The Taipei Kid

Just for fun, I took my first-ever new housing development tour today at this place in Banqiao. The complex was called “Royal” something or other, and it turned out to be royally expensive–about NTD 21 million for a three-bedroom unit (about USD 700,000). For USD 700,000 you do get a free gift, however–a scooter parking spot!

It reminded me of when friends and I took a housing development tour a few years ago in Palm Springs, with units already dolled up to lure buyers into feeling they’ve arrived at home. In Royal’s case, however, home means these god-awful etched metal doors opening up to what seemed like an updated version of a Brenda Dickson set. Unlike the units in Palm Springs, neither of the two model units I saw were decorated with phony framed photos of people. All in all, let’s just say it was better to see the unfinished units.

The bathrooms in the apartments were too small. I would have gladly gotten rid of one of the three bedrooms just to expand the bathrooms (and kitchen) more. The complex did have a huge pool, spa and sauna, all waiting to fall into neglect as these things in complexes here usually do (or at least to close after a child drowns in it). In my current complex alone, they have canned the laundry room, the auditorium is now a storage room, and they “drained” that big tub of colored balls for kids to roll around in.

I have to give the agent credit for being friendly, knowledgeable and actually pleasant to be around during the tour. She was chatty, but not in an annoying way. Not once did she give off creepy real estate agent feeling.