Hello ...

Happy new year !

We have an opportunity to move to Shanghai for a couple of years.

I just wandering what kind of housing can we get with 60+K
RMB ( Company housing Allowance ) in Shanghai.

Also, We are taking a one week "Look/See" trip soon to help us make a final decision.
We would appreciate it very much to have some advice on best use of this time.

We are Asian living in Texas for a longtime.

What would you recommend where to go or to do in selecting a good place to live and good school for the children ( 11 and 9 years old) ?

5k allowance / month ? Can get u a nice 2 or 3 bedroom, furnished. I'm fairly new around here but Pudong is a nice area and some hospitals, daycares and schools around.

Hi there,

i am a real estate agent from Suchas Property Consultant Co., who specilizes in providing free service of accommodation lease for expats.i have known much about all kinds of information on various properties ,moreover i am versed in these business.

In accordance with client's requests in detail ,i will provide him with relevant proposal ,such as budget, layout, area, location and so on.

BTW, my responsibility is also involved in the business of OLD HOUSE for lease and purchase, and my office is located in French Concession, i suppose i would be a good guidance for you if possible

I am willing to help you for your home tour if you don't mind seeking to your home in shanghai through a realtor,pls contact me at :christinadeng510@hotmail.com or 13301952903, thanks in advance.

looking forward to your reply soon

Best Regards

Christina

Pudong is a good bet, larger homes, newer area, nicer roads, many international schools have campuses there, etc. Where will your office be located? The commute between Pudong and Puxi can be tiresome, especially if you have to work during normal office hours and don't have a car and driver. Most expats don't drive here ... you will see why when you come over for your visit.

More and more entertainment venues are opening in Pudong, but on the whole, the majority of restaurants and such are in Puxi.

Guess it will depend on the lifestyle your family lives. There are plenty of large apartments in Puxi, but there will also be traffic headaches and more noise.

Be sure to look at all your housing options and locales very carefully to ensure you find the ideal place.

I think that apart from your budget, which you already know, several questions should be answered before you make your final decision. With the kind of money you are receiving for housing (I am assuming like everyone else that it is on a monthly basis), you will definately find a comfortable home anywhere (Puxi or Pudong). But you should ask yourself:

- Do you want a quiet neighborhood or you want to be where the "action" is?

- What kind of shchool you want your kids to go to?

- Commuting, as in all big cities, is VERY important here and may cause you trouble. So you might wanna make sure how much time you wanna spend on the road every day. Since you have a family, I seriously recommand getting your housing as close to your home as possible (so don't work in Puxi and live in Pudong and vice versa)...

- Also, a different issue you should consider is how comfortable you think you can be in a country and culture you have never lived in. In other words, are you a world traveller or have lived more of a sedentary (i am not sure about this word) lifestyle. If you have lived most of your life in the US, chances are you will be shocked coming here. If you do not thrive on chaos then it is likely that Shanghai will wear you out. But if you do, it is one super exciting place to live...

If you want more info, PM me.

I think that apart from your budget, which you already know, several questions should be answered before you make your final decision.

The ideal is to find a school and a house near your workplace. If not, then it's a decision over who commutes - kids or parent. With kids 11 and 9 you have more school choices - several on both sides of the river. I suggest finding the school first then looking at the housing choices. Housing has been a little hard to find this year - I know several families who spent quite a few months in an apartment while they waited to find a house.