Chinese buyers fall in love with Seattle real estate
Direct flights, studying opportunities and romantic films boost appeal of Washington state
Savvy Seattle-area real estate agents have gained an advantage by paying attention to the growing connections between China and Washington state.
"I'm so glad my mother made me study Chinese," laughed property broker Janie Lee, after showing a client from Beijing a US$4 million home in the suburb of Medina. "I've been using it a lot."
This year, Chinese visitors are on track to top the list of international travellers to Washington. More than half of the 7,300 international students at the University of Washington are from China. And a recent top-grossing Chinese romantic comedy featured a Beijing woman who finds love in Seattle.
The influx has made its way to high-end property markets, and observers don't expect it to slow down any time soon. "This is just the beginning from just a few years ago. So in a few years there will be even more," Lee said, interpreting for her prospective buyer, Wei Hongbin.
In anticipation, some Seattle-area homes are being built or remodelled to improve their fung shui, but other factors can help make a property attractive.