[bsc1280]

Hi ,

i have finally reached HK and went today with my agent to view a few apartments in tung chung. Given my budget (11-12k max) and requirement (3 BR, 900 sqm) and access to central, I think that is a good option.

I have got great help from this forum and need a but more to help make a decision here

1. I might be taking it too seriously or may be its just that I am not used to it, I found the windows in the apartments tooo dangerous for the kids. Some of them had a window from the floor to the celining and helf of it could be opened too. With m daughter around, I think it can be pretty serious. Does anyone else feels this wrt their kids? If the kid throws or hits the glass witha toy etc, and if it breaks, (being on the 51st floor), would'nt it be too dangerous or if she justs somehow opens the window. please give your views

2. I have shipped a king sized bed from tokyo and I found that most apartments did not have a master bed room big enough to hold that 6 feet by 6.5 feet bed alongwith a cupboard. Therre were the 1000 sqft ish apartments. Is there any aprticular condo which has bigger master bedroom in 3 BR apartment?

3. Is it possible to get an around 1200 sqft in 13k in any of crescent, seaview, coastal skyline, carrebean?

4. How is the travel like in the mornign from TC to central. Is the line too crowded (which i doubt it would be ), do we get a seat normally. and what is the total ttravel time (apart from the 30 misn train) I would work in exchange square. How is the walk from these apartments to MTR (i know its 5 `12 mins except for crescent) but is it covered (during the rainy season, one might end up getting wet).

Thanks a lot again for the time.
B

[AJZ]

Originally Posted by bsc1280

Hi ,

i have finally reached HK and went today with my agent to view a few apartments in tung chung. Given my budget (11-12k max) and requirement (3 BR, 900 sqm) and access to central, I think that is a good option.

I have got great help from this forum and need a but more to help make a decision here

1. I might be taking it too seriously or may be its just that I am not used to it, I found the windows in the apartments tooo dangerous for the kids. Some of them had a window from the floor to the celining and helf of it could be opened too. With m daughter around, I think it can be pretty serious. Does anyone else feels this wrt their kids? If the kid throws or hits the glass witha toy etc, and if it breaks, (being on the 51st floor), would'nt it be too dangerous or if she justs somehow opens the window. please give your views

2. I have shipped a king sized bed from tokyo and I found that most apartments did not have a master bed room big enough to hold that 6 feet by 6.5 feet bed alongwith a cupboard. Therre were the 1000 sqft ish apartments. Is there any aprticular condo which has bigger master bedroom in 3 BR apartment?

3. Is it possible to get an around 1200 sqft in 13k in any of crescent, seaview, coastal skyline, carrebean?

4. How is the travel like in the mornign from TC to central. Is the line too crowded (which i doubt it would be ), do we get a seat normally. and what is the total ttravel time (apart from the 30 misn train) I would work in exchange square. How is the walk from these apartments to MTR (i know its 5 `12 mins except for crescent) but is it covered (during the rainy season, one might end up getting wet).

Thanks a lot again for the time.
B

Regarding the windows, these have to withstand typhoons and are fairly strong. Many people install window bars which you could consider or ask the landlord. Most accidents involving children and windows occur when parents leave their kids at home alone.

Regarding the bed, perhaps some of larger ones at La Rossa (the newest blocks of Coastal Skyline) or Tung Chung Crescent - those with a seaview are larger - might accommodate it. Of course these are more expensive but you should be able to find one around $13K. Caribbean Coast master bedrooms are probably too small.

Regarding the MTR, yes it is crowded in the morning. Yes there will be days you can get a seat, but don't rely on it. You have to be right by the platform doors when a train pulls in and then push your way past the alighting passengers. You might have to wait up to 10 minutes for the train to depart. The train officially (according to the MTR website) takes 41 minutes to Central. We live in Caribbean Coast and friends live in Coastal Skyline - we both give it one hour to Central.

The walk from Coastal Skyline (CS) and Seaview Crescent is covered but the rain falls almost horizontally at times. CS is better for coverage. Caribbean Coast (CC) involves a shuttle bus ride (60-odd people crammed in a bus) although the path from CC via CS to the MTR is supposed to be open in March. CC operates a resident bus to Central Mon-Fri at peak times only and it's possible to get to Exchange Square under cover.

[bsc1280]

Thanks a lot, AJZ,

Your reply was certainlya new perspective to what I keep on hearing regarding Tung Chung (is 26 mins train travel and finding the seat is easy since its the first station which makes it sound like 45 mins door to door travel and a lot more convenient too.

That gives me a tough choice to either go for a smaller apartment nearyby or do a one hour travel which is not popular in my bank. A lot of them are singles and live very close by with other living in 30 mins door to door.

[AJZ]

Oops, just realised I posted the time from TC to Central (41 mins) not TC to Hong Kong Station (32 mins). This can be checked on the MTR website.

But add the waiting time plus the walking or shuttle bus to the station time and you can see why we give it an hour door-to-door.

Housing is always a compromise in HK - unless on a fat expat package. Cheaper and larger with a longer commute or more expensive and smaller with a shorter commute.

Can you re-negotiate a better housing allowance?

Although perhaps pushing the upper limit of your budget/size reqs, have you looked at Discovery Bay? It's a bit nearer to Central. You would take a ferry which takes about 25 mins (plus perhaps a bus to the ferry pier). There is a covered elevated walkway from the pier in Central to IFC.

[bsc1280]

Hi AJZ,

I dont even get any housing allowance :-(
its all from my salary :-|

i was thinking to rather go for TC crescent which is like closer to the station, although i doubt they have as good club and play ground as others? . it will reduce the walking time a bit too.

DB is an option but my office will move to kowloon end of this year and then I heard DB becomes lesser convenient? Do you agree?

Thanks,
B

[AJZ]

bsc> If the office is moving to Kowloon (the new ICC perhaps?), then yes Tung Chung is far handier than DBay. TC Cresent does have the larger apartments, although you might have to rethink the king bed/wardrobe idea.

The thing is if you don't like and you have signed a lease with a 12-month break clause, you can move after year. You'll know HK better by then so have a better idea about where to live that suits you and suits your child's schooling needs.

Good luck with your flat search!

[HKChigger]

I have heard the Tung Chung Line is pretty bad in morning rush hour. One of my co-workers lives in DB and takes the Bus to Sunny Bay for MTR in the mornings and he said it is just nuts especially when reaching Tsing Yi Station. Tung Chung is still overall a good place, just do be prepared for that. A lot of foreigners also look at Sham Tseng. Perhaps take a look and consider.

[bsc1280]

Originally Posted by HKChigger

I have heard the Tung Chung Line is pretty bad in morning rush hour. One of my co-workers lives in DB and takes the Bus to Sunny Bay for MTR in the mornings and he said it is just nuts especially when reaching Tsing Yi Station. Tung Chung is still overall a good place, just do be prepared for that. A lot of foreigners also look at Sham Tseng. Perhaps take a look and consider.

Thats another thing to consider. I used to experience the same in tokyo and used to hate it when people simply pushed their way into the train.

I went to sham tseng to see few places, rhine garden was one old building which had a lot of sings of aging. the agent said that bellagio would be alteast 15k for a 3 br..is that correct?

Also I thought TC is more convenient and takes lesser time since its a direct line to central. Sham Tseng has buses which adds another complexity. Am i right?

Thanks

[bsc1280]

Hi all

I saw a few more apartments in TC today and need yoru advice on making the decision

these were in CC and TC crescent, around 1100 sqft

I personally like TC crescent as its closer to the MTR and there is added dependency on waiting for the shuttle bus. the apartments in this one was 16F , facing the construction site (where they are building some pool or town house i guess) but you could also see the sea.

In TC Crescent, the apartment was a bit rundown, like small scratches on the walls, and on the doors and on the floor in one room as well. I asked the agent and he said that gettign akl of them repaired would be difficult. they asked 13.5 and it was in tower 8.

now please let me know that in your personal view how much added inconveniece that shuttle bus or that distance from the MTR causes..i will be travelling to central...(also have my wife and daughter who would also commute thru mtr regularly).
I am cofused between the apartment condition (which was better in CC) and distance o MTR (in TC Crescent)..........

plus the agent told me that in TC crescent and in CC there are only 4 apartments avaiable (the bigger one of 1100 approx size)..now this statement does not look right too..what do u say?

Thanks a lot
B

[jimbo]

Had a look at TC last week and theres definately a surplus of apartments available so the agent is probably pushing you to make a decision hence only saying 4 are available.

I'd rather not depend on the shuttle to be honest and would prefer a 5 minute walk to the mtr station instead as the traffic can be a nightmare at that time of the morning.

The one in TC crescent I'd see if you can get a discount on the rental fee if its not up to scratch and also if the owner is not willing to get it up to standard, The last thing you want is added grief by the landlord saying theres damage to the flat that wasn't there before when it clearly was.

Or you can end up getting a discount but take a photo of everything thats damaged/scratched prior to moving in and giving a copy to the landlord/agent to prove that it was already there prior to moving in, But that can be a hassle.