[Newbie]

My husband and I are thinking about moving to HK within the next 6-9 mos or so. I have been doing some research on the internet and watching this site for info for some time and have a few questions. I was told that to rent or buy a house in HK was not very possible, and that flats/apartments were the norm is this so? Are there areas of town that are more suburban than metro?

[KnowItAll]

You can rent houses in the New Territories and also in some of the more expensive parts of town.

Houses of around 3000 sq ft go for about US$15-20K in the south side (which can be considered non-metro). Houses in the rural new territories run for about US$1-2K/month, but I figure those are most probably not going to be ... err ... your cup of tea.

[JJexpat]

I think a major adjustment from anyone coming from a country in which there are suburbs is the discovery that even in the "country", there are housing estates of 12 blocks of 30 story buildings. It requires an entirely different sense of housing. Approximations (assuming you are not in the 10-30,000/month US bracket) can be important. For example, missing my year-round country garden, I have a seasonal shift of plants on my small balcony--it is lieterally covered to approximate a garden. Missing lots of light and expansive views, I found an old building with high ceilings and light on two sides over looking rare green space. You'll find your own tricks ;-)

Good luck!
JJ

[Newbie]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

You can rent houses in the New Territories and also in some of the more expensive parts of town.

Houses of around 3000 sq ft go for about US$15-20K in the south side (which can be considered non-metro). Houses in the rural new territories run for about US$1-2K/month, but I figure those are most probably not going to be ... err ... your cup of tea.

Thanks for you input ... someone mentioned that Discovery Bay would be a place we would be interested in living ...can anyone tell me what it is like?

[Newbie]

Originally Posted by JJexpat

I think a major adjustment from anyone coming from a country in which there are suburbs is the discovery that even in the "country", there are housing estates of 12 blocks of 30 story buildings. It requires an entirely different sense of housing. Approximations (assuming you are not in the 10-30,000/month US bracket) can be important. For example, missing my year-round country garden, I have a seasonal shift of plants on my small balcony--it is lieterally covered to approximate a garden. Missing lots of light and expansive views, I found an old building with high ceilings and light on two sides over looking rare green space. You'll find your own tricks ;-)

Good luck!
JJ

The more I am learning about HK, the more I do see that it will be a major adjustment in all areas of living and thinking ... one we are looking forward to though!

[tangy13]

clearwater bay and sai kung are also lovely to live in very scenic....see all the places before u decide, we saw all and decided on cwb and r loving it!