Chinese investors in the US residential rental market: Micro evidence

Abstract

This article examines rental prices charged by Chinese investors in the US residential rental market. Focusing on homes purchased by an individual investor and subsequently rented from 2000 to 2021 in Orange County, CA, we find that Chinese landlords, who are identified by all‐cash buyers with Chinese names, charge an average rental price discount of 4.0% compared with domestic landlords. The underlying mechanisms are likely a wealth effect and risk diversification strategy. The rental price discount is more pronounced for luxury, larger, and newly built properties. Our study complements studies of the China shock effect on US housing markets.