HONG KONG and CHICAGO (January 28, 2025) – Global luxury real estate network Christie’s International Real Estate continues its expansion in East Asia with the launch of Christie’s International Real Estate Hong Kong.

The new venture is led by Hong Kong native Samson Law, who brings more than three decades of local real estate experience in sales, management and technology to his role. His background includes founding several boutique real estate firms, including online property search pioneer HongKongHomes.com.

Law will manage a team of 10 agents based in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district. The brokerage plans to double its agent count within the year.

“Since Hong Kong is one of the world’s most significant financial centers, naturally we work with many high-net-worth buyers and investors from around the world. For this reason, it was incredibly important for us to align with an internationally respected brand, and I can’t think of a name more synonymous with luxury and exceptional client service than Christie’s International Real Estate,” said Law.

Because Hong Kong real estate listings are not publicly shared, brokerages rely on private databases containing property and client information, and Law says his database, assembled over two decades, is one of Hong Kong’s most comprehensive and accurate – an important point of differentiation for the new firm.

“Samson is not only a talented leader, but he has also built incredible relationships in Hong Kong’s real estate market, as evidenced by his extensive proprietary database that surpasses most every other firm in the market,” says Helena Moyas de Forton, managing director of EMEA and APAC for Christie’s International Real Estate. “His access to listings, combined with our international network of the world’s most sought-after homes, will provide clients in Hong Kong with exclusive access to luxury properties both ‘in market’ and around the world.”

As an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, the firm’s agents and clients will benefit from national and international exposure and referral opportunities through the brand’s global luxury network, which has affiliates in 50 countries and territories. Clients will also enjoy exclusive marketing partnerships with Christie’s, the world-leading art and luxury business.

Hong Kong is the hub of operations for Christie’s in Asia Pacific, a region which accounted for $725 million in auction sales in 2024 – 26% of the auction house’s worldwide total. Christie’s International Real Estate Hong Kong will work closely with Christie’s to leverage the unique synergies between the worlds of art, luxury goods and high-end real estate for clients in the region.

Hong Kong is also home to the second highest number of billionaires of any global city, along with some of the most expensive real estate on the planet. Typical new apartments in Hong Kong range from $1,200 per square foot up to more than $5,000 per square foot. A 1,000-square-foot apartment can sell for upwards of $5 million, Law noted.

While prices have fallen from their peak levels attained in 2021, Hong Kong has instituted new measures designed to stimulate property sales. In 2024, the government launched its New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, which offers foreigners a path to permanent residency in exchange for maintaining an $3.86 million investment in qualified assets for at least seven years. Additionally, Hong Kong has relaxed its 30% stamp duty for foreign purchasers. Meanwhile, the announcement of an increased loan-to-value ratio for mortgages, 70% regardless of value, has also spurred renewed interest in the market. Properties priced above $4.5 million were previously subject to a 60% maximum LTV.

Law is cautiously optimistic for 2025 with a bullish outlook long term. “Continuous economic expansion in mainland China is likely to positively influence market dynamics in Hong Kong, and any decline in interest rates will trigger a surge in activity,” he explains. “Hong Kong is known to bounce back very quickly. There are a lot of external players and a lot of hot money flowing in and out. When it comes in, it will be phenomenal,” he said.

A new affiliate in Hong Kong continues Christie’s International Real Estate’s expansion in Asia, following the 2024 announcements of new offices in Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

In early 2025, Christie’s International Real Estate was acquired by Compass (NYSE: COMP), the largest residential brokerage firm in the US by sales volume. Compass’ network of more than 30,000 US real estate agents offers another potentially rich referral pipeline for Christie’s International Real Estate Hong Kong.