In a documentary David Borenstein looked at the foreigner renting industry in China:

• China is in the midst of a construction boom that has left multiple properties in search of a buyer.
• One way that realtors can boost demand is by renting foreigners.
• Firms provide menus where customers can select skin colours and nationalities.
• By having such faces present when interested buyers come around to visit, developers can make an area seem more globalized than it really is.
• Some of the purchased foreigners will play the role of low level VIPs to further enhance property values.

Watch the full documentary here.

Source: The New York Times