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IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO rent a sea-view apartment but have a limited budget, you should turn to Aberdeen Praya Road. It may not be the best location for nine-to-five types, but the beautiful sea view compensates for the time spent travelling and being stuck in tunnel traffic.

Situated on the southern tip of Hong Kong Island, Aberdeen is linked to the rest of the island by the Aberdeen tunnel and the long-winding Pok Fu Lam Road, which heads to Central via Sai Ying Pun.

With the MTR nowhere in sight, public buses, minibuses and taxis are the only means of public transport for Aberdeen Praya Road residents.

A number of buses run from the Aberdeen depot to Central, Admiralty, Ap Lei Chau, Chai Wan and Causeway Bay. Buses also connect to various destinations in Kowloon.

Ferries to Lamma island also run from a small pier in Aberdeen harbour.

When traffic is light it takes about 15 minutes to drive through the tunnel to Causeway Bay. But on racing days and weekends, it can take between 30 minutes and 40 minutes to reach the crowded shopping area.

Aberdeen Praya Road is 10 minutes' walk from Aberdeen town centre, where residents can find a selection of shopping malls and restaurants. The town centre, which is also a major residential area in the district, has a wet market and a supermarket. Kindergartens and schools are conveniently located.

The town centre is also the transport hub for the area and houses a minibus depot.

Although Aberdeen Praya Road offers the sea view that many people dream of, Phoebe Keung Yuk-ching, sales manager at Midland Realty's Aberdeen Centre branch, says it is normally the second choice in Aberdeen for potential house buyers.

She says most people prefer to buy flats in and around Aberdeen town centre, despite the fact it is always crowded.

'Hong Kong people prefer a convenient location. The 10-minute walk from the town centre to [Aberdeen] Praya Road can be quite tough in the summer,' she said.

'But [Aberdeen] Praya Road is a quiet place to live and most apartments enjoy a sea view.'

Because of the distance from the town centre, apartments along Aberdeen Praya Road are about 15 per cent cheaper than those in the town centre. An apartment in the Comfort Centre in Aberdeen town centre recently sold for HK$1.45 million, while a similar unit in Jing Hui Garden on Praya Road sold for HK$1.25 million.

Aberdeen Praya Road does not boast a large housing estate. Instead, there are several independent developments, the average age of which is 10 years.

Property transactions are most active in the Jing Hui Garden development. The eight-year-old complex comprises two buildings, in which the apartment size is either 529 square feet or 634 sq ft.

However, not all the apartments in this development offer a sea view.

The selling price in Jing Hui Garden is about HK$2,400 per square foot, with a small apartment costing HK$1.27 million. The average rentals in this development are priced at about HK$12 per square foot.

Ka Ning Building is the only block on Aberdeen Praya Road to offer three-bedroom apartments. The average flat size in this development ranges from 758 sq ft to 962 sq ft.

Although Ka Ning is 23 years old, the sales price is slightly more expensive than Jing Hui, ranging from HK$2,700 per square foot to HK$2,800 per square foot.

'There are not many three-bedroom apartments in the district. Because of the short supply, the price of this building stands firm,' Ms Keung said.

She said the usable area of the buildings on the road was usually high, which was a plus point with buyers.

'There are a lot of housing estates in Aberdeen and the nearby area. At least 20,000 people live in public housing here. The second generation who used to live in public housing may move out after getting married and choose the apartments in the district,' she said.

Kin Fai Building, which is more than 20 years old, can be a good choice for first-time buyers.

Most apartments in this building are small, measuring about 300 sq ft, and sell for between HK$700,000 and HK$800,000.

Renting in Kin Fai costs between HK$4,500 and HK$5,000 a month.

Other residential buildings on the road include Wai King Mansion, Seaview Court, Hoi Fai Mansion and Ngan Fung Building. All of them offer two-bedroom apartments, measuring about 600 sq ft in size.

Next week: Magazine Gap Road

Graphic: PRO14gwz



Sea view satisfaction in Aberdeen