Any discussion of working with the Chinese market must begin with a word of caution: China is in many ways as diverse as Europe, so general statements about Chinese clients must be treated carefully.

In the past 30 years, our firm has done thousands of transactions, both commercial and residential, with Chinese families and businesspeople. Notwithstanding China’s immense diversity, our collective experience has given us certain concrete insights into the expectations of Chinese clients, what factors shape their investment decisions, and how to best service this segment of the market.

When compared to other investment vehicles, there is a general preference for real estate investment amongst Chinese clients. According the U.S. Census Bureau and other studies, Asian Americans, specifically Chinese Americans, have a higher homeownership rate than any other immigrant group.

There are a variety of reasons for this which are beyond the scope of this article, but the bottom line is that when Chinese families or businesspeople come to North America, real estate is often the first major investment they make.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/05/15/want-chinese-clients-hire-chinese-speaking-agents/#sthash.BXaIr9DY.dpuf

Want Chinese clients? Hire Chinese-speaking agents | Inman News.