Cassia Crescent

It's been more than 2 years since I sold my old place at Cassia Crescent to my neighbour 1 floor up.
We lived on the 15th floor. Five-room HDB with a good school nearby and market within walking distance. Suntec was only a 10-minute bus ride away and Parkway Parade 20. When we moved in in 2H of 1999 after spending tons on reno and furnishing, I thought that would be the last place I would be in till the day I died. I was wrong.

People change, circumstances change.

After I bought my current place, I asked my property agent (Brenda and yes, I do recommend her) to sell my old. Since it was a double deal for her, she graciously gave me a discount on the agent fees. The valuation for the old place was 425k. There was no sale and the valuation expired. Brenda persisted but said she'll work the other way round and get the potential buyer first then do the valuation. I left it to her since she was the expert and I trusted her.

The week I sold it, I was on my way home from church on Tuesday when my phone rang just as I sat down. It was from Mei Ern, my ex-colleague who's brother happened to live on the 16th floor but in a 4-rm unit and wanted to move to a larger unit on the same floor as her. She asked if my unit was still available. I told her yes, but there was another buyer coming for 3rd viewing that Saturday and since it was the 3rd viewing, the likelihood was very high of a sale. That triggered some events that resulted in my dilemna - sell to this 3rd viewing buyer or to my neighbour.

Till God spoke to me in Ps 15 and verse 3 in particular
1 A Psalm of David. Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

So it was settled. I would sell to my neighbour and my friend.

When the sale was complete, I dropped by to handover the letterbox key and since there were some letters mixed up with mine, I brought the letters up. My neighbour's mum came to the door and when she realised it was me, she started thanking me profusely. Then, tears started to roll down her eyes.

I didn't know it meant so much to her. I thank God for helping me make the right decision to sell to her.

Afternote
Shirley spoke to Brenda last night and shared with me something I didn't know about the sale : I thought there were no offers and the 3rd viewing buyer was the only one. Nope, there were actually many offers but they were all halted due to the fussiness of one individual who insisted on a better price each time.