Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Expat-weary police officers in foreigner hot spots such as Wudaokou, however, are known
for being less tolerant and forgiving, so be particularly sure to register on time in these
areas. If you're even a day late with registering you may be forced to write a letter of apo-
logy stating how stupid you were for not knowing the law and that you promise to never do
it again.
Finally, be warned: When you move in, your new home will probably be a mess, espe-
cially if a local family has been living there before you. The kitchen will be covered in oil
and it's unlikely that any cleaning will have been done. This is standard. Book an
ā
yí
to get
in a day ahead of you and give it a good once over.
Buying property in Beijing used to be all but impossible for foreigners, but laws have re-
laxed considerably, and now, other than the hassle of paperwork, there are no particular re-
strictions that apply to foreigners. If all the requirements are complied with, a purchase can
be completed within as little as two weeks. That said, laws do change overnight, so it will
be important for you to deal with a real estate agent who is highly experienced and on top
of the game, even if your partner is Chinese.
First, you can forget about owning anything for the first year. Foreigners are required to
have studied or worked in the country for at least one year, and to have paid taxes for that
period of time. You can take holidays out of the country during this period, but that will be
deducted (calculated by your entries and exits at customs) from your total time. As a for-
eigner you're actually in a better position than Chinese people from other regions of China,
who need to wait for five years before buying property in Beijing.
Beijing is not exactly the place to make money through property. Like many Chinese,
you are limited to one property per family, and it's to be used as your place to dwell only.
This is one of the rules the government has introduced to quell inflation. If you already have
a property in Beijing and marry someone who also has a property, there is no penalty and
you won't be required to relinquish it. Some couples have been known to divorce in order
to buy a second property, then remarry after the deal has gone through, but the government
is also trying to crack down on such behavior.
Property prices in Beijing have been on the rise for years now, and there is little sign
of things changing. Prices are typically quoted in
rénmínbì
(RMB) per square meter, and
anything inside the expat areas is going to take a big fat bite out of your bank account.
