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While the Golden Visa program is the prime motivator for some investors, for others the desire to own property in the country goes deeper.

The phrase “hen fangbian,” which means “very convenient,” is one of the most common in China. It is used daily, as convenience has become the number one virtue of everyday life. All transactions in the country are now made by mobile phone, using the WeChat and Alipay applications, something that is “very convenient.” So, what is it that makes someone from the other side of the world decide to up and move to this little corner of the map, where, among other things, nothing is easy or simple, but instead hassle is part of everyday life – the opposite of the Chinese saying? Perhaps we should ask ourselves this question, as the Chinese, Russians, Americans, Turks and others who decide tobuy a home and settle here, seem to see something in our country that we have become so accustomed to we don’t even notice it. Daphne Korombeli is a lawyer who lives between Hong Kong, Shanghai and Athens, represents Chinese firms and offers services to Chinese investors who want to acquire a Greek residence permit by buying property. “The Chinese love Greece,” she tells Kathimerini. “For some it is a real life dream to travel to Santorini and see the ‘sea of love,’ as they call the Aegean.” The investment opportunities in our country have brought this dream closer, and quite a few of them have decided to move here permanently after buying their property. “They like the weather, the clean air, the blue sky, the fruit and vegetables bursting with flavor. Imagine that when you wake up in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Chengdu, the first thing you do is open the application that reveals the daily pollution index and whether you should or should not leave the house, if you should or shouldn’t open the windows, if it’s a particularly dangerous day for vulnerable groups to be outside,” she explains.

According to Korombeli, the prices in Greece are a world away from those in China. A 100-square meter apartment in a compound in Shanghai’s Jing’an District or a refurbished lane house apartment in the traditional Former French Concession can cost close to a million euros. The Golden Visa program has gradually attracted huge interest. “In 2013, when the law was introduced, the real buyers were few and far between. I remember when my first Chinese customer came with me to Athens to sign a power of attorney in September and, when her property was bought, I went to the relevant state service to submit her application for a residence permit and the employee didn’t know what I was talking about. The manager then told me that this was the first residence permit that had been issued under this law. Today things have completely changed. The increase in interest is gradual and apparent every year,” she says. Those who express interest are mainly businesspeople who have the money to invest and already have companies outside of China. The Golden Visa is the number one reason for their investment as Greece’s residence program is the cheapest in Europe – and gradually also becoming the most popular. Investors are buying property mainly near the sea, “even though they do not like swimming or sitting under the sun,” Korombeli says.

http://www.greece-is.com/news/sun-sea-residence-permits-luring-investors-greek-property-market

A growing appetite for Greek real estate among Chinese buyers is expected to continue as low property prices in Greece and progress Athens is making with creditors on bailout talks is helping fuel investor interest from the Asian country, said Daphni Korobeli, a Greek lawyer based in Shanghai.

The spike in interest comes as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras winds up Monday his four day visit to China, his second in the last year, hoping to add to Chinese investments that have been provided some relief to the crisis struck Greek economy.

Mandarin speaker Korobeli, who has been involved in tens of Greek real estate deals with Chinese buyers, told greekguru.net that growing bonds between the countries, more favorable coverage of Greece by Chinese media and a push by China to hook up and invest in countries of strategic interest are supporting the rising demand for Greece.

At the same time, the Chinese are becoming more tuned into what is happening outside of their country, seeking solutions to their everyday problems.

"They are very concerned about pollution, the food they are eating and where it comes from. They want to increase their quality of life by buying a home abroad," said Korobeli, a partner at KCH law firm.

Chinese have been investing big in Greece, a country struggling to draw foreign investors.

China's biggest shipping company, Cosco, bought a majority stake in the port of Piraeus last year just before China State Grid agreed to buy a 24 percent stake in Greek power grid operator ADMIE for 320 million euros.

Last week, Greece's Copelouzos group signed a deal with China's Shenhua Group to cooperate in green energy and power production in Greece in a deal worth 3 billion euros.

After meeting with Tsipras n Beijing on Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the two countries need to expand their cooperation in energy, infrastructure, oceanic and telecommunications sectors.

The biggest source of foreign buyers in Greece's residential property market comes from China. Since Greece launched its residency for investment Golden visa program in 2013, some 1,500 residency permits have been issued to non European Union nationals, with the majority going to Chinese buyers.

READ ALSO: EU Golden Visa programs - Take your pick

Korobeli said there are different categories of Chinese buyers in Greece: those who simply like Greece, those that just want an investment or buyers that want both.

"Chinese buyers prefer newly built homes. They usually want a sea view or to be close to a beach and close to shops, public transport, international schools," she said.

The Chinese are helping breathe life into Greek properties where prices have dropped some 45% in the last seven years but the amount of money being poured into local real estate is far less than that spent in other countries, such as Cyprus and Portugal.

https://www.greekguru.net/single-post/2017/05/14/Chinese-buyer-appetite-for-Greek-property-seen-rising

Korobeli said that Greece needs to become more transparent to gain the trust of Chinese investors. Trying to provide Chinese buyers with basic information about their investment's future costs can sometimes be a struggle.

“They (Chinese buyers) ask me how much ownership tax they should expect to pay for their Greek property every year and I can't answer them, as this tax is dependent on many different factors and it is very hard to be calculated accurately, or might even change,” she said.

"A steady tax framework would help increase trust in Greece."

May 15, 2017

*Be fair and diplomatic.

If your Chinese counterpart believes that you are being unreasonable, they may not openly say so, but your negotiations are likely to stall and go nowhere, says Jack Perkowski , who has lived in Beijing for almost two decades and written the book "Managing the Dragon: How I’m Building a Billion Dollar Business In China." If you disagree with your counterpart, don’t simply reject their position out of hand, but carefully explain your reasoning, adds Perkowski.

*Be as clear as possible

"The Chinese are by nature suspicious, they don't trust people easily and I can understand this, especially when they are planning to purchase property overseas," said Daphni Korobeli, a Greek lawyer who has been based in Shanghai and Beijing since 2009. "In order to overcome cultural differences, it is best to be as explicit as possible, when it comes to communicating with Chinese clients. Of course, speaking their language as I do and understanding their culture, really helps."

*Think long term

To target the Chinese market, it is important to form a long-term strategy, says Australian real estate marketing company Campaigntrack. Like any home buyer, they prefer to work with agents who are experienced and can support their individual needs, it adds.

*Spot the motivation

Education is a key motivator for Chinese buyers, but it’s by no means the only one, says Juwai.com, an English language portal that links Chinese investors with properties overseas. Chinese property investors are increasingly looking to purchase overseas for retirement homes, holiday homes, pure investment, and in recent years, for proximity to good medical care. By understanding what’s propelling them to purchase abroad, you can narrow down your list of properties that could be the best fit for them, and increase your chances of them sealing the deal, adds Juwai.com

*Tough talks

Get ready for some tough negotiations as the Chinese drive a hard bargain, adds Korobeli, who has been involved in tens of Greek property purchases by Chinese buyers.

Source : https://www.greekguru.net/

“For us, Greece as a country represents the Aegean sea, olive oil and … the financial crisis” Mr Ping Haifu from Shanghai tells “K” newspaper in all honesty. Mr Ping already holds a Greek Residence Permit. As a Chinese investor, he was searching for a suitable country to expand his activities.

Read more ...

Download the interview here