Last time we made a checklist before coming to South Korea. Once you arrive in South Korea, you have to stay inside the base for 14 days for Corona-19 quarantine regulation. After 14days, you can start life in Korea. As you all know, South Korea is one of the safest countries from Coronavirus in the world. South Korean government is doing its best to keep informing people about the risk of viruses. Osan AB and other bases in Korea keeps its safety measure as BRAVO after the end of May. Koreans are used to wear a mask because of air quality and yellow sand from China. Therefore, please make sure to wear a mask when you need to go outdoors.
Let’s find a home
Before going to the realtor, you need to visit the Osan AB Housing Office for a short briefing. They will explain life in Korea and tips on how to find a house. After the briefing, you can visit your realtor. You probably decide which realtor you want to visit. Please make an appointment with them and go out for a tour at your convenience. The realtor might be hurried or not be able to show you what they have, so making an appointment and taking time is the best way to do it. Also, tell them your preferences like balcony, gym, and etc. All rental properties are pet friendly and it doesn’t require a pet deposit. However, you might be charged with any damage caused by your pet when you move out.
If you like convenience like restaurants& bars, find an apartment near SED is a good idea. The walking distance from the main gate is within 5mins and all convenience is right around the corner. However, we do not recommend this area if you have children.
If you wish to live near the base but not close to SED, you can live in the residential area. The walking distance from the main gate is between 7-10mins and this area is family-friendly. There is a park & convenient store nearby and most of the apartment in this area has various amenities like gym, BBQ, Jacuzzi, and etc. However, the school bus won’t come since school is less than 1KM radius, so you have to move further if your kids need to use a school bus.
The area where the school bus will come in about 10-15mins driving distance from the main gate. Most of them are high-rise apartments or single houses. If you wish to live a high-rise building, Korea's apartment is the best place to live. Unlike the USA, Korea has many high-rise apartments due to the size of the country. On the other hand, a single house with a front or back yard can be hard to find. So please understand the most of single houses around Osan AB will be over your budget. We realtors are doing our best to find you a house inside your budget, but it could be difficult to find a house with a yard & a garage.
Once you decide your dream house, it is time for your checklist.
Furnished or Non-furnished
Amenity
Distance from the base and transportation
Deposit, monthly rent, monthly maintenance fee, and utilities
Moving date
Please tell your realtor if you need extra furniture and appliances. Your realtor can help you with your request. Electricity in Korea is different than the USA, so ask your realtor about the house is 120V friendly or not. If it is not, your realtor will get you transformers, so you don’t have to worry about using your own electronics.
TO BE CONTINUE