Chapter 339: Buying a Villa
Chapter 339: Buying a Villa
After setting aside 1.3 billion Green Dollars for continued foreign exchange trading, Lu Jiaxin was left with over 530 million in her possession. She then transferred 100 million each to Standard Chartered and International Bank. When she inquired about buying put options for the Green Dollar against the Japanese Yen with the two stockbrokers, they didn't refuse, but they could only offer her a maximum of 5 million without leverage. Nevertheless, Lu saw this as an opportunity, investing 5 million in each of the two banks. With the remaining funds, she purchased stocks, diversifying her portfolio across ten blue-chip companies. As a result of this diversification, her account at HSBC was left with just over 23 million Green Dollars.
Nie Zan helped Lu Jiaxin inquire about villas, preferring that she buy one in Repulse Bay so that they could live closer to each other and meet more frequently. However, their search in that area didn't yield any properties that met her requirements. On the other hand, there were several villas in Deep Water Bay that matched her criteria.
Lu Jiaxin was surprised to hear about the availability of three luxurious properties for sale in Deep Water Bay. "Why are so many owners selling their mansions there?" she asked curiously.
Upon inquiring further, she learned that these owners had purchased properties elsewhere. Soon, Lu realized that the peak and Repulse Bay were the prime locations for the super-rich, with Deep Water Bay being a slightly less desirable option.
This wasn't due to any shortcomings of Deep Water Bay; in fact, it boasted a pleasant environment and was conveniently located just over ten kilometers from the city center. The British developers had initially favored Repulse Bay for political reasons. Nonetheless, Deep Water Bay's geographical advantages eventually transformed it into a coveted enclave for the ultra-wealthy.
"Great!" Lu Jiaxin exclaimed with a beaming smile. "Let's go view the properties on Sunday."
On Saturday, Lu Jiaxin eagerly set out with Nie Zan to inspect the villas. The first villa they visited lacked a garden and was immediately dismissed. The second villa was lavishly decorated but also carried a hefty price tag. The final villa had decent interiors, but its garden was smaller than what Lu Jiaxin desired.
The real estate agent, noticing Lu Jiaxin's dissatisfaction, suggested, "Miss Lu, if you think the garden is too small, you can apply to purchase the adjacent land."
Nie Zan agreed with the agent's suggestion. "Buying the neighboring land will not only allow you to expand your garden but also provide space for a secondary building to accommodate your bodyguards and maids," he said.
Lu Jiaxin asked worriedly, "Is it easy to purchase the adjacent land? What if the government refuses to sell it to me?"
Nie Zan reassured her, "Your villa is located here, and everyone values their privacy. No one will try to buy the land next to yours. Just go ahead with the application, and the government will definitely approve it."
The owner of the third villa was asking for a price of 48 million, but the agent mentioned that they could negotiate it down to 46 million. Lu Jiaxin felt that the price was a bargain, knowing that in a few decades, the property would be worth billions, and such opportunities were rare.
The agent couldn't hide his delight as Lu Jiaxin decisively sealed the deal and signed the contract on the spot. This single transaction would earn him a handsome commission of several hundred thousand.
Lu Jiaxin, with her substantial financial resources, intended to pay for the villa in full.
However, Nie Zan advised against it, suggesting that she opt for a mortgage instead to save money that could be invested elsewhere. With a down payment of around 20%, she would only need to pay about 10 million upfront, leaving her with over 30 million to invest. He assured her that the returns on those investments would undoubtedly surpass the interest on the mortgage.
Lu Jiaxin shook her head, explaining, "I have the cash on hand, so it's simpler to just pay the full amount now. We can consider mortgages for future property purchases."
Even with the full payment, she would still have substantial funds left in the bank.
Nie Zan inquired further, curious about her remaining cash reserves. He was tempted to ask how she had made such substantial profits from her investments but restrained himself. "After buying this villa, you'll definitely want to renovate and redecorate it, which will require another significant sum," he remarked.
Seeing that Lu Jiaxin was unwavering in her decision, Nie Zan added, "The media in Hong Kong are very well-informed. If word gets out that you bought the villa with a full cash payment, it may not reflect well on you."
Lu Jiaxin shuddered, suddenly remembering the poor security in Hong Kong. What if those daring bandits found out about her substantial cash reserves? She had to stay vigilant at all times!
With this in mind, Lu Jiaxin replied, "Alright, I'll take your advice and go for the mortgage. But instead of a 20% down payment, I'll make it 30%."
Noticing her nervousness, Nie Zan asked curiously, "What are you thinking about?"
Lu Jiaxin shared her concerns: "Nie Zan, please remind me about this later. I need to maintain a low profile from now on. I don't want to attract the attention of those bandits; it would be too dangerous."
Nie Zan laughed and reassured her, "There are so many rich people in Hong Kong, and you have bodyguards with you at all times. They won't dare to target you."
Although the city had its security issues, the kidnappers were selective in their targets and wouldn't dare abduct just anyone.
Lu Jiaxin still felt that keeping a low profile was the best option. Her wonderful new life had just begun, and she didn't want to be constrained by the fear of attracting kidnappers.
After signing the contract for the villa, Lu Jiaxin arranged the mortgage through HSBC, where she had over a hundred million in cash. The loan was swiftly approved and disbursed within three days, an impressively swift process.
With the loan in place, it was time to transfer the property title, a task Lu Jiaxin entrusted to Yan Yihua. One of the perks of having money was that there was always someone available to handle any matter efficiently.
When Lu Jiaxin returned to the apartment after school, Yan Yihua handed her the property deed. "Congratulations, Miss Lu."
He had handled the mortgage and property transfer himself and was well aware that Lu Jiaxin had made the down payment herself, with no involvement from Nie Zan, the Third Young Master of the Nie family. People were naturally drawn to the strong, and while he didn't know how Lu Jiaxin had earned so much money, he admired her financial prowess.
Lu Jiaxin immediately opened the document and, upon seeing its contents, couldn't resist giving it a kiss. Yes, the garden villa was officially hers.
What surprised Lu Jiaxin was that, two days later, a gossip magazine published an article with the headline: "Third Young Master Nie Spends Generously for Love, Buying a Villa for His Mainland Girlfriend, Instantly Turning Her into a Millionaire."
Lu Jiaxin had a habit of reading the newspaper and magazines daily, so she came across this article immediately. These Hong Kong media outlets were truly ruthless in their sensationalism, openly mocking her like this.
Qian Xiaoxiao, who read the article, was furious. "Sister Jiaxin, you're the one who bought the villa, so why are they saying it was Young Master Nie? It's complete nonsense!"
Lu Jiaxin brushed it off nonchalantly. "They'll write anything to attract attention. Let's not pay it any mind."
Qian Xiaoxiao felt indignant on Lu Jiaxin's behalf.
"They're just seeking sensational stories," Lu Jiaxin added. "Once something newer and more exciting happens, they'll quickly forget about me."
Guwen Feng had a different perspective. "Boss, the villa you bought costs nearly 50 million. This is such explosive news that nothing else will overshadow it for a while. Also, the Nie family might see this and feel uncomfortable about it, and they might even come looking for you."
Lu Jiaxin wasn't worried. "Nie Zan will handle his family's reaction and won't let them bother me with their complaints."
Zong Jinghua chimed in, "Boss, your source of wealth is legitimate. If the public knows about it, they'll only admire and worship you. Since you're not saying anything, this story will likely continue for a while, and it might cause significant disruptions to your life and studies."
He didn't understand why Lu Jiaxin wouldn't disclose how she had made her money. It was earned through foreign exchange trading, not through any illegal means, so why hide it?
Lu Jiaxin explained, "I don't like being idolized because the higher you're placed on a pedestal, the harder the fall. I prefer to make my fortune quietly..."
These were just excuses, and the real reason was something she couldn't reveal.
(End of Chapter)
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