How to Check a Property in China From Abroad

FangScout guide · Updated October 31, 2026

Short answer: Start with a live video call that begins at the street and building number. For anything that matters, send someone who works for you, not the seller or landlord, and get the visit in writing with photos.

Option 1: Live video with the agent

Free and quick. Direct the camera yourself and ask the agent to start outside. The limit: the agent is paid by the landlord or seller and decides what to show.

Option 2: Ask a friend or relative

Free, and they're on your side. The limit: they may not know what to look for, and you won't get a record you can compare with other homes.

Option 3: An independent visit with a report

Someone who works for you visits, walks you through it live, asks your questions and writes it up in English. That is a FangScout Property Check, from $149.

Option 4: A viewing trip

Nothing replaces being there before a big purchase. Our sister brand ChinaWithEase plans viewing trips around your appointments.

Option 5: Professionals for the legal side

A local lawyer checks title, encumbrances and the contract. A viewing, by anyone, can't do that.

What no viewing can tell you

Whether the person selling has the right to sell, whether there are debts against the property, or what it's worth. Those need the land registry through the owner or a lawyer, and a valuation.

Not sure about a listing?

Run it through the free rental scam checker, or have us visit: a live video walkthrough from $149, with a full refund if we can't get in.

Book a Property Check WhatsApp

Questions

Can someone inspect a property in China for me?

Yes. You can ask a friend, the agent, or an independent service like FangScout to visit and film it. A viewing isn't a building inspection or a title check.

How do I check my family's home in China?

Ask a relative or an independent visitor to film the condition of each room, the building and the street, with the date, so you have a record.

Can I check who owns a property in China?

Property registration records are generally open only to the owner or someone they authorize, such as a lawyer.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules differ by city and change; check with the local authorities or a qualified lawyer.