chapter 5

"Of course, no problem. The entire apartment building has just started selling and offers complete property management and services," the agent said enthusiastically. "Mr. Lin, since you're single, this smallest unit would be perfect for you."

"Additionally, the apartment comes with housekeeping services. However, the overall design and decor have already been set, so owners can only make functional adjustments."

"For example, the three rooms can be used as either bedrooms or studies. Would that work for you?"

"No problem!" Lin Ke nodded. "I don't have much artistic sense, so I trust the designer's judgment as long as the quality is good."

"Of course! You can rest assured about that," the agent assured him, standing up. "Shall we go take a look now?"

"Did you drive here?"

"I have a motorcycle. Let's meet directly at the apartment," Lin Ke suggested. "If I like it, I won't waste time looking at anything else. I'll arrange a meeting with my lawyer to finalize the contract."

"However, I'd like to know the payment options first. The house I currently live in still needs to be sold. Can I pay a deposit first?"

"Of course! We offer various payment options and can also assist with loan services." The agent didn't mind the payment method; as long as Lin Ke signed the contract, he would get his commission.

Lin Ke rode ahead on his motorcycle, while the agent followed in his car, resulting in Lin Ke arriving first.

The apartment building was located southeast of Central Park, a prime location. If he purchased the top-floor unit, he would have a stunning view of the park.

Property in this area was scarce, making any purchase here an investment in wealth.

The smallest unit Lin Ke was interested in covered more than 220 square meters and was priced at $2.4 million. It came fully furnished with high-end decorations and luxurious furniture.

This equated to over $10,000 per square meter—a steep price, even for this era. However, Lin Ke felt it was reasonable. Between his available cash and the proceeds from selling his current house, he had almost enough to cover the cost.

That meant he wouldn't need to win too much in Las Vegas—just a few hundred thousand dollars. The purchasing power of the US dollar was still strong.

Nonetheless, Lin Ke remained cautious. Activating his X-ray vision, he scanned the entire apartment building from top to bottom. Everything checked out—there were no structural issues—so he made his decision.

"This place is really nice. I don't need to look any further," Lin Ke told the agent.

"That's a wise decision! Viewing too many options often leads to hesitation," the agent said approvingly. "By the way, how do you plan to pay?"

"I'll put down a deposit first and start selling my current house," Lin Ke replied.

The agent, eager to secure the deal, asked, "May I ask where you currently live?"

"Sure. I live on XXX Street in Queens. It's a middle-class neighborhood with three-story townhouses built in the 1950s. It should sell for over $1 million." Lin Ke explained. "It was left to me by my parents."

"Ah, I see!" The agent immediately recognized the area. "Mr. Lin, you're in luck. A development company is currently acquiring houses in your neighborhood."

"A development company? Buying properties?" Lin Ke was surprised.

"Yes, they do both development and rentals," the agent explained. "They already own multiple properties in your area."

"This kind of acquisition happens frequently, but they are selective. Properties from the 1940s and 1950s in well-located neighborhoods with good surroundings are their primary targets."

"They rent them out while gradually acquiring enough properties to redevelop the area."

Lin Ke understood. Land in New York, especially in Manhattan, was extremely valuable. Real estate companies had to operate efficiently to compete. Selling homes alone wasn't sustainable—they needed other revenue streams to keep the business running.

"What about the price?" Lin Ke asked. "I assume they won't offer a high price?"

"Actually, they usually pay market price or slightly above," the agent reassured him. "Since they also generate rental income, they are willing to invest for long-term gains."

"This is also convenient for you. You can continue living there until your new apartment is ready."

"That sounds good. I'll talk to them," Lin Ke agreed. "But don't you need to earn your commission?"

The agent smiled. "Mr. Lin, our real estate brokerage company is actually a subsidiary of the development company."

That explained everything. Lin Ke realized he still had a lot to learn about business dealings, but as long as the process was straightforward and beneficial to him, he had no complaints.

"Alright, as long as the price is fair." Lin Ke agreed without hesitation.

The negotiations were smooth. The development company offered him $1.8 million for his townhouse—a fair price, considering that he also owned the land rights, which the company highly valued.

The townhouse was originally purchased in the 1950s for only a few thousand dollars by Lin Ke's grandfather, making this a significant return on investment.

Lin Ke immediately accepted the offer, and the transaction went through seamlessly. He could continue living in the townhouse rent-free until his new apartment was ready.

After signing the purchase contract for the new apartment, Lin Ke worked with the development company's design team.

The overall design style was already set, so Lin Ke focused on functional adjustments. He decided to convert one of the public restrooms into a laundry room.

"I don't need so many bathrooms," Lin Ke reasoned. Unlike native-born Americans, he wasn't fond of hosting house parties. If he ever needed to, he preferred renting a venue instead.

In truth, Lin Ke was a homebody. He enjoyed staying in and relaxing, basking in the sun whenever possible.

Now, his only concern was his dwindling cash reserves. Although he had enough for daily expenses, once he moved into the new apartment, he wouldn't be able to afford the annual maintenance fees.

However, that wasn't an immediate issue. For now, he used his remaining free time to start organizing his belongings.

There was no need to move the furniture—everything was included in the sale. The development company would rent the house out with only minor repairs.

After all, their long-term plan was redevelopment, so spending too much on renovations would be a waste.

With everything settled, Lin Ke could now focus on his next steps in life.