Advice for young married couple (no kids) moving to HK

[nfsr]

We are a young British couple making the move from Tokyo to HK in late summer. We don't have kids, pets etc and want to live in a lively, central location. Would appreciate any advice on where to look and what to look for!
Cheers

[pianokc]

Depends what budget you have in mind for a flat. Also what kind of lifestyle you two like... a lot of nightlife? or quieter areas with expats around, public transportation access or plan to have a car to drive around?

First advice to a young couple to HK, expat- I would highly recommend Central, Causeway Bay, or Pok Fu Lam.

Farther away, more like back home- Discovery Bay, Stanley, Clearwater bay, Sai Kung,

[goodbye kitty]

Causeway Bay is lively but local, if you know what I mean. I have lots of friends living in SoHo / Midlevels and it's 5-10 minutes away from hundreds of bars / pubs / restaurants. I live in Kennedy Town becuase the rent is lower to the West of Central generally but it's still close enough to Central to commute each day. I have friends in Pok Fu Lam, which is a beautiful but a bit out of it for what you may be looking for. If you're looking for lively, you should stay as close to Central/SoHo/Wan Chai as you can afford since these are the drinking spots.

On the Kowloon side, there are lots of lively areas and the rent is usually better than HK Island, but I don't know the areas as well.

[Tommyknocker]

Soho or mid-levels I would say. Very close to the action otherwise you will be getting in to family territory - much quieter and less options to go out. Pokfulam in my opinion has very little to offer aside from a convenient commute.

[Boris]

Goodbye Kitty is right. You don't have to live on top of the action to be in it as often as you want.
A friend lives in beautiful apartment in Elgin Street and you can't get a much more stratigically position pad for " party central " than that. He regrets it sometimes as he just can't get away from the non stop activity after a hard day at the office. He loves to party, but we all have our limits, especially if your boss expects you to actually work for a living.

Also its not always best positioned for the everyday living things we need in our life . Those things that are there are premium priced. If you need to have ( in the complex ) a swimming pool. gym , tennis court your paying a hefty premium in central. OK not based on using all of it every day, but then you have no time to party , right!

If I where you - Live on the island side for sure. Tia Koo as a first choice. Excellent area with all your everyday needs. From Tommy Hilfiger to Jusco ( japanese supermarket you will recognise from Tokyo ) both attached to the MTR station so logistically a perfect use of your time . Only 10 minutes or so in Causway bay or 15 mins into Central( the same as walking down from Midlevels into Central ).

Being on the island means you have the tram ( aka - the electric bus ) . Anywhere , any distance on the system for HKD2.00. The best value transport here bar walking. More money for party !

You can also get away from the " action " for those much needed recharges of social batteries.

It also has excellent sports facilities from Tennis to Swimming and Gyms that are well equipped that you only need use and pay for as you need. The prices are very good so more money to spend on partying rather than giving to the landlord.

Locally there are services to get a "domestic ", they come in as much as you need and clean up for you. There are laundry companies at excellent prices. Basically all the things you need to think about that won't get in the way of enjoying yourselves but much cheaper than being on top of the action every day.

Rental is half the price of Central Midlevels

[pchung00]

Boris - One of the best posts I read. Thanks for the advice. I'm actually relocating to HK within a week myself so your info is great.

[Ziya]

Hi, Thank you it was a great reply.We are coming for a few years,we will have to rent a furnished apartment for a while close to the polytechnic Uni and we were advised to go to the New Territories? We are not party people but love to go out to eat and drinks etc. How is the theater ,concert scene - please-. Is it worth it to buy an apartment-I know the prices-. I just thought it would be cheaper than renting. Would love your thoughts.
Thank you

[Boris]

To Msmelbourne
Thanks for the PM.
The Polytechnic Uni is in Hung Hom so is a direct link into the New Territories ( NT ) is available on the KCR system. The MAIN Uni has its own station on the KCR and is in NT.
However the NT are a VAST place so its best for you to understand what area you really want to be in if you decide upon residing in the NT area due to its lower costs of living and " nearer to God " feel. You have to accept its a good 1 hr commute ( door to door ) into the Poly.

There are plenty of apartments renting in Hung Hom but are priced higher than NT and its a very concrete jungle area with vast tracts of poor government housing.

In general NT is a " backwater " to the main idea of nightlife to our traditional expat. However in regard to my Tia Po ( TP ) area there are many bars , loads of bistros ( some good , some over rated ) and all AT A FRACTION of the price of the Island side or TST ( Tsim Sha Tsui ). We even have an Outback for that " I need some big meat " days. However bars and bistros are dotted about all over the place and caters to local taste - because thats who lives here in the majority. Japanese food is nowhere near the sky high prices elsewhere and is full of kids taking lunch breaks so MUST be cheap eh!

Out of town establishments tend to follow the bike paths in popular areas. Nice ambiance and go for the crowded ones rather than looking at the decor !

Theatre and clubs are exclusively in the more mainstream areas like Central through to Causeway Bay on the Island with bars and clubs also in the TST area on Kowloon side. Ideal to fall into from the Poly no doubt.
Cinema multiplex are built into just about every shopping mall in HK.

For the night owls, who do not wish to keep to the 00:30 last KCR out of TST schedule, the bus companies have an extensive system of night buses ( prefixed N to the service number ). We used it during the Rugby and worked out faster than the regular MTR / KCR transit.

In regard of renting / buying. Its a personal choice. Having seen your bio you must be coming here either to teach or for some sort or doctoral or post doctoral stuff so basically you may see yourself as essentially transient. Therefore renting is prefered. There is a tremendous selection in the market and your morgage would probably rate as the same amount as rent. Also the buying market is EXTREMELY volitile and even though I have been here 3 years I still can't get a handle on WHEN is the most effecient time to buy to maximise the return on the investment. ALSO buying a village home can be fraught with problems for the unwary, due to there being a very " loose " ownership / registration system in past years. High rises in town developments are a different matter entirely which is reflected in the banks willingness to advance only up to 70% max on a village house compared to 90% for a non new apartment. If buying for cash then a 1.5 mil will get a very nice house ( top floor of village house, with roof patio) but beware my comments on ownership.

Always willing to help answer questions.

[Ziya]

I do not know how to thank you for your reply. The most informative helpful answers we ever had, now we know how to approach the buying or rent matters. No, I can not practice in HK,but my husband is taking up a position in the Poly.There is housing allowance but we have been told they are very, very small. You are a lovely generous person and thank you again for your time.

Conny

[Boris]

To MSmelbourne
If you are coming as an " advanced guard " then let us know and we will show you round and help explain things if the Uni are not providing this service to you.
If coming " cold turkey " then make sure you are not signed into ANY lease agreement. I saw your relocate posting as well and see you are loking at temp accom in Ma on Shan ( Horizon ).
It is VERY easy to set up temp accom here if unfurnished and " our people " can help if you need.