Espoo

[Rosamunda]

Other places to avoid would be kaitaa ( Industrial and old houses).

Kaitaa has some really expensive up-market OKT (just saw one in Hesari Huoneistokeskus "Unique" range at 680 K€), most of Kaitaa is OKT houses with nice gardens. Maybe the bit near Soukka is older.

I think Mr Poacher would tear his hair out living in Saunalahti or Kauklahti... those places are basically "remote" if you are used to city life. OK if you have 2.3 kids, a retriever and a 4X4 but c'mon.... (BTW I have all those things and I would still tear my hair out living in Sauna/Kauk-lahti). Espoonlahti would be about my absolute limit for civilisation, and even that is 10 mins further away from HEL than Friisilä and no plans for a metro.

OK, Kauklahti does have a café : Halme (the baker, bread is good but don't bother with the croissants), but AFAIK there is NOTHING in Saunalahti.

[raamv]

Most of Kaitaa's houses are 20 or more years old!! Some of them are beautiful..but then it is also sparsed with Industries..factories, repair shops etc..
Soukka is almost as bad..
Saunalahti is getting expensive as the view is what you pay for..
Kauklahti..is for convenience for many who want to use the train and the bus ( and not wait for the metro)

[Rosamunda]

Most of Kaitaa's houses are 20 or more years old!!

ie circa 1988.... anyone who restricts their house-hunting in Espoo (or anywhere in Finland) to houses less than 20 years old will need a big budget and not be in a hurry. I think some of the best bargains (if you want SPACE rather than trendy fixtures and fittings) are properties built in the 1980s, as long as you take a GOOD look at what you are buying and are prepared to do some DIY yourself. Properties built in the 90s are really tight on space, at least the ones built by developers (which is probably why some people prefer to self build).

If you are anti-DIY then new is best but I think the prices are a bit OTT, and in most cases the rooms are way too small, no garden and the buildings are too close together. As far as urban planning is concerned I think the layouts of some of the older areas are better than the new ones. Compare most of Leppavaara to Kivenlahti or Soukka. OK so much of Soukka is in dire need of some TLC but the layout is more interesting and a bit greener than the area around Sello. But I still don't really understand why - in a country that has so much space - all the urban areas are so densely packed. I guess it's cheaper to do things that way.

[Hank W.]

The biggest and most flamboyant "mansions" you can find were built in the 1980's "crazy years". however when the bubble burst a lot of them went under and if you can find a half-finished one thats been scraped up together... I know a guy that had a swimming pool in his garage... or what he used as a garage... it'd been filled with gravel. Jokingly suggested him he made a oil change pit... You have to look at "realities" of life... like why you cannot find a 1992-1993 car in Finland... everybody was piss-poor and broke so the housing supply tried to meet the demand.

[Rosamunda]

Yes true, then Nokia stock options came along.... there were also some big flashy houses built in the mid-late 90s.

[Hank W.]

Theres some really "flashy" houses in the "better" areas next to old veteran houses or like one places someones old summer cottage.

[raamv]

Well the 80s style housing needs a lot of deep inspections as the construction during that time were pretty dodgy.
Yes, I agree that in Espoo you cannot find houses less than 20 yrs old in those areas..and even if you are a DIY person, no one counts the amount of time they put into building a house and equate it to some value ( apart from spending time with family, kids, spouses, etc etc)
Thats why I suggested Klauklahti and Saunalahti..as these areas are having new houses/town homes being built..
WE re not DIY and so ll look for almost new houses..but We are only focussing in Kirkkonummi area. ( If there is an old house that needs renovation,we ll probably contract out and get those 60% deductions)..

[dia]

ps. What is the point of Kaunianen?

Squirrels speaks Swedish there

[raamv]

ps. What is the point of Kaunianen?

Squirrels speaks Swedish there

and yes a lot of those squirrels also store golden nuts!!!