It is with lot of hesitation that I started to continue my blogging. Few of my friends from US kept asking where my promised blog about India is. Also, India has recently blocked many of the popular blog sites after Mumbai train bombing. This caused the newspapers here in India to write a lot about Desi blogging. All of these have inspired me to proceed with my blog.
If you are planning to move to Hyd/India, the biggest issue you will have is to decide where to live. As for as I know there are three areas you can choose housing: (1) Hi-tech area (2) Banjara/Jubilee hills area (3) Rest of Hyd city. As you get closer to the city the rents seem to fall. As of now (3Q 2006) the going rate of 3-4 bedroom apartments with security and facilities is around Rs 25,000 + maintenance fee in Hi-tech area. If you go to Banjara/Jubilee hills you tend to get apts. without those facilities for around Rs 18,000/month. Inside the city it may range between Rs 6K-20K. Areas #2, #3 provide better facilities such as finding servant maids, tutors, grocery shopping, movie theatres, etc. but they are very crowded with lot of noise, pollution, and traffic. Area #1 is relatively free from those things.
We are renting an independent house in a gated community called "Dream Valley" along the Old Bombay highway connecting Hyd (Mehdipatnam) and Hi-tech city (Gachibowli) near Golconda. This house is about 3500 sft, 5 bedrooms, four of which have attached bathroom and is partially furnished. This is more than sufficient for a family of 4 + parents + occasional guests. Facilities provided here are 24 hour security, gym, swimming pool, tennis and badminton courts, and a park. Most residents are NRIs owning or renting. We pay Rs 22k/month + Rs 3k/month for maintenance (the owner started from Rs 35K/month). We are quite happy with water supply, electricity/generator, and recreational facilities. There are coaches to teach swimming and tennis everyday. The drawback of this community is that it has become a "Little USA". Most kids speak only English and attend either of the most popular International schools nearby - Oakridge or Delhi Public School. This is a very uppity community. The salaries you pay for maids or drivers or cooks are at least Rs 1000 more than in the city. It is tucked away from main highways so it is relatively quieter and peaceful. I believe most gated communities are built that way.
Now few facts about renting:
- It is preferred to rent a house/apt. that was occupied before. The previous renter would have fixed most of the things. We have been spending more than a month getting things fixed and it will continue for few more months.
- You will need lot of help with handy persons (electricians, plumbers, carpenters) in India. It is best to live in a community that has such people employed full time. Finding such people on your own is a nightmare and you have to have "connections" to find the right ones.
- Look for housing with dry bathrooms. Wet bathrooms are disasters waiting to happen, especially for those with elderly parents.
- Look for a house with a bedroom in ground floor so that elderly parents can stay there.
- Look for housing which takes care of the headache of water and electricity. If you live in an independent house outside a community, it will be your headache to get water tanker or get a generator.
- Make sure to get a house with mesh windows that prevents flies and mosquitoes.
- Make sure all bedrooms have options to install "window ACs".
I will be posting numerous times on the same subject. The first posting is usual to get the important info out (FYI). Subsequent postings on the same topic will dwell deeper and give my insights and opinions. Future topcis I will be posting on this blog are - Buying a car, schools of kids, social life in Hyd, shopping for NRIs, Maids/Cooks/Drivers, Where to Eat, What to bring and not to bring from US, Social life of DTBAs (Desperately Trying To Be Americans), How ABCDs react to culture shock, How NRIs behave and get treated.
Feel free to post your comments.
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