Sophia ( Zhengping Qi ) Lin has been a New Yorker for over 35 years and a resident of Manhattan's Upper West Side for over 20 years. In 2000, she started an international travel business, hosting hundreds of Asian families and investors wishing to broaden their cultural horizons and opportunities in the Americas. Her many years as an educator in China and her broad experience in the Asian travel market has led her to helping her wealthier clients to seek prime properties for purchase or rental, either for their children entering college, or for their personal or business investment. Sophia Lin is a professional local agent who can bridge the gap between discerning Asian buyers and investors and demanding Upper West Side sellers. In addition to being a real New Yorker, Sophia is a consummate sales professional who can help bridge cultural differences between East and West—and between buyer and seller—by offering her Asian clients the unique cultural perspective they need to find the perfect home or real estate investment in New York. Sophia helps her Upper West Side clients appreciate the enormous benefits that Asian buyers offer. For example, if Chinese buyers like a property, they buy it—usually with cash! In fact, 75 percent of all US real estate transactions with Chinese buyers are cash purchases. Sellers favor these kinds of deals. Sophia Lin knows things about Asian cultural preferences. Communication matters —most Asian buyers know English, but they prefer to communicate in Mandarin. Sophia speaks Mandarin fluently. Feng shui matters — the orientation of the home and its layout need to adhere to feng shui principles, or the home won't even be considered. Sophia understands feng shui principles. Chinese culture matters — there are lucky and unlucky numbers and phrases. For example, she knows to list your home for $8M, not $7.9M. Ask her why!