Suggestion for a 2 bedroom flat 20 - 25k pm

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    23

    Suggestion for a 2 bedroom flat 20 - 25k pm

    Hi

    I am soon moving to HK and wanted your suggestions on which areas to consider for living. I have also just found out that my wife is pregnant so our priorities are as follows

    1.2 bed with a net area of at least 750 sq ft net area, fully furnished
    2. Proximity to Hospital
    3. Proximity to IFC Mall ( work)
    4. Prefer if there are small parks around the area and isnt over-crowded or noisy.
    5. Dont mind commute for night life.

    Before we knew about the pregnancy, we were inclined on mid-levels and causeway bay.

    Would really appreciate if you could roughly let me know how much would a 2 bed 750 sq ft apartment in popular residential areas cost and their pros and cons.

    Thanks a ton
    GoGo


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Posts
    13

    Smile flat

    dear sie
    i live in tin sui wai
    i think u can check in kingswood villas .in tin sui wai.sheerwood court.near by have clinic.5minute way.also have good gardning in villa/swimming poll.mall.mtr.etc and cheap
    kiani


  3. #3

    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Tuen Mun
    Posts
    2,105

    Even with the 969 bus, Tin Shui Wai is about as inconvenient as you can get for working in IFC!
    @ CMGogo, has your company provided private health insurance that covers your wife's pregnancy / delivery / post natal care, or will you be relying on the public hospital service? As you have probably already gathered from these forums the latter is extremely efficient although you can't pick & choose your doctors. I'm just asking because it will make a difference if you want to be near to a private hospital like Adventist or Baptist U, or whether you'd be just as happy close to a government facility.


  4. #4

    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    23

    I think my company provides for private health insurance though I am not sure if they cover for pre-existing pregnancies. Do you know if private insurances usually cover for pre-existing pregnancies?

    Either way, I think I will take the private route though I havent zeroed in on the hospital yet


  5. #5

    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    115

    CMGogo:

    I take it from the above that you want to go the private route whether or not your company's insurance covers maternity costs - it is nothing to do with whether it is a preexisting pregnancy or not
    (unlike coverage for illnesses). Usually, they don't unless you are on a expatriate package with the largest multinationals. Since it is the birth of your first child, I take it you won't mind spending an extra dollar or two on going private.

    Beware though that private hospitals are very overbooked as a large number of wealthy mainlanders like to give birth to their children in HK (for the residency). The best private hospitals are the HK Sanatorium and Hospital (in Happy Valley), the Baptist U (in Kowloon Tong), and a popular one with expats is the Matilda Hospital (on the Peak). You can google all of them.

    Your wife will probably need to set up an appointment with a good obstetrician. Different obstetrician are "attached" to different private hospitals, so you need to see whether you will be choosing the hospital first or the doctor first. Make sure you make a provisional booking with the hospital based on your wife's delivery date - of course you can't be very sure if she is not having a caesarian section, but the doctor could give a good guess and book a bloc of dates accordingly. I mean it - book, even months in advance, or you run the risk of not having a room at all, or if lucky, just being in a general ward at best.

    From what you said, I think you are better off living on HK island - IFC is in Central. If you are gonna have a kid, I wouldn't live in Causeway Bay. Depends on how long you will be here for - will you still be here once your kid reaches walking/running age (age 1.5 and above)?

    If so, Mid-Levels is out (although some people would think differently). Go to:
    1) Happy Valley - right where the HK Sanatorium & Hospital is, prices are right, there is more of a community "feel" there.
    2) Jardines Lookout - for toddlers, the best estate would be Cavendish Heights, go to "Centaline Hong Kong" (large estate agent)'s website to see if there is anything that small and within your budget.
    3) Somewhere on Kennedy Road - Still Mid levels but not the side of Mid Levels most people think of, but on the other side of Garden Road. Quieter, more space.