中国超级富豪投资海外房产

In China, the number of Ultra High Net Worth Individuals, those with 30 million US dollars or more in net assets, has risen fast in recent years.

According to statistics made by Knight Frank, the number has reached nearly 8,000 this year.

And this group of people is keen on real estate investment in both domestic and overseas market.

Thomas Lam, Director and Head of Research & Consultancy, Greater China, Knight Frank,

"Ultra-wealthy people in Chinese mainland are keen on real estate investment. According to our statistics, over 30 percent of their wealth is invested in this sector."

Influenced by strict property-purchasing limitation policies in major Chinese cities, more and more people in this group have turned their eyes into overseas real estate market.

Thomas Lam, "In 2013, major overseas real-estate investment destinations for Chinese Ultra High Net Worth Individuals are Britain, Canada, Australia, as well as Malaysia."

However, with Canada suspending its favorable investment immigration policies earlier this year, ultra-wealthy people in China might have to turn to other investment destinations in 2014.

Maureen Yeo is Knight Frank's Associate Director of International Project Marketing in Beijing,

"Canada suspended its favorable immigration policies for Chinese investors earlier this year. Though Australia has issued more lucrative immigration policies to attract Chinese investors, its threshold is still very high -- 5 million Australian dollars at least. Thus I believe in 2014, small West European countries such as Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Malta are even better choices for Chinese private investors. "

Even in major western countries such as Britain and the US, second-tier cities have become a wiser choice for Chinese private investors.

Michelle Zhang, Knight Frank's Head of China Desk in London,

"Housing prices in first-tier cities such as London and New York are soaring in recent years. Properties in these cities are more suitable for the investment from large real estate companies with a strong financial capability. I suggest private investors go to second-tier cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Houston, which is more suitable for private investment."

Though Chinese ultra-wealthy community is investing heavily in overseas real estate market, its quantum is still very small compared with domestic properties investment.

Knight Frank's Head of Research, Asia Pacific, Nicholas Holt,

"I think it's a question of quantum in many ways. Yes Chinese are investing overseas. There's a surge of capital in China. People are looking to diversify. But still the number is quite small. Even the total quantum of investment into these markets, compared with the quantum of investment into Chinese real estate market here, is pretty small."

Therefore, huge potential of Chinese overseas real estate investment is lying ahead.

It's estimated China's Ultra High Net Worth Individuals population will grow by 80 percent to over 14,000 by 2023.