What Should You Do Before Committing to a House in Bali?

Thinking about making Bali home for your family?

Before committing to a house or a long-term property purchase, there is one simple step that can make the decision much easier:

Rent first.

Start With the Area, Not the House

If you are moving to Bali with children, start by looking at the schools you are considering and then explore the neighbourhoods around them.

Think about your family’s daily routine. How long will the school run take? Where will you shop, work, eat and spend your weekends?

A house can look perfect online, but living in an area is very different from visiting it for a few days.

Give yourself time to experience the neighbourhood as a resident.

Rent First. Then decide.

Renting for six months or a year gives your family the opportunity to understand whether Bali — and a particular area — really works for you.

You can experience the school routine, traffic, weather, community and everyday lifestyle before making a much larger property commitment.

This is one reason we offer long-term rentals at **Tepi Hutan Villas in East Ubud**.

Instead of deciding on a property right away, families can rent a home, settle into the area, and experience what everyday life in East Ubud is really like.

A Two-Bedroom Family Home in East Ubud

Villa 5 at Tepi Hutan is a fully furnished two-bedroom villa with its own private pool and outdoor space.

Designed for comfortable long-term living, it sits within a private villa development in Pejeng, East Ubud.

The villa is available for a minimum one-year tenancy, making it an option for families who want to try living in Bali before deciding whether to eventually purchase.

If you later decide Bali is the right place for your family, you will already have a much better understanding of the area and what you want in your next property.

What If You Eventually Want to Buy?

For some families, renting first can also be the first step toward understanding the property market.

Tepi Hutan is not only a place to live. Selected villas are also available as leasehold investment opportunities, supported by actual rental performance from the development.

If you’re considering a purchase, review the documents, rental history, and assumptions behind the numbers before deciding.

Live in Bali first. Understand the area. Then decide what comes next.

If you are considering a move to East Ubud, come and experience Tepi Hutan for yourself.

Villa 5 is available for long-term rental 

Contact us to arrange a viewing or request the rental information.

Choosing a Family Home in Bali: Why Location, School Access and the Right Layout Matter

A beautiful home can quickly become difficult if your children spend too much time commuting to school every day.

For families moving to Bali, especially those settling around Ubud, choosing a home close to your children’s schools can make a big difference to everyday life. It can mean shorter school runs, easier access to activities, and more time together as a family.

But school location is only the beginning.

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Family Home in Bali.

1. Start with the School and Build Your Search Around It

Before looking at villas, identify the schools your children will attend and understand the daily route.

Then consider:

How long is the school journey during normal traffic?

Is the route practical every day?

Are there shops, clinics and activities nearby?

Can parents easily reach the school from home?

Does the area offer the lifestyle your family wants?

For a family staying in Bali for a year or longer, these everyday factors can matter more than a villa that looks much more impressive in photographs.

2. Look for a House That Works for Family Life

A family home needs to accommodate different activities at the same time.

Parents may be working while children study or play. Someone may want quiet time while another family member is preparing dinner.

This is why layout matters.

Look for a house with clearly usable spaces, not just the number of bedrooms.

A dedicated office, for example, can become extremely valuable for parents working remotely. It gives work its own space instead of turning the dining table or bedroom into an office.

3. Think About the Kitchen

For families staying long-term, the kitchen becomes one of the most-used spaces in the house.

When viewing a villa, don’t just ask whether there is a kitchen.

Ask:

Can we actually use this kitchen as a family?

Is there enough preparation space?

Is the dining area practical?

Can parents prepare meals while keeping an eye on the children?

Is the kitchen connected naturally to the living and family areas?

These small details matter even more when a holiday villa becomes your everyday home.

4. Consider the Indoor and Outdoor Balance

Bali’s climate naturally encourages outdoor living, but a family home should still have comfortable indoor spaces.

A good family house should give you options:

Pool → outdoor time

Garden → children playing

Living area → family time

Bedrooms → privacy

Office → focused work

Different spaces let the whole family live comfortably without everyone needing to use the same room for everything.

5. Don’t Forget the People Behind the Property

This is one point that is often overlooked when choosing a long-term rental in Bali.

Ask:

Who will help us if something goes wrong?

A leaking tap, broken air conditioner, internet problem or maintenance issue can become frustrating when you’re living somewhere for a year.

For long-term family living, having a reliable Property Manager or on-site PIC can make a significant difference.

So, What Does This Look Like in Practice?

This is one of the ideas behind Tepi Hutan Villas in East Ubud.

Tepi Hutan was developed around the idea of creating homes suitable not only for short stays, but also for families who want to live in Bali. The development consists of private villas designed for comfort and an in-house team.

And when you look inside one of the larger family layouts, the idea becomes even clearer.

Inside the Tepi Hutan 3-Bedroom Family House

For a family with children, three bedrooms offer more flexibility than simply extra sleeping space.

Parents can have their own bedroom, while children can have their own rooms. An extra room also offers flexibility as the family’s needs change.

One particularly practical feature is the dedicated office.

For families who work remotely, having a separate workspace means you don’t necessarily have to choose between working and family life.

You can close the office door when work begins and close it again when the workday ends.

The house is designed to bring together the spaces that families actually use every day:

Bedrooms for privacy.

An office for focused work.

Living spaces for spending time together.

A kitchen for preparing family meals.

Outdoor space and a private pool for everyday Bali living.

Rather than designing a house around a short holiday, the focus is on creating a home that can support a family’s routine.

A Home Near the School Can Become Part of Your Family Routine

One advantage of choosing a family home in East Ubud is being able to build your daily routine around the schools, activities, and services that matter to your family.

This is particularly relevant for families relocating to Bali for the school year.

Instead of thinking:

“Where can I find the nicest villa?”

Try starting with:

“Where does our family need to be every day?”

Then find the home that fits around that lifestyle.

Tepi Hutan: Five family homes in Pejeng.

Tepi Hutan is a small group of five homes in Pejeng, near Ubud. Each villa has its own pool and private space, while the development has shared access and common areas. Its scale is an advantage;it feels residential and personal. Located just 15 minutes east of central Ubud, Pejeng is fast becoming Bali’s most desirable residential pocket. Close to top international schools and thriving expat communities, yet still surrounded by rice fields and tradition. With land values rising, the Indonesian Rupiah at historic lows, and increased demand for long-stay family rentals, this is not just a dream lifestyle – it is smart timing.

Tepi Hutan is a gated development of five villas set along a forest ridge and river valley. Each villa is a private sanctuary, designed for fluid indoor-outdoor living, with family-sized pools, gardens, and lush tropical landscaping.

Whether you are moving in full-time, investing for rental, or securing a long-term second home. Tepi Hutan is flexible enough to adapt as your needs evolve.

The homes were designed for everyday living. Doors can open towards the garden and pool, while enclosed living space gives residents the choice of air-conditioned comfort. The villas differ in layout and finish, so the best way to understand one is to walk through it.
Every villa blends local craftsmanship

Functional architecture design:

  • Natural materials like wood and stone
  • Open-plan living with large sliding glass doors
  • Seamless transitions between interior and garden
  • Terraces designed for entertaining, relaxing, or both

The result: a space that lives with the seasons and breathes with the

Villa 2 is currently offered for sale. Villa 5 is available for purchase or a minimum one-year tenancy. The other villas are sold or tenanted. We can arrange a viewing of the available home and provide its specific plans and current terms.

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