Worldway Lisbon News: In recent years, Chinese investors have rapidly invested in European real estate, attracting widespread attention from relevant investment beneficiary countries. Now, with the euro exchange rate significantly dropping, reaching a low of 6.6, the trend of immigration through European real estate is becoming increasingly popular. Senior immigration experts at Worldway state: Investing in European real estate also allows for convenient immigration status; especially now that the euro is depreciating, it is an optimal time for investors to globally allocate their personal assets to ensure wealth preservation and appreciation.
Chinese Investors Rapidly Invest "Money" in European Real Estate
Senior immigration experts at Worldway indicate that on one hand, as China's economy has developed, many individuals have become financially stronger, leading to demands for overseas real estate investments for purposes such as investment, tourism, education, and immigration. "On the other hand, Chinese buyers tend to invest in overseas real estate due to the high risks in the Chinese stock market and the end of the era of exorbitant profits in the domestic real estate industry, prompting many Chinese to shift their investment focus overseas."
At the end of March, Finn, a reporter from the International Financial News, candidly stated that in recent years, the number of high-net-worth individuals in China has been increasing, with a continuous stream of clients purchasing homes. "From what I know, many wealthy Chinese discover that property prices here are very reasonable after vacationing, and ultimately decide to buy homes here." The "generosity" of Chinese buyers has evidently attracted global attention. According to data from Real Capital Analytics, in the six years leading up to 2014, Chinese investments in the global real estate sector reached 35.83 billion euros, compared to only 84.53 million euros in 2008.
Meanwhile, data shows that in 2014, China's overseas real estate investment reached 15.16 billion euros, a 46% increase from 2013. In just the first half of last year, Chinese private overseas real estate investments approached 4.5 billion euros, far exceeding the total scale of 2011 and 2012. Data from February of this year indicates that last year, China's direct investment in Europe was nearly double that of 2013, with a total of 153 transactions involving Chinese enterprises across Europe. Statistics show that in 2014, Portugal remained the most attractive country for Chinese investments in Europe, followed closely by Spain, with Cyprus and Greece following thereafter.
Surge in Immigration to Portugal
As one of the earliest developed countries to complete capitalist industrialization, Portugal has entered the post-industrial era with stable economic development and beautiful environments, making it one of the most livable countries in the world. The capital, Lisbon, was an international economic and trade center during the "Age of Discovery" and has now become a well-developed European port city. In recent years, due to the depreciation of the euro, Lisbon's real estate has been highly sought after by wealthy Chinese.
At the end of 2012, Portugal launched the "Golden Residence Permit Program," allowing non-EU citizens to apply for permanent residency in Portugal by creating 10 direct jobs or purchasing real estate worth over 500,000 euros. Among these, the 500,000 euro real estate purchase option is undoubtedly the most attractive to Chinese investors.
According to data provided by the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service, as of March 31, 2015, the number of individuals successfully obtaining the Portuguese Golden Visa has reached 2,290, bringing a total investment of 1.36 billion euros to Portugal; among them, the main group of homebuyers comes from China, totaling 1,840, accounting for approximately 80.3% of the total. Chinese investors continue to hold an absolute leading position among all investors, with their proportion never falling below 80%, and they maintain an excellent record of no failed cases, demonstrating the high recognition and demand for Portuguese projects among Chinese investors.
On February 23, 2015, Portugal's Deputy Prime Minister Paulo Portas officially announced the modification plan for the "Golden Residence" investment immigration policy, which will be formally issued after approval. This plan not only standardizes the approval process for the "Golden Residence" but also broadens the investment methods and increases investment incentives. The rectification of the "Golden Residence" legislation marks that the Portuguese project will become more mature, standardized, and stable, making it one of the preferred real estate immigration projects for investors from China and around the world.
Worldway's senior immigration experts in Europe remind that although the current threshold for the Portuguese real estate immigration project is relatively low, it does not mean that this advantage will last indefinitely. In other words, once the number of applicants suddenly increases, Portugal will inevitably adjust its investment immigration policies. Therefore, it is advised that investors intending to immigrate to Portugal seize the opportunity and act promptly.
