Home Hunter
I've been away from blogging for a while again. One of the reasons this time was because I had to look for somewhere else to live. The dorm where I am now is very nice, comes with some furniture and the rent is really unexpensive (you really can't find better cost-benefit anywhere). If I may say anything bad about it is that it's far from "civilization" (read "downtown Kyoto")... but that would be only a half-truth since there are 2 different train stations close to the dorm (10~15 min walking).
Part of the reasons for that awesome combination is that that's a dorm made for international students. Still, we are only allowed to stay for one year (maybe considered to be the "adaptation period").
So, after reading again Claus' post about apartment hunting and asking for some hints to other foreign students here I started looking for a new place to live.
First round: setting requirements
At first, I didn't have so many. I actually found some others as I went through the other stages. Preferably not on the first floor and between Demachiyanagi and Shijo stations; not too far from Yoshida campus (max. 10 min by bike); with air conditioning and private toilet and bath (after Himeji I decided I don't want to share those again with people I don't know anytime soon); my rent limit was based on what I've heard about other international students' rent; deposit fees and other "initial money" limit based on my current savings and on what other students paid.
After seeing some apartments I set other requirements regarding size and other details. Although none of them were determinant by themselves, the combination would help me decide in the end.
Second round: internet searching
Most real estate agencies have web sites where you can look for apartments. It's usually a nice thing to at least have an idea of what's available (even though, according to Claus, the information there may not be up to date) and trim your requirements. Sometimes they may not be feasible.
At that stage nothing really caught my eye. One apartment looked promising for its size and price, but there were some cons that were annoying me...
Third round: real estate part 1
Another Brazilian girl was also doing some apartment hunting around the same area (mostly Sakyo Ward) and we decided to visit some agencies together. As to which agency to go first we decided to go to one where she found one apartment she found interesting (I haven't found nothing that interesting anyway): Able agency in Demachiyanagi.
I really don't remember what went wrong with the apartment she was looking for, but she could only find apartments she couldn't enter to visit and not meeting her requirements in a satisfactory way (whatever those may be). As for me, I was shown some apartments, but I wasn't really looking forward to any of them... only one was more a less as promising as the one I found on the internet.
But the guy at that agency was really nice. Besides, it was the only agency where they didn't ask our nationalities as if it was an requirement to check which apartments we could move in. If they even had problems with the "no foreigners allowed" thing, we didn't notice. Besides, the guy showed us plenty of options. I'd say that the fact that we are Kyoto University students (the university has some status, I have to admit, and part of it spreads to its students... even foreign ones) helped smoothing things, but other things that happened later made me reconsider.
After scheduling a visit to some apartments at that agency we went to another one. I've heard that the real estate agency run by the co-op (cooperative stores on many campi throughout Japan) has some nice apartments and with less taxes. We weren't expecting much in terms of service, but then it was the first time we were asked our nationalities and faced the "no foreigners allowed" situation.
The catalogue provided by the agency itself has an icon indicating the apartments where foreign students are allowed... and it's far from being the majority. I have to say that I was quite disappointed at that. Especially because, since they have the icon indicating, they probably have asked to all landlords/ladies about the possibility of allowing foreign students.
They indicated one apartment very close to the campus... perhaps even a little too close (too close to the places where some bands and other clubs practice)... but still there was something lacking.
Fourth round: real estate part 2
So we visited some apartments from the first agency. Three that might interest me and two for my friend. We could enter and see my options, but not hers, since they weren't vacant yet.
I have to admit the guy there knows how to work. He probably made it on purpose, showing the places from "worst" to "best" so that the "best" option would look even better. The first apartment was far from impressing. I just spent some time looking around to confirm my initial impression. It's only good point is that it was the closest to the university.
The second one was a bit funny. It was the same building where another Brazilian friend lived until some months ago. But she lived on the 3rd floor, while the one we went to visit was on the 1st... That one was large enough, but it was dark (because of another building in front)... and it was on the 1st floor after all.
The last one was the one that looked promising somewhat... and I fell for it. For the rent amount, it's a large and nice apartment. Second floor, huge closet, nice kitchen (even though I still don't cook... gotta learn soon), sunny... The bad points were mainly there's no veranda and it's too close to a railway crossing (i.e. occasional train noise). Perhaps my friend liked that apartment even more than I did...
I hesitated, hesitated but in the end took it. It's close from the university and Demachiyanagi station (about 11 and 5 minutes walking respectively); plus the relationship size-price was rather unique. I was even annoyed thinking that there was something wrong with it... My conclusion is that's probably the railway crossing. Hope I'm right.
Thinking about it, being annoyed by train noise would be quite ironic for someone whose new field is acoustic noise cancellation. Perhaps I could try to make some experiments in my new room... haha!
Aftermatch: paperwork
I'll move in March. I can stay in my current dorm until the end of that month, but I'll probably try to move earlier for personal reasons. But before that there's some paperwork to do. And I have to agree with another friend who says that Japan is a country that loves bureaucracy... especially paper bureaucracy. Many papers to fill, including some for my guarantor. I also have to fill papers for insurance and submit some documents.
That part is still under way... Besides, now I have to look for some furniture and find a way to move my things. But for those two things there are already some ways out...
Extras
Some people say that I'm lucky. And I have to admit that in many cases I am. For example, finding a new home was smoother than I thought. Although I'm not so sure I won't have mean surprises later, I think it was one of the best options available. I have to thank my friend for that. I wasn't really too much into that apartment until I heard her opinion. And it probably saved me some headaches later.
Because she's still looking for a place. I'm helping, of course, but, for example, she went to the agency where I saw that apartment on the internet at the beginning and it seems that not many apartments are available to foreigners as well. So chances are that I wouldn't be allowed in that apartment I found. Besides, it's farther from both the station and the university (it's larger than the one I chose, though).
Some notes I have on my search:
1- It's said that most real estate agencies accept the university consortium as guarantor. They do, but that usually limits the options you have. Fortunately, I have a guatantor, but I've seen situations where a landlord doesn't accept the consortium.
2- Kyoto still has "no foreigners allowed" places, and they don't seem to be that few. Sometimes even being a student and speaking Japanese doesn't help, although I've heard that being Japanese descendent and having a Japanese family name might help. Still, I haven't noticed such benefits yet.
Part of the reasons for that awesome combination is that that's a dorm made for international students. Still, we are only allowed to stay for one year (maybe considered to be the "adaptation period").
So, after reading again Claus' post about apartment hunting and asking for some hints to other foreign students here I started looking for a new place to live.
First round: setting requirements
At first, I didn't have so many. I actually found some others as I went through the other stages. Preferably not on the first floor and between Demachiyanagi and Shijo stations; not too far from Yoshida campus (max. 10 min by bike); with air conditioning and private toilet and bath (after Himeji I decided I don't want to share those again with people I don't know anytime soon); my rent limit was based on what I've heard about other international students' rent; deposit fees and other "initial money" limit based on my current savings and on what other students paid.
After seeing some apartments I set other requirements regarding size and other details. Although none of them were determinant by themselves, the combination would help me decide in the end.
Second round: internet searching
Most real estate agencies have web sites where you can look for apartments. It's usually a nice thing to at least have an idea of what's available (even though, according to Claus, the information there may not be up to date) and trim your requirements. Sometimes they may not be feasible.
At that stage nothing really caught my eye. One apartment looked promising for its size and price, but there were some cons that were annoying me...
Third round: real estate part 1
Another Brazilian girl was also doing some apartment hunting around the same area (mostly Sakyo Ward) and we decided to visit some agencies together. As to which agency to go first we decided to go to one where she found one apartment she found interesting (I haven't found nothing that interesting anyway): Able agency in Demachiyanagi.
I really don't remember what went wrong with the apartment she was looking for, but she could only find apartments she couldn't enter to visit and not meeting her requirements in a satisfactory way (whatever those may be). As for me, I was shown some apartments, but I wasn't really looking forward to any of them... only one was more a less as promising as the one I found on the internet.
But the guy at that agency was really nice. Besides, it was the only agency where they didn't ask our nationalities as if it was an requirement to check which apartments we could move in. If they even had problems with the "no foreigners allowed" thing, we didn't notice. Besides, the guy showed us plenty of options. I'd say that the fact that we are Kyoto University students (the university has some status, I have to admit, and part of it spreads to its students... even foreign ones) helped smoothing things, but other things that happened later made me reconsider.
After scheduling a visit to some apartments at that agency we went to another one. I've heard that the real estate agency run by the co-op (cooperative stores on many campi throughout Japan) has some nice apartments and with less taxes. We weren't expecting much in terms of service, but then it was the first time we were asked our nationalities and faced the "no foreigners allowed" situation.
The catalogue provided by the agency itself has an icon indicating the apartments where foreign students are allowed... and it's far from being the majority. I have to say that I was quite disappointed at that. Especially because, since they have the icon indicating, they probably have asked to all landlords/ladies about the possibility of allowing foreign students.
They indicated one apartment very close to the campus... perhaps even a little too close (too close to the places where some bands and other clubs practice)... but still there was something lacking.
Fourth round: real estate part 2
So we visited some apartments from the first agency. Three that might interest me and two for my friend. We could enter and see my options, but not hers, since they weren't vacant yet.
I have to admit the guy there knows how to work. He probably made it on purpose, showing the places from "worst" to "best" so that the "best" option would look even better. The first apartment was far from impressing. I just spent some time looking around to confirm my initial impression. It's only good point is that it was the closest to the university.
The second one was a bit funny. It was the same building where another Brazilian friend lived until some months ago. But she lived on the 3rd floor, while the one we went to visit was on the 1st... That one was large enough, but it was dark (because of another building in front)... and it was on the 1st floor after all.
The last one was the one that looked promising somewhat... and I fell for it. For the rent amount, it's a large and nice apartment. Second floor, huge closet, nice kitchen (even though I still don't cook... gotta learn soon), sunny... The bad points were mainly there's no veranda and it's too close to a railway crossing (i.e. occasional train noise). Perhaps my friend liked that apartment even more than I did...
I hesitated, hesitated but in the end took it. It's close from the university and Demachiyanagi station (about 11 and 5 minutes walking respectively); plus the relationship size-price was rather unique. I was even annoyed thinking that there was something wrong with it... My conclusion is that's probably the railway crossing. Hope I'm right.
Thinking about it, being annoyed by train noise would be quite ironic for someone whose new field is acoustic noise cancellation. Perhaps I could try to make some experiments in my new room... haha!
Aftermatch: paperwork
I'll move in March. I can stay in my current dorm until the end of that month, but I'll probably try to move earlier for personal reasons. But before that there's some paperwork to do. And I have to agree with another friend who says that Japan is a country that loves bureaucracy... especially paper bureaucracy. Many papers to fill, including some for my guarantor. I also have to fill papers for insurance and submit some documents.
That part is still under way... Besides, now I have to look for some furniture and find a way to move my things. But for those two things there are already some ways out...
Extras
Some people say that I'm lucky. And I have to admit that in many cases I am. For example, finding a new home was smoother than I thought. Although I'm not so sure I won't have mean surprises later, I think it was one of the best options available. I have to thank my friend for that. I wasn't really too much into that apartment until I heard her opinion. And it probably saved me some headaches later.
Because she's still looking for a place. I'm helping, of course, but, for example, she went to the agency where I saw that apartment on the internet at the beginning and it seems that not many apartments are available to foreigners as well. So chances are that I wouldn't be allowed in that apartment I found. Besides, it's farther from both the station and the university (it's larger than the one I chose, though).
Some notes I have on my search:
1- It's said that most real estate agencies accept the university consortium as guarantor. They do, but that usually limits the options you have. Fortunately, I have a guatantor, but I've seen situations where a landlord doesn't accept the consortium.
2- Kyoto still has "no foreigners allowed" places, and they don't seem to be that few. Sometimes even being a student and speaking Japanese doesn't help, although I've heard that being Japanese descendent and having a Japanese family name might help. Still, I haven't noticed such benefits yet.
2.a - The "no foreigners allowed" thing kinda of irritates me. Especially because my previous experience in Himeji showed that some Japanese people do nasty things too.
3- The best real estate agency I've found so far was Able. House Network also seemed sort of nice (although I only went there to help my friend). Co-op or Homes might be better options for those with low Japanese level, though.
4- Different agencies show very different options for the same area.
5- Many apartments are vacant from end of March / beginning of April. And that's a pain if you have to move before the end of March.
3- The best real estate agency I've found so far was Able. House Network also seemed sort of nice (although I only went there to help my friend). Co-op or Homes might be better options for those with low Japanese level, though.
4- Different agencies show very different options for the same area.
5- Many apartments are vacant from end of March / beginning of April. And that's a pain if you have to move before the end of March.
