In the first few months of this year, various real estate exhibitions have been lively, showcasing the real estate market. However, at the property exhibitions in cities like Beijing and Shenzhen, there have been some new situations; domestic projects are generally experiencing a downturn, with both attention and the number of exhibitors declining. In stark contrast, numerous foreign real estate projects, especially from Europe, have made a strong appearance. For instance, at the Shenzhen Property Expo in early May, there was a phenomenon where local projects were overshadowed by foreign projects: the European and American pavilion, exclusively organized by the strong WorldWay immigration agency, featured over 200 projects and more than a thousand premium properties, far surpassing the local exhibitors in Shenzhen, becoming the highlight of the expo and reflecting the trend of overseas breakthroughs in Chinese-style property investment.
Regarding the influx of overseas properties into the Chinese market and the sustained enthusiasm for property investment immigration among Chinese citizens, Winner Xing, the President of WorldWay, President of the Hong Kong Investment Immigration Association, Honorary President of the Shenzhen Enterprise Investors Association, Executive Director of the Macau Real Estate Association, and a senior investment immigration and consulting expert, elaborated on the underlying reasons for this trend, using the recent surge in European property investment immigration as an example.
In the past, it was rare to hear about Chinese investors investing in European real estate because the doors to European immigration were tightly closed. For investors, purchasing property without residency rights is impractical, whether for personal use or rental. Therefore, European real estate lacked appeal for Chinese investors.
However, recently, more and more advertisements for European real estate have appeared in people's view, and the presence of European property developers has become increasingly active at domestic property exhibitions. What has changed? Senior immigration experts pointed out that due to the impact of the European debt crisis, many European countries urgently need to attract overseas funds to boost their economies, thus gradually opening the doors to European investment immigration. Taking Cyprus as an example, according to the latest immigration policy, if you purchase property of a certain value in Cyprus, you simultaneously gain residency rights in the country, effectively making it your second home. According to statistics from WorldWay, since January of last year, the number of Chinese investors purchasing property in Cyprus has been increasing. In the first month, there were fewer than 10 investors from across China, but starting from May, the number of investors exceeded 100; currently, approximately 1,200 properties have been invested in by Chinese investors in Cyprus.
Another European country that has opened its doors to investors is Portugal. In the past, obtaining residency rights in Portugal was very difficult. However, since last year, Portugal has implemented the "Golden Residence Permit Program," allowing investors to obtain residency rights by purchasing property of a certain value. At the Shanghai Property Expo on March 15 of this year, the Portuguese Ambassador to China and Dr. Winner Xing, President of WorldWay, jointly launched the pathway for the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit to enter China, leading more and more Chinese investors to focus on Portugal.
Currently, Cyprus and Portugal have become popular destinations for real estate investment among Chinese investors and have become two "golden keys" to open the doors of the European Union.
Since the doors to European immigration are opening, from the perspective of Chinese investors, why invest in real estate in Europe? With the trend of global economic integration, Chinese investors are increasingly pursuing an international lifestyle. Based on this keen perception of the trend, WorldWay has taken the lead in the industry by proposing to be an advocate for international living. The prerequisite for an international lifestyle is the convenience of travel; however, our current visa policies still struggle to meet this demand, making property investment immigration in Europe a convenient path to internationalize the lives of Chinese citizens. It not only benefits international investment for Chinese citizens but also facilitates the internationalization of family life, making the establishment of a second home in Europe an increasingly common consensus among Chinese investors.
Additionally, from the perspective of asset allocation, the significance of overseas property investment is clear: purchasing real estate is both an expenditure and an investment. For Chinese investors, investing in real estate in Europe is a way to convert personal RMB assets into Euro assets. Holding Euro assets in the form of real estate is essential for diversifying personal assets and reducing risk. Given the numerous restrictions on domestic real estate investment, especially against the backdrop of the government's continuous tightening of real estate regulations, it is worth considering a different approach: investing in real estate abroad.
However, overseas property investment must also consider local conditions and first assess whether local policies are suitable for investment. For example, Singapore currently has strict real estate policies, making it not a good time for investment. In contrast, the doors to European investment immigration are gradually opening, making it an optimal time for investing in real estate in Europe. Senior immigration experts remind us that based on past experiences, although Europe’s relaxed immigration policies are very favorable for non-European investors to purchase property, such policies typically do not last long, likely remaining in place for only 3-5 years. Therefore, senior immigration experts suggest that domestic investors seize the rare opportunity for property investment in Europe to realize their dreams of an international lifestyle through property investment immigration.