The Greater Seattle Area is one of the hottest real estate markets in the United States. It has experienced substantial and continuous growth year after year. The Greater Seattle Area has transformed from a regional city to a prime location for real estate investment from across the world, with a significant amount of capital from China and Chinese speaking investors living in countries and territories like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong.

We have frequently assisted Chinese-speaking clients in structuring their investment in commercial properties in the Greater Seattle Area. Since some Chinese-speaking clients are nonresident alien individuals, with or without an immediate plan to immigrate to the U.S., we offer our practical experience gained from our many years of involvement in cross-border transactions to help them understand issues unique to their circumstances and to minimize their U.S. income, gift and estate tax exposure. Our services range from initial consultation to address their inquiries about effective use of their cross-border funds, real estate investment structure arising from their visa status or change of citizenship or permanent resident status, impact of China’s foreign currency control and tax efficiency to creating investment entities, reviewing title reports, conducting due diligence, preparing and negotiating amendments to their purchase and sale agreements.

As the number of Chinese-speaking clients who open shops and start businesses in the Greater Seattle Area have increased greatly, we have provided contract review and revision services and support to the owners of many restaurants, bubble tea shops, dessert shops, and beauty and skin care businesses in connection with their leases, assignments, or subleases.

Not only do we have substantial experience representing tenants, we also represent many Washington commercial landlords in their lease negotiations with tenants and potential tenants.  We also draft, review, and revise ground leases, retail or office leases, and property management leases for our landlord clients.

While our firm is experienced and knowledgeable in general real estate matters, we are also uniquely positioned to serve the real estate investment and ownership needs of Chinese-speaking clients. We perform the roles of legal counsel, deal facilitator, and “bridge,” working diligently to ensure that the needs and interests of our English and Chinese-speaking clients are satisfactorily fulfilled amidst the complex challenges of cross-cultural real estate transactions.