IN just seven years, an elderly couple has moved house three times.

And their relocations have earned them more than $200,000.

So how did the couple, who only wished to be known as the Zhongs, do it?

It seems that the key to their windfall is location, location, location. They chose to live in Toa Payoh, a popular area with house-hunters looking for HDB flats.

Mr Zhong, 68, said he and his wife have called Toa Payoh home for 40 years.

The Zhongs noticed that regardless of market conditions, there was always demand for flats in Toa Payoh, reported Lianhe Wanbao.

Mr Zhong said in 2000, he sold his five-room flat in Toa Payoh Lorong 8 for $430,000 and bought a three-room unit in Toa Payoh Central for $350,000.

He said: 'We chose that block in Toa Payoh Central as it had been selected for en bloc redevelopment and flat owners would get to choose units in Lorong 2, which is near the MRT station.

'Because of that, we predicted that values of flats in Lorong 2 would rise.'

After living in Toa Payoh Central for a year, the Zhongs had to move again because of the redevelopment.

With preference being given to flat owners to select units in Lorong 2, the Zhongs bought a four-room flat there for just $260,000.

The flat was on the 24th storey and the Zhongs lived there for six years.

With property prices shooting through the roof recently, the Zhongs once again decided to relocate.

They sold their four-room flat in Lorong 2 for $490,000, and will be moving to another flat in Lorong 1 next month.

It was not reported how big their Lorong 1 flat was.

Mr Zhong said: 'We don't need such a big flat, especially after both our children moved out after getting married.'

The moment the flat was advertised for sale, house-hunters came knocking.

Property experts told Lianhe Wanbao that the Zhongs' flat fetched a high price because it is on a high level and has good views.

Being on a high level means the surroundings will be less noisy and the air is cleaner.

From their flat, the Zhongs can also see the fireworks on National Day, as well as the Singapore Flyer.

Another attraction of the flat is that it has good amenities, being close to supermarkets, the Toa Payoh bus interchange and MRT station.

The presence of covered linkways also means that residents will not be caught in the rain while doing their shopping or walking to the bus stops and MRT station.

Article first published by The New Paper on Dec 23, 2007.