Posted by
neil_g63
17 yrs ago
Hi There
I wonder if anone out there can help with some advice.....
I am in the process of moving from company to another, each with different expat package structures. My current company's housing allowance is HKD 130,000 per month, which was my expectation. But the new company has only offered me HKD $101,000.
We want a realtively large house (we have just spent 2 yrs in a very nice apartment in Shanghai - but we are over apartments now). We want somewhere with a garden as we are a family of 4, kids are 3 and 1. It needs to be a quality place, one where we feel we can move straight into. Good local schools are going to be important, as is a connection to some form of european / australian expat community. I will work in Quarry Bay and don't really want a 1 hr commute each way.
So here are my questions
1) Are our expectations realistic based on the money offered.
2) Is 100,000 HKD a good deal anyway, and 130,000 is a very good deal?
3) Which areas should we focus on; D Bay, NT, Sai Kung, South Island?
Thanks everyone
Cheers
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Dear MangoTango
Thanks for the info....We are currently in a 2700 sq ft + apartment in Shanghai, and we feel we need to go bigger. For me, I think the job oportunity is fantastic, but already being on an expat package means I already have the "lifestyle".... so I have to make sure that I maintain a certain quality level for the family.
But thanks for your comments, most helpful.
Saikunga - The comment "not used to HK standards of workmanship or building maintenance" is a bit of an interesting statement, can you elaborate further? I trust it is better than Chinese Mainland standards
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mayo
17 yrs ago
I lived in Hk for four years until 2000 on $100,000 housing allowance have had two cities inbetween and am now looking at moving back on a much more generous budget and have been surprised how rents have gone up. I agree its all relative you can move from condo to a big house with a pool and be unhappy and vice versa and be happy. We all fret when we hear we have to go smaller (I'm doing it right now) but past experience tells me after you scale down and you start to enjoy the city living in you realise it's not such a biggie.
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F100
17 yrs ago
Some employers will also pay for your electricity/water bill.
this can easily add up to over $5000 per month for an apartment over 2500 sq. feet.
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JinHK
17 yrs ago
The Kadoorie family have some lovely houses on Kowloon side around Kadoorie Avenue. They are two storey and VERY spacious. Three or four bedrooms all with ensuites upsairs, dining, living, play room, kitchen study and another bathroom downstairs and lovely garden area with trees. Tree lined streets. Feels like we are back home. This is within your budget.
Depends which cross Harbour tunnel you use but using the Western tunnel and working in Central we can get to work in 20 mins.
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mrsl
17 yrs ago
mangotango has a point, for $100k, you will struggle to get a house with outdoor space on the Southside. In Stanley, Regalia Bay starts at about $150k; Louisette, Banyan Villas and Horizon Crest are a little less and much smaller than what you are looking for; Three Bays etc. go for more than $200K. Your best bet is probably Redhill Peninsula, where rents for 2800sf houses start at $99k excl, but you can add about $20k for charges and taxes. Most people add to their housing allowances with their other income. You could make it to Quarry Bay in about 15mins though.
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I'd plump for Clearwater Bay - It is much more peaceful and open-spaced. You get more bang for your buck, no weekend traffic to fight through, a decent primary school, and a better location for Quarry Bay (just through the Eastern tunnel).
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Neil
our allowance is similar to yours and we have a reasonable size flat in Tai Tam - 3-bed and two huge roof terraces. Tai Tam and generally South Side (Stanley and Red Hill) are great areas to live in (you wont get a garden - maybe roof terrace tho) and it is only maybe around 20 min to Quarry Bay.
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Thanks everyone for the posts...Didn't mean to stir up a hornets nest. I realise that I am fortunate compared to others ;)
The more we see Sai Kung and CWB, the more we like the space and water. I guess we would need a car if we lived over there, right?
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ldavy
17 yrs ago
mangotango, I'm interested in your comment about the agent paying commission to corporate tenants. My company has corporate clients too and you're right, it's the company which is then the tenant. But the tenant still pays commission. If we are acting for both the landlord and the tenant, then we do our best to get a deal that both parties are happy with. This does not mean that we don't negotiate on behalf of the tenant - we do, and so will all reputable companies. A good agent will also "push for you and tell you honestly what you can get".
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I've been too lazy to read all the posts, so I may be repeating things.
Rents in HK have gone up 20% accross the board, and upto 40% in sort after areas in the past 12 mths.
2 years ago, $100,000 would have been a nice rent allowance for what you are looking for. Now you will struggle to get a house on HK island with 4 bedrooms with that budget - especially if you want a garden and facilities like a swimming pool. While $130,000 is more realistic, you will still have to compromise on something - position/facilities/quality of house/size of garden etc.
Working in Quarry Bay, makes Tai Tam and Stanley very attractive as it is only a 15 minute drive. If you don't plan on getting a car then aiming for a property that offers a shuttle bus to the MTR line (Chai Wan, Shau Kei Wan) would be good.
I am currently looking for something similar to what you want as we have to move, and I have seen everything on the Southside in the past 2 months.
You can get a large house in tai Tam for $132000 inclusive - facilities/garden/4 beds plus study/2 car garage/security/shuttle bus etc. You won't be able to get that for $100,000. For $100,000 you can get a 4 bedroom apartment in Tai Tam/Stanley/Repulse Bay - but there may be limited outdoor space for your young kids and limited facilites.
Redhill in Tai Tam is great for families, has all the facilities, has 3 international kindergartens a 5 minute walk away, plus a small supermarket. Central is about 30min away by car with a regular shuttle bus.
If you want any more info. send me a pm.
I know you will have a lot more choice with a house if you look at Discovery Bay (no cars allowed and quite a long trip to work for you), Sai Kung, Clearwater Bay, HK goldcoast. But working on HK island it makes sense to live there if you can.
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AdelaideMum, you are wrong - $100,000 gets you a pretty nice appartment in Tai Taim - we have two huge (and I mean huge) roof terraces. And not the ones where you have to climb up the communal staircase to the roof, no - one off our living room and one off the master bedroom.
But I do second your opinion on Tai Tam/Stanley - great area to live in.
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Ed
17 yrs ago
Please note these forums are for advice so lets please stay with that format and offer help; sarcastic answers will be deleted and accounts suspended.
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Ed
17 yrs ago
http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/property/agencylistingslease/
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Ed
17 yrs ago
We've deleted some replies and banned one person.. if you dont have something constructive to contribute please do not participate on this thread.
And please don't begrudge people because they have a large housing allowance/salary.
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Hi
I may be late in replying, just read your thread, $100,000 is great for an allowance, my husband only gets $7000, I know crap!
Clearwater Bay is great, you will be able to get a huge house and still be under budget, good luck!
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Hi eveyone
In the end my wife didn't want to live out in Sai Kung, so we opted for an apartment within walking distance of Stanley market and beach.
Thanks for all the replies
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Sure, 2300 sq ft, 3 bedroom, currently being renovated with new open plan kitchan and 2 bathrooms. The development has a pool and a gym and a car park, it is a low rise blcok and we are on the 2nd of three floors with sea views. I think we are mainly paying the premium for the location, which as I said is 50 yards from the bus station in stanley.
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My wife thought it had much more of a village community feel; it has better night life (we have two small kids but hope one day soon to go out on own own some time soon) and more things in walking distance
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AFH
14 yrs ago
As a new arrival, I am interested to find out how much people think that the rental market has moved on from when this original discussion took place. My company is trying to relocate several of its employees from the UK, and accomodation is proving difficult.. what does it currently take to get hold of a 3,000 sq.ft house on the southside? september 2010
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