Shanghai Property Expo to showcase foreign investments

PHUKET: If you are looking to buy, sell or rent a property, then make a note on your schedule to visit the 2014 Shanghai Real Estate Expo from December 8-10, and check out the hundreds of properties on offer, all under one roof.

The three-day free exhibition, which takes place in Shanghai’s financial district, will feature leading overseas developers, real estate agents and realtors, as well as banks, service providers and furniture retailers.

President of the Shanghai Real Estate Association, Zhao Longjie, recently met the organizers and said he was confident they would be ready to welcome the large number of local and international investors, buyers and members of the public expected to visit the Expo.

“Overseas real estate projects play a big part in the future investment plans for the people of Shanghai and China. Today, there is a growing number of affluent Chinese travelling abroad to seek out such investments,” said Mr Zhao.

“We are therefore pleased to support this exhibition, which will demonstrate to local and international investors what Chinese developers and realtors have to offer. In addition, it will provide visitors from China and abroad with the opportunity to select properties from a large number of real-estate projects – all conveniently located under one roof at the Shanghai Real Estate Expo.”

Shanghai is currently one of the top destinations for agents and developers from Southeast Asia who want to exhibit their real estate projects – with the majority of them coming from Malaysia and Thailand.

“There is a growing class of affluent mainland Chinese emigrating to other countries who are looking to secure quality real-estate property in which to invest and start a new life. It is these buyers – along with the overseas expat population – that are driving demand for overseas property at prices considerably lower than those in many cities of China,” Mr Zhao said.

The overseas property investment boom is also the result of a recent bubble in China’s real estate market, which has seen housing prices in many Chinese cities fall this year – a trend that shows no signs of reversing.

The average sales prices of new homes in 70 major Chinese cities fell 0.9% in July year on year, following a 0.5% decline in June – with many realtors wondering just how protracted the slowdown will become.

Many Chinese are now reluctant to invest in local properties and are turning to overseas properties, where they can be guaranteed a high investment return. The 2014 Shanghai Real Estate Expo is therefore considered an invaluable opportunity for many overseas developers and agents to showcase high-quality real-estate projects to the fast-growing Chinese market.

Visit the 2014 Shanghai Real Estate Expo website at www.chinarealestateshow.com for up-to-the-minute information about the exhibitors, as well as opening times and location. Entrance to the show is free for all visitors. For more information email: info@chinarealestateshow.com