Property in mainland China: rules for foreign buyers
Land-use rights, who may buy, taxes, capital controls and visas, explained from official sources.
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Property in China and Hong Kong for foreigners: a guide to the rules, costs and risks
Mainland China and Hong Kong are two different legal systems with two different answers to the question 'can a foreigner buy?'. A map of our guides to both.
Buying property in China: due diligence and scams every foreign buyer should know
Title certificates, liens, presale permits, rural land that cannot be sold, area measures and tenants in place: what to check before you pay, and what we could not confirm.
China's property market in 2026: falling prices, low rental yields and developer risks
Thirty-eight months of annual price declines, investment down by about a fifth, low rental yields, restructured developers and a new presale rule: where the market stands and what it means for a foreign buyer.
Cost of living in China 2026: a monthly budget for one person, a couple and a family
On our own sums, one person needs roughly 780 to 1,860 euro a month and a family of four 2,600 to 5,600 euro before international school. How the budget is built line by line for Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Xiamen, with sources and dates.
China: cities for foreign buyers, from Shanghai and Beijing to Shenzhen and Hainan
Who can buy at all, how purchase curbs have eased in big cities, what the 2026 price indices show and what we could not find. A comparison without a ranking.
China visas and residence: visa-free entry, permits and permanent residence for foreigners
Polish citizens can currently enter China without a visa for up to 30 days, but short stays are not residence. The visa categories, the residence-first rule for buyers, permanent residence, 24-hour registration and tax residency.
Mortgages and money transfers for foreigners in China: who can borrow and how capital controls work
Eligibility rules, the 15% down payment floor, the LPR, bringing foreign currency in after the September 2025 reform, the USD 50,000 quota and how sale proceeds leave the country.
Property taxes and fees in China for foreign buyers: deed tax, VAT, income tax and the six-year rule
The deed tax cut of December 2024, the VAT change of January 2026, income tax on a resale, rent taxes, the Shanghai and Chongqing holding tax and when worldwide income becomes taxable.
Land-use rights in China: what the 70 years mean and what a foreign buyer actually owns
All urban land in China is state-owned. You buy the flat and a right to use the land for 70 years: what renews, what is unclear, what collective land is and how inheritance works.
Buying property in China as a foreigner: who can buy and how it works
National rules tie a purchase to living and working in China, usually one home for own use, with city checks on top. What the rules say, what changed in 2025 and what is still unclear.
Overview
Mainland China is not an easy market for foreign buyers: land belongs to the state, buyers acquire land-use rights, purchase rules for non-residents are restrictive and moving money in and out is regulated. Our guides set out the rules, the costs, the market picture and the risks, so you can judge whether it makes sense for you at all.
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Figures are indicative, change over time and depend on the specific property and your circumstances. Obtain independent legal, tax and financial advice before any purchase.
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