Hainan-Sanya-Haikou Expat

Seems that 20 celebrities including British Actor Hugh Grant and Matthew McConaughey will be at the Celebrity ProAm Golf Tournament chasing an incredible "winner takes all" purse of 1.28 million dollars. Taking place at the end of October, "two-time Open Championship winner Greg Norman, China's multiple Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Li Ning and Japan's No. 1 comedian and talk show host Akashiya Sanma will serve as Host Ambassadors for the Mission Hills Star Trophy.", according to a story found at World Golf. The rich continue being rich while, by the way, I am daily receiving articles and reports from numerous sources suggesting that Hainan property prices, true or not, are dropping like a rock.

So is that "Buyer Beware" or "Buyers Be Where?"...?

The description of northern Hainan Island's expansion around the golf industry is impressive. According to a press statement released by Buffalo Communications, "Mission Hills Hainan lies in the volcanic region of exotic Hainan Island, China. The resort sets a new standard in leisure, recreation and wellness experiences. Nestled amid lush, green gardens, the resort caters to golf enthusiasts and comprises specially-designed golf courses, each one incorporating the native lava rock formations. Other state-of-the-art features include 525 tastefully-appointed guest rooms and suites, a three-story clubhouse, meeting facilities, 12 world-class restaurants, a fully-equipped sports and recreation center, Hainan's only aquatic theme park, therapeutic natural mineral springs, a spa oasis, and a shopping arcade. A magnificent addition to Hainan's tropical island paradise, Mission Hills Hainan is poised to be the island's premier sanctuary, attracting visitors from around the globe."

World Golf Article Here

Well we can certainly agree they don't belong on the same plate together no matter how good a cook you are! You'll find the answer by heading over to the Coffee World Pizza Corner located in the lobby of the Herton Hotel right on the beachfront at Dadonghai to enjoy some of their new recipes including a Banana Split, Oreo Mocha Smoothie, Homemade Baked Lasagna and a Fisherman's Pizza. Gotta try the Shepherd's Pie too... !

By July 10, 2010, southern China's Hainan province had received 1,096 visa-free tour groups, with a total 22,359 tourists, according to official figures released by the local government.

In the first half of the year, the number of overseas tourist arrivals nearly tripled to 316,000.

Update on Hainan Visa Free Tour Groups

This interesting juxtaposition just in from CapitalVue.com. Money just flows in and out of different places on the whims of what?....we've got plunging home sales along with rocketing auto sales here in China...as if the roads aren't already crowded enough with too many cars?...Cheers, Mario

July 7 -- The transaction volume of Shanghai's previously-owned properties plummeted 50 percent year-on-year to 69,100 units in the first half of 2010, reports Yicai.com, citing statistics from Century 21, a real estate services provider.

July 7 -- SAIC Motor (600104) recorded 43.93 percent and 44.89 percent year-on-year increases in auto production and sales volume in the first half of 2010 to 1.74 million units and 1.77 million units, respectively, according to a company filing

And now this...Sanya Restaurant Corner Sneak Preview...CoffeeWorld's got some new menu items including a new Homemade Lasagna and tasty Shepherd's Pie...that's mashed potatoes, ground beef with tomatoes, baked with bubbly cheese on top...post and photos coming soon!

It is reported recently that, as across many bubbly spots in China, Hainan real estate has PLUNGED 30% from its high. Let's analyze this nonsense a bit closer.

June 17 -- CapitalVue News reporting that...

...Average transaction prices plunged 29.74 percent month-on-month...

The Hainan commercial residential property market experienced a significant decline in both transaction area and transaction prices since March this year, reports Xinhua, citing the provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

"...The province recorded a 19.05 percent month-on-month decline in the transaction area of commercial residential properties to 627,700 square meters in March. Average transaction prices were down 12.82 percent month-on-month to 12,280 yuan per square meter..."

Oh Really?...this roller coaster is getting to be nonsense, check out my real estate videos comparing luxury oceanfront apartment developments in Penang Island, Malaysia at 16,000rmb psqm to Sanya Bay at 42,000 psqm

Penang Island At One Third The Cost of Sanya Bay

Prices on Hainan did an orchestrated "pump and dump" jump of 50 to 100% in January....Lord help all those January suckers who let themselves get sucked in like addicted table gamblers in Vegas after the Wenzhou clan smelled money, went in, bought it all up, dumped it and went back home to leave the mom and pop retail buyers holding the bag, no different than the Wall Street game might I add and a sad commentary on greedy ways and fools in just about any country on earth...

So let me do the calculation: A sample newer beachfront apartment in Sanya was going for 15-20,000rmb psqm. In January, the price jumped to 25 to 50,000rmb psqm depending on whom you ask, and now the price has PLUNGED back down 30% which would make it 17,500-35,000rmb psqm...is that the size of it? Oh yea, now we all know the real prices and understand the real estate market.

Did you know that the real prices of properties is based in the U.S. on the MLS, the multiple listing system, where you can see the actual sale price of every property in a given neighborhood. Did you realize that the same information IS available in China. Go to the Sanya government property office to inquire about how many transactions there have been in the past month and at what price and guess what, that information IS available to you.

I am told by a number of experienced real estate agent that in Ban Shan Ban Dao there are dozens of sellers who all have their properties for sale asking over 40,000rmb per square meter and that there has not been one single transaction there since the January pump and dump. People who have their apartments for sale have them on sale at pumped up retail prices and don't really want to sell them, they're just fishing to find an idiot and unfortunately there are plenty of idiots out there.

Am I being negative? No, I'm being HELPFUL!

Missing the beach yet enjoying our Century Park Shanghai apt immensely,

Cheers, Mario

Link to Full Article Here

You just have to love the Sanya evenings this past week with the temp coming down and the breeze kicking up. Check out Tim's Dadonghai Dusk video here. Oh yes Sanya really IS tropical paradise. Let's not forget the facts. Somebody did complain a bit about the lack of posts...admittedly true but the reality is threefold.

First there is in fact a dearth of new news. Yes the hotels and apartment complexes are being built. Yes, real estate prices went way too high and are drifting back down as speculators and fools across China start seeing reality more clearly. Secondly, we're in the summer low season, which is a normal if not slightly negative phenomenon for tourist destinations throughout the world but as you'll read below, still many good things worth mentioning. In June, there will be student holiday arrivals and then we'll see what July and August have in store. As in the European winter, many shopkeepers close their doors during the low season. It looks like the original Dadonghai Rainbow finally closed its doors and it is officially announced the Kempinski Sanya Resort is no longer under the Kempinski name, although I think they get to use the name for awhile longer.

Thirdly, new activity and posts will be found first at the new SanyaExpat site at www.sanyaexpat.ning.com. We'll keep you linked here to whatever is going on over there which is where all the action and info is and where YOU belong!!

So moving on to much upbeat and happy, head over to Fat Daddy's for 29rmb imported Aussie beer promotion....brands include Crown, Pure Blonde, RedBack, James Hoags, VB Bitter, green curry at Pattaya Thai still works perfectly, one can never complain about 10rmb small draft beers at Dadonghai's Wave Bar and you have to try the new Shepherd's Pie at CoffeeWorld....Aussie beer list coming soon...the Dadonghai Mall makeover turned out quite nice and heaven above forgive me for never before mentioning that there is a four lane bowling alley at the Shan Hai Tian Hotel in Dadonghai...

Welcome to new members Simon Jones, who successfully found the He Ping Lu downtown dental clinic we recommended, and to Bernie Flores, entertainer extraordinaire still doing his thing at the Ritz Carlton Yalong Bay. Bernie, we want you to post some video clips PLLLEEASSEEEE!!!!

Cheers, Mario