[Skyhook]

Originally Posted by PerryCo

You better look out before you buy anything in Mui Wo or you might end up with European expats as neighbors...

Thank you elle for reminding me how bad expats can be.

I'll stay in DB and enjoy the good life.

If you don't like expats so much, why do you frequent this expat website ?

You having a laugh, Red ?

[elle]

Originally Posted by PerryCo

You better look out before you buy anything in Mui Wo or you might end up with European expats as neighbors...

Thank you elle for reminding me how bad expats can be.

I'll stay in DB and enjoy the good life.

Ooops forgot, there are absolutely no European Expats in DB and nobody drinks beer here as well...

[Mui Wo Guy]

As for agents, I'd avoid Findley Leung - they're glacially slow and try to get the highest possible price for you so that they can make a bit more commission.
Then there's Proper Trip. They specialize in high end South Lantau places - rentals in the HK$20k+ and sales in the HK$5+ million. The agent is competent enough, but you need to catch him in the office - returning phone calls is not his forte.
Helen in Easy Reach EASY REACH REAL ESTATE is probably the best agent, although she's not exactly an extrovert when it comes to helping you out. At least she gets a fair price.

[BettyInToronto]

Mui Wo Guy: Glad to read all your advice

Hubby & I are retiring in HK in about 5 years (when our house is paid for) and so far Mui Wo is our number one choice. We're coming again September to do more research (okay and visit family).

I really appreciated your honest opinion about the real estate agencies. Hubby thinks he can convince an agent to show us around in September. I'm not so sure. I like the Findley Leung website but it doesn't seem to ever get updated.

Which village or area would you recommend we look at? We are looking at Village Houses - the 2nd floor + roof or if we could afford it; one with 1F + 2F + roof.

Also, we are coming for 3 weeks and want to spend a week in Mui Wo and then we've booked a hotel in Causeway Bay for the last 2 weeks. Is there anywhere else to stay in Mui Wo besides Silvermine Beach? At $70 CDN/night it's pretty cheap...but?? We felt we have to stay right in Mui Wo to really get a feel for the place. Day visits like we've done on our last two trips is just not enough exposure.

Any help you can provide would be muchly appreciated. Hubby is Chinese from HK but left 30 years ago to go to school and me, I'm Caucasin.

[PDLM]

Five years is forever in Hong Kong time - a lot could change, so don't get too fixed on what you want at this stage. Lantau in particular will undergo some changes. You can see the latest version of the Government's plans here.

[PerryCo]

Question for Mui Wo Guy: What can you tell us about the face-lift proposal?

"Major proposals include a new entrance plaza and waterfront promenade, complemented by the upgrading of the food stalls, retail shops and cafes. A boardwalk is proposed to link up the area around the ferry pier and the town square, which will be redeveloped into an open space with commercial outlets, and venue for performances. A cycle track and heritage trail is proposed to connect the points of interests, including the waterfall and old watch-towers."

1. Has this been discussed with residents yet?
2. Will any new housing be added?

[BettyInToronto]

PDLM: Agree 5 years is a long time...but only good things from the perspective of a retiree have changed in Mui Wo in the last 6 years that we have been looking and doing research.

Thanks for the link but I am aware of the Concept Plan. Agree there are lots of plans for Lantau but not too drastic for Mui Wo so I don't see too much happening there to change my mind...yet....but of course we are not buying until we arrive. My theory is it doesn't hurt to do the research now so when I win the lottery I am ready to go.

[Mui Wo Guy]

I`d suggest that you look at any of the Mui Wo villages, with the possible exception of Wang Tung. The problem with Wang Tong is that it`s Hong Kong`s holiday home center - more in this little village than anywhere else in Hong Kong. The result is overcrowding and noise during weekends and holidays. The police are constantly busy dealing with resident complaints. We have a friend who rents there and calls the police often after 11pm. His bicycle has been vandalized, and almost came to blows with drunken barbequers once or twice. Very unpleasant.
The other villages are all fine as far as noise goes.
Prices are going up fast, I find. You can get a nice (but unrenovated) 1F+2F+roof for under HK$2.5M, but they are getting harder to find. There is currently one 2F+roof for HK$1.2M, but it`s in Wang Tung. The risk of misery is too high, in my opinion.
Generally, I`d look for unrenovated places and get a local firm to make it look like you want. The buying price will be lower, and its reselling value will easily make your reno cost back.
Avoid small village homes that don`t have legal deeds - they`re cheap, but banks won`t touch them, and you never know what the future holds. We saw a beautiful place near the beach, mango orchard, well taken care of, large outside area, etc etc for HK$1M. Then we found out that it lacked papers, part of it was on gov`t land, etc.
We regularly meet people (i.e. tourists) who stay in the Silvermine Bay Hotel. Generally, they`re happy with the place. It`s certainly tired, but we don`t hear any real complaints - it`s clean, convenient, value for money.
There are two other places in Mui Wo - The Mui Wo Hotel (friends from Australia called it `The Love Motel`) and another one whose name escapes me. They are cheaper than the Silvermine, and if you`re not too fussy about strange sounds in the night, probably OK.

[Mui Wo Guy]

Originally Posted by PerryCo

Question for Mui Wo Guy: What can you tell us about the face-lift proposal?

"Major proposals include a new entrance plaza and waterfront promenade, complemented by the upgrading of the food stalls, retail shops and cafes. A boardwalk is proposed to link up the area around the ferry pier and the town square, which will be redeveloped into an open space with commercial outlets, and venue for performances. A cycle track and heritage trail is proposed to connect the points of interests, including the waterfall and old watch-towers."

1. Has this been discussed with residents yet?
2. Will any new housing be added?

There`s no great news on the facelift. An inside source tells me that construction will begin in 2010, although some smaller projects might begin before then.
In answer to your questions, yes, they had a public meeting six months ago or so, and have invited resident opinion for about two years.
No new housing proposed as far as I know. The facelift focuses mostly on the tired concrete ferry area and the even more tired old town. Residential land isn`t included in any proposal.
Overall, we`re really looking forward to it. Mui Wo needs an injection of change. There are few places in the world that are 30 minutes away from a city of 7 million, yet are so quiet and peaceful. It`s just in need of a bit of attention to fix up the terrible errors of the 1970s.

[BettyInToronto]

Thanks for the warning about Wang Tong. You're right about the prices going up. I can only hope that our house will go up too as it is this money that we will be using to buy our HK flat. I tried to connect to the real estate website you had posted before but I get "page not found".

Glad to here the comments are not negative about Silvermine Beach Hotel. I've heard it's old but clean. And what can you expect for $70 CDN/night and that includes breakfast buffet. We stayed 2 nights at Mui Wo Inn during our 1994 HK trip. We were staying with family in Taikoo Shing and I really needed a break. It was nice for 2 nights but I'm not thinking a whole week...plus they have no internet or e-mail so we would have to phone.