Day 5 or is it Day 6?

I cannot keep track of the apartment hunting anymore. Today, we again saw the Singaporean development in details. We armed with all the measurements of our furnitures to see if we can have them in. Guess what! This place does not allow any outside furniture! For RMB 7.0 Million, I cannot have my furnitures, my own decoration? And has to deal with a washer sitting outside on the balcony along with the water heater for the kitchen? And the kitchen as so low that I might develop back problem. I think not. We went back to do a double take on this place as everything was above the average "run by the mill" developers. But these restrictions are just ridiculous. And we wouldn't be allowed having our bikes in the place. They showed us the place in the basement that we can safely store them. I think NOT. My iron-wife's new bike will cost more than one year of someone's salary. No this, no that. Never mind.

We happened to see an advert banner hanging on a balcony of the same development but is new and freely renovate. I like it better; the space is basically just roughed in with walls and all the PVC pipings and marked drainage areas. Just concrete walls and floor. Renovation to your heart content. This is how new development is being sold in Shanghai and rest of China. We for the first time since looking at the house, took out a measuring tape to measure and to discuss where things could be placed. The two realtors we called about to view this place was very professional and helpful (compared to the ones we engaged, more later). Air Con units are included, just not installed until the renovation is started. This placed is asking for RMB 5.96 Million for 128 sq meters. RMB 5.2/sq meters per month as management fee. We'll see. It's a buyers market right now. This place has been on the market for 3 months. Surprised not sold yet. The original was RMB 40,000 per sq meters when the owner bought it. This is a "possible".

Then at lunch time, we were bouncing questions to a long time resident of Shanghai who has been buying old houses in town for a long time, friend's of Audrey; she told us a lot about the market and the pro's and con's of old house and new apartment; just confirmed my understanding and evaluations. Basically the place with that weird bathroom and kitchen situation, just don't bother. This friend of Audrey has her former resident left empty; she and her family have moved to Pudong area for her children schooling. So her place is potentially up for sale. She was thinking about RMB5.0Million; it is a small house with 4 stories; 240 sq meters. Totally renovated and basically can just move in and live. Well, I am heading over to see it this Saturday. Might want to snatch it before being listed. OK, it has enough room for guests (family of four) to stay for a holiday. And won't even feel crowded at all. The only problem is this place is far away from our current location. The area is totally 'Chinese'. Forget about foreigners. That's just fine with us. One thing, it is not far from the Bund. Only a 5-minute car ride. So this just maybe....

That's pretty much for the house hunting for now. Need to settle down to list what's what on a priority list.

O yeah, that two realtors that have been accompanying us. The manager really wanted to do a sale, and had been pressuring Audrey to buy that weird apartment with the bathroom and kitchen situation. We asked to see other places but she's leaning not wanting us to see anything else but do a deal with that unit. Sorry, not me; yet my wife still wanted to. But in the end, No means No. Not just because there is a 100 sq meters garden; the actual living space is only 80 sq meters. Might not see them at all after today.