on a unit without the trophy view could fund renovations or snag you a larger floor plan instead. Even for investors hoping to rent out the unit, a dazzling view doesn’t guarantee higher rent – not every tenant cares enough to pay extra for it.
You could shell out a higher upfront price for that coveted view and end up collecting the same rent as a unit with a “boring” view, effectively hurting your rental yield
In the long run, you might realize that the premium you paid for a prettier skyline was just an ego tax.
Brutal Truth: A good view is icing, not the cake. It’s okay to enjoy the scenery, but don’t let “OOH SEA VIEW!” cloud your financial common sense. If you’re going to live like a vampire with blackout curtains or if the view won’t tangibly improve your life, why blow your budget on it?.
Myth 2: North-South Facing Blocks Are Always the Best (Sun = Enemy)
The Myth: In many markets (especially tropical ones), you’ll hear that you must choose a block/unit with a North-South orientation.
This way, you avoid the dreaded direct East or West sun. The belief is that north-south-facing homes stay cooler and more comfortable, making any other orientation a foolish compromise.
The Reality: This is one of those half-myths. Yes, it’s true that in Singapore (and similar climates just off the equator), North-South facing units avoid direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. They don’t get the harsh morning East glare or the broiling West afternoon sun, and they also tend to align with prevailing winds for better ventilation.
For these reasons, North-South units are highly sought after and often command a premium. However, automatically crowning them “the best” is an oversimplification. There are many other factors that determine a unit’s comfort and value beyond just compass orientation.
Consider this: even a North-South unit can be a heat box if it has huge unshaded windows or a lack of cross-ventilation. Conversely, an East-facing unit might be perfectly pleasant if it has smart design features mitigating the heat (think deep overhangs, window films, or good old air-conditioning). Personal preference plays a big role, too.
Some people like a bit of direct sunlight – for instance, a south-east facing bedroom that catches the gentle morning sun can be a lovely natural alarm clock. For them, the “fatal flaw” of an East/West facing unit might actually be a selling point.
Then there’s the matter of $$$. Because so many buyers avoid west-facing units like the plague, those units often sell for less. If you’re less sensitive to heat or willing to invest in cooling solutions, you could score a bargain.
Myth Verdict: North-South facing blocks are desirable, but not automatically “the best” for everyone or in every project. Don’t pay a ridiculous premium for orientation alone without considering your lifestyle. If you hate any bit of sun and want a naturally cool home, sure, prioritize it.
But if you don’t mind sunlight (or you plan to blast the air-con anyway), you might find perfectly good options at better prices in the “non-NS” blocks. Remember that clever design can compensate for orientation: trees, vertical screens, shutters, or tinted glass can all help reduce heat gain. At the end of the day, your comfort matters more than a compass. There is no one-size-fits-all best orientation – only what’s best for you.
(And if you do buy a west-facing unit, use some of that money you saved to treat yourself to top-notch window treatments or AC. You’ll still come out ahead.)
Myth 3: Blocks Nearest to Roads or Train Tracks Are Always the Worst (Noisiest)
The Myth: If a condo block is next to a busy road or an MRT/train line, cross it off your list. The traffic roar or train noise will make life hell, so those blocks are invariably inferior. Conventional wisdom says that the closer to the concrete (road/track), the louder and less desirable the unit.
The Reality: This myth made a lot more sense 30+ years ago than it does today. Yes, nobody wants to live with highway noise right outside their window – that part isn’t a myth. But two things have changed: building technology and a better understanding of how noise actually works in high-rises.
Noise pollution is more a matter of height than distance these days. In a tall building, a high-floor unit can be surprisingly insulated from street noise, even if it’s directly facing a busy road or train line. Meanwhile, a low-floor unit in a “quiet” block far from the road might actually suffer more noise from other sources (like the condo’s own facilities or neighboring activity).
Moreover, developers aren’t idiots – if they know a block in their project will sit near a highway or railway, they usually incorporate noise mitigation. This could be anything from extra foliage and sound-dampening landscaping (trees actually absorb and deflect noise) to a physical elevation of the building.
A recent condo, The Continuum, has a road running right through the middle of the site, but the developers lined it with trees and other buffers so effectively that residents won’t hear much traffic at all. Another new launch, Terra Hill, was built on elevated ground specifically to lift the apartments above the road noise level. In fact, the developer paid significantly more to raise the entire project’s foundation and insulate it from the adjacent road’s sound.
(Of course, raising a condo on a hill isn’t cheap – it also “elevated” Terra Hill’s price tag beyond earlier estimates, but that’s another story). For new projects, developers might also include double-glazed windows or even provide sound-damping balcony screens as standard for units facing the noise source.
Good quality double-glazed windows can reduce outside noise by up to ~30-35 decibels– that’s the difference between the sound of a loud conversation and a mere whisper. In practical terms, with the windows closed, you might barely notice the traffic hum outside.
Bottom Line: Don’t equate “closest to road/track” with “unlivable.” Visit the unit at rush hour and see (or rather, hear) for yourself. You may be surprised how muted the noise is, especially above a certain floor.
And remember, a little traffic sound that occasionally seeps in might be a trade-off you can accept if that block offers other benefits (maybe it has a great view or a layout you love). Context matters. All else being equal, sure, quieter is better – but in condos, all else is never equal. Weigh it all before you write off the “noisy” block; it might not be so noisy after all, thanks to clever construction and physics.
Myth 4: Always Go for the Highest Floor Possible (It’s Best)
The Myth: Higher floor = better unit, period. You get the best views, more prestige (“penthouse vibes”), less noise from the street, more breeze, fewer pests – basically, if you can afford it, you should aim for the top. The lowest floors are for suckers who missed out or cheapskates who can’t pay for altitude.
The Reality: High-floor units do have advantages, but the “always” in this myth is problematic. There are plenty of reasons why the very top floor or ultra-high units might not be the slam dunk people imagine:
- Heat and Weather Exposure: In some buildings, the top floor can get hotter, especially if there’s a roof directly above that absorbs the sun all day. If the insulation isn’t great, you might find your top-floor unit warmer and harder to cool. Also, if there are any waterproofing issues, guess who gets the leak? The penthouse dweller. Heavy rain and direct sun take a greater toll on the top floor (fading your paint faster, etc.). It’s no coincidence that older top-floor units sometimes have more maintenance issues (leaky ceilings, etc.) – they’re the first line of exposure.
- Wind and Elevator Waits: Yes, higher floors can catch breezes, which is nice, but sometimes, those winds can turn into howling gusts. I’ve been in 30th-floor units where the wind was so loud at night that it sounded like a moaning tunnel. It can also be chillier or less comfortable to open windows if you’re in a super windy spot. As for elevators, the more floors, the longer it can take to get up and down, especially in a big development. If you’re on 35 and the lifts are busy, it can try your patience (and forget about taking the stairs – you’ll only do that once!). In everyday living, that extra minute or two waiting for and riding the elevator adds up, and in an emergency (say a power outage or if you’re forced to evacuate via stairs), high floors are a major downside.
- Price vs. Value: Developers charge a premium for higher floors. In some markets, it’s a fixed increment (e.g., an extra $X,000 per floor). In Singapore, one study noted one-bedroom units often cost about S$3,000 more per floor higher, and two-bedrooms about S$5,000 more per floor, on average
– likely because they were initially cheaper (developer early-bird pricing) and later buyers valued their unique features (like private gardens) more than first assumed. The moral: paying more for height is often a zero-sum game investment-wise. You pay extra now, and you get maybe extra later, netting out. Or worse, if the market shifts, you might not even get that back. - Living Experience: Not everyone actually likes extreme heights. For some, looking down from the 40th-floor balcony induces vertigo, not joy. If you have young children, very high floors can be a source of anxiety (you will double-lock every window and still feel nervous). Also, higher floors can sometimes feel isolating – you’re far removed from the ground action, which can be peaceful but also a bit sterile (“up in the clouds” feeling). Some people prefer being able to see cars, people, and trees in detail rather than tiny ant-like figures below.
Wit and Wisdom: Unless you’re aiming to start a rooftop garden in the clouds or really need bragging rights for having the highest apartment among your friends, choose a floor that suits your comfort.
Often, mid-high floors (not the absolute top) offer the best balance of view and practicality. And if you find a lower-floor unit you adore (because it has a private terrace or a unique layout), don’t dismiss it just due to floor number stigma. You might save money and enjoy life closer to nature.
To put a bow on it: The view from the top is gorgeous, but so is not overpaying for features you don’t need. High is nice. Happy is nicer.
Myth 5: Ground Floor Units Are Inferior and to Be Avoided
The Myth: Nobody wants the ground floor. These units are assumed to be dark, noisy, lacking privacy, prone to pests, and generally undesirable. The only reason to buy one is if you can’t afford higher floors or if it’s the last unit left. In other words, the lowest = lowest in quality.
The Reality: Ground-floor units have a bad rap, some of it inherited from older building designs (think dingy first-floor flats, security issues, etc.). But in many modern condos, ground-floor units come with unique perks that can flip some buyers’ preferences on their head:
- Private Outdoor Space: Often, ground-floor apartments (especially in condos) come with a Private Enclosed Space (PES) – basically a patio or garden area that only you can use. This can be a sizable extension of your living area. Love gardening, BBQing, or just having a little yard for your pet or kid? A ground-floor unit can offer a lifestyle almost like landed property, which no high-floor unit can match.
- Easy Access and Convenience: No waiting for lifts. Pop out of your unit, and you’re at the facility or out the gate in no time. Bringing in groceries or heavy furniture is simpler (some ground units even have a back gate to a parking lot or side garden). For elderly or mobility-impaired residents, the ground floor might be the only viable choice (and as populations age, the demand for easily accessible units is likely to rise).
- Cooler Temperatures: While top floors might get hotter, ground floors can be cooler, especially if they are shaded by the building or surrounding greenery. The ground tends to be more thermally stable.
- Safety and Security: This is the big counter-argument people use against ground floors – “easier for burglars,” etc. In a gated condo with 24-hour security, this is much less of an issue. Yes, you should have grilles or secure windows, but higher floors have their own safety concerns (like toddlers and balconies). At least on the ground floor, you don’t worry about elevator outages or being trapped up high. And in an emergency like a fire, you can often exit quickly (or even through your patio gate).
- Price and Value: Because of lingering stigma, developers sometimes price ground-floor units a tad lower (per square foot) than mid-level ones – meaning you might snag a bigger unit for the same budget. And if you later find a buyer who loves that patio life, the percent gain can be substantial. Remember the data: ground units were not shown to underperform in resale; in fact, they did quite well on average. So the assumption that “ground floor = poor investment” doesn’t hold water generally.
The bottom line: Don’t dismiss ground floor units outright as “inferior.” Evaluate them like any other unit: what are the pros, what are the cons, and do they match your needs? You might be pleasantly surprised.
Some people tour a ground-floor show unit and fall in love with the high ceilings and large patio (developers sometimes give ground units extra high ceilings – an added bonus – making them feel extra roomy). Suddenly, that becomes the premium unit in their eyes.
Final Thoughts
By now, it should be clear that picking the “best” condo block or unit is a nuanced game. The old one-liners like “always choose north-facing” or “never buy near a road” are blunt instruments that can mislead you.
Developers are constantly innovating, and personal needs vary – what’s a deal-breaker for one buyer might be a boon for another. The key is to prioritize what matters to you and verify claims with facts. Be brutally honest with yourself about your lifestyle (do you value quiet over convenience, views over budget, etc.), and don’t be seduced by every shiny myth that marketers or well-meaning friends throw at you.
At the end of the day, the best block is the one that makes you happy to come home and confident in your purchase. And that definition of best is something no generic myth can decide for you. Happy condo hunting – may the facts (and your wise instincts) be ever in your favor!
