Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jlee83]

Ok, I've been looking at several different places for over a week now and still haven't found a "nice" place I'd like to settle into for the next year or two.

Not sure if it's because of my unrealistic expectations, or just useless realtors showing me the places that nobody wants.

What kind of place can I expect from the 1000/60-100 range? That's 10m key money + 600,000-1,000,000/month rent.

I've looked at places in Seocho, Gyodae, Noksapyeong, Jangji and honestly haven't found one decent place. I have a feeling my expectations are a bit too high..

I always thought 10m key + 1m rent would get me a really nice, clean, modern, and spacious officetel/1-room in a high-rise luxury apartment, but haven't found anything remotely similar.

Is it my expectations or do I need to get new realtors who actually know where the nice places are at?

Is 25 pyung+ (livable space, not the listed pyung) a bit too much to expect from 1m/month rent?

Advice very much appreciated!! Also, if you happen to be a clean, quiet, non-smoker with 10m key + 1m/month rent, and looking to find a 1yr place soon, and wouldn't mind pooling our money together, please get in touch with me! Thanks~

[fugitive chicken]

seems most nicer places these days are 20m key money....We couldn't get anything above an 18 pyeong place for 10m

[taobenli]

These kinds of posts make me glad not to be in Seoul...in the provinces (sizeable cities, not countryside) 3-bedroom apartments with 10 million key money and 450,000 rent are totally doable.

[jlee83]

Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated.

Guess I better keep on looking~

[v88]

I had the same problem when trying to find a place for about the same price you are.

Best bet would be in Haebongchon (however it's spelled...never lived there, but I've got plenty of friends who have great places and pay what you seem to be expecting).

The other way is to increase your key money. With 30,000 you'll find some nice places.

Or live out in the burbs. I managed to find a nice 20 pyung place, brand new in Gyeonggi for 10 mil key and 500g per month rent. 2 bedrooms, great living room and great bathroom. Rental prices have gone up a bit since then though and even then I had to negotiate with the person. They wanted 20 down at first.

[mm]

I don't think your expectations are unrealistic but it may take some time. It helps if you bring a Korean friend with you who has a good job, landlords and real estate agents are impressed by that.

I live in a 6 room villa in the center of Seoul for ten million key and 550 a month. They originally wanted 20 million, but my friend talked them down. I have a courtyard and my landlord is okay with my two dogs. I just moved in two months ago, so it is possible. I have no interest in living in an offictel/apartment so I have no idea about that.

[alistaircandlin]

Yeah I agree with what v88 said above: the key money makes a difference. I was getting pretty frustrated with what we were being offered until we increased the key money and we finally got a place with more space - it's no palace but at least we have room to move.

I guess the thing to do if you are staying a while is save more key money for next year - anyway that's our plan. Having said that I've seen some posts predicting that there will be a move away from Jonsea towards monthly rentals as standard. I hope not.

[Milwaukiedave]

I'd advise using more the one agent. These people don't get paid unless you are happy enough to sign a rental agreement. Some of them are good and some are just look at this and then sorry I don't have anything else. Don't settle for that treatment.

[AsiaESLbound]

I'm not very knowledged on this subject. We are talking about the OP can't find a nice 1 room studio for $9500 US dollars deposit and $800 a month rent? Wooooh dude, that blows my mind. And $19,000 deposit is more like it? How is this possible? Deposit isn't equal to one months rent like is common in much of the world? I'd have to live with mom for quite some time into my 40's or until she's passed away and then probably end up squatting wherever I could if it were like this back home. Crazy...

[liveinkorea316]

[wormholes101]

TS: Is there such a thing as 25 pyeong one-room? I'm thinking that most places that size would be 2bdrms.

Deposit is negotiable so consider looking for higher deposits and negotiating down.

[AsiaESLbound]

[liveinkorea316]

I had a one-room and it was either 9 or 13 Pyong I cannot remember which. So I would be sure that a 25 Pyung would have at least 2 bedrooms.

[jlee83]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the advice!

To answer a couple of your questions, yes I have seen 20-25 pyung officetels/studios. The problem was the outrageous prices, $2200-2500+/month for something near Hehwa.

I've tried 4 different agents (in 4 different subway stops), without much success. I even went to Noksapyeong station to see the villas? or brick houses there. Wasn't too impressed with what 10m key + 900-1000k/month was getting me.

I'm either looking for a 18+ pyung open-space or loft style officetel, that's also clean and modern. So far, none of the places I've seen comes close to what I think 10m/1m should get me.

[yoja]

It's possible to find what you're looking for, but it will take time, patience, and persistence, as well as looking in the right place at the right time. If someone is living in a great place for such a good deal like you described, of course lots of other people are going to be interested in living there too. Chances are, it would rent quickly, possibly even before a realtor would have a chance to show it to you.

When you talk to a realtor, be VERY specific when you tell them what you're looking for. When they show you something that's way below your standard, let them know that's what you think of it, which specific aspects of the place are unacceptable to you, and diplomatically tell them to stop wasting your time.

My experience has been similar to yours: most realtors (1) don't know of any decent places, (2) don't want to inconvenience themselves by doing any actual work, and (3) they all seem to love ridiculous pressure tactics, "Oh, you'd better hurry up, this dirty 3-pyong shack 20 minutes away from the subway is the nicest place you are going to find for 1.5 mil a month, and someone else is probably going to snap it up in the next two hours if you don't sign RIGHT NOW!" Wow. I still have zero desire to live in this overpriced dump, but hey, nice work trying to sucker me in, Mr. Lazybutt Realtor.

I had a lot better results looking on a website that's more like Korea's version of craigslist for people desperate to move out quickly. I found lots of real, nicer, and cheaper apartments listed on this site than I was EVER shown by a realtor, plus I didn't have to deal with any of the BS. http://cafe.naver.com/kig (There's a similar cafe on Daum but I don't remember the exact url--but there's a link to it on the Naver cafe site.) Scroll down and click on the left-hand side-- "one room wolse" (monthly rent) or whatever it is you are looking for. It's also arranged by gu so you can choose which area you want to live in. You'll need a naver login ID and it helps if you can read and speak a little Korean, which I'm guessing you can based on your username. (The '83' means you've been in Korea since 1983, right??) ^^ haha

It took me a couple of weeks, possibly a month of checking that website multiple times EVERY DAY and calling IMMEDIATELY when I found something I was interested in, but in the end I found the perfect place, exactly what I was looking for, and bonus! I didn't feel swindled or led on by a real estate agent in the process.