Sunday, April 13, 2008

Abysmal adventures in real estate

Wow, looking for an apt in HK sucks. Right now the housing market is insane. What we've been looking at are approx 700 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, somewhat close to Central, for around HK$24,000/mo. WTF. They are nasty. A few are new, but the older ones are either nasty (bathroom, kitchen) or entirely unpleasant in other ways. Even the ones that aren't nasty... it's depressing. I can't live in an apt that will make me depressed just sitting there. Not to mention the size--not even 50% of our crap will fit in these apts. I know I've been spoiled by Chicago/Evanston, but COME ON, for this price, one could rent a freaking three-bedroom apt on Michigan Avenue, and not the 800 sq ft type of 3 bedroom.

Meeting with an agent later today. Not promising at all....

And I LOVE this serviced apartment the company is giving us this month. It's almost an insult how great it is. Great location, brand new, gorgeous design, great service. And that's 874 sq ft, 1 bedroom. I would live here. Too bad it's HK$42,000+/mo. Do you know what I could get for THAT in Chicago? I dunno, maybe a penthouse apt facing Lake Michigan.

1 comment:

ampligenic said...

Last year my dad bought a (nominally) 500 sq ft apt in Happy Valley and last wknd he forced me to visit it because he wants to redo our own kitchen and he wants to know what i think of the cabinets he put in. It's horrible. I mean I know exactly what you mean when you say horrible bathrooms, horrible kitchens, etc.

When one doesn't wanna throw money in because one knows it's temporary it does get unbearable so I totally know how you feel... being at home becomes totally depressing.