Posted by
Xpatwife
18 yrs ago
We are currently relocating to Hong Kong. I will be there next Sunday to look for housing. We have 2 children, ages 5 and 9 that are active, love to swim and play outside. We would like to find a townhome or low-rise that is very kid friendly. From what I have read, housing is rather tight with few properties on the market. Is this true? Can someone recommend one place or "complex" over another? Thanks
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mrsl
18 yrs ago
Do you have a budget in mind? Where will your children be going to school/nursery? Do you want to have a garden or particular facilities? Is it important for you to be able to walk to/from the complex? Sorry about all of the questions, but it helps narrow down your search (believe me, the budget bit helped to narrow ours).
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ldavy
18 yrs ago
Couldn't agree more with mrsl! The budget you have is very important, and so are the schools your children will be attending. Have you got them school places yet? If they are going to English Schools Foundation schools, then you must live within the school catchment area. If they are going to one of the international schools, you have much more flexibility about where you live but do of course have to think about travelling time.
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Schools - that is a whole other issue. I was on the phone today with the relo company regarding schools and the news is bleak at best. Our children will attend one of the international schools, do not know which one yet. Either HKIS, The Canadian School, The French School or The Swiss/German International School. As for our budget, it is inline with the prices I have seen on the net for properties in this area. Thanks for your replies.
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mrsl
18 yrs ago
There is a huge price range, so budget is a major issue - you can get a townhouse in Redhill Peninsula for just under the £100K pm mark, Regalia Bay averages about £150K pm, Three Bays is about £280K, Carmelia about £250K.....and that's just Stanley/Redhill. Obviously HKIS is close to any of these, CDNIS is not too bad - about 20 mins away, but GSIS is abot 30-35 mins by car and about an hour by school bus.
Is a sea view important? If not, it might be worthy looking into Stanley Court. If there's any possibility that you'll be looking at ESF, in Stanley you fall under the Bradbury catchment area but as soon as you go 5 minutes up the road to Tai Tam, you fall under Quarry Bay.
If you want to be able to walk into Stanley, you might not be interested in Regalia Bay because the footpath only goes about half way up a relatively steep hill, and Three Bays or Stanley Breeze would be much more suitable, but then, you're talking upto double the rent. So it's back to budget again.
It also depends on the size of development that you're after. Redhill is relatively large, but Three Bays is only about 9 houses etc etc.
So would love to be able to recommend one development over an other, but it is dependant on so many factors.
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Xpatwife, can I use your thread as well with the following question...
I would like my child to go to gsis kindergarten, and live in the Stanley area.Now I understand fron Mrs1 post that's a fair way to go... Which development would you recommend in orderto minimise the travel,but still live nicely. Budget would be around 80000hkd...
Thanks!
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mrsl - I sent you a pm
voyager2005 - I will also look at gsis as an option for our children. Have you visited the school? An hour on the bus does seem unreasonable, hope someone will clarify.
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aemom
18 yrs ago
The bus schedules are posted on the school website: http://mygsis.gsis.edu.hk. The first pick up is Redhill at 6:40 am. Yikes!
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ldavy
18 yrs ago
GSIS is on the Peak and Stanley is on the south side of the island, that's why it takes so long to travel. Xpatwife, I'll check out some properties which are in other areas near to the schools you have mentioned and let you know. voyager2005, if you don't want your child to have to travel far, but you want him/her to go to the GSIS kindergarten, your only option is to live on the Peak or in Mid-Levels. I will also check to see what you can get for 80K and let you know.
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ldavy
18 yrs ago
Voyager2005, I've sent you a PM.
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Xpatwife,
No haven't had a look yet, but have put my childs name down for it... It looks like it is difficult to get into any schoolat the mo!But will do soon though!
aemom,
Very early!I suppose the car is an option,although not sure how bust traffic would be...
Idavy,
Thanks a lot,checked my mail, but haven't received anything yet...Could you try again...
The reason I looked at Stanley,is partly cause polution seems to be slightly less there...
Don't know what experiences everybody else has...
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ldavy
18 yrs ago
Xpatwife, I've sent you a personal message as well.
Voyager2005, I will try again .....
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Idavy, got it! Will have a browse... Thanks
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