Teachers forcing poorer students to take tuition in Tao Nan? This is depressing.
I recall for some years, there are students from neighbourhood schools who top the PSLE results. And there are poor-performing students from Tao Nan/good schools as well. Just that they are not trumpeted as much
If you're confident your child is so smart such that he doesn't need affiliation, then any school will do. Affiliation makes a lot of difference if one's child might be just average academically or are the late bloomer playful type. Getting into say SCGS, St Nicks, MGS, SJI, Catholic High almost guarantee you a place in their secondary school - and these are Band 1 secondary schools even though they take in all their affiliated students with very poor results which means their value-add in secondary school is very high. These schools also provide a all-rounded education and students don't end up too "square". So if one's child is a late bloomer, having affiliation does take away some stress in their childhood. I always believe the secondary school formation years is the most important to ensure the child doesn't go down the "wrong" path - so affiliation to a band 1 secondary school does provide some comfort.
But then if giving some stress in a tuition environment and results-oriented system is what you're looking for, then Tao Nan may just be right. But you just have to bear in mind if your child end up "average" in PSLE (say 240), he probably will have to end up in mediocre secondary school.
As for buying a property, I wouldn't buy anything today - anywhere.