[HKNewbie7007]

I am planning on moving to HK in April 2008. My budget is $11,000 a month and looking for long term up to 2 years approx and close to MTR station. From New York so would like to be in an area with expats and other friendly type areas. Does anyone have any ideas of locations of where to look to find something reasonable for that price range and area requirements. I would also like for the place not to be a tiny box. Are these reasonable demands for that price range ? I also would need it to be pet friendly for a 10lb dog. Thanks in advance.

[carang]

are you talking USD or HKD?

where will you be working?

do you need to be in the "thick" of things, or a little removed and closer to the outdoors?

How long of a commute are you willing to put up with?

Would a ferry ride suit you as much as the MTR?

What is your budget for commuting?

Do you need to have "facilities" ie. a gym, pool etc at your home or as part of your complex?

please answer these questions and you might get better responses.
PS> 2 years is not long term for HK. it is the normal lease (actually 1 year fixed + 1 year option)

[klkoo]

I just moved back from the States. I was born and raised in Hong Kong and had been in the States for almost twenty years. I am not very familiar with the current price of a flat, but I do know some area you should look into. If you want to stay in an area with expats, I think the mid-level or the soho area is the place where you should look into. However, it is quite an expensive area and is in Hong Kong Island. Another area is the Tsim Sha Tsui area, but it is a tourist area with hotels and shops. There are also a lot of expats live in Lamma Island, but this is further out of the city. Most of the flats in HK are quite small. With your budget of $11,000 a month, I think you can find a reasonable size flat. Are you looking to share a flat or just for yourself? Do you want it furnished? There are also service apartments available in Hong Kong. You should also look into that. If you have any question, I will be glad to help you.

[HKNewbie7007]

$11,000 HKD would be my budget

I have the option of starting up an office wherever I want and until that time I will work from my future apartment

I would like to be close to the thick of things but don't need to be specifically 'in the thick of things'. Would like to be near a supermarket and some shops I guess for convenience purposes

Commute time and budget is irrelevant due to my potential working from home, I would prefer MTR over ferry for purposes of heading out at night and visiting friends

No, I don't need to have the facilities you described, although they would be nice

The 2 year lease is fine then or the 1 fixed with the 1 option

Thank You

[HKNewbie7007]

Thanks. I would like to live alone, no doubt about that. Furnished could help as well. I visited the Soho area last month when I was out there and it does seem to be through the roof pricing on apartments. I guess I'm just not informed enough of all the little areas, I just know the tourist areas which of course will be the most expensive.

Originally Posted by klkoo

I just moved back from the States. I was born and raised in Hong Kong and had been in the States for almost twenty years. I am not very familiar with the current price of a flat, but I do know some area you should look into. If you want to stay in an area with expats, I think the mid-level or the soho area is the place where you should look into. However, it is quite an expensive area and is in Hong Kong Island. Another area is the Tsim Sha Tsui area, but it is a tourist area with hotels and shops. There are also a lot of expats live in Lamma Island, but this is further out of the city. Most of the flats in HK are quite small. With your budget of $11,000 a month, I think you can find a reasonable size flat. Are you looking to share a flat or just for yourself? Do you want it furnished? There are also service apartments available in Hong Kong. You should also look into that. If you have any question, I will be glad to help you.

[jngai]

try sai kung...very dog friendly neigborhood with a decent size expat crowd living there. plus..your budget should be able to get you a nice flat there.

[carang]

in sai kung, you are a 15 minute mini-bus ride away from the MTR. there is a large supermarket and a smaller one as well. there are all the "little shops" with everyday items you would need. there is a huge expat community. for $11,000 you could get 700' two bedroom place. there is a nice public swimming pool and LOTS of hiking trails. if you had a late night out, you could just splurge and get a taxi home.

might be a good place to start looking.

[wtbhotia]

try village houses in clear water bay, most houses are dog friendly, 700 Sqft with either 2 or 3 bedrooms. ground floor and top floor are the most expensives, the middle floor is the cheapest.

You can try to get middle floors for 5.5K - 8K depending on your luck and how old the place is. with the money left over u can get a second hand car that cost less than 10K, u can use that to go out shopping and to the beaches.

The mini bus to the mtr station is 5min to 30 min depending on how far in clearwater bay u live.

[HKNewbie7007]

Although Sai Kung sounds like it would be a fit, it seems pretty far out there on a map. I just recently visited Tseun Wan and thought that was too far from HK Island. Is this distance something that I am going to have to deal with for my budget of $11K ? Or can I get closer to TST and HK Island for that budget and dog friendly area ?

Originally Posted by carang

in sai kung, you are a 15 minute mini-bus ride away from the MTR. there is a large supermarket and a smaller one as well. there are all the "little shops" with everyday items you would need. there is a huge expat community. for $11,000 you could get 700' two bedroom place. there is a nice public swimming pool and LOTS of hiking trails. if you had a late night out, you could just splurge and get a taxi home.

might be a good place to start looking.

[HKNewbie7007]

I'm having a hard time finding a map of clear water bay ? Not sure where that even is ? Thanks

Originally Posted by wtbhotia

try village houses in clear water bay, most houses are dog friendly, 700 Sqft with either 2 or 3 bedrooms. ground floor and top floor are the most expensives, the middle floor is the cheapest.

You can try to get middle floors for 5.5K - 8K depending on your luck and how old the place is. with the money left over u can get a second hand car that cost less than 10K, u can use that to go out shopping and to the beaches.

The mini bus to the mtr station is 5min to 30 min depending on how far in clearwater bay u live.