We are going to travel to HK next month to find an apartment. I see the recommendations for serviced apartments, but we want to sign a lease and move right in when we arrive.

How can we find an agent who is reputable and knowlegable to show us around quickly? I want my children to attend school in Kowloon Tong, husband will work in ShaTin, and we would like to live in comfortable Expat community without a car. I am often alone for several weeks at a time with the kids, so I need a strong community. Our budget is about $45000 HKD a month for an apartment that would need to have 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. (we have 3 kids) We would also like to have a pool and other facilities available if possible. Any recommendations for real estate companies or friendly neighborhoods?

[PDLM]

I'm afraid that "communities" don't really exist in the geographical sense that you seem to be looking for. Hong Kong is no different from any big city in that most people don't know their neighbours at all. The communities tend to be built round the schools your kids go to, or sport you play, or the place you hang out online, or the places you hang out in real life.

And really, really, come for a couple of weeks first (without the kids) and live in a serviced apartment to find a flat.

It would be impossible to come without the kids. We have no one to watch them. Unfortunately, our parents will not even take them for longer than a few nights!

Are there certain areas of HK that would be better to live in than others? I have lived in Manhattan and have felt that neighborhoods still exist there in the traditional sense. We know a family who has moved to Shanghai and their social life seems to revolve around the strong international community that exists within the apartment complex that they live in.

I suppose that this is what I am looking for. Does this exist in HK?

[PDLM]

Shanghai and Hong Kong are completely different in that respect. I think there are very very few developments of significant size in HK where professional expats are more than, say, 30% of the occupants. HK is like London in that respect - no expat ghettos.

Shanghai is quite different - that has quite a lot of expat ghettos, but even there they are starting to get diluted as locals get money. With school age kids I would expect your social life to revolve around contacts made at school, who will be spread out all over the catchment area for that school.

[Expatriate]

Originally Posted by inprov

Are there certain areas of HK that would be better to live in than others? I have lived in Manhattan and have felt that neighborhoods still exist there in the traditional sense. We know a family who has moved to Shanghai and their social life seems to revolve around the strong international community that exists within the apartment complex that they live in.

What is better?
From The Peak it is farther to the beach than from anywhere in Cheung Chau.
From Midlevels it is farther to the Waterfalls and Jungle Paths in Lantau than from Tong Fuk.
From Discobay you need to take the ferry to go to the Cultural Centre in TST or the Arts Centre in Wanchai.
From Tung Chung it is a short way to the airport, but Tung Chung has the highest airpollution.

In Shanghai and Beijing Expats are obliged to live in Expat Ghettos.
Hong Kong is a free city and you can live where you want, provided you can afford it.

In Hong Kong traditional Expat Areas are

Discovery Bay
Many Expats, many kids, long way to Shatin and Kowloon Tong, no cars allowed, International School

Sai Kung, Clearwater Bay
many expats, many kids, bus to Shatin, long way to Kowloon Tong, international school in Clearwater Bay

The Peak, Midlevels
For the rich, long way to Shatin and Kowloon Tong

Kowloon Tong
quiet area now the airport has moved, 2 KCR-Stations to Shatin, one area with single-house lots, kindergartens, love hotels, on the east side of the KCR and another area with low-rise and high-rise housing with pools on the west side of the KCR


Traditional Lifestyle
you mean traditional Chinese? That would be far away from an Expat community. Get an appartment in Kowloon Tong, then decide for yourself where you want to move. With a budget of HK$45,000 per month you are rich enough for that neighborhood.

[vanwilder]

Hung Hom area (Whampoa and Laguna Verde).
Quite unknown for many people but great residential area, quiet, with many shopping malls and very well communicated with TST.

What do you mean by shopping malls? Here in the States, that is a term for a large, isolated building, full of shops and surrounded by a parking lot. I would never want to live near one. Does shopping mall have another meaning in HK?

Disco Bay is out, as my husband hates taking a ferry to work. How about the Belcher's in Pokfulam? How would that commute be? What about Pacific Palisades in North Point? We have decided that we need a large, child friendly complex with good facilities for all of our kids and access to city parks. The Belcher's seems to be a bit far away from public transport(we will not buy a car) but we would like to find a similar family oriented community.

Any suggestions?

[vanwilder]

I know what shopping malls are in the states so maybe my wording was not correct. There are many shops for anything you want: from supermarkets to perfume stores, clothes stores and many kinds of restaurants. (one of the biggest chain stores called JUSCO is located inside a fake boat which looks really nice from the outside).
In HK there are no parking lots as in USA.
I will try to find a website to show you how it looks like but it's not what you had in mind.

Thanks for all of your help. I am being a bit obsessive, I know, but with 3 kids, this is a big move for me. I do not want to screw it up!
My husband and I are also on the young side(or so we would like to think) and would like a place with lots of other 30 somethings.

I am really social, and always need to be able to connect with people right away. Being alone with the kids for a couple of weeks every month can also get tiresome, so I always need to have my own life happening, which can be tough if you are not working.

I have never been to HK, so I cannot imagine the time it would take to get from place to place. I can imagine the hustle and crowds, as I have been to China. (HK should seem much less chaotic)

Any advice is welcome here!

[PDLM]

The best way to not screw it up is not to try to reach a decision on where to live until you have spent a wek or two finding your feet!