Representing Chinese Real Estate Investors in the United States

Abstract

As of 2013, Chinese investors are the second largest group of international buyers in the U.S. real estate market. They are second only to Canadian investors. What is driving this flood of investment? What particular issues do Chinese investors face? This article first explores the recent explosion in Chinese real estate investors, then the background of property law in China, and the particular political, legal and cultural factors driving outward investment. Then this article reviews the U.S. legal, tax and cultural issues facing Chinese investors. This article mainly addresses residential property and concludes with proposals for representing Chinese investors.

Keywords: real estate, China, Chinese, investors, foreign investment, property law, residential property, legal history, Chinese-Americans, Exclusion Act, immigration, Confucianism, fengshui, ritual, housing, foreign students, visas, housing boom, corruption

JEL Classification: F22, I22, I28, J11, J15, J71, K11, K34, K40, L85, N35, N41, N45, P22, P31, P33, P36, R21,R52