What is a condo?

When we arrived in Singapore, a condominium (or ‘condo’) was the most practical choice for us. Many expat families choose one if their budget allows. A condo is a residential development (sometimes a single building) with private apartments, shared grounds and a set of facilities.

Facilities can include swimming pools, gyms, work rooms, libraries, barbecue areas, saunas, car parks, playgrounds and rooms, pavilions for events, and tennis courts. I’ve seen condos that had, for example, water slides or handed out towels at the pool or offered breakfast every day. The sky’s the limit.

You rent an apartment in a condo, live there and use all the facilities. For instance, in our condo you can “rent” tennis courts, barbecue areas, and event pavilions a few times a month for free. You can go to the gym and swimming pools without restrictions.