From spas to shortcuts: What I learnt while house hunting

Dealing with weak Wi-Fi and traffic jams are just some of the challenges of living in Jakarta, and finding the perfect home is an adventure.

- Arlina Arshad

JAKARTA - Back in early 2022, when many of Jakarta's high-end apartments were empty due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I jumped at the chance to snag a prime spot in Central Jakarta.

Think top hotels for neighbours and a front-row seat to the Bundaran HI ("Hotel Indonesia") roundabout, the city's famous New Year's Eve fireworks venue.

Sealing the deal was easy. With many foreigners leaving the capital, landlords were desperate for tenants.

"Breaking even is better than a loss," I told the landlord, before adding: "Don't worry, I'm a law-abiding Singaporean. No wild parties, no illicit drugs, super clean!"

A blink later, my signature was on a three-year lease.

Fast-forward to February 2025, and after countless lift breakdowns in my ageing building and rents bouncing back to pre-Covid-19 levels, I was back in the game. February marked my fifth move in 16 years.

As a tenant working within my company's budget, I relish the challenge of stretching my dollar. My checklist? A fully furnished two-bedroom unit near the central business district, malls and my office, with an all-in price covering Wi-Fi, utilities, water, cable TV and maintenance. No negotiations.

In Jakarta, 56 per cent of the city's luxury apartments - defined as a spacious 250 sq m and above, compared with my modest digs of 90 sq m - are in the CBD. These command the highest prices - at 52 million rupiah (S$4,250) per sq m on average in 2019, according to real estate agency Savills Indonesia.

South Jakarta was my next best bet. It is a great location, has solid infrastructure and is close to malls.

Hopping into the property agent's car for the first viewing, I casually mentioned: "Whatever it is, I'm not living next to a graveyard." She paused, then said: "Uh... that's actually the first unit we're visiting."