Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Ma On Shan? Some recommendations for a young family

fraxbo · 22-08-2011, 09:52 AM

Hey all,

I have been living in HK now since the beginning of the month, but this week looks to be my opportunity to really go out flat hunting. I currently live in Jordan on Shanghai street, but as much as I love the convenience and centrality, my work is in Tai Wai/Sha Tin and I think that general area will be nicer for my family (wife 2 daughters under 2 years old).

We have a housing allowance budget of 20k/month (which I am willing to add to from our salaries if the bump really makes a difference in quality/size) not including utilities and management fees which will be paid by work additionally. I have done some preliminary searching online and plan to look at Festival City, Pristine Villas, Parc Royale, The Palazzo and then a host of buildings along the Ma On Shan line.

Are there any of these I should skip? Are there others I should definitely consider? Our primary concerns are size and amenities, though we would like it if the apartment is in good repair as well. It does not necessarily have to be modern as long as it is pleasant.

Any help from those with experience would be greatly appreciated.

wtbhotia · 22-08-2011, 10:56 AM

Have you thought about village houses, Sai Keng Village, 6 mins away from Wu Kai Sha MTR station will be great, Just over 20K can get you a duplex, 1st + 2nd floor plus the roof which equals to 2100 sqft, 90% actual area usage, loads of room for you. You can go to the sea druing low tide and stroll around.

Unknown road to Sai Keng - Google Maps

You can easily get a 2nd hand car for shopping groceries and for taking trips to sai kung town etc etc. Car park costs $500 per month. You can easily get a run around car for 10K.

fraxbo · 22-08-2011, 01:35 PM

Well, neither my wife nor I are very experienced drivers (in fact I don't even have a license). We're also not really interested in using a car. Otherwise, that does seem like a decent area and a great deal.

MovingIn07 · 22-08-2011, 01:41 PM

Try a look at Fairview Park. All the benefits of a village but with resident transport laid on. It's close to Yuen Long so near Tai Wai and they have a regular bus to Sheung Shui for easy links to Shatin. Friend lives there owns a car, but it didn't start last time she tried it because she had not used it in so many months .....!!!

jaykay · 22-08-2011, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by MovingIn07:

It's close to Yuen Long so near Tai Wai

Wanchai is actually closer to Tai Wai than Yuen Long! In other words it isn't that close at all.

For high rises you could look at Granville Gardens, quite a few expats there and lots of amenities, or a low density place such as Lakeview Gardens up on the hill which has a residents bus going down to Tai Wai station. There are plenty of others around as well as villages within 5 / 10 minutes walk of station. The suggestion to live just outside Wu Kai Sha is pretty sound but you could also move down into Sai Kung proper which would be great for the kids and you can then get the 99 bus to Wu Kai Sha each morning and take train to Tai Wai or the 299 into Shatin centre and one stop on East Rail line.

I've lived in both areas with kids and certainly if you're wife will be staying at home and wanting to get out with the kids then Sai Kung will offer more.

MovingIn07 · 22-08-2011, 02:53 PM

Apologies - for some reason I was reading tin shui wai not tai wai - goodness know why! I did think it was rather a long way from shatin!

fraxbo · 22-08-2011, 06:24 PM

This is so far really helpful. Granville Gardens looks particularly interesting for what's available. It seems many of the units even have ovens, bless my heart. My wife will only be at home for the first few months on maternity leave she will then be attending language school at CUHK as part of her job. So, that is less of a consideration for the moment.

jacky_se · 22-08-2011, 06:38 PM

Ma On Shan is a spacious area, close to the sea (your daughters can play in the sand), a nice park, swimming pool, library, cinemas, shopping centre, and cleaner air, etc. Definitely better than Shatin and Tai Wai. Try Villa Athena. HK$20,000 will give you a 1060 sq. ft. flat with full sea view, 30 seconds walk to the beach, 2 minutes walk to MTR station (club house has gim, swimming pool, and kids activities). You can't beat that in HK

Plus, it's less than 10 min. bus from CUHK. Plenty of CUHK professors live in Ma On Shan.

peainpod · 22-08-2011, 06:43 PM

We went to visit a friend who just moved to Ma On Shan. I think his dvpmt is called La Costa which is right on the waterfront with a really great park and biking trail.

There's a bunch of newish developments there and the rent is quite reasonable. You can definitely get something decent for $20K.

Because it's a bit removed from Ma On Shan town (10 mins by car?), the surrounding atmosphere is quite relaxed, semi-resortish feel. Downside is no supermarkets nearby so it can be a bit inconvenient.