The Rest Sources – I don't have any personal experience with this company as they mainly service Hongqiao and I like to live downtown. I've heard that they are not bad, but a little bit posh. Don’t bother contacting them unless you are an expat family on an expat housing allowance of over US $3000. (7/10)
Red Dragon Property – Seems to be a one man show, run by a Chinese guy called Michael. Nice guy and quite reliable. He has some good properties that are worth seeing. Worth a try, particularly if you are looking for stuff for under US $1000 or something a bit unique. He is a local though, and therefore does a bit of the hard sell with follow up calls about "I have another place you could see…," but you could do a lot worse than deal with him. (7/10)
Knight Frank – Very professional. Medium to high budget places. They rely heavily on other agencies for older properties downtown, but as clients don’t pay for services anyway this doesn’t matter. I would have been very happy to sign on a property through them, but they didn’t have anything that really caught my eye. I will give them a second chance next time I am looking for a place. (8/10)
Adrienne Farrelly Shanghai Properties - used to be quite active according to reports from colleagues and friends, but she has all but disappeared now. Well experienced and a tough negotiator, but limited properties on offer to those above US $1000. May be worth a try if you can find her. (5/10)
Blue Star Realty – a new outfit that seems to have spun off from the now defunct Solid Property. Don’t know anything more about them, other than the split from Solid appears to have been less than amicable. (?/10 – Anyone care to post a rating?)
I was aware of Kingseal and Shinning Property, but for some reason or other didn't get around to dealing with them. From memory, both of these companies came across as being largely Chinese-run (I wasn't aware that there was a foreigner at Kingseal - Peter thanks for letting us know that you are there). I thought that I had had enough of Chinese agents at the time and just wanted to commit to something. I would like to recommend that someone give them a try. Whilst having a foreigner on staff certainly doesn't make a company (take our friends at space for example!), it can help.
The List
Absolute Shanghome Realty
info@shanghome.com
www.shanghome.com
Autumn Leaves
3406 0273
service@autumnleaves.com.cn
http://www.autumnleaves.com.cn/
Joanna Real Estate
This is an established agency from Beijing that is new to Shanghai. No word out about them yet.
Alex Tang (Canada): 1 306 175 7223
Francois Tonnellier (France): 1 306 175 7227
Peter Randall (UK): 1 306 175 7231
http://www.joannarealestate-sh.com/
joannarealestate@joannarealestate-sh.com
Luna Property
This is a new company that forms the second half of the now defunct Solid Property Agency. No word about them since they are new.
market@realtyshanghai.com
http://www.realtyshanghai.com/
Pacific Relocations
A Hong Kong real estate company, this company is established in Shanghai and offers services to clients on budgets of over US $1000. Very professional and decent services, although a bit lacking in the private landlord departments.
Suite 910, Chunshenjiang Mansion,
No. 400 Zhejiang Zhong Rd,
Shanghai 200001 (PRC)
(86) 21-6351 1503
shanghai@worthenpacific.com
http://www.worthenpacific.com/
Phoenix Property - Shanghai Realty
Unit1, 8F. Yujia Building
1336 Huashan Rd
6437 9891
phoenix@shanghai-realty.com
http://www.shanghai-realty.net/
Red Dragon
Owned and run by a Chinese guy, this agency targets properties that foreigners like. Certainly worth a look.
Sunland International Plaza - Suite 309
828 Jiangsu Rd, Changning District
Shanghai, China - 200052
Tel: 86-21-6211-3412 Fax: 86-21-3212-1124
red-dragon@online.sh.cn
http://www.reddragonproperty.com/english.html
Shanghai Living
Never seen or heard of this company before. Seems that they are based in America but have a branch or representative office here in Shanghai. Looks like they are involved in real estate investment mainly.
Suite 3C, Building #6
458 Wanhangdu Rd
Shanghai, 200040
8621 52390792
info@shanghailiving.com
www.shanghailiving.com
Shanghai Metropolis Realty
A Chinese-owned and run operation that is well-established here in Shanghai. Don’t know much about them other than they are well-established.
3214-0937
metprop@uninet.com.cn
http://www.metropolis-sh.com/
Shanghai Pearl Property
Another well-established Chinese-owned and run agency that I don’t know much about.
Unit 519 Sanchuan Building, 540 West Huaihai Rd, Shanghai, China, 200052
6283-9311
info@shrelocation.com
www.shrelocation.com
Shanghai Realty
Another well-established Chinese-owned and run agency that I don’t know much about.
62461133
info@ShanghaiRealty.com
http://www.shanghairealty.com/
Shining Property
Another well-established Chinese-owned and run agency that I don’t know much about.
63346060
marketing@shiningproperty.com
http://www.shiningproperty.com/
TGM
Another Beijing Agency that advertises services in Shanghai.
13321160755
tgmtgm_2000@yahoo.com
http://www.bjtgm.com/
Chinese – Local Agencies
Here’s an English version of a Chinese realty website. This is where you can find some Chinese agents who don’t speak English, but might be worth a look, especially for budget properties.
http://en.loushi.cn/ |
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Find Cheap Properties
I have come up with the following answer for you about finding cheap properties for around RMB 3000. Hope that this helps.
I think the best advice that you will receive on this matter is that 'Yes' you can get properties on this budget, but don't expect the place to be the Ritz nor in the classy areas of downtown. There are some tricks to finding decent places on this budget and here are some that you could try:
If you want to use an agent, find one that you like and then give them the following proposition. Commit to them as your sole agent. Explain exactly what you would consider as far as quality, etc. and then offer to pay them a commission on top of any commission that they get from a landlord on the place. Why are agents so reluctant to show cheap properties? Because most of the people who they show these properties to aren't realistic and don't end taking anything. The time wasted on showing cheap properties isn’t worth it when the payoff comes. Make the payoff worthwhile and you will be availed of their services.
On the subject of agents, don’t be tricked into believing that you will get cheaper or better places through local Chinese agents. I have seen what they have to offer and those places are generally cheap for a reason. Some of them are liveable but they are just plain run-down. Bear in mind that I was seeing much more expensive places than what you are looking for, and therefore I can only expect that the ones you would see would be much worse.
Forget about old houses. Don’t bother looking at any old places or anything within only a few minutes of downtown. These places will be within your budget for a reason –- and that is that they are downright nasty. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can get a nice newly-decorated old-style place in the middle of the city on your budget. The cheapest decorated old places will go for over RMB4000-5000, and even these will be pretty small.
Be willing to live in an apartment in an area that is within easy reach of downtown by subway or bus, but slightly off of main transportation links. Examples might include the south Xujiahui Area, around the train station, Zhongshan Park and the area South of the Bund. I personally wouldn’t live in Hongqiao or Pudong – so couldn’t recommend that you do, but it might be worth a look if you are interested.
Be willing to commit to a full-year lease. Whilst a six-month lease might be good for you, the landlord is unlikely to give you the best deal possible. Go for the full term and you can get a better deal, which means a more expensive place negotiated down to your budget.
Finally, ask to see at least one place that is more expensive. You never know but you may just realize that the extra money spent is worth it.
