Taking a Look at Buying and Renting in the South

By Isabel Tsai Translated by Cara Steenstra Photos by Homer Interior Design

Whether single or married, everyone yearns for a home sweet home. It might not be a million dollar estate, but every homeowner wishes to make theirs not only a cozy place to be, but also a residence exuding his or her own tastes and style. On the other hand, we also wish to enjoy all the daily conveniences, whether it is cultural events or a breath of fresh country air in our immediate surroundings. And we want all of this within an affordable budget. Whatever your dreams may be, they are no longer as beyond reach as you once thought. Through the help of experts your dreams might come true, one by one, right here in Kaohsiung.

With the construction of three important railway systems, Kaohsiung has been given a new lease on life. When the MRT system is completed at the end of 2006, it will help bring out different aspects of the various areas of greater Kaohsiung. If you are new to Kaohsiung, this tour of the city will help you find your ideal home and set up your daily living network.
Most Kaohsiung residents are discovering that this ocean city is becoming friendlier and more beautiful. Since the redevelopment of the Love River, new commercial and development opportunities have sprung up in the surrounding area. The development of pedestrian walkways, the modification of RenAi Park, the opening of the Kaohsiung City Film Library, and a series of cafes along the Love River, have all helped bring back the glory days of the previously downfallen YanCheng District. The soon-to-be-ready MRT will pass through the main part of YanCheng District, adding an element of modernism to the romantic Love River.

According to Sinyi Realty WenHua Branch Manager, Mr. Li Guo Xiong, most of the land around YanCheng District has already been developed, therefore there are more rental deals than people buying homes. The unique historical background of YanCheng District attracts quite a few foreign visitors. Head towards CiSian Road and you can see big ships coming into port, along with a beautiful view of sea and sky merged into one. Keep heading down WuFu Road, as the National Sun Yat Sen University is only ten minutes drive away. You need only look at the various pubs along WuFu Road to realize just how popular this place is amongst foreigners.
Head south along YanCheng District and you will reach the busiest residential district of LingYa. The Cultural Center and the National Taiwan Normal University give LingYa District its scholastic air. In the last few years the city redevelopment scheme has seen the the outer walls in the area surrounding the Cultural Center removed, so that citizens can feel closer to the greenery, which is also the reason why real estate prices and rentals here have remained more or less unchanged. Whether buying or renting, convenient surroundings, a great school district, quality residents and rich cultural activities have all become important draw cards of this area. Housing prices here range from between NT$110 000 and NT$140 000 per ping. The Japanese School near the Cultural Center is another reason why many Japanese residents choose to live there.
Head south from the Cultural Center and you will find the Sogo commercial district, popular amongst the younger generation. The SanDuo circuit surrounds Far Eastern Department Store, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi and Pacific Sogo Department Store, as well as Warner Village and the night markets. All the trendiest and coolest shops can be found here. The beautiful SinGuang Road looks even more magnificent with the Regent Hotel in sight. Sinyi Realty Manager, Mr. Li, expressed that the residential area around the Sogo commercial district has enjoyed continuous popularity amongst the younger generation. Depending on the age of the house, prices can range between NT$80 000 and NT$110 000 per ping.

Head north from SinGuang Pier and you will reach Kaohsiung's earliest development, HaMaSing (GuShan District). National Sun Yat Sen University is near the mountain and the sea, and it lends to old Kaohsiung an element of culture. People like to exercise and stroll around the JiaShan and SiZi bays. Enter the British Consulate at Takao at the entrance of the university and you can get a bird's eye view of the entire Greater Kaohsiung. University students congregate around the area, and many residents have lived here for most of theirs lives - with no intention of moving. This is why most homes here are stand-alone houses, with few apartment buildings being planned. Students from all over Taiwan live in these old houses, and small shops are dotted around the school area. Although not as cosmopolitan as a big city, it is pretty well equipped, and might be a great attraction for city hermits.

Head east from HaMaSing and you will come to Northern Kaohsiung District, the area with the most potential. According to the city government's plans, the city government headquarters will slowly be moving north, creating a boom in the Northern District, including TzuoYing, SanMin and GuShan areas. The modification of LianChiTan, the establishment of Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts (and the ChungHua School of Arts) and the opening of the Protophyte Botanical Garden have all added to the nearby neighborhood. At the moment, the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts belongs to the art museum special zone, therefore all new building proposals must be authorized by the government with height and exterior regulations. The nearby real estate market has also rapidly risen in popularity, house prices here range from NT$90 000 to NT$150 000 per ping. Rentals range from NT$15 000 (for a two room apartment) to NT$45 000 (for four rooms or more). Furnished rentals are available too. It seems a reasonable price to pay to have the green pastures behind the museum at your disposal.

Cross JhongHua Road and head towards MingCheng, YuCheng and HeTi Roads, where you will find many North Americans, especially Canadians, congregating. Foreign cuisine restaurants have been springing up here, adding an element of exoticness to the normally down-to-earth old YanCheng District. With Hola and Eslite setting up their premises, it is a sign of great potential. According to Richard Tsai from Casanova Expatriate Housing Services, this area has already earned itself the nickname of "Little Canada". Mr. Chai from Sinyi Realty also told us that this area has the highest density of bookstores in all of Kaohsiung. The excellent quality of the residents in the riverside area is another great bonus, as the Chinese have a saying that goes, "Good neighbors are better than faraway relatives." So, although the housing prices have been more or less stabilized around the NT$120 000 per ping mark, it continues to remain a favorite amongst consumers.

Having looked at all these places, have you found somewhere you like yet? Whatever the case may be, if you have no plans to purchase a home in Kaohsiung, how would you know how to decide on a reasonable rental amongst all these choices? Richard Tsai from Casanova Expatriate Housing Services has given FYI South a little hint on this. Just divide the value of the house by 250 and you will get a reasonable indication of the rental.

The real estate market in Tainan has quite a lot of potential too. According to Miss Julia Liu from Home Life Relocation Service, with the establishment of the Tainan Science and Technology Park, there has been a steady growth in the foreign residents' rental market. With traffic and living conveniences all in one place, the Shin Kong Department Store area is popular amongst the Japanese people, whereas Europeans and North Americans tend to prefer the North District, with its gym facilities, clubs and swimming pools. Rentals here range from NT$20 000 (for a two room apartment) per month to about NT$50 000 (for four rooms or above) per month.

Sinyi Realty WenHua Branch
Tel: (07) 225-2299
Casanova Expatriate Housing Services
Tel: (07)225-0666 Mobile: 0933 590 508
Home Life Relocation Service
Tel: (06) 236-1133 Mobile: 0929 406 155
Homer Interior Design
He JiaZheng Tel: (07) 771-3379 Mobile: 0933 289 298