China Goes 'Speed Dating' With International Developers

Image: Investorist Founder and CEO Jon Ellis (second from left) with delegates at Investorist’s China Connection.

Leaders from Investorist in Australia, the UK, USA and China came together for the 2016’s second Investorist Live China event.

A new format was rolled out: Think speed dating for developers/project marketers and Chinese agents. In Beijing and Shanghai, delegates were matched with executives from China’s leading agencies in a series of one-on-one meetings. The meetings allowed the agents to learn more about the companies behind some of the world’s most prominent upcoming projects, and the delegates to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of the Chinese market.

So what did we learn at the 2016’s second Investorist Live China event?

Australia still a popular investment destination
Australian is one of the most sought-after countries for offshore investment only slightly behind the US. Despite recent government and banking policy changes for offshore investors, the main drivers for Chinese buyers wishing to invest in an economically stable nation with strong lifestyle appeal remain the same. Property Alliance Group Shanghai Sales Manager Vida Lu said, “I don’t think the new policies in certain overseas countries will hold back the Chinese investors, because their strong motivations for going abroad have not changed.”

This sentiment was echoed by Urban Activation Director Matt George, who presented their latest Melbourne project to agents. The project was very well received; Mr George said they'd he’d made a lot of valuable new contacts.

“We’ve expanded our database of connections considerably, and we’ll be using that to build on our business moving forward," he said.
US attends for the first time
This year was the first time a US delegate attended the event, which caused quite a buzz among the agents.

China is the single largest contributor to foreign residential real estate acquisition in the US, with Florida, New York and California topping the list of the most sought-after locations. Foreign investor interest in the Miami area is growing at an unprecedented rate and so the event came at a perfect time for many companies.

Cervera Real Estate President of Development Sales in Miami Jesse Ottley said they were happy to have met a lot of "quality brokers and very qualified buyers.”

UK and Europe in demand
The UK is a region that the Chinese have great appetite for but have relatively little access to - a fact that prompted both Asia Gold Director Julie Harvey and the team from Crowngate International to return with Investorist for a second event this year. Whilst Brexit left many uncertain about how the property market would be affected, the devaluation of the pound has substantially increased the value of British property.

Many agents commented that their requests from clients for UK property had increased by over 100% following the referendum.
'Golden Week' and the peak Chinese buying season
With an overflowing wait list of delegates who missed out on attending, and three attending delegates eager to return to China as soon as possible, Investorist will be hosting another China Connection week starting October 31 . The timing coincides with peak buying season for real estate in China.

September and October are responsible for more real estate purchases from investors than any other time of the year, with week-long national holidays allowing buyers the time to travel to view display suites and meet with agents/advisors.

Investorist Founder and CEO Jon Ellis said that during his time in China he experienced first hand the increased Chinese interest in property purchases in the lead up to 'Golden Week', which runs from October 1 to October 7.

"The week is not only about International travel for Chinese people," he said.

"Most travel in and around Golden Week is domestic, which represents a huge opportunity for developers and agents showcasing their projects in China.

"In China, there is a saying that ‘September is Gold and October is Silver’ for selling property.

"September has the most sales overall for the month, but Golden Week represents the biggest single week for sales volume."