Tranquil vistas available at reasonable prices

Property is always about location. But in Hong Kong, it is also about sea views - or a glimpse of nature from the concrete jungle.

For flat-seekers who are budgeting about $9,000 per square foot for units of about 1,300 square foot but who find a view of Victoria Harbour too dazzling for a quiet after-work drink on the balcony, more tranquil sea views are available even in traditional luxury areas such as Island South.

But buyers may have to live with older buildings and longer travelling times.

'Buying a flat is somehow like buying a watch; some like a Rolex that screams class while some prefer a more subtle brand like Piaget,' said Gary Ng Man-chung, a district manager of Centaline Property Agency.

A 1,300 sqft unit on the highest floor of Hong Kong Park View, which comes with a rooftop of equal size, is selling at about $11.5 million.

'The flat looks onto Central through Jardine's Lookout, which would certainly appeal to flat-seekers who want to live in a more exclusive building with a quieter view,' said Mr Ng.

'But a building that was constructed in 1985 may be considered a bit old by some flat-seekers,' he added.