For branded college see luxury(+special)Edu: unaffordable to 中产华裔.

The SDXQ or waterfront locations (branded colleges too) always cost a lot though I won’t give a figure. These are exclusive locations, the desires/aspirations of the upper-middle-class. It might be a slight exaggeration to regard these aspirations as the lifestyle of the Orchard mansion owners, Singapore’s upper-class. Clearly I don’t qualify for this exclub !

• mainstream attitude .. I feel many of my U.S. peers are not much better off than me (despite higher post-tax income) but have the same aspirations as the upper middle class. Therefore, they don’t have my Fuller wealth and carefree ezlife
• my attitude .. I feel lower middle-class. I feel well-off and Fuller-wealthy precisely because I live within my means and don’t aim at unaffordable luxuries. I still feel I can’t afford the Singapore private properties. Neither can I afford the U.S. waterfront or SDXQ properties.

— waterfront .. I never envied those with private properties in Orchard, Bugis, Marine Parade, Holland Village,,, Why do I envy those living in Newport or NY west side … waterfront luxury locations? Paradox!

( However, Bayonne locations near the big park is actually luxury in terms of well-maintained street.)

— SDXQ homes .. U.S. SDXQ (rated 8 – 10) homes are also comparable to Orchard mansions. However, the middle-class immigrants tend to follow the herd instinct almost blindly, and believe that SDXQ rated 7 or lower is utterly unacceptable.

I had a long-held reservation against private property in Singapore. I feel valuation is driven up by the affluent investors from SEA, China, Hongkong, India, and other countries. Similarly in the U.S. school districts, the middle class push up the valuation.