They like the property. They can afford the down payment. But once they see the monthly mortgage payment, they hesitate.

For homeowners preparing to sell, that raises a practical question: Can you reach more buyers who don’t need a mortgage?

Chinese international buyers are one audience worth considering. According to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2026 international transactions report, 61% of Chinese buyers purchased their U.S. homes with cash during the April 2025–March 2026 reporting period. That describes the buyers covered by the survey, not every Chinese buyer or Chinese American household.

Reaching this audience will not fix an unrealistic asking price or guarantee an offer. But for a suitable property, it can give a seller access to buyers whose purchasing decisions are less dependent on mortgage financing.

The first step is finding an agent who can explain how that exposure would work for your home.

Do Chinese Buyers Typically Pay Cash for U.S. Homes?

Recent national surveys support saying that a majority do.

NAR’s 2025 report found that 71% of Chinese international buyers paid cash. Its 2026 report puts that figure at 61%. Both show a majority, although the percentage changes from year to year. cms.nar.realtor

There is an important distinction behind those numbers. NAR studies international buyers, including people living overseas and certain noncitizens living in the United States. Its China category includes mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. These findings should not be applied to someone simply because of their ethnicity, surname or preferred language.

For a seller, the useful takeaway is straightforward: an international marketing plan can reach an audience with a documented history of cash purchases. An individual buyer’s financial qualifications still need to be verified.

Why Cash Buyers Matter When Mortgage Costs Discourage Buyers

A buyer who can complete a purchase without a mortgage does not have to make the same monthly-payment calculation as someone financing most of the price.

Depending on the offer, that can mean fewer financing hurdles and more flexibility around closing. For a homeowner coordinating a move, downsizing or purchasing another property, those terms may matter almost as much as the price.

Cash does not remove every uncertainty. Inspection issues, title problems, unavailable funds and disagreements over terms can still interrupt a transaction. A well-qualified financed offer may be stronger than a lower cash offer with unfavorable conditions.

The goal is to create more credible options, then compare them carefully.

And a cash buyer does not have to be a company offering to buy your house at a discount. Individual buyers purchasing a residence or second home may also pay cash. Expanding your marketing can help you reach those buyers while continuing to pursue the broader market.

What Role Did Chinese Buyers Play During the Housing Recession?

Chinese investment in U.S. housing grew during the financial crisis and the years that followed.

Research summarized by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston found that Chinese purchases increased sharply in California beginning in 2008. By 2013, those purchases represented 3.5% of California’s total housing transaction value, a thirtyfold increase from 2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

The research associated that additional demand with higher local property values and employment. It also documented costs, including displacement of lower-income residents as housing became more expensive. The study focused on California; it does not establish that Chinese buyers rescued the entire U.S. housing market. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

For today’s seller, the history illustrates something useful: buyers in different countries can respond to different financial pressures and opportunities.

A slowdown among mortgage-dependent buyers in your neighborhood does not necessarily mean every potential buyer has stopped looking. It is a reason to examine your marketing reach, while keeping expectations grounded in current conditions.

Are Chinese Buyers Still Purchasing U.S. Real Estate?

Yes, although activity has declined.

NAR estimates that Chinese buyers purchased $7.6 billion in U.S. existing homes during April 2025–March 2026, down from $13.7 billion in the previous reporting period. China nevertheless remained the largest foreign-buyer source by dollar volume. nar.realtor

That decline matters. Sellers should be cautious about pitches suggesting an endless supply of overseas buyers waiting to pay any price.

The opportunity is more specific: some buyers remain active, some can purchase without mortgage financing, and some may be a good match for your property. Effective marketing gives those buyers an opportunity to discover it.

Where Does This Opportunity Matter Most?

California: The Strongest State-Level Evidence

California remains the leading destination for Chinese international homebuyers. NAR’s 2026 report found that 38% purchased in California, compared with 10% in New York. These are statewide figures, not neighborhood-level forecasts.

For homeowners in Los Angeles, Orange County, the San Francisco Bay Area and San Diego, that makes international reach a reasonable topic to raise when interviewing listing agents.

The same question applies to sellers in Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla, Carlsbad and Encinitas: would additional Chinese-language exposure meaningfully expand the audience for this particular home?

The answer should depend on the property, price range and evidence of buyer interest. A statewide statistic alone cannot answer it.

Greater Seattle: A Documented History on the Eastside

Greater Seattle also has an established history of Chinese buyer activity.

Reporting published in 2016 described Chinese interest in luxury properties in Bellevue, Medina and Clyde Hill. Separate reporting that year documented buyers considering Seattle-area homes after Vancouver introduced a foreign-buyer tax. These are historical examples, rather than measurements of today’s demand.

For a seller in Seattle or the Eastside, the next step is local verification. Ask an agent what they are seeing now in your price range, which relationships they maintain, and how they would make your listing accessible to buyers researching from abroad.

The Northeast: New York and Greater Boston

New York has both current national data and a longer history of Chinese buyer interest. Reuters reporting in 2014 described Chinese buyers becoming a prominent part of Manhattan’s international apartment market. GMA News Online

Greater Boston has its own documented history. Boston.com reported in 2014 on Chinese buyers purchasing Massachusetts luxury homes, with universities and education among the motivations described by local agents. That establishes a history of interest, rather than a promise of current demand for any individual listing. Boston.com Real Estate

New Jersey deserves consideration within a broader Northeast marketing plan, too. NAR ranked it fourth among states for all international buyers in its 2026 release. That ranking is not specific to Chinese buyers, so a seller should ask for more local evidence before treating it as one. nar.realtor

Across these markets, the useful question is the same: can the agent show a credible path from international exposure to qualified inquiries about your home?

How Do You Find an Agent Who Can Reach Chinese Buyers?

Start before you sign a listing agreement.

“International marketing” can describe very different services. Ask prospective agents to show you what they would actually do.

• Where would my property appear? Request the names of the platforms and examples of live listings.
• Will buyers receive professionally translated property information? Photos alone may leave important questions unanswered.
• Who will respond to Chinese-language inquiries? Exposure has limited value if nobody can follow up effectively.
• What relevant relationships do you maintain? Ask about agents, referral partners and previous work with international clients.
• How will you evaluate inquiries and offers? You want qualified interest and clear reporting.
• How does this fit into the rest of my listing campaign? International exposure should support a strong local marketing plan.

An experienced agent should also be comfortable explaining when this approach may have limited value. A specific assessment is more useful than a sweeping promise.

How Caimeiju Fits Into a Home Seller’s Marketing Plan

Caimeiju provides Chinese-language luxury property marketing. Its published services include human translation, Chinese property-portal distribution, video hosting in China and Chinese social-media promotion. caimeiju.com

For homeowners, those capabilities offer a concrete subject to discuss with a prospective listing agent: how would the agent use them to present your property and respond to interested buyers?

The value comes from combining relevant exposure with local expertise. Your agent still needs to understand competing listings, advise on preparation and pricing, negotiate effectively and manage the sale.

A translated listing creates another way to be found. The agent’s work determines how that opportunity is handled.

Questions Home Sellers Often Ask

Will a Chinese cash buyer pay more for my home?

There is no basis for assuming that. A buyer with cash may negotiate just as carefully as someone using a mortgage. Additional exposure may generate more interest, but it does not establish what anyone will offer.

Should I wait for interest rates to fall before listing?

That decision depends on your timing, competing inventory and local demand. Before deciding, ask an agent to evaluate the likely buyer pool for your property, including buyers who may not need financing.

Can international marketing help if my home is already listed?

Potentially. Ask your current agent what international exposure is already included and whether additional Chinese-language marketing would be appropriate. Any added campaign should be coordinated with the existing listing arrangement.

Do buyers have to live in China for Chinese-language marketing to be useful?

No. Language and location are different considerations. Property information in Chinese may be useful to people researching from overseas or within the United States.

How can I find an agent with relevant experience?

Contact Caimeiju with your property’s location, approximate value and expected selling timeline. Request an introduction to an agent who can assess whether Chinese and international buyer outreach belongs in your marketing plan.

Thinking About Selling? Start With the Right Agent Conversation

If mortgage costs are making you concerned about finding a buyer, it is worth asking whether your home’s marketing could reach a wider audience.

You do not need a promise that an overseas buyer will appear. You need an agent who can evaluate the opportunity, explain the work involved and give you realistic advice.

Contact Caimeiju to request an introduction to an agent experienced in reaching Chinese and international buyers.

Include your city or neighborhood, property type, approximate price range and when you are considering selling. Whether your home is in California, Greater Seattle, the Northeast or another U.S. market, those details will help Caimeiju assess an appropriate introduction.

Market statistics describe past activity and do not predict an individual sale. Agent availability varies by location. International marketing does not guarantee inquiries, a cash offer, a particular price or a closing date.

There are fewer Chinese buyers purchasing homes in the United States today than during the peak years of overseas investment. The buyers who remain, however, tend to operate at a much higher price point.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, buyers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan purchased approximately $7.6 billion of U.S. residential real estate during the 12 months ending March 2026. China ranked third in the number of homes purchased by international buyers, but first in total dollars spent. The average purchase was approximately $1 million, with California remaining the leading destination for Chinese buyers.

For owners of distinctive or expensive California homes, that makes Chinese buyers a market worth understanding, but not one that can be reached simply by translating an MLS description into Chinese.

Chinese Buyers Haven’t Disappeared. The Buyer Has Changed.

The image many Americans have of Chinese real estate buyers comes from the years leading up to 2017, when large groups of buyers toured American properties and billions of dollars flowed from China into U.S. residential real estate.

That period is over.

Capital controls in China, the pandemic, international travel restrictions and a changing political and economic environment dramatically reduced that activity. At the same time, the buyers who can still purchase substantial overseas assets tend to be wealthier and more sophisticated.

The San Francisco Standard recently examined this shift in some of California’s most expensive communities. Agents working in Atherton, Palo Alto and other Peninsula markets described renewed interest from very wealthy Chinese buyers, including buyers assembling collections of homes in major cities around the world.

The statistics support that observation.

In 2025, the average U.S. property purchased by a Chinese buyer was roughly $1.2 million. In the latest 2026 NAR data, transaction volume fell substantially, yet Chinese buyers still spent more in total than buyers from Canada, Mexico, India or the United Kingdom.

In other words, this has become less of a volume market and more of a high-value buyer market.

For a California homeowner selling a $3 million, $8 million or $20 million property, that distinction matters.

Why Do Chinese Buyers Continue to Choose California?

California has several advantages that are difficult to duplicate elsewhere in the United States.

There are established Chinese communities and business connections, internationally recognized universities, major technology and financial centers, direct air connections with Asia, well-known school districts and California cities whose names are recognized around the world.

In the latest NAR reporting, California attracted 19% of all international home buyers, second only to Florida. California was also the top destination for Chinese buyers, drawing roughly 38% of their U.S. purchases.

But location alone doesn’t explain why one California property gets attention while another is ignored.

What Wealthy Chinese Buyers Look for in a California Home

There is no single “Chinese buyer,” and sellers should be skeptical of anyone who treats millions of people as if they all want the same thing.

Still, years of transaction data and the experience of agents working with Chinese families reveal some recurring preferences.

One useful concept is fang bian (方便).

There isn’t a perfect English translation. “Convenient” comes close, but the idea can also include ease, suitability, comfort and the feeling that daily life will simply work.

The San Francisco Standard found that this concept helps explain why affluent Chinese buyers have been drawn to places such as Palo Alto and Atherton. International recognition matters, but so do practical things: proximity to schools, airports, employment centers, shopping, restaurants and other established amenities.

That can matter even at the very highest end of the market.

A spectacular estate may offer acreage, privacy and architecture, but if a buyer feels isolated from everything important to the family, those attributes may not be enough.

Familiarity can be valuable

International buyers often begin with locations they already know.

A buyer living in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong or Singapore may immediately recognize Beverly Hills, Palo Alto or Malibu while knowing very little about an equally expensive neighboring community.

For sellers, this creates an important marketing challenge.

It is not enough to show a beautiful house.

The marketing also has to explain why the location matters.

What is nearby? How long does it take to reach the airport? What schools, universities, business centers, beaches, clubs, shopping districts or cultural destinations define the area?

A local buyer may already understand those things. An international buyer may not.

Single-family homes remain attractive

The San Francisco Standard also noted the preference for detached single-family residences among many Chinese buyers. More than 70% of Chinese buyers covered by the referenced NAR data purchased detached homes.

Space, privacy, land and control over the property can carry considerable appeal, particularly for buyers accustomed to apartment living in dense Asian cities.

A California residence with a substantial yard, views, privacy or acreage can therefore offer something that is difficult and extraordinarily expensive to replicate in cities such as Hong Kong or Shanghai.

What About Chinese Cash Buyers?

Cash remains an important part of international real estate.

In NAR’s 2026 report, 48% of international home purchases were made entirely with cash, compared with 28% of existing-home purchases overall.

Historically, Chinese buyers have been especially cash-heavy. NAR’s 2024 reporting found Chinese buyers among the foreign buyer groups most likely to purchase without financing.

That does not mean every Chinese buyer arriving in California has several million dollars sitting in a mainland Chinese bank account ready to wire.

Quite the opposite.

Moving capital internationally has become substantially more complicated. Today’s buyer may already hold assets outside mainland China, have business interests in several countries, live part-time in the United States, have children studying or working here, or work through established international financial and family structures.

This is another reason the market has changed.

The wealthy Chinese buyer of 2026 may be much less visible than the buyer of 2015.

Reaching a Chinese Buyer Is Different From Putting a Home on the Internet

This is where sellers should make an important distinction.

Having a home visible online is not the same as marketing that home to China.

A standard luxury listing may appear on dozens or even hundreds of websites through automatic syndication. That sounds impressive in a listing presentation, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the right international buyer will ever see it.

China has its own digital ecosystem, search habits, social platforms, media channels and language expectations. A property presented only through American real estate portals is being marketed primarily for an American audience.

Professional localization matters as well.

A literal translation can communicate the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. It cannot necessarily communicate why Rancho Santa Fe, Newport Coast, Atherton, Beverly Hills, La Jolla or another California luxury community deserves the attention of someone thousands of miles away.

International marketing has to provide that context.

California Luxury Real Estate Marketing to China Has Changed

Caimeiju has had a front-row seat to that evolution.

Founded in 2009 specifically to connect affluent Chinese buyers with luxury real estate around the world, Caimeiju emerged during the early growth of Chinese interest in American luxury property. Over the years, the platform has worked with prominent agents and real estate companies across California’s leading luxury markets. In the San Francisco Bay Area, including Atherton, Menlo Park, Hillsborough and the surrounding Peninsula, that has included Judy Citron, the Gullixson Group and Erika Demma. In Los Angeles, Caimeiju has worked with Sally Forster Jones, Joyce Rey, Rodeo Realty, The Agency, Equity Union and other leading names in high-end residential real estate. In San Diego, Caimeiju works exclusively with LuxeAlly Real Estate to reach affluent Chinese buyers for luxury properties throughout Carmel Valley, Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla, and Carlsbad.

Much has changed since then.

The large-scale buying wave disappeared. Chinese capital controls became stricter. Platforms changed. Social media changed. International travel changed. Buyers became harder to identify, and in many cases significantly wealthier.

That makes the old strategy of simply “putting a listing in China” much less relevant.

Today’s challenge is visibility, context and credibility.

A multimillion-dollar California property needs to reach the right audience, in the right language and in an environment where the home, its location and the listing agent all make sense to the prospective buyer.

That has been the central idea behind Caimeiju from the beginning, even as the tools used to accomplish it continue to evolve.

If You’re Selling an Expensive California Home, Should You Market to Chinese Buyers?

Not every home needs an international campaign.

But the more unusual, expensive or globally recognizable the property is, the stronger the argument becomes for exposing it beyond the immediate local market.

This is particularly true when a property offers characteristics that may appeal to globally mobile families: privacy, security, land, ocean or city views, proximity to highly regarded schools and universities, convenient airport access, a prestigious address or a lifestyle difficult to reproduce in an Asian city.

The objective isn’t to predict that “the buyer will come from China.”

Nobody can promise that.

The objective is to avoid unnecessarily limiting the buyer pool when the home itself has international appeal.

A seller only needs one buyer willing to value the property more highly than everyone else.

For a significant California residence, that person may live across town.

They may also live across the Pacific.

Questions to Ask an Agent Before Listing a Luxury Home

If international exposure is important to you, don’t simply ask a prospective listing agent whether your home will receive “global marketing.”

Ask what that actually means.

Where will the property appear outside the United States? Automatic syndication and intentional marketing are different things.

Will the property be professionally presented in Chinese? Luxury marketing requires more than machine translation.

How will the location be explained to someone unfamiliar with the local market? International buyers need context that local buyers already possess.

How will Chinese buyers actually discover the property? Ask about search, social media, Chinese-language content, direct networks and international agent relationships.

Who has the agent or company worked with before? International marketing is difficult to create overnight. Established relationships and experience matter.

For the right property, those questions can become just as important as photography, staging or the local launch strategy.

The Chinese Luxury Buyer Is Still Here — Just Harder to See

The headline numbers can appear contradictory.

Chinese buyers are purchasing fewer U.S. homes than they did during the boom years.

Yet they continue to spend more money on American residential real estate than buyers from any other foreign country, and California remains their preferred U.S. destination.

Both things can be true.

The market has become smaller, wealthier and more selective.

For California luxury-home sellers, that means international marketing shouldn’t be based on the assumptions of 2015. It should reflect how buyers discover property today, what they value and how much more fragmented the path to reaching them has become.

Caimeiju has been connecting luxury real estate with Chinese audiences since 2009. The channels have changed considerably since then.

The reason for doing it hasn’t.

If you are preparing to sell a significant California property and believe the buyer may come from beyond the local market, contact Caimeiju to discuss how the property can be positioned for Chinese and international exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chinese Home Buyers in California

Are Chinese buyers still purchasing homes in California?

Yes. Chinese purchases have declined from their historical peak, but Chinese buyers remain the largest foreign buyer group in the United States by total dollars spent. California continues to be their leading U.S. destination.

How much do Chinese buyers spend on U.S. homes?

Chinese buyers purchased approximately $7.6 billion of U.S. residential real estate during the 12 months ending March 2026. Their average purchase price was approximately $1 million, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Do Chinese buyers pay cash for California homes?

Many international buyers do. In NAR’s 2026 data, 48% of international home purchases were all cash. Chinese buyers have historically ranked among the international groups most likely to purchase without mortgage financing.

What types of California homes appeal to wealthy Chinese buyers?

Preferences vary by buyer, but recognized locations, detached single-family residences, privacy, land, good schools, airport access and proximity to business, shopping and other everyday amenities can be important. Recent reporting on Chinese buyers in California also points to the importance of fang bian — a broader idea of convenience, ease and suitability.

How can I market my California luxury home to Chinese buyers?

Effective marketing usually requires more than listing syndication. Sellers should consider professional Chinese-language localization, Chinese digital channels, international agent and buyer networks, location-specific education and marketing created specifically for affluent Chinese audiences.

What is Caimeiju?

Caimeiju 采美居 is a luxury real estate platform founded in 2009 to connect affluent Chinese buyers with significant residential properties in California and other luxury markets around the world. Its work has included Chinese-language property marketing, Chinese search and social media exposure, video, localization and international luxury real estate marketing.

In a testament to the growing influence of Chinese buyers in the U.S. luxury real estate market, recent transactions highlight the significant impact these investors have on high-end properties. According to Robb Report, Mainland Chinese buyers have been linked to three of the most expensive U.S. homes sold in the past 18 months. Two of these properties, known for their celebrity connections, were acquired by the same buyer. In October 2022, a mystery buyer paid $55 million for the Newport Coast mansion of reality TV stars Dr. Terry and Heather Dubrow. Just four months later, another $55 million was spent on the extravagant Beverly Hills mansion of actor Mark Wahlberg.

Although the new owner’s identity was not disclosed initially, it was widely reported that both the Dubrows’ home and Wahlberg’s estate were bought by the same Mainland Chinese billionaire, later believed to be associated with Gu Fang.

荨 梦 的 家 (Xù Mèng de Jiā – The Homes of Xu Meng)

In late 2022, Heather Dubrow’s 20,000-square-foot Newport Coast mansion was sold for $55 million to an LLC connected to Gu Fang. Gu is known to be the longtime wife of Xu Hang, one of China’s wealthiest individuals and co-founder of Mindray Medical, China’s largest medical device manufacturer.

Given Mindray’s success, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is no surprise that Xu and Gu are on the lookout for ultra-luxury homes. Mindray’s skyrocketing demand for ventilators in 2020 significantly boosted the net worth of its cofounder Li Xiting, Singapore’s richest man, by an astonishing $1 billion per month. Xu Hang’s personal wealth has also seen a dramatic increase, from $1.8 billion in 2018 to a peak of $19.5 billion in 2021. Currently, his wealth is estimated at $12.1 billion, making him Shenzhen’s richest man and the fourth wealthiest individual in the global healthcare industry.

Expanding the Luxury Portfolio

The Beverly Hills mansion in the exclusive Beverly Park gated community was sold in early 2023 for $55 million to an LLC linked to Gu Fang. This high-profile purchase is just one part of Xu and Gu’s expanding real estate portfolio. Earlier in 2023, billionaire real estate developer Stephen Ross sold his mansion-sized penthouse at New York City’s Time Warner Center for $40 million, a significant discount from its original $75 million asking price. Records indicate that the buyer was another LLC associated with Xu and Gu.

This lavish penthouse, along with the other high-end properties, underscores Xu and Gu’s substantial investments in luxury real estate. Since late 2022, Xu has spent a staggering $257 million—in cash—on premier properties.

Market Your Luxury Residence with Caimeiju.com

The substantial investments made by high-net-worth individuals like Xu Hang and Gu Fang demonstrate the incredible opportunities available in the luxury real estate market. To tap into this lucrative buyer pool, listing your property on Caimeiju.com can provide unparalleled exposure. Our platform is dedicated to marketing luxury residences to affluent Chinese buyers, ensuring your property reaches the right audience.

Rupert Hoogewerf of Hurun Report and International Real Estate Marketer and Caimeiju Founder, Jeff Toth discuss China in the age of post Covid-19.

Hurun Report is widely recognized as the foremost authority in tracking the rapid changes amongst China’s high net worth individuals. 

Jeff and Rupert discuss China’s past and current role in the world of real estate investment, position in the world economy, and insights behind the stories that shaped the country’s most successful entrepreneurs.

“If you’re a young Chinese entrepreneur, you no longer have to look up to Seattle or Silicon Valley to understand what’s going on in the world of entrepreneurship; you can find a load of successful and interesting entrepreneurs right there on your doorstep in China“

• 01:00 – Early days of Hurun Report, “from China oh, to China wow”
• 05:30 – Reflecting on a decade of Chinese real estate investment and what’s changed
• 09:00 – The biggest period in history of global wealth creation
• 11:10 – Evolution of new young Chinese Entrepreneurs
• 13:53 – ‘Wealth Impact 2mths after COVID-19 Outbreak’
• 18:30 – Remaining relevant and engaging with China’s entrepreneurs through events
• 20:30 – Global Women’s Rich list – telling the story of women in business shaping our world and the remarkably high number of Chinese women business entrepreneurs.

Western companies are just now realizing how complex doing business in China is. Whether you’re selling luxury real estate, travel experiences, or super-yachts, the first step in being found in China is online search.

Google Doesn’t Matter in China

Baidu is China’s version of Google. It’s the second largest search engine in the world and holds a 76.05% market share in China’s search engine market.

Phoenix Nest is the Chinese counterpart of Google’s Adwords platform, but unlike Google AdWords, setting up a Baidu PPC account can be a daunting and often overwhelming process.

The Hard Way or the Easy Way

Applying for a pay-per-click account with Baidu is right up there with preparing a tax return or applying for a loan. It’s complicated, time-consuming, and somewhat invasive.

Traditionally companies either go at it alone or hire a Chinese “partner” to guide them through the application process. Regardless; the following steps are required from Baidu to run paid search. (Let’s call this the hard way)

• Prepare and submit supporting documents including Articles of Incorporation and company seal
• Sign a Baidu PPC account opening contract
• Establish a payment system to fund the Baidu PPC campaigns.
• Build a Chinese website and hire someone to manage it.
• Wait for approval

The Great Firewall Factor

Let’s assume submitting sensitive corporate information to a company in China wasn’t a deal breaker, you have a translated website and survived approval process. There’s still one significant issue; any traffic generated from the campaign will most likely bounce because your site isn’t hosted in China or the page takes too long to load.

The Caimeiju Way

Luckily there is another way, and it’s surprisingly simple. Clients of Caimeiju bypass these steps and are typically live with an active Baidu campaign within a week.

Here’s how we do it:

• Create a Chinese landing page for your offering that mirrors the original English website version
• Host the landing page and assets (videos, floor plans, photos) on our servers in China.
• Professionally translate all information
• Establish a list Chinese keyword search terms
• Manage your campaign under our approved Baidu account.
• Point traffic from Baidu directly to your page

This approach in non-invasive, meaning at no time are we required to access your company’s DNS, hosting account, or your main website back-end.

For additional information on this topic please see Digital Advertising On Baidu: A Recipe For Success or Contact us Directly.

To put things in perspective, Los Angeles has over 2,500 licensed Chinese agents. Most, if not all hold strong ties to friends and family in China and some of them do a staggering amount of business.

Builders and Developers wanting to move units quickly might think accessing this group would be a valuable strategy. They would be correct in that assumption, but it can be tricky without the right connections.

Capital Outflow

Getting money out of China is no joke and has become a bigger obstacle over the last several years. However, many sophisticated buyers already own multiple homes overseas in diverse real estate portfolios.

Savvy buyers now understand how to leverage equity in their existing homes to purchase additional property rather than getting hung up on capital outflow issues. They depend on trusted agents to bring new opportunities to their attention and strongly value privacy.

How can Builders and Developers Access Chinese Buyer Agent Networks?

Educating the brokerage community is the first step in getting agents interested selling a real estate development project. But before education can begin, you’ll need brokers…

Caimeiju recently co-organized our first broker relations event with The House Club and our client ETCO Homes. ETCO is the builder behind Villas & Terraces at Ambassador Gardens in Pasadena, soon to be completed One Coast in Pacific Palisades, and several other upcoming project around Los Angeles.

Broker Relations: Offline / Online

A major problem for many builders is not only educating the brokerage community, but to make it easy for agents to share information about the project once the presentation is over; ultimately educating the buyer. This can be difficult enough in English speaking markets. Adding China to the mix adds another level of complexity.

Chinese Agents are Not on Instagram

Google, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, agent websites, and even MLS can be completely inaccessible within China due to what’s known as The Great Firewall (TGF)

To address this, Caimeiju developed custom landing pages for the builder that are translated and hosted on Chinese servers. This ensures property information including videos, floor plans, and virtual tours can easily be accessed, understood, and shared in China while retaining the creative and brand integrity of the original site.

Private transportation was provided from three locations bringing agents to the development where they were educated by the builder about features and benefits. Agents were quizzed following the tour and offered prizes for correct answers.

WeChat articles were written to help brokers easily share property and community information with their network of buyers both domestically and in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

The result was over 100 Chinese agents touring, learning, and sharing the development with their buyers along with enjoying great food and entertainment.

Please contact us if you’d like to explore hiring Caimeiju to host your next builder or developer event.

Does your local real estate agent have A-list celebrities, professional athletes, business leaders, and international high-net-worth individuals on speed-dial?

For nearly a decade, Caimeiju has worked along side the biggest name luxury and ultra-luxury agents in the industry. Along the way we’ve picked up on a few things and have even learned to recognize emerging market trends. We feel this is an opportunity to share what we’re experiencing and hear your thoughts.

A Changing Market

Wasted time hurts everyone. Homes are taking longer to sell than in recent years and the days of popping a listing on the MLS while waiting for the offers to roll in seem to be behind us.

Sellers apparently have also taken notice of the shift as an increasing amount of them have been contacting Caimeiju directly for recommendations on listing their luxury homes. For some, exposure to China is important, but many potential sellers are simply interested in working with an agent who provides superior exposure or have the right connections.

Can a luxury home-seller have their cake and eat it too?

It’s not difficult to find a real estate agent. Everyone seems to have a friend, uncle, or neighbor in the profession…

Trust is paramount so it’s no surprise home-sellers often choose an agent they know or recognize as successful in their local market.

Alternatively, luxury homeowners also expect their home to be marketed to anyone on the planet with means to purchase.

Local Expert vs. Global Power Broker

Depending on where you live, hiring the right luxury real estate agent can become a polarizing decision. While the local expert knows the pulse, comps, and nuances of the local market; they may be limited in their ability to market the property to its full potential due to their limited sphere of influence outside of their local market.

Conversely, select luxury agents hold coveted networks of buyers like professional athletes, celebrities, business moguls, and other high-net-worth individuals. However; the power agent may be limited in their ability to service the seller due to geography or provide the same level of attention, local knowledge, and responsiveness as the local expert.

Many smaller and mid-size markets have pockets of luxury properties and also very good local real estate experts, but often there is a lack of highly influential “rock-star” agents like those found in Beverly Hills, New York, or Miami who consistently associate with global high-net-worth buyers.

“Special” Home

Sellers who contact us usually have homes they consider somewhat special relative to the comps, but they are not confident the local agent pool can provide the exposure necessary to sell fast or for the highest price. They want authentic global exposure and wish to know which agents are most capable of providing it.

Is co-listing a dirty word?

In the eyes of some, co-listing can be messy. Agents have their own way of doing things and who really wants to split a commission?

When viewed as a strategic partnership, co-listing does has the potential to work quite effectively, especially when both parties bring equal value to the deal and fill a void left by the other.

We’ve seen several examples where a seller hires the agent they know to be responsible for the “boots on the ground” duties while the co-listing power-agent leverages their network and high-visibility to provide exponential exposure to the property. The seller receives the benefit leveraging the unique strengths of both agents while everyone works towards a common goal.

Comments are open on this one. Tell us what you think or give us a call if you’re seeking a recommendation for the best agent to sell your luxury property.

According to The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), visitation from China has steadily increased over the past several years including a nearly 13 percent jump in 2016. China recorded the most visitors in history with more than 233,000 guests traveling to Las Vegas.

2019 is Year of the Pig (Gong Xi Fa Cai Hong Bao Na Lai)

Las Vegas (拉斯维加斯) is one of the most popular travel destinations for Chinese tourists. Many resorts and casino’s decorate their properties with extravagant displays, elaborate décor, and festival decorations.  during China’s most popular holiday travel time.

This year expect the Vegas mega resorts to go all out with traditional Chinese cuisine and activities to commemorate the Year of the Pig as they wish wealth, good health and good fortune to all.

The Venetian will be passing out more than 500 red envelopes to guests filled with prizes.  (gift cards, retail and dinning incentives), and a  3,000-pound, 16-foot tall golden pig.

Luxury agents considering the pilgrimage to China seeking a connection with the all illusive Chinese billionaire may be asking “Is the investment worth it?” 

In 2010 the first LPS property show was hosted in Bejing.  The concept was unproven at the time since China was only just beginning to attract attention as the place to seek investment from luxury property investors. Nearly a decade later, LPS has held 18 shows to date.

Traveling with a team to China, purchasing a booth, accommodations, and entertainment can quickly become an expensive endeavor. So the question is, is it worth the investment?

Caimeiju attended that very first event in Beijing and visited many other times since over the years. We’ve heard feedback from a diverse group. The general conclusion is a definitive, “it depends”.

Expectations

Chinese buyers will plump down suitcases full of cash and sign contracts on sight. While this may be the dream of any who exhibit, they may be left disappointed if this is the benchmark for a measuring a successful event.

More likely, exhibitors are establishing a foundation to forge a future relationship.  Having a plan on what to do after the show is critical to maximizing your investment.

Follow-up plan?

By the end of the 3-day show, exhibitors will have made contact with hundreds of people and collected a significant amount of leads. However, many have not considered a follow-up strategy to remain engaged with their new Chinese prospects after everyone’s gone home.

Exhibitors may be caught by surprise upon discovering China’s internet landscape and tools to share information are much different than in the Western world. This is a giant obstacle when staying in contact with a newly acquired Chinese prospect.

1. Real estate websites blocked in China –  Scams are prevalent in China. Buyers will want to research agents/brokers they’re doing business with to better understand if they are reputable. A website is the most common way to tell your story. If the website is blocked in China, this is difficult.
2. Instagram and Facebook are invisible in China – People in China accessing the Internet through WiFi or China wireless carriers will not be able to access Western social media, nor do they care to. Weibo is the closest Chinese social media platform to Instagram and Twitter.
3. Chinese people prefer to read Chinese, not English – Although a percentage of visitors can read English, they are Chinese and relate stronger to information presented in their language.
4. Chinese don’t use email as Westerners do – Yes, Chinese people do have email but it’s not the primary conduit for digital communication. Literally, anyone with a mobile phone uses WeChat. If you are not set up to continue a dialog on WeChat, then it’s unlikely a dialogue can be expected to continue after the show.

A digital presence online in China

Alain Pinel Realtors (APR) is a frequent repeat visitor of LPS and have process dialed in. Not only does APR boast one of the largest displays at LPS shows both in Beijing and Shanghai, but their portfolio of luxury listings are also translated and hosted in China through their Caimeiju site, china.apr.com.

Taking things a step further, APR utilizes a custom WeChat micro-site. The WeChat site provides APR the ability to easily share listing, brokerage, and market information in real-time with contacts at the show. This strategy not only sets APR apart from other exhibitors in a competitive environment but also provides a channel to funnel leads into a CRM.

Unexpected ROI

Gauging success based on the number of Chinese leads is one way to measure ROI. What many people fail to consider though are the relationships forged with other top-level luxury agents from markets around the world. Since the cost to attend and exhibit are considerable, the barrier-to-entry is high. Exhibitors are typically successful luxury brokers in their respective markets. Everyone there is on a China adventure which is an ideal environment to form a sort of comradery.

Sometimes it’s the people who share an elevator or sit next to each other at breakfast who forge long-lasting personal and professional relationships. So many of the deals we’ve referred to agents in other countries are those we’ve shared an experience with at LPS.

In China, Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and yes, YouTube and Vimeo are blocked. The only way for your real estate movie to be seen in China is to use a Chinese video platform. YouKu and QQ are two of the most popular; however, they do have their challenges.

Chinese Video Platforms

Most Chinese video platforms don’t have an English interface so setting up an accounting and uploading videos is close to impossible. If you are successful or have a Chinese friend help you, the second challenge (and in my opinion deal-breaker) is ads. Chinese video sites are aggressive in forcing users to watch an advertisement before seeing the main video. Nothing says luxury like a bubble gum commercial.

Caimeiju’s video player is hosted in China. We publish our client’s movies, embed them on Caimeiju, and share through social media like WeChat and Weibo. It’s a private video player so videos play without ads and since they are hosted on Chinese servers, they load very fast with no delay or buffering.

Want to learn more? Contact us!