Amid stagnant wage growth, many young people have abandoned hope of ever buying their own home. But a local real-estate agency says young couples shouldn''t give up just yet. A recent survey paints a positive picture of the housing outlook for double-income families that earn a combined $100,000 Taiwan dollars: With some careful budgeting, a home in Taipei could be had at an affordable $30,000 dollars a month. According to one realtor''s calculations, a couple earning NT$100K combined can in fact afford a NT$9 million house. Hsieh Chih-chiehYung-Ching Realty Let''s go with the average wages of a double-income household. Together the two people might earn an average of NT$60 to NT$100K a month. In Taipei, they might look at a studio or even a two-bedroom apartment. That''s within their range. They could look at Datong District, Beitou District or Wanhua District. In New Taipei, most flats can be bought for somewhere around NT$10 million.For a NT$9 million house, mortgage after down payment would be NT$30,000 a month, an affordable sum for a couple looking to settle down. According to a survey by a real estate agency, two-bedroom apartments in Datong, Wanhua, Beitou, Zhongshan and Neihu in Taipei can go for NT$9 million. People looking for newer apartments built in the past five years can advised to search in New Taipei''s Shulin, Sanxia, Tamsui, Xizhi and Linkou.Member of the publicI''ve been looking for a house recently. I think houses around Zhongshan District don''t offer a very good living environment. I''ve been looking at houses in Linkou. I think that comparatively, 1 ping priced at around NT$300,000 is quite cheap. The amenities are also good. The only thing is you need to have a car.Many people want to become a homeowner but feel that it''s beyond their means. But with some prudent budgeting, that dream of owning your own home might not be so far-fetched.
