How to Find an Apartment in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the largest cities in the world, making searching for an apartment very difficult.

Hong Kong is one of the most populated cities in the entire world. With more than seven million inhabitants in less than 500 square miles, Hong Kong is an extremely compact city with a lack of space in correlation to its number of inhabitants, making searching for a decent apartment an overwhelming task. If you are planning a move to Hong Kong, having the proper guidance will allow your search to be more fluid and less stressful.

Instructions

1. Outline property priorities, but keep realistic expectations. Hong Kong is filled with millions of people. The lack of land makes the number of amenities and space extremely limited. Keeping this in mind, set a list of priorities that are realistic. Things such as budget, location and size should be at the top of the list, while other extras should be left for last. If your expectations are unrealistic, you may want to reconfigure your apartment expectations.

2. Tour areas that meet your needs. If location is a number one priority, take tours of areas that are located in or near your ideal areas. This will also give you a feel for safety, noise factors from nightlife and construction, and distance to and from markets and work.

3. Search for apartments in local listings. Like in the United States, landlords list apartments in local newspapers and online. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) is China's English-language daily newspaper. There are hundreds of apartment rental listings in the SCMP in addition to HK magazine. These publications have special sections geared toward real estate, and rentals and should be explored before seeking additional help.

4. Acquire a real estate agent. Real estate agents can take the footwork out of finding an apartment in such a vast city of rentals and properties. Real estate agents have in-depth knowledge of the area, and can select properties that are appropriate based upon your needs, saving you time and energy. Moreover, most real estate agent fees are cost effective and are generally equal to one month's rent.

5. Read the fine print. When searching for an apartment---before agreeing to anything---be sure to read the fine print regarding inclusive and exclusive rental prices, deposits, pets and leasing contracts. This way you will not be stuck with ludicrous or uncompromisable terms.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that, based upon the size of Hong Kong in terms of square millage and population, space is very limited in virtually every type of apartment.

References

• Hongkong.angloinfo.com: Renting A House Or Apartment In Hong Kong
• Worldinfozone.com: Hong Kong Facts