Location, location, location

Things are getting interesting in the hunt for an apartment. So far we have managed to agree on a preferred apartment development, and some basic criteria for the final selection. It's now with the agent (who is unfortunately telling us we might be a little optimistic) to find some apartments in that block.

The picture is somewhat complicated because the prices that the various landlords are advertising vary wildly - by more than HKD 10,000 per month for what is essentially the same apartment. We now need a smidgen of luck to identify a landlord who needs to let their apartment quickly in order to meet the mortgage. For your reference, these apartments are worth HKD 22,000,000 to purchase. Unbelieveable? Believe it. One factor that works in our favour is that the permits for the entire block of 8 towers of 49-50 floors (three apartments per floor) were released at the same time. That means there are a lot on the market right now. Some of the landlords arranged their mortgage many months ago but have been unable to let the apartments because the permits were not issued. So, watch this space over the next couple of days.

If that falls through, we did see a one-bedroom place in The Peak that looked very nice. Maybe a backup option, although it does mean for all you people who are planning to visit, that you would have to sleep shoulder-to-shoulder on the floor in the (small) lounge.

The other alternative is that we go and stay at the Four Seasons, which will rent us a one-bedroom serviced apartment on a long-term basis, for a similar amount to Bel-Air. How would that be for a prestigious address? Maybe not quite as good as being able to say we live at "Cloud Nine" apartments (in Tai Tam)?

To all Aucklanders (including mothers) - Sonia will probably delay her trip to NZ by a few days until she has the apartment situation under control. She promises to keep you posted (however if you believe that, then look at who has kept the blogs up-to-date!).