What are the extra costs of buying property in China in 2026?

Deed or transaction taxes are set under city and national frameworks and often depend on unit size, whether the seller is disposing of a sole home, and how long the seller held the property. Agency commissions are commonly negotiated as a percentage of the price and may be shared or buyer-paid depending on the deal. Registration, notary-related, and certificate fees appear at the title step. If you use a bank loan, add valuation, mortgage application, and possible insurance lines: Foreigner mortgage.

Lawyer review is not optional exotic spending for foreigners. Mandarin contracts, eligibility proofs, and land-use right terms need checking: Freehold vs leasehold. After you own, compound management fees continue monthly: Condominium fees.

Keep purchase funds and fee reserves in accounts that can clear domestic transfers: Open a bank account. City practice in Shanghai and Beijing can feel stricter on documents than inland markets: Living in Shanghai and Living in Beijing. Renting remains cheaper friction for most first-year movers: How to rent a home and How expensive is China.

Do not treat a friend’s 2019 closing spreadsheet as current law. Tax preferences and deed rates shift, and foreigner eligibility still sits upstream of every fee line.