Belgian Owner Sold a Beijing Courtyard and Successfully Transferred the Proceeds Overseas

Background More than 20 years ago, a Belgian client purchased a traditional Beijing Siheyuan (courtyard house) while living and working in China. As Beijing's real estate market evolved, the property became a valuable long-term investment.

After relocating to Belgium, the owner decided it was time to sell the property. However, returning to China was not practical, and the transaction involved a historic courtyard house rather than a standard apartment, making the process significantly more complex. Challenge The sale required much more than finding a buyer. During the transaction, several issues had to be resolved before the property could legally change ownership: • The property's actual layout did not fully match the official registration records. • A government survey identified discrepancies that required further review. • Certain structures needed to be restored to comply with the approved property registration before the transfer could proceed. • Additional land grant fees had to be assessed and paid. • Since the owner remained in Belgium throughout the process, all documents had to be prepared through a notarized and legalized Power of Attorney. • After completion of the sale, the proceeds needed to be legally transferred from China to the client's overseas bank account. Each stage depended on approvals from different government authorities, making careful coordination essential. Our Solution We managed the transaction from beginning to end by: • Reviewing the property's legal and registration status. • Coordinating the required property survey and compliance procedures. • Assisting with restoration requirements to satisfy registration standards. • Supporting the calculation and payment of land grant fees. • Preparing and coordinating all Power of Attorney documentation for overseas execution. • Coordinating with the buyer, government departments, tax authorities, and the bank. • Assisting with the legal application to transfer the sale proceeds overseas. Throughout the process, the owner remained in Belgium and did not need to return to China. Outcome After approximately one year of coordination: ✔ The property compliance issues were successfully resolved. ✔ Restoration and registration requirements were completed. ✔ Land grant fees and taxes were settled. ✔ Ownership was successfully transferred to the buyer. ✔ The full sale proceeds were legally transferred to the owner's overseas account. ✔ The client completed the entire transaction without returning to China. Key Takeaways Selling a Beijing Siheyuan is very different from selling a typical apartment. Historic properties often involve additional legal, registration, and land-related requirements that should be reviewed before listing the property for sale. For overseas owners, early planning can significantly reduce delays, unexpected costs, and risks during both the sale process and the cross-border transfer of funds.

Read More Related Case Studies

1. Hongkong Company-Beijing CBD Office Sale
2. Some transaction track records
3. U.S. Citizen Couple Successfully Sold Beijing Property Remotely and Repatriated Funds in Compliance
4. Swiss Owner Sold Beijing Apartment Without Returning to China
5. A U.S. Owner Successfully Sold a 40-Year Property in China While Living Overseas
6. A Spanish Owner Sold Two Properties in China Without Returning and Successfully Transferred the Proceeds Overseas
7. French Minor Inherited Property in Beijing After Mother's Death
8. Australian Owner Sell a Beijing Apartment to Fund Retirement Home in Australia
9. Canadian Immigrant Sold Property in China and Successfully Transferred the Proceeds Overseas
10. Taiwan Resident Successfully Sold Two Apartments in Beijing and Transferred the Proceeds Overseas
11. French Company Sold Beijing Office Without a China Bank Account and Successfully Repatriated the Sale Proceeds
12. Belgian Family Sells Beijing Villa to Purchase a New Home in Belgium