According to Housing Watch in 2009 seven percent of residential sales in the U.S. were by foreigners. “Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Estate: Current Trends and Historical Perspective,” a paper produced by The National Association of Realtors, reports, “There are few barriers to foreign individuals or entities investing in U.S. real estate markets, and U.S. markets welcome them.”

By contrast China remains a Communist country that does not recognize private ownership of property. Instead property is leased for seventy years. In China the national and regional governments are much more deeply involved in property transactions than they are in the United States. As a result, Americans intent on buying a house in China need to be wary of a maze of unfamiliar requirements.

For Prospective U.S. Property Owners in China- Caveat Emptor

Joe Zimny, an investor living in Shanghai, was interviewed by International Herald Tribune writer R. Scoot Macintosh for his article, “Buying Abroad: Risk and Reward in China,” (June 15, 2006). Zimny summarized the overarching problem Americans face in the Chinese real estate market. "Guidance and standards and protection by rule of law are not yet well-established. People who come here with high expectations and expect transparency and clarity in the process are often disappointed."

Important Consideration for Americans Looking to Buy Residential Property in China

In contrast to the cautionary statements above, HomesGoFast.com, a division of Marr International, Ltd, a global marketing firm, claims, “Since the Chinese government opened up the purchase of property in the 1990s, buying real estate here has become quite popular and a solid investment for international purchasers.” However, even HomeGoFast admits on its website, “The laws in China, however, are neither simple nor transparent. For this reason it is absolutely imperative to understand the process.”

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