*sea-change* So last week we received the re-application forms for our current unit, with the accompanying rent increase for next year. at $490 a week, it certainly shocked the socks out of us. it prompted me to get into an apartment-hunting frenzy, trying to check out the market. after some searching, i stumbled upon a nice new unit by Maroubra beach that got me excited. i enquired about the property via email, fingers crossed. rental property hunting in sydney is a totally different game all together. horror stories have been told by colleagues of the competitive market out there due to the shortage of supply vs demand, esp during the peak periods (hello international students with heaps of money to throw). house inspections are stipulated on a certain day at a certain time period (usually only half an hour). Those desperate enough already have deposits in hand (cash no less) so upon stepping in, taking a cursory quick look, fill in the application forms and slams the deposit down. that way, the other potential tenants don't really stand a chance anymore. in any case, this is certainly not the peak period for rental so surprisingly, the property agent emailed me back very promptly the next day to arrange for an inspection. i went for my very first apartment inspection last Friday. i was very interested in the unit as it was brand new (property development just completed a few months back), right by the beach (how to find a beach house in sg???) and it was my favorite beach! the only problem was that it was just a bit small (pretty standard size in sydney to be honest) and that the place was abit too far for the boy to go to sch next year. anyhow, i took the application form back and was seriously considering applying for it. attempts to discuss this with the boy failed as he was caught up with his thesis deadline and i found it really hard to make such decisions - it's all so very adult and financially-serious! moving would mean me forking out money for rent (i currently don't pay the rent , just pay for all expenses). in any case, we decided to go ahead to apply for the apartment, and see where it took us. there was a bit of drama as we were rushing to meet the property agent the next day to submit the application but as usual, we were running late. by the time we were on the way there , he had left and gone to another place to show another apartment. we thus made a detour and found our way to Randwick to submit the application and dumped down one week's deposit as well. the monday after, i texted the property agent and he said that the owners were still considering. but as there was another couple who also applied, i was quite disadvantaged as i was only willing to move in 1 nov while the other couple could move in ASAP. as it is, moving in nov will still incur an extra month's rent as we weren't able to get out of our current lease earlier. i kinda gave up on getting this unit. but i did find another unit in the same building and i decided to go check it out. in the end, the same day tt i went to see the other unit, the property agent for the first unit called me and said that he was trying to get an answer from the owners that day. i was surprised as i had already taken that unit as a no-go and was planning to apply for the second unit which was cheaper. to my surprise, an hour later, the property agent called and informed me that i had gotten that unit !!!!!! what are the chances??? seemed that the property agent was pushing for us to get the unit (i later found out that the other couple didn't put down a deposit so that was prob the reason why - the property agent had figured we wanted the unit more). but i shall attribute it to immense favour that the property agent had with us !! the only downside to this whole saga was that i gave the property agent for the second unit a week's deposit before applying. as it is, 4 hours after that, i got the first unit. the second unit's deposit apparently can be refunded less one day's rate!!! i was incensed as she didn't inform me of that and i didn't apply as well so technically i couldn't be liable for it. i lodged a complain with the office of fair trade - hope i get my full refund back !!!!! so anyway , finally get to sign the lease to and the realisation is starting to hit me that....... I GET TO LIVE BY THE BEACH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD !!!!! getting so excited on furnishing the place - gotta be prudent though, coz it's gonna be very costly and well , it's still a rental place , not my real home. sneak peeks to our new place: 
front door leading up to the rest of the unit // bathroom // bedroom // laundry room 
kitchen leading to living room (bathroom behind kitchen off laundry room) // proximity view of beach right at the front door | 
