Chapter 712 Special Auction (1/2)
Chapter 712: Special Auction
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
China's economy had become a real estate economy. With real estate being the benchmark for one's capability and prestige, China's society revolved around the real estate market as well.
Although Mr. and Mrs. Li were already old, they had not yet reached the stage of having no desire.
Take, for example, the way Mr. Li gazed at the newly-built neighborhoods when they had been worshipping their ancestors the afternoon of Chinese New Year's Eve. Li Du could feel his parents' desire to stay in those types of residential areas.
Since this was the case, Li Du decided to get them a villa. The housing prices in the county town were not high and a villa was just a small stand-alone apartment that was slightly better. Compared to apartments that had a sea or hill view, the difference in prices was like the difference between Heaven and Earth.
Before the new year, Li Du had contacted Du Hang and asked him about the prices of some of the better villas in the county town. Du Hang told him that it would only cost 1,500,000 if he was just buying an unfurnished apartment while furnished apartments were more expensive, with ordinary ones costing 2,000,000 and better ones costing upwards of 3,000,000.
Li Du spent a short while converting the prices. After converting the prices of the villas into USD, they actually cost only a couple hundred thousand dollars, which was a snap for Li Du.
The reason for Du Hang's visit was to send Li Du information regarding villas. Li Du had discussed with him before that there was no need to discount the middleman fee just because they were old classmates and that he would earn what he deserved so long as he picked out a good apartment.
Du Hang gave Li Du his word while patting himself on his chest. This was a great opportunity for him to make money. If he had not taken into account that going to another's house for business was not allowed on the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, he would not have waited until the morning of the first day of Chinese New Year.
The number of villa districts in the county town of Li Du's hometown was not a lot. Although they were called villa districts, in truth, they were just districts with small Western-style apartments: golf course, outdoor swimming pool, gym, and a lot of basic complementary facilities.
Ultimately, these so-called villas were just slightly more beautiful stand-alone Western-style apartments.
In the eyes of the people in his hometown, they were already good enough. After all, his hometown was only an ordinary county town and not a holiday resort, while the wealthy people in the county town were few and not very fussy in regards to accommodation.
After knowing that he was going to buy a villa, Mr. and Mrs. Li shook their heads one after another and said, ”We still have to work on our family's cropland, why are you buying a villa? Living in a villa and doing farm work? Won't we become laughing stocks?”
Li Du put out his left hand and began counting with his fingers. ”First of all, aren't the housing prices continuously rising? If we still don't buy, we will have to spend more money when we want to. Secondly, just let those who like to laugh, laugh. Anyways, it's fine so long as we are comfortable living in the villa.
”Thirdly, all the villas picked out by Du Hang have extensive green land. If you guys are not willing to grow a garden, then just cultivate the land and plant vegetables. Fourthly, in the future when your daughter-in-law comes to visit, you guys ought to have a good apartment, right?”
With him counting off in such a manner, Mr. and Mrs. Li became convinced and both of them pondered for a while. ”That's reasonable. Buy one then.”
There were mainly four kinds of villas in the county's villa districts, which were all priced differently. These included single villas, duplex villas, stacked villas, and two single villas joined together. The kind of villa Li Du wanted was the single villa.
On the first day of Chinese New Year, Du Hang brought over the information of more than ten villas for Li Du to select. As real estate agencies were opened for business on the second day of Chinese New Year, Du Hang called Li Du to inform him that they could go and view the apartments.
On the second day of Chinese New Year, they met up with Du Hang after having lunch at noon in a relative's house and began making preparations to view the apartments.
Li Du viewed the neighborhoods first instead of specific apartments. He compared a few neighborhoods based on factors such as environment, culture, traffic, and lifestyle before picking the best.
For two consecutive afternoons, they went to view the villa districts in a detailed manner. After a round of comparison, Mr. and Mrs. Li chose Bo Li Rose Garden.