Apartment OWNER
"What?! Javad, you own an apartment?! Seriously?!"
Yep, Lily just signed the contract Friday night. It's true, I don't actually live in Lijiang yet (I'll be moving there around June; Lily and I will get married on July 12th (p.s. if somehow I missed sending you information about that, you are invited, everyone is invited, go to www.geocities.com/eyeoflayman to see our wedding website)).
Actually Lily and I will be half-owners of this apartment. My parents (who are moving to China in July!) decided to invest in half of the apartment since they will likely be living with us about 2 months per year (plus they want to spread out any financial investments they make for retirement into a few different places, so this apartment is a good place for them to do that). Since we bought this apartment not just for Lily and I only, we got a large apartment. It is 4 bedroom (1 for Lily and I once we are married, 1 for my parents, 1 for my brother, 1 as a study/office/prayer room/recording studio/guest bedroom), 140 square meters (~1,500 square feet), 2 bathrooms (and the one that is connected to Lily and I's future bedroom already has a sit-down western style toilet in it!), 3 enclosed balconies (enclosed balconies are common in Chinese apartment, it is usually used to hang clothes to dry; we plan on using one of them to have a nice little indoor potted planet garden to grow some herbs, and hopefully some fruits and/or veggies)(and one of these enclosed balconies is connected with the bedroom that will be Lily and I's!), 1 kitchen (good size), 1 living room (quite large), 1 dining room (good size), and a gorgeous view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (with no buildings blocking the view!). The location is prime, right in the center of the city, easy access to anywhere from here. All in all it seems to be the perfect place, which is why we bought it now instead of waiting until closer to July when we will be getting married.
Another thing that I really love is the cost. Lily and I (who half-own the apartment) pay about the same as someone from the States would pay for a relatively inexpensive new Nissan car, but instead of 4 wheels we get 4 bedrooms.
Now, picture time: (or go here- http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17197&l=a0f38&id=505602608)
NOTE: None of the stuff in the house is ours, the furniture and everything is all the previous owner's
This is the view from one the bedrooms in the apartment. Yep, that is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain you see clearly without any buildings blocking the view.
This is the living room (the person taking the photo is standing in the enclosed balcony).
This is the kitchen and the dining room.
This is the master bedroom (it will be Lily and I's). It has a connected bathroom and it's own connected enclosed balcony.
This is the second bedroom (this will be my mom and dad's room ~2 months per year and a guest bedroom the rest of the year). There is a very gorgeous view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain out of the window.
This is the third bedroom (this will be my brother's room ~2 months per year and a guest bedroom the rest of the year, and will likely eventually be converted into Lily and I's first child's bedroom some years down the road).
This will be the office/study/prayer room/recording studio that will also have a futon couch that can allow this room to turn into a guest bedroom if needed.
Yep, Lily just signed the contract Friday night. It's true, I don't actually live in Lijiang yet (I'll be moving there around June; Lily and I will get married on July 12th (p.s. if somehow I missed sending you information about that, you are invited, everyone is invited, go to www.geocities.com/eyeoflayman to see our wedding website)).
Actually Lily and I will be half-owners of this apartment. My parents (who are moving to China in July!) decided to invest in half of the apartment since they will likely be living with us about 2 months per year (plus they want to spread out any financial investments they make for retirement into a few different places, so this apartment is a good place for them to do that). Since we bought this apartment not just for Lily and I only, we got a large apartment. It is 4 bedroom (1 for Lily and I once we are married, 1 for my parents, 1 for my brother, 1 as a study/office/prayer room/recording studio/guest bedroom), 140 square meters (~1,500 square feet), 2 bathrooms (and the one that is connected to Lily and I's future bedroom already has a sit-down western style toilet in it!), 3 enclosed balconies (enclosed balconies are common in Chinese apartment, it is usually used to hang clothes to dry; we plan on using one of them to have a nice little indoor potted planet garden to grow some herbs, and hopefully some fruits and/or veggies)(and one of these enclosed balconies is connected with the bedroom that will be Lily and I's!), 1 kitchen (good size), 1 living room (quite large), 1 dining room (good size), and a gorgeous view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (with no buildings blocking the view!). The location is prime, right in the center of the city, easy access to anywhere from here. All in all it seems to be the perfect place, which is why we bought it now instead of waiting until closer to July when we will be getting married.
Another thing that I really love is the cost. Lily and I (who half-own the apartment) pay about the same as someone from the States would pay for a relatively inexpensive new Nissan car, but instead of 4 wheels we get 4 bedrooms.
Now, picture time: (or go here- http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17197&l=a0f38&id=505602608)
NOTE: None of the stuff in the house is ours, the furniture and everything is all the previous owner's
This is the view from one the bedrooms in the apartment. Yep, that is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain you see clearly without any buildings blocking the view.
This is the living room (the person taking the photo is standing in the enclosed balcony).
This is the kitchen and the dining room.
This is the master bedroom (it will be Lily and I's). It has a connected bathroom and it's own connected enclosed balcony.
This is the second bedroom (this will be my mom and dad's room ~2 months per year and a guest bedroom the rest of the year). There is a very gorgeous view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain out of the window.
This is the third bedroom (this will be my brother's room ~2 months per year and a guest bedroom the rest of the year, and will likely eventually be converted into Lily and I's first child's bedroom some years down the road).
This will be the office/study/prayer room/recording studio that will also have a futon couch that can allow this room to turn into a guest bedroom if needed.