I am moving to HK from Australia in November. Family will follow a few weeks later. I am looking at all information and getting more confused by the minute. I think I have narrowed this down to.
Park Island
Discovery Bay
Tung Chung
Which is going to better for me commuting to Quarry Bay? Which is going to be better for my husband and two children? Oh, yes I do wish to see them, so commute time is important.
Which place offers more space? Which place is safe, modern, clean, comfortable, less polluted, relaxing, good views, great kids activities etc...??
Which place will make us feel like we are compromising too much?
Did I mention, which place is not going to send us broke?
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Dbob
18 yrs ago
That depends on where you live. We live on Southern Lantau which is beautiful and the air is much cleaner here than HK Island. There is a great expat communtiy here with plenty of things for children to do. The commute isn't to bad as my wife commutes to Central every day which takes about 45 minutes from door to door. The weekends make up for the commute though and we wouldn't change where we live for anywhere else. By the way, we have lived in HK for about 8 years and have lived all over HK Island. I would say this is the best place to live by far. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Rgds,
Don
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The older properties in DB (Discovery Bay) will give you better size efficiency. The newer flats in HK can have size efficiency of 65%, i.e. you want 1000 sf, but you will get 650 sq. Also in HK the sizes are not quoted as usable space as in Australia.
All have good facilities. Less polluted? Not much in it. All are safe. Park Island and DB do not allow cars, only estate buses.
All would have a similar commute time. For Park Island and DB it would be a ferry, 25-30 minutes plus walk to MTR, plus MTR time (15 mins) - or ferry then taxi (more expensive).
Personally I think Park Island is quite dense. You would probably want a flat facing the sea - otherwise you would face into other flats. But seaview flats are more expensive.
DB is more established with a solid expat community. I have some friends who work in Quarry Bay and commute from DB every day. They are prepared to put up with the commute as they believe it's the best place for their kids. Although the cost of commuting must be taken into account.
Park Island has a very small beach, DB has a larger one.
Where are your children going to school? This does tend to be the main criteria. Parents will cope better with longer commutes than kids.
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Thank you to all for your frank comments. My next question would be what building in DB? Do they all have pools, rec facilities? Walking time to ferry? Walking time to office in Quarry Bay from train -Somerset House? It all adds up.
Schools? We have one daughter 2.5 years and one son 11 years. I suppose the local school on DB or Australian International School - but it is another commute for him, which he may not be ready for.
I am not going to be earning huge salary as journalist, so we need to keep this in mind with rental.
I am still hoping someone may want to house swap with us for a year, even a few months. Our 5 bedroom home is in Sunshine Coast, Noosa Hinterland. This would mean that my money doesn't get waisted on rent.
Comments from Don: Are you in DB or somewhere else?
Which agent/s do you recommend to tour me around apartments when I arrive?
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Have been looking at Sai Kung as someone suggested here. It looks quite good. How long is bus or taxi to train station? Which area of Sai Kung is nice and not too far to travel to train?
A resort complex would be easiest for us. We want pool.
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Yeah I would say ( though I live on PI) you may hate the commute from here or DB. Its at least an hour and you have a long hot walk between ferry and train. You may consider something on island or eastern Kowloon/NT. But if you live rural you need to commute. There is also a relatively high end series of developments in the QB/Taikoo area that will have all the facilities, and there are some excellent parks and walking trails in the hills above QB for nature.
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Seems like you should consider Island Resort in Chai Wan. Pools, shopping, clubhouse, beach, and close to Quarry Bay. I don't know too much about it personally, but do a search and you should find some info.
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cd
18 yrs ago
Would definately suggest Clearwater Bay or Sai Kung. I live right between the 2 places.By car I can be through the Eastern Harbour tunnel and on the Island in 18 mins, and the drive to Aus Int school is 15 mins by car. There are very few high rises, but many villa complexes with pools. Prices vary quite a bit and have gone up a lot in the last year. Still possible to get a 4 bedroomed villa with shared pool for around $30k (Green Villa for example). Suggest you go into Sai Kung where there are at least 9 estate agents and have a good look around. The beach at Clearwater Bay is good, lots of hillwalking nearby, the country park, good shopping in Sai Kung, great restauranta, and a lovely village atmosphere. People on the Island especially think its the back of beyond, but its not too far, with cleaner air and a much better quality of life. It is easier with a car, It takes me 35 mins to Stanley, 25 mins to central (depending on the traffic), but it is possible by public. Frequent buses to either Hang Hau or Choi Hung mtrs,
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Clearwater Bay & Sai Kung sound really nice. HK$30 is too much for us unfortunately. Had a quick look at Island Resort as suggested and that also sounds good for the family with lots of activities to keep them happy. Too many choices and I am limited with funds. We would prefer a complex where we can meet other families with kids rather than being lonely inside a villa.
DB sounds good except....how long would it take me to walk to the ferry, then ferry to train at Central....then walk from train to work building?? Some of the apartments at DB on the internet look absolutely terrible.
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Definatly hold out for the pool - it is so worth it. Why not search for a serviced apartment and look around for yourself once you get here? - trying to decide from so far away is unlikely to get you a good result, internet pictures can be very deceiving. Quarry Bay is 10mins on the mtr from central and about the same again to Chai Wan plus add some time for walking to your train underground plus 10 mins to your office so basically it is best for you to live near the Island MTR line. Look at ypmap.com.hk for the layout of the island - this line runs along the front. Bauhinia is a serviced apartment in Sheung Wan (one end of that line) I have seen recommended as being reasonable. Once you find a place the leasing process is very quick and getting furniture doesn't take long, if you are organised you could do it all in the two weeks before your family arrives - harder if you are working. I've heard Taikoo near Quarry Bay has good options and Happy Valley behind Causeway Bay is quite family oriented. Good Luck!
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One important factor to consider is space. When I moved here 12 years ago it took me a few years to get accustom to the size of flats for the money. I originally lived in Happy Valley, which is still my favorite place, but the price for volume was prohibitive. Living in the Western New Territories will probably give you more space for your $ than anywhere else in HK these days.
My real travel time experience is: From Park Island by ferry to mid-levels is 50 minutes, and to Causeway Bay 1 Hour (door to door). That's 10 Minutes to the ferry from home, 25 Minutes actual ferry time, 15 minutes up the escalator, or 10 minutes walk to MTR and 10 min train ride, plus 5 min walk to office.
My real-time guess for you in Quarry Bay from Park Island or Disco Bay (the only travel time difference would be that disco bay is probably going to by further from the ferry as it is more spread out) 1:10 one way on average.
Driving as some suggested is fine but the parking in the city is another 2 to 3 K per month plus a similar amount where you live unless you buy a village home with a car park.
The thing is if you have a limited budget, and you want comfort and facility you will probably have to sacrifice commute. Keep in mind that you family is going to have to adjust from the openness and roominess of Australia to the cramped and crowded spaces of Hong Kong.
We live in a 1000 sq foot seaview apartment and rents here for this are now around 15K inclusive. But the size is not what you might imagine. The actual interior is much smaller than 1000 sq ft would have led me to believe in the US.
Our Master Bedroom is 10'X12' plus a en suite of 5"X7'. The two bedrooms are 7'X9' and share a similar bath, and the common room is 11'X 25' Park Island has a relatively large kitchen space 7"X10' and we have a maid/utility room with bath off the kitchen as well.
For 15K in Quarry Bay you are probably looking for a 700' 2 bedroom. with no maid room, smaller common room and one bath.
Now my own feeling is that all the mental rearranging it took to live here successfully, was well worth the adventure and the experience. Also millions of people have done what you are doing successfully, so don't be too fearful. But be prepared for a lot of paradigm shifting as you settle in.
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Hi Chefcrsh: We are thinking of moving to PI in July of next year. (2 of our 3 children have flown the next). How do you find it there? Everytime I go there I really like it. Have you seen the newest club?
Cheers,
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I like it a lot for living and I have gotten used to the commute, so that that now manageable. I have to say it has been my favorite place to live over 12 years and 8 apartments in Hong Kong. The new club isn't open yet but if it is as good as both the brochure and the standard of the other two clubs is, then it will be great. The facilities and staff here are some of the best in Hong Kong.
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cd
18 yrs ago
To Kaleidescope, what is your budget, it may give us more of an idea of where may be best.
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Our budget is reasonably low. I am not an executive so don't get the perks of the job as many do in HK. We just want reasonable accommodation with resort type facilities. I am interested in Island Resort because of it's facilities and 3 bedrooms. It is also an easy commute to Quarry Bay and other areas.
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s1
18 yrs ago
i just typed a very long pm for you and have lost it. anyway, to sum up what i typed, i would look at areas like taikoo shing and heng fa chuen. island resort is relatively new but there are too many public housing estate next to it. also there are too many vacancies for such a relatively new estate so somthing must not be right. probably bad feng shui.
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Heng fa chuen also looks nice. I like the fact it is on the water's edge.
Can you elaborate further about what is wrong with the public housing estates?
Is the bad feng shui with Island Resort, the cemetaries? I have read that their is bad feng shui with Merton because of mortuary.
As I have Chinese adoptive daughter and Chinese step mother good feng shui is important to our family.
I am finding the whole process of finding suitable accommodation frustrating. It seems as though the expat community is paying very high prices for tiny boxes. We are not moving to HK to make money. One of our main reasons for moving is to give our daughter cultural links with her rich Chinese heritage. Please send PM if you have really suitable accommodation with more space where you don't push a bed next to a window. My daughter would bounce up and down on the bed and fly through the window!
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s1
18 yrs ago
Hi Kaleidoscope, I had typed a pm for you and lost it. It took me a whole hr. hahhahahaha.
ya, i did mention that u should get a chinese colleague to negotiate your lease. anyway can u pm me your email so i can email it to u some more info. i have pm u my email address.
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It's not the expat community that's paying high for small boxes. It is Hong Kong...one of the most densely populated places on earth.
Actually most Hong Kong families live Grandparents, Mother Father Children maybe even auntie or uncle all in a 400 sq ft estate. And most of the commute an hour or so each way and don't have the facilities you would like.
This is a very expensive place to live. The more requirements you have the more you are going to pay.
My most economical was a 300 sq ft walk up studio in west Hong Kong and I was still paying 4K per month. Most of my local friends though ti was a great flat, all of my western friends couldn't understand how I could live like that.
What are ya gonna do.
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i just checked island resorts rent prices: HK$8500 for a 480sq.ft 1 bedroom flat,
HK$16500 for a 770 sq. ft 2 bedroom flat,
HK$20000 for a 1052 sq. ft 3 bedrrom flat.
Hope your budget is not below ten thousand cause you will only get a 1 bedroom flat at Island resort.
You should check out Grand Promenade at sai wan ho, its a fairly new residental building and its only 3 stops to Quarry Bay, it has the follwing: Landscape Garden on L6, facilities include 380M Jogging Path, Kids' Farm, Exercise Station, Golf Exercise Area with Explanar, Golf Exercise Area, Golf Putting Green, Golf Equipment Store Room, Paved Tai Chi Platform, Chess Tables, Tea Area, Foot Massage Area/ Pebble Walk, Bonsai Area, Landscape Area, Clubhouse Entrance Lobby, Balcony, Seating Area, Cascade, Green Pond, Kids' Play Area, Landscape Residents' Entrance Lobby, Residents' Lift Lobby and Shuttle Lift Lobby. www.grandpromenade.com
check out www.gohome.com.hk/english/ and you will find listings for all kinds off property.
I live in Chai Wan and can't wait to move to Sai Kung in December with my 2 dogs who are growing up and need more space, also i can drive my new Land Cruiser around without getting stuck in traffic. Wahey!!!!!!
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Dbob
18 yrs ago
No, I don't live in DB. I am actually surprised that you haven't heard more about South Lantau. Take a look at Findleygroup.com. It may nelp u out a little. We have just purchased a home here and are very much looking forward to moving in. There are people here that have children your age and commute and love it. We are again, five minutes from the beach and about 45 minutes from Central door to door. If you have any other questions u can contact me at catbrat60@hotmail. com.
Kind rgds,
Don Jordan
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lace
18 yrs ago
If you consider living in DB and commuting to Quarry Bay I recommend you to look at flats in La Vista, La Costa or the Beach Village. All those villages are within walking distance to the ferry pier.
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hi there. yaffle hk mentioned pak kok village on lamma island which to my mind is a bit isolated. try yung shue wan which is also on lamma but is a 20 min walk to a great beach, has a football pitch, playground, no cars and a great community spirit. i have lived on this lovely island for nearly 15 years, raised 2 kids, worked in central AND managed to have a great social life! standard flat size is 700 sq feet with 3 bedrooms (approx rent = hk$5,000). same size flats with rooftops or gardens are around hk$7,000. to quarry bay is about 1 hour. p.s. many jouralists live on this island if that helps! you can check it out on www.lamma.com.hk. good luck!
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Hi all. The best thing I have discovered is HK is a wonderfully diverse place. Don't know where we will start for living, don't know where we will end up. But it will be a fun process.
I really like www.lamma.com.hk and I don't want to take this whole journey as a serious problem, but an experience in its own right.
Still looking for a good real estate agent who can bargain the right place down to the right price! PM me if you are the right person, or know the right contact.
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Kaleidoscope,
Hi, I to am moving to hong Kong with my two girls 8 and 11. You do need to consider schooling. not sure if you have the waiting lists can be very long and the Australian school is very expensive. And some of the year levels are full. My girls are enrolled in the Renaissance college. I was told you should look at this first then consider where you live. I am lucky my parnter does not have to go to work every day so we can live near the school. I also looked at cleawater bay and sai kung but found it to be out of our budget. My partner lives in Tung chung at the moment and yes pollution is bad but the facilities are what you are after and the price per unit very affordable and quick jump onto the mtr and your in central. Maybe we can help each other through this journey feel free to contact me.
charron
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Kaleidoscope,
We moved back to Australia from Hong Kong about a year ago. We live in the Sunshine Coast. My wife was a school teacher at an international school in HK, so she understands the schools.
Why not email me at mjbirks@hotmail.com, and I will grab by better half and perhaps we can all meet up for coffee/wine somewhere.
Kardia.
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Sounds good. Will email. Otherwise PM me.
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Kaleidoscope,
When you move to HK and like to be in the Mid-Levels area. Which I greatly recommend as it is in near everything. You should contact an agent called: Nadim Everts from Professional Properties Co. She is highly professional and knows her property inside out. Besides, most agent do not know what you are really looking for especially b/c of their language barrier. Call her she is great and have used her on many occasions:
9866-4454.
Best wishes!
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