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How to find your dream apartment in China

Only a couple of years ago foreigners in China were

excluded from living in many places. You can live almost anywhere nowadays. Click

here to find out more!

The best thing about China is that you don’t need an agent when looking for a small apartment. However,

seeking help from an agent will make things easier for you as you don’t know the regions very well. For

instance, a good agent will grant you an affordable price, and give you a list of costs of living in the city.

This will make it easier for you to decide what kind of room for rent you prefer.

What’s your criteria? This will entirely depend on your personal preferences. Some westerners will prefer living around other foreigners while others

will prefer going for Chengdu apartments for rent. If you’re a student, go for areas where students live, preferably closer to your college or university. You

should be honest with yourself.

Interact with people who you know! If you know a foreigner who has lived in Chengdu or Shanghai, ask

him/her about the best locations. He/she will also give you tips on where to start looking. There are

some forums which will help you look for an apartment as long as you post your criteria.

Don’t forget the security guards; they know a lot. If you know where you want to live, go directly to that area. Once there, skip the China real estate

agent and go straight to the security guard. Let the security guard know that you’re looking for an

apartment. Security guards know much about the local area, and they are usually very happy to help

foreigners out.

After finding the apartment, there are some guidelines:• Get to know the landlord well. A good landlord will be willing to work with you to improve the place. However if

he tells you that everything will remain the same, then you will find it hard to work with him.

• Be certain about how long you will be staying there. Chengdu real estate agents or landlords require the rent to be paid 3 to 6 months in advance. The length of time

you want to stay there will dictate the price.

What about those who want to rent apartments in Shanghai? First, it’s important to know that Shanghai is a big city hence the cost of living is high. Also, most foreigners fall, victims of scams, when looking for a

rented apartment in Shanghai. If you’ve just landed in China, and you don’t know anyone, you should rely on

the internet to find an apartment.

Visit websites that are in English. The main advantage here is that you don’t have to hunt for the landlord or agency on the street. If your budget is less than $500 or 3000 RMB and you don’t want to stay too far from

downtown, getting a shared flat will be your only choice.

Another good option for foreigners is getting a room in a shared apartment. This is where you team up with two or three guys who are also looking for a

room. This option has three advantages; comes with a wider variety of choices, you deal with the agency

directly, and you will get a better deal when renting the apartment as a whole.

The materials needed include:• A residence permit, valid VISA or passport.

• Proof that you’ve worked or studied in China for over a year.

• A written promise that you don’t possess any housing property in China.

There are two kinds of property titles in China; Use Rights and Free Hold. The Use Rights lease rights to

the property while Free Hold contains ownership rights to the property. As a foreigner, you should hire a lawyer especially if you aren’t familiar with the real

estate system in China.

Living in China may be cheap or expensive depending on where you prefer to stay. Look for reputable real estate agents who won’t take advantage of you just

because you’re a foreigner. Beware of the scams.

BonusClick on the link below to read the full blog post!

https://www.laowaicareer.com/blog/home-sweet-home-how-to-find-an-appartment-in-china

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