seeking house/apt in clear water bay/sai kung

[3willows]

We are moving to HK from the U.S. in early July and would like to rent a place in Clear Water Bay or Sai Kung. Our budget is 25000 to 30000, fees included. Our requirements are:
1. actual living space of 1200 sqft or more (e.g., 1400 sqft of village house)
2. 3 bedrooms
3. close to bus stops or metros
4. easy transportation to UKUST
5. place is well-maintained

It would also be nice to have:
1. a fenced-in yard or a neighborhood park near by where I can take my dog and 3-year-old everyday.
2. an open view

Is our budget reasonable for the basic requirements? I've been searching online--squarefoot, saikungproperty, and gohomekh etc.--and have only found limited options. Are such websites a good representation of what's available?

Also, what's the best time to look for housing? If I come out to HK in mid-May for about a week, what are the chances that I will find a place for moving in early July? We don't want to wait too long that the good houses available in July all are taken. On the other hand, we don't want to pay an extra month's rent to secure the place.

Any suggestions you can share with me are much appreciated!

[MandM!]

There is no universal list. Each agency has its own set of houses for sale or rent. Sometimes they share, sometimes they dont.

Feb, March and April are more expensive because of Chinese New Year.

May and June are better. July gets higher again.

Beware of agents, they might increase the price to get a kickback. I have walked away from 20 plus agents due to them trying to scam.

There is no mtr and if you live in Sai Kung, you should consider a car.

As far as well maintained. The insides are sometimes nice, but usually the exterior is never well maintained, by US standard.

You can find something in your budget, but no fenced in yard.

[MandM!]

gohome.com.hk is the best. squarefoot is a scam. they advertise false prices to gain business.

you should negotiate a free rent period, standard is 3 weeks free rent. you need to pay half month commission to the agent. plus 2 months deposit.

good luck

[MandM!]

village house square feet is more reliastic. for high rises, the real sq ft is really about 70 to 80 percent of the advertised sq ft.

[wtbhotia]

25-30K will get you a duplex 1400 sq/ft around my neck of the woods (Mang Kung Uk), its less than 10 mins to the HKUST or you can take the 91M bus which will take you around 15 mins as the bus has to go up a steep hill and is very SLOOOOOOOOOW

BMC Propertyis Agency - Village house for rent in Sai Kung

[jaykay]

gohome.com.hk is the best. squarefoot is a scam. they advertise false prices to gain business.

you should negotiate a free rent period, standard is 3 weeks free rent. you need to pay half month commission to the agent. plus 2 months deposit.

good luck

Let's just clarify this a bit. Squarefoot is not a scam. However agents advertising on there, and exactly the same with GoHome as discussed many times, often advertise deals that don't exist to get people in the door.

Rent free periods are not 3 weeks standard. It's more normally a week to allow you to get prepared.

[MandM!]

I guess I got lucky with my free rent period

[shenwen]

gohome.com.hk is the best. squarefoot is a scam. they advertise false prices to gain business.

you should negotiate a free rent period, standard is 3 weeks free rent. you need to pay half month commission to the agent. plus 2 months deposit.

good luck

In my experience it is the other way around. gohome prices are definitely not reflective of real prices. squarefoot is closer

[MandM!]

really? i find squarefoot out of date.