blogombal Chapter 11 Buying Two Houses
Chapter 11 Buying Two Houses
As Lin Zhou walked across the gleaming marble floor to the front desk, Annie was looking down at a document. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, a professional yet warm smile immediately spreading across her face, her dimples appearing slightly. "Mr. Lin, is your business completed? Is there anything I can help you with?"
Lin Zhou stated his purpose directly: "Miss Annie, I'd like to buy a house. I wonder if HSBC offers any real estate sales services?"
"Buy a house?" A hint of surprise flashed in Annie's eyes, then her smile deepened.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Lin, you've come at the perfect time. However, the colleague who handles this type of business doesn't work at the front desk, so I need to call her first to confirm if she's available to see you." As she spoke, she picked up the phone on the table and skillfully dialed the number.
"My friend is in charge of this area. She specializes in dealing with properties that have been repossessed due to overdue bank mortgages. She's usually incredibly busy, and she's probably meeting with clients right now."
After the call connected, Annie exchanged a few words quickly, nodding occasionally in agreement with "okay" and "I understand." After hanging up, she gestured to Lin Zhou, "Mr. Lin, you're really lucky. She happens to be free right now. Come with me; her office is on the third floor."
Upon reaching the third floor, Annie stopped in front of a door with a sign that read "Asset Disposal Department - Li Huiting" and gently knocked on it.
"Please come in." A clear and pleasant female voice came from inside.
Pushing open the door, the first thing that catches the eye is a neat desk, with a stack of files neatly piled on it. Next to it is a small blue-and-white porcelain pen holder, holding several pens of varying thicknesses. Behind the desk sits a beautiful Chinese woman with long, black hair tied in a simple high ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck. She wears a well-tailored beige business suit, which makes her look both gentle and capable.
"Huiting, this is Mr. Lin Zhou, he wants to buy a house. Mr. Lin, this is Ms. Li Huiting, whom I told you about. She's an expert in this area at our bank." Annie introduced the two with a smile, then said to Li Huiting, "You two chat first, I'll go back to work."
"Thank you for your hard work, Annie." Li Huiting stood up to see him off. When she turned to Lin Zhou, she had a polite smile on her face and extended her hand. "Mr. Lin, hello. My name is Li Huiting. I graduated from the Department of Finance at the University of Hong Kong. I am a native of Hong Kong and I am 25 years old. I am in charge of handling mortgaged properties for banks."
Her hands were slender and soft, with a slightly cool temperature when held. Lin Zhou gently squeezed them for a moment before releasing them, nodding noncommittally: "Hello, my name is Lin Zhou. I just came from the north and plan to settle in Hong Kong. I need to buy a house." He didn't elaborate on his background, only stating his core requirements: "The area should ideally be around 1,000 square feet, the location doesn't need to be too remote, and convenient transportation is fine."
Li Huiting didn't mind his simplicity; on the contrary, she found this kind of client more straightforward. She gestured for Lin Zhou to sit in the reception chair opposite her, then turned and took a thick stack of documents from the filing cabinet, placing them on the table and gently opening them: "Mr. Lin just came from the north, so he may not be familiar with Hong Kong's property prices. Last year, due to the banking crisis, Hong Kong's property prices plummeted by half. Many people defaulted on their mortgages and had their properties repossessed by banks. This year can be said to be the lowest point in nearly five years, so now is the perfect time to buy."
Her fingers slid quickly across the documents as she explained, "HSBC currently has quite a few properties under management, covering various types such as residential buildings, houses, and shops. I've picked out some that meet your requirement of around 1,000 square feet. Take a look and see if any of them interest you."
Lin Zhou took the documents she handed him and began to peruse them page by page. Each property in the documents was accompanied by detailed information, including address, area, floor plan, orientation, year of construction, and clear black and white photos. A "thousand feet" in Hong Kong, converted to square meters in mainland China, is roughly ninety square meters, more than enough for a single person to live in, and enough for a family to live in later.
When Lin Zhou turned to the third page, a commercial apartment in a building in Tsim Sha Tsui caught his attention. In the photo, the building looked impressive, with a light gray exterior and a distinctly Western architectural style. There were green lawns and benches downstairs, and the sea view could be vaguely seen in the distance.
According to the information, this house has an area of exactly 1,080 square feet, three bedrooms, two living rooms, and two bathrooms. It is well-ventilated with excellent natural light and is only 100 meters away from the bus stop. The surrounding area has complete supporting facilities such as shopping malls, supermarkets, and schools.
"This apartment is in a great location. Tsim Sha Tsui is the heart of Hong Kong, and the location is very convenient for both living and transportation." Seeing that he was staring intently at the apartment's information, Li Huiting added, "The original owner of this apartment was in the import and export business. Last year, his cash flow dried up and he defaulted on his mortgage payments. The apartment is very well maintained and you can basically move in right away."
Lin Zhou continued flipping through the pages, and another property's information caught his eye. It was a fifth-floor house located on a bustling street in Yau Ma Tei, measuring 980 square feet. Although slightly smaller than the previous one, it had a well-proportioned layout, a traditional two-bedroom, one-living room apartment with a small, separate balcony. In the photo, shops lined both sides of the street, their neon signs faintly visible, exuding a vibrant atmosphere. The interior of the house was simply and elegantly decorated, with well-maintained wooden floors, and sunlight streaming through the windows, making it warm and bright.
"This house is in a great location. Yau Ma Tei has a strong commercial atmosphere, with a wet market and various small shops downstairs, so the cost of living is relatively low," Li Huiting said with a smile. "Moreover, this is a walk-up apartment, so there are no management fees, making it very cost-effective. However, it's on the fifth floor, so climbing the stairs might be a little tiring."
Lin Zhou looked at the information on the two properties and became more and more satisfied. The apartment in Tsim Sha Tsui was suitable as a primary residence, with a good location, complete amenities, and comfortable living conditions; the residential house in Yau Ma Tei was in a lively location with convenient living, and would be a good choice whether he lived there occasionally or rented it out for income.
He closed the documents, looked up at Li Huiting, and said, "Ms. Li, I'm quite interested in both of these houses. Could you take me to see them in person?"
"Of course." Li Huiting readily agreed, quickly tidied up the documents on the table, locked them in the filing cabinet, and said, "Mr. Lin, please wait for me for two minutes while I go get the key and the floor plan."
Two minutes later, Li Huiting emerged carrying a black briefcase containing keys to two apartments, detailed floor plans, and relevant legal documents. The two went downstairs together, exited the HSBC bank, and Li Huiting hailed a red taxi, giving the driver the address in Tsim Sha Tsui.
A dozen minutes later, the taxi arrived at the building in Tsim Sha Tsui. Upon entering the building, a security guard was on duty. After seeing Li Huiting's identification, he politely let her in. Taking the elevator to the sixteenth floor, Li Huiting unlocked the door. The moment she pushed it open, Lin Zhou was stunned by the view inside.
The living room is spacious and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning city views and the distant Victoria Harbour faintly visible. The rooms are simply yet elegantly decorated, and while the furniture isn't brand new, it's extremely well-maintained and spotless. The three bedrooms are of moderate size; the master bedroom has an ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet, and the second bedroom and study also have excellent natural light. The kitchen is fully equipped, with even the refrigerator and gas stove still functioning.
"The view from this apartment is its biggest highlight, especially the night view," Li Huiting said as she walked around the room, introducing it to Lin Zhou. "When the previous owner moved out, they left behind some furniture and appliances. If Mr. Lin doesn't mind, he can move in right away, saving a lot of trouble."
Lin Zhou nodded and carefully inspected the room. The walls were not cracked, the water and electricity facilities were in good working order, and the ventilation and lighting were impeccable. He was very satisfied with the house.
After leaving the building, the two took a taxi to Yau Ma Tei. Compared to the modernity of Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei had a more down-to-earth and lively atmosphere. The shops on both sides of the street sold all kinds of things, including fruit stalls, seafood stalls, tea restaurants, and grocery stores. The shouts and calls of vendors rose and fell, making it exceptionally lively.
The apartment was on the fifth floor of a shop. There was no elevator, so the two of them climbed the narrow stairs. The stairwell, though not wide, was very clean and free of clutter. Opening the door, a faint, pleasant woody scent wafted out. The apartment was more square than it appeared in the photos. The living room, while not particularly large, was well-laid out and felt very airy. The balcony faced the street, offering a clear view of the street below. Sunlight streamed onto the balcony, making it feel warm and inviting.
"Ms. Li, I'm very satisfied with both houses." As they emerged from the house, Lin Zhou turned to Li Huiting and said with an unwavering certainty, "I'm thinking of buying them both. I'm wondering what the subsequent procedures are?"
Li Huiting was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Lin Zhou to be so decisive, especially to buy two houses at once. After she came to her senses, a joyful smile appeared on her face.
"Mr. Lin is indeed very straightforward! Since you are satisfied, the subsequent procedures will be easy. After we return to the bank, I will show you the property ownership certificates, mortgage-free certificates, and other relevant documents for both houses. Once you confirm that everything is correct, we will sign the purchase contract, pay the purchase price, and finally go to the land registry to complete the transfer procedures."
"How long will it take to complete?" Lin Zhou asked.
"If all the documents are complete and the payment arrives on time, the entire process can be completed in about three days," Li Huiting explained. "Is Mr. Lin paying in full or does he need a loan? If it's a loan, it may take a few more days for the review process."
"Full payment," Lin Zhou said without hesitation.
He now has enough Hong Kong dollars, and buying a house in full not only saves him the trouble of taking out a loan, but also avoids potential interest payments. More importantly, it allows him to obtain the property title as soon as possible, giving him a stable place to stay in Hong Kong.
Li Huiting's surprise deepened, and her gaze towards Lin Zhou became more inquisitive. Having just arrived from the north, to be able to purchase two properties of approximately 1,000 square feet each in cash in one go—this Mr. Lin's financial strength was clearly not to be underestimated.
But she didn't ask any further questions, only dutifully saying, "It would be much more convenient if you pay in full! Mr. Lin, shall we go back to the bank now to complete the necessary procedures?"
"Okay." Lin Zhou nodded with a smile.