New | Chinese investors target hotels, wineries, mineral water in British Columbia
No longer content with parking capital in Vancouver property, wealthy mainlanders now target hotels, golf courses, wineries and berry farms
When Liu Chuang landed in Vancouver in 2013, he noticed that most of the Chinese immigrants he met were heavily invested in residential real estate and hungry to diversify.
Flipping houses did not appeal to the 39-year-old entrepreneur, who is launching a Vancouver-based technology incubator to help his Chinese-born friends invest in local start-ups.
"The Chinese I know … they've already bought quite a few houses, they really don't want to buy any more," said Liu, who was also born in China and co-founded venture capital firm Nextplay Ventures. "Now they want to invest in technology or other industries that can give a good return on investment."
Liu represents what real estate agents, lawyers and immigration consultants say is a transformative shift in where wealthy Asian individuals and families, primarily from China, place their money in British Columbia, the West Coast province.
Vancouver has been a top destination for Asian immigrants for decades. Houses and luxury condominiums in the area have been the investment of choice for both well-heeled new arrivals and China-based investors putting money abroad.
But with the Vancouver market looking pricey, many of these investors are seeking other opportunities. They range from hotels and golf courses targeting Chinese tourists to berry farms, mineral water sources and wineries that export to Asia.