Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Perfect Cup of Coffee]

Just wondering if anyone out there has bought / invested in real estate here in Korea. I've been wondering about buying a small place out in the sticks somewhere, and would like to hear any stories firsthand from someone who's actually done it. Cheers.

[shaunew]

I just bought an apartment. 34 pyoung in Mok-dong. As far as investments in real estate here, not until the bubble burst. The prices are way to inflated and ever ajumma wants to be in real estate. The stock market and other asian investments is were to go.

[Homer]

Bought our place a few years back. Best move we made here.

A nice appartment with an ocean view in Busan.

[bluelake]

My wife and I have some property. Here is a pic (the truck is not ours).

[The Perfect Cup of Coffee]

My wife and I are sort of debating similar options here: an apartment in the city or a house in countryside. Personally, I really like the idea of a house out in the sticks, but an apartment seems like the more practical option.

bluelake, that's an amazing place you've got there. Is it an older hanok? If it is, did you have to do much with renovations or anything?

[bluelake]

The main hanok building is original (probably a couple centuries), but the guest house and outdoor kitchen were add-ons. We bought the place from a family that moved to Australia; they did all the renovations.

The hanok has a modern kitchen annexed to it and some improvements, but the frame is original. We really have to spend more time taking care of it, but have had life get in the way

[Cheonmunka]

[RedRob]

Blue Lake, without being too nosy-well OK, I am...could we see more pics?
yr place looks amazing!!!

[bluelake]

I put together a few pics:

http://www.koreanarchery.org/yangbaekpics.html

[Paddycakes]

All you need is some guys with suits and machine guns hanging out in front of the compound and you could have your own little fortress... Like an ESL cartel leader or something...

[Wondering]

bluelake,

I'll be the one to ask....How much did that place cost you???


*sigh* You have actual grass! *swoons*

[zappadelta]

[bluelake]

I don't remember exactly what my wife paid for the place. We got a good deal on it as the family that previously owned it was motivated to sell (due to their move to Australia). It was a few years ago, and local real estate prices have gone up, so I'm not really sure what its value would be now.

[The Perfect Cup of Coffee]

Those are some amazing photos and like Wondering said...real grass! My wife's grandmother has an amazing place outside of Cheonan out in the countryside. It's nothing like that beautiful hanok of yours, but it got the wife and I thinking that we should just settle down here for awhile as we're both doing alright financially. I was thinking somewhere in the South-East edge of Gyunngi / or South-West Gangwon province. I still want to be close enough to Seoul / Bundang for commuting. S'pose that'll put me into a hefty price bracket though.

[skindleshanks]

My question for bluelake is, if you're way out in a beautiful place in the country, how do you make a living? Or are you retired already?


My dream is beautiful retreat on a lake in the Canadian shield, but if there were lakefront property in Korea, that would be a close second. The weather's nicer here.