Chinese New Year: Developers and agents offer free immigration services and deal to cure buyers
Australian developers and agents are offering free immigration services, access to concierges and thousands of dollars in cash backs to lure Chinese house hunters this Lunar New Year.
Chinese New Year, which begins on February 12, is normally one of the most popular periods of the year for Chinese buyers to visit Australia in search of their dream home.
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Despite borders closer to non Australian citizens or permanent residents, experts are expecting predicting demand for China-based buyers to buy property to be 40 per cent higher than last year.
Juwai IQI Group co-founder and executive chairman Georg Chmiel said China-based house hunters were expected to splash the cash over the New Year period due to a spike in COVID-19 cases prompting Chinese officials to encourage families to stay at home.
“Many Chinese with unexpected bank account surpluses are telling us they have decided to invest in real estate rather than fritter away the money,” he said.
“That’s why home prices in major Chinese cities are climbing and one reason we forecast higher demand in Australia.”
Mr Chmiel said the activity they are seeing suggests Chinese buyers could make 20 to 40 per cent more overseas inquires this year than during the 2020 Chinese New Year.
The potential demand is seeing many developers and real estate agencies around Australia look to woo Chinese buyers with plenty of incentives.
Melbourne real estate chain, Kay & Buron is offering all potential international Chinese buyers who make an inquiry in the next month access to a personalised concierge service.
Kay & Burton head of international Jamie Mi said the service includes anything from private driving, schools, deep cleaning and the application of a special antivirus spray.
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“For most of our overseas buyers at the moment, while the actual decision makers are
overseas, family members are here already,” he said.
“We know our personalised concierge service serves an acute need for these families, many of whom have not yet settled into a permanent home here.”
Property developer DealCorp is offering overseas students consultancies with a
student advisor at La Trobe University to buyers who reserve an apartment at its Polaris development. It is also enticing China-based buyers with access to immigration lawyers to discuss migration and property.
To celebrate Chinese New Year, Perth’s Elements at Carousel development is providing a $8888 developer’s rebate when settlement occurs to international buyers who reserve an apartment with 15 days of February 11. IQI WA head Lily Chong said overseas Chinese buyers would also have access to 75 per cent stamp duty rebates being offered by the West Australian Government.
The incentives are not just unique to Australia, with various developers across Asia hoping to entice Chinese buyers over the Lunar New Year. One Bangkok developer is offering $45,000 in discounts to Chinese buyers.