Why Are Houses and Apartments in Taiwan So Expensive Despite the Often Low Quality?

Moving into a new apartment is supposed to be exciting - fresh walls, a clean slate... But if you're in Taiwan, you might quickly learn that "new" doesn’t always mean "well built".

We recently moved into a newly finished apartment, and while we were initially thrilled, that excitement faded faster than a cheap paint job - and speaking of paint…

Here’s just a small taste of what we encountered within a few days of moving in:

1. The light switch controls a random light across the room. The one by the entrance? It lights up the sofa area. If you forget to turn off the light close to the entrance before leaving, good luck jumping back across the apartment - the switch is on another wall, right next to another switch that also controls the light above the sofa. At least now we have all the lights connected to a remote, which I keep in sight at all times.

2. Walls and ceilings so uneven, it’s a workout for your eyes trying to follow the corners. Optical illusions? Built-in bonus.

3. Paint job? More like a kindergarten art project. Brush marks, smudges, uneven coverage… It honestly looks like it was done during arts and crafts hour.

4. The shower head is mounted like it’s drunk... slanted at such an angle that it’s impossible not to notice.

5. Dead sockets and non-working light under the kitchen cupboard. Because who needs function?

6. Exposed gaps and holes around wires and the smoke detector. And I’m not talking tiny imperfections - we have two visible holes with wires sticking out right above the air conditioner. Why not just cover them up properly?

7. Bathroom ventilation remote? Fell off the wall like it gave up on life. I tried to open it, and the whole thing ended up in my hand with wires dangling like a scene from a bad DIY show.

8. A bare wall next to the stove. Apparently, tiles are optional now? Every other place we’ve lived in had either tiles or a black glass panel to keep things clean. Not this one. I guess skipping it was a cost-saving decision.

9. Speaking of cost-cutting... The soft-close mechanism in the cupboards? It’s there - but only sometimes. A few are missing entirely!

It’s only been a week, so we’re not sure what else we’ll notice in the future. But based on our previous experience, even relatively new apartments can have serious issues like mold and leaks, so the future feels a bit uncertain.

In our last rental apartment, which was just a few years old, we had mold problems every time it rained for a couple of days. The walls would start to look damp, and soon after, mold would appear. It was especially bad in winter, the wall near the window would turn dark overnight, and it was pretty frustrating.

We cleaned it regularly and even used UV light to try and fight it. But despite all efforts, my husband developed a skin issue that didn’t go away (already over half a year), even after trying different medications and consulting four different doctors.

So, Why Are Homes in Taiwan So Expensive When the Quality Feels So Poor?

It’s a question many people ask, and the answer lies in several overlapping issues:

1. Built for Speed, Not for Quality

Most apartments are constructed by private developers focused on selling quickly. The priority is often marketing, with fancy showrooms and 3D renderings, rather than durability. The result? Cheap materials, rushed finishes, and unskilled labor.

2. Property as an Investment

Real estate is one of the most popular ways to build wealth in Taiwan. Many buyers (including overseas Taiwanese) don’t even plan to live in the apartments they purchase (there are lots of empty apartments/houses!). This speculative demand drives prices up, regardless of actual livability. 

3. Faster = More Profitable

To maximize profit, developers try to build as fast as possible, which leads to poor craftsmanship, uneven floors, bad waterproofing, and crooked fixtures.

4. Nature Isn’t Helping

Taiwan’s climate is rough on buildings: humidity, typhoons, and frequent earthquakes require serious attention to structure and maintenance. Unfortunately, without proper standards, even new buildings can show signs of wear quickly, from leaks and mold to cracks and warped walls.

If you’re thinking of moving into a new apartment in Taiwan, be prepared for a mix of high prices, low-quality surprises, and hopefully, a good sense of humor to help you through it.

Because sometimes, your bathroom fan remote just gives up on life, and all you can really do is laugh.

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The Nightmare of Moving (and Living) in Taiwan

Originally, we were supposed to stay in our current place until the end of May. That gave us some time to plan, pack, and move slowly. But things changed quickly. We found a new rental apartment just a street away, and the current landlady agreed to return our May rent if we moved earlier. So, on April 10th, we signed the new rental contract and started moving right away.

We’re actually pretty fast at moving, and we’ll probably finish even before April ends. The current landlady didn’t rush us and even said it’s fine if we don’t finish in April and need to extend a little. That was nice… at first.

Then she asked if she could show the apartment to potential buyers. Honestly, I didn’t like the idea at all. Who puts a house up for sale while it’s still being rented, and without a clear time limit for the tenant? Taiwan really doesn’t protect tenants at all. It feels like we can be kicked out anytime, even if we always pay rent on time, never cause trouble, never get complaints, and keep the place spotless. And I mean spotless, even the visitors comment on how clean it is.

After we started moving, she asked again about letting people come to view the house. This time, though, she offered to return our April rent as well. I guess she’s really desperate to sell. Is it because house prices are dropping fast? As a salesperson, she probably knows it best. I recently saw data showing an average price drop of 6.6%, with the biggest drops in Tainan and Kaohsiung - over 10%! Sounds amazing, but still, I don’t think these houses are worth the money at all.

Our new place is freshly built, nobody’s lived in it before, and the community is still pretty empty. Sounds good, right? But new places come with their own problems. You’d think a new apartment would be perfect, but within days of signing the contract, we already found issues.

The landlords told us that the light under the kitchen cabinet wasn’t working and that someone would come fix it. Okay, no problem. But the workers said the wiring might be broken and the entire cabinet would have to be taken down to fix it, which takes time. Fine, I said I could live without that light.

But when I went to check things myself, I noticed a socket was hanging out, with exposed wires. The landlord said it was “just missing screws” and would be an easy fix. That’s when I started to wonder: is the socket even working?

I tested it - no electricity at all.

Turns out, it’s on the same line as the broken light. So no, it’s not an easy fix. And that’s the only socket I could use for appliances like a mixer or blender. 

Actually, there is another socket at the back of a cupboard next to it, but there is a sink between the working area and the wardrobe, so I’m not willing to use an extension cord and risk putting myself in danger by using water and electricity side by side. When I’m using appliances like a blender or mixer, I also need water, for example to clean things, so it doesn’t make sense to set it up like that.

If I don’t use electricity in the kitchen, I’d have to prepare things in the living room, which is possible, but it comes with another problem: things could splash when I mix, and if the walls get dirty, we’ll be charged for that, which was mentioned in the rental. And honestly, all of this is happening because the house doesn’t function properly and the landlord rented it out without even checking if everything works!

Now I have to test all the sockets in the whole apartment to make sure the electricity actually works. Just one more headache.

To be honest, I’ve been in a bad mood for over a month now, and this just adds to it. Buildings in Taiwan are low quality, but sold for insane prices. The cost doesn’t match the quality at all. Low CP value. The longer I live here, the more I feel like not just the housing, but so many other things in Taiwan are frustrating. Also people aren't as great and friendly as many may think.

And yet, the government keeps spending money to promote tourism and attract foreigners to move here. Sure, for travel it might be fine (except the hotel prices... during holidays, they don’t just double, some rise by 900%. I’m not even joking... a few accommodations were fined recently for scamming people over the holidays!)

It often feels like money is the only thing people care about here. I don’t know… I used to really like living in Taiwan. But now? I’m just tired.

We already paid the deposit and first month’s rent for the new place, so it’s not easy to just walk away and find somewhere else. And time is tight, there’s simply no way we could find a new apartment and move everything again in such a short period. It really hits you how unstable life can be if you don’t own a home in Taiwan.

And speaking of owning a home - recently, the government raised the mortgage interest rates. So if you borrow money now, you’ll have to pay back even more. But why does it feel like people who’ve never owned a home are the ones being punished the most? It’s like the system is designed to protect investors who keep buying multiple properties, not first-time buyers or people who just want a stable place to live.

Honestly, the rules shouldn’t be the same for everyone. If someone already owns three or more properties (and yes, we’ve met plenty of people like that), are they really struggling financially? I doubt it. It doesn’t feel like prices will crash hard anytime soon. Even if they drop a bit, the already questionable quality of housing here will only get worse.

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Exploring Houbi: A Hidden Floral Paradise in Tainan

Travel Date: 2025/03/22

This time, we decided to head south and stopped in the small town of Houbi in Tainan, right on the border with Chiayi. What I thought would be a quiet, lesser-known spot turned out to be a bustling garden filled with people, tour buses, and a bit of a challenge finding parking. The parking lot itself is quite large, but there were cars parked along the roads for hundreds of meters. No surprise, though, as the weather was perfect for a day of sightseeing.

A Floral Wonderland at Arwin Therapy Garden

Arwin Therapy Garden in Houbi is open every day from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. While many people come here to shop for cosmetics, others visit to enjoy the stunning roses that bloom beautifully during this time of year.

Spanning nearly 15,000 pings (about 49,500 square meters), the garden offers a variety of themed experiences. You'll find the symmetrically designed French Rose Garden, the peaceful English Chakra Herb Garden, and a lush, Amazon-like tropical rainforest zone. Throughout the park, there are also a variety of handcrafted cement art installations showcasing iconic designs.

Inside, you can explore the exhibition hall, where technology meets culture with interactive learning opportunities. You can also listen to guided explanations from friendly staff and discover premium beauty products designed to enhance your skincare routine.

You could easily spend an hour here just enjoying the flowers. There’s also a small, picturesque pond that adds to the charm of the place. This attraction, which opened last year, has drawn many visitors since its soft opening in early February. After undergoing a month-long renovation, it officially reopened on April 20th.

Not only is admission completely free, but the park also features four themed areas, each highlighting the beauty of roses in different styles. With plenty of must-see attractions, it's the perfect destination for flower lovers and photography enthusiasts who want to spend the day capturing stunning moments.

Hidden among the roses, you'll find a collection of miniature European-style houses, handcrafted by renowned Japanese artisan Kato Takayuki. These tiny buildings replicate famous European landmarks, such as: Mont Saint-Michel (France), Provence Cottages (Southern France), English Countryside Houses.

This charming “Miniature European Village” will make you feel like you've stepped right into a fairy tale world.

If you need a break from the sun, head to the Arwin Tourist Factory, an indoor shopping area offering fragrances, handmade soaps, and skincare products from the Arwin brand. It’s a great spot to pick up souvenirs or self-care products!

Behind the tourist factory, you’ll find a life-size replica of Shakespeare’s Wife’s Cottage, the only one of its kind in Taiwan! This charming European-style cottage now serves as a retail shop and is also a wonderful spot for photos.

Houbi’s Arwin Therapy Garden turned out to be a wonderful discovery, a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural elements, and a touch of European charm. If you love flowers, unique architecture, and relaxing walks, this is definitely a must-visit spot in Tainan.

That’s all for this adventure! Hope you enjoyed this little tour. Stay tuned for more travels and discoveries, let’s see where the road takes us next!

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Exploring Miaoli: Cherry Blossoms, Waterfalls & Unexpected Delays

Travel Date: 2025/03/01

First things first, don’t be surprised by the cherry blossoms! This trip happened at the beginning of March, even though I’m only writing about it now. It took a while to put everything together, but here it is!

The past few weeks have been crazy. We all got sick, and this time, it wasn’t just a simple cough that lasted a few days. We had high fevers, followed by unusually low temperatures, and the worst part for me? I partially lost my hearing. For a few days, I could barely hear anything... not even my own voice. Luckily, I’m finally getting better. But as if that wasn’t enough, we have other challenges to deal with... 

Another reason why this blog post (and video) took so long? I had to switch to a new video editor after using the same one for two years. The new one feels way too advanced, and I’m still getting used to it. On top of that, I had several partially edited videos that I couldn’t finish in my old editor, so I had to start from scratch.

Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Nanzhuang

 The cherry blossoms were in Nanzhuang, but despite it being early March, most of the trees in the mountains had already finished blooming. Only a few bright pink ones were still holding on. We also visited an aboriginal village and then made our way to the Valley of the Gods Waterfall.

We’ve been to this waterfall before, but since we were in the area, we decided to stop by again. There’s a parking lot and even some food stalls at the entrance. The trail down is short and easy to walk, so no worries—it only takes a little while to reach the viewing area. While you can’t access the water itself, you get a great view of the waterfall from a suspension bridge.

We also grabbed a meal there, but honestly, the food was pretty plain—except for the sausage, which was by far the best part!

A Scenic Drive to Xiangtian Lake Tribe

After our waterfall stop, we hit the road again, heading toward Xiangtian Lake Tribe, about a 30-minute drive away. The weather was absolutely perfect—sunny and pleasantly warm, which was rare in recent days.

Xiangtian Lake was much busier than our previous stops, with lots of people walking around. Most visitors park and take the trail around the lake, but since we’ve done that before, we decided to follow the road around it instead. The road is narrow but manageable, even for cars, as there was a nearby camping area packed with people.

Speaking of camping—I still don’t really get the appeal. It always seems way louder than just sleeping at home! But I guess a lot of people enjoy it.

After driving around the lake, we returned to the parking lot for a short walk. This area had a lot more going on compared to our earlier stops. There were plenty of food stalls, and the tea eggs were definitely a highlight. The guy selling them was a peeling master—it took him just a second to peel an egg, while I always struggle and end up breaking them. Actually, older eggs are much easier to peel, so if you’re making tea eggs, check out my recipe and don’t use fresh eggs—they’re a nightmare to peel!

We walked around for a bit, and I think if we had come in mid-February, there would have been even more cherry blossoms. Still, the area was beautiful and peaceful, and I definitely recommend visiting if you’re ever in Miaoli.

A Perfect End to the Day

By afternoon, the sun in the mountains was already fading, and we started heading home. On our way back, we spotted several wild monkeys just chilling in the trees, completely unbothered by passing cars and scooters.

When we passed through Nanzhuang, it was really busy, but we didn’t stop since we’ve been there so many times already. Honestly, I’m starting to feel like I’ve seen all of Taiwan!

That’s it for this trip! If you’re into nature, waterfalls, and peaceful walks, Miaoli is definitely worth a visit. Stay tuned for more adventures, and let’s see where the road takes us next!

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The Truth About Living in Taiwan Many Won't Say

Third week of hospital check-ups… My hearing is back, but it’s still not fully normal. At least I can hear what people are saying now, unlike those few days when even face-to-face, I sometimes couldn't understand anything. Though I still hear ringing in my ears, which may take weeks or even months to go away. 😅 

Why does it take so long to go back to normal? I’ve been sick almost all of March, and honestly, this month has been a mess in so many ways. 

I applied for my APRC but haven’t received it yet, and last weekend (less than two weeks after applying) we got informed that the apartment we’re renting will put up for sale. I really thought we could finally stay somewhere longer (which we mentioned when renting), but here we go again! Moving every 1–2 years is exhausting... 🤬

We've been living in Toufen for three years, and this will be the third time moving!! And if nothing happens - like my husband getting fired, being sent to a different city, or changing jobs - there are still five more years for Adrian to finish elementary school here. No need to traumatize him by making him change schools and classmates. 

I’ve been at the immigration office so many times (yearly if not more) recently just to extend my ARC for a year and then for the APRC application... And when my husband finally had time to go - after months of overtime work and barely being home - it turns out I might have to go back again soon after receiving it, just to update my address. Do I still need his signature for that?! Feels like there’s so little a foreigner can do alone. 🤦‍♀️

This whole situation has put me in a bad mood all month. Moving during the school year is extra annoying, and renting here comes with its own set of headaches. If you rent in Taiwan, maybe you’ve faced similar issues - landlords almost never pay taxes, so they don’t want anything official that proves someone lives there. But without a household registration, I can’t get an ARC/APRC, and a child can’t go to school. 

With the recent surge in news about house prices dropping, everyone is rushing to sell. At least there are many rental options, though I do like the community we’re living in now. 

The housing market in Taiwan is ridiculous... Even places in bad condition are treated like luxury, and sales tactics often feel like scams. We looked into buying before, but that was another nightmare. Salespeople seriously hide things from you and try to brainwash you into buying - especially the worst properties of all! Everything seems to revolve around money, and at the end of the day, you can't trust anyone. 🤡

After doing some reserch... The price-to-income ratio is worsening nationwide, making homeownership increasingly difficult, especially for young people. Taipei is one of the least affordable cities, where buying a home costs nearly 16-17 years of an average salary (45000NT-50000NT), while the national average is 9-11 years. That’s assuming you don’t spend your money on anything else but the house... 😱

Let's say if you invest 25% of your income each year to buy a home in Taipei, it would take you about 64-68 years to afford one. The national average is about 40 years! Can you really guarantee that you’ll be able to maintain your income for that long? 

According to recent data In Taiwan, around 6.6% of people own three or more properties, and about 0.3% own ten or more. The wealthiest individuals average 4.3 properties, which is well above the global average of 2.9. This highlights a significant concentration of property ownership among a small, wealthy group. 🤑

Taiwan always try to promote itself as a great place to live, but... If you always hear people speaking only positively about Taiwan, it’s usually because they’ve only traveled here for a short time or they’re single, often YouTubers who, at some point, made government-sponsored videos. That says a lot. In reality, you’ll find plenty of people complaining, many who have moved out, and others just waiting for the chance to leave, both foreigners and Taiwanese. 

Actually, according to surveys that gather data on mental health, the depression rate in Taiwan is around 25% and has been steadily increasing over the past 10 years - just like housing prices, I guess. The suicide rate in Taiwan is also 20% higher than the global average!

News about suicides is often silenced because investors fear it could drive property prices down.  😨 

When we lived in another place for just a year, there were three suicide cases in that area (not exactly something you want to witness firsthand...). And even nowadays, there are many more people who have attempted but weren’t successful, yet everyone is expected to stay quiet about it. 

While many university students who participated in surveys admitted to being depressed, a large number of people cited housing prices and financial struggles as major reasons for their distress.

There’s still a strong stigma around seeking mental health support.

Is Taiwan a good place to live? Well, not if you're raising a family. If you don’t have a place of your own, you don’t have stability. And even if you do own one, remember that it’s tied to a huge loan, so if you lose your job or something unexpected happens… well, better not to think about that.

No surprise that people nowadays don’t want to get married and especially don’t want kids. Just look at the number of cats and dogs - it speaks for itself. But... Why it feels like only the wealthy who own homes can afford to have pets, because after looking through thousands of rental listings, maybe 0.000001% actually allow them!

Even before, I didn’t get much sleep, usually less than six hours... but recently I’m even having trouble falling asleep... 

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Forced to Move Again!? – A Little Update

The past week has been a rollercoaster, and I finally have some updates to share. Fortunately, during the last week of taking medication, my hearing has improved. It hasn't fully come back yet, but at least there has been noticeable progress.

However, this past week has felt like a nightmare. My hearing would constantly shift—at times, both ears felt completely blocked, making it nearly impossible to hear anything. Other times, I experienced a strange echo inside my head. There was pain deep in my ears, bouts of tinnitus, and an uncomfortable sensation like my ears were being sucked into my head. It’s hard to put into words, but each day brought something different. Sometimes, I felt completely fine, only to feel miserable an hour later.

One of the worst parts was struggling with balance. Walking was manageable, but any time I bent down or moved too quickly, I felt like I was about to fall. Our son loves going to the park after school, but I could barely stay outside for long before discomfort set in, forcing me to spend most of my time at home, usually lying down when I had nothing else to do. I haven't been going shopping as well, as I was afraid I may faint on the road.

Conversations became frustrating as I had to ask people to repeat themselves multiple times. Meeting people outside was something I avoided - I wasn’t even sure how to explain that I couldn’t hear properly.

Thankfully, after a few days, things started improving. I could finally hear some sounds again. One ear recovered completely, while the other is still only about halfway better. I had another doctor’s appointment this past Monday (March 24th) to check on my progress. Thankfully, there is visible improvement, but I was prescribed more medication and have another appointment scheduled for next week. Hopefully, by then, I won’t need it anymore!

Fingers crossed that this chapter is over!

Before that, we also had an appointment with the dentist. Our dentist is in Tainan, so we spent the weekend (March 22-23) back in the south. The weather was great! Down south, it already feels like summer! While we were there, we also visited a rose garden, but I’ll make a separate post about that soon.

Unfortunately, not everything is going well. On Sunday night, after returning home, we received some bad news. Not even two weeks after I applied for my APRC - which I have yet to receive - it seems that soon after getting it, I will have to change my address. What happened? Our landlady sent a message saying that she is planning to sell the apartment, so we will have to move again…

We’ve been living in Miaoli for three years, and this will be our third time moving! It feels like a never-ending cycle. It’s like the same story repeating - if landlords can’t make enough from rent, they either raise prices or ask tenants to leave, just like what happened during our first year here. I thought we had a good relationship with our landlady. From the beginning, we made it clear that we were looking for a long-term rental, not just one or two years. Everything seemed fine, and she reassured us that we could stay as long as we wanted. We even met occasionally, and she never once mentioned wanting to sell. But now, that’s no longer the case. I know things change and people make different decisions, but it completely ruined the good mood.

We might try to negotiate staying here a bit longer since moving before the school year ends would be extremely inconvenient. I really hope we won’t have to change schools, so we’ll need to find a place in the same area. For now, we’ve already paid rent until the end of May as we pay by quarter, but that’s just two months away. Based on our previous moves, it usually takes us about two months to relocate - mainly because my husband works, and I can’t move furniture and everything by myself.

Can we manage to find a place and move in such a short time? It feels nearly impossible. Just looking at new places, signing a lease, and handling the logistics takes longer than that. Once again, I feel like people in the north are quite cold and materialistic - but that’s just my observation after hearing so many stories and seeing how people behave.

Our landlady got a job as a house sales agent, and just as I assumed, she changed after that. Our relationship was more like a friendship—we exchanged things and gave each other gifts. For example, if we traveled somewhere or I baked holiday cookies, we would share. But after she became a sales agent, the relationship grew colder.  

It's normal for people with jobs to have less time, but then her entire Facebook turned into just listings of houses for sale with ridiculous prices and posts bragging about the houses she had sold. All the normal things disappeared, along with the usual people commenting. Instead, the only interactions came from other house sales agents, investors, or rich people living in the area. That’s how she went from being a normal person to exactly the kind of person I dislike.  

Having lived in Taiwan for several years, I know a lot about house sales, especially since we tried to buy a house. We viewed many, met many agents, and learned how they think and operate—basically, if you want to succeed, you can't have feelings. She even said, "If you can't beat them, join them." So, well…  

She knew we weren’t eager to move, so saying she was planning to sell the house is an easy way to make us leave sooner. Who knows - maybe she want to rent it to someone else at a higher price. That’s just my assumption, especially since so many properties have been put up for sale. And as an agent, she knows that now isn’t a good time because the market is very cold. Additionally, informing us through a message instead of at least a call or an in-person conversation didn’t feel very friendly.

I don’t want strangers coming to view the house while all our things, laundry, etc., are still inside. After all, we still live here and want our privacy and not being bothered.

Recently, the housing market hasn’t been great, and with new regulations, suddenly tons of houses and apartments are for sale. Maybe prices are slightly lower than they used to be, but they’re still unaffordable for many. In our area, a three-bedroom apartment costs around 18 million NTD - way beyond what we can afford. 

I don’t want to live in the countryside because our son’s school is here, and I need access to shops and other conveniences. My husband drives to work, but I walk everywhere, so living far from everything would be really difficult to manage. Even now, I wake up a little after 6 AM, and the school is only 400 meters away, yet it still takes time to get my son ready and there on time. He still only arrives at 7:30 AM. Kids at this age just take longer to wake up, eat, and get going - it is what it is.

My husband's work finally slowed down, and he isn't coming home at midnight anymore. He finally got a weekend off, but then... New day, new thing to worry about…

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