THEY’RE the foreign buyers that are snapping up Sydney property without thinking twice, but it seems some Chinese billionaires can be just as picky as we are when it comes to finding their next home.

Monika Tu of Black Diamondz Property Concierge said when it comes to house hunting on Australian shores there is one feature that almost every foreign buyer asks for in a home.

“Everybody is looking for water views, it’s their number one priority” Ms Tu said.

“They also want it to be very close to schools — that’s very desirable.”

She said budget did come in to play for buyers, with some budgets starting at around $5 million and others going up to $30 million.

Ms Tu said recent requests from foreign buyers have included character and Federation-style homes.

“That’s a big change,” she said. “They never liked character before.”

“A lot of the buyers come from wealthy, educated backgrounds and they appreciate the culture here. It’s different in China, you can have very modern but can’t have character, there’s not much available.”

Ms Tu said she sometimes also receives more specific requests.

“They might say they want something near the city but waterfront, with 10 bedrooms on 2000-3000 sq m. That’s very hard.”

Sydney’s eastern suburbs are the most popular with foreign buyers. Here is a list of properties that have been snapped up by Chinese billionaires in the past.

Altona, Point Piper

It is now back on the market but in 2013 Altona in Point Piper was bought by property developer Wang Zhijun for $52 million under the ruse of holdings company Chaimovich Investments. The block was reportedly subdivided with an 1100sq m parcel of land selling for about $19 million. Now the rest of the property, which includes the main house and remaining land, is on the market.

media_camera Altona, Point Piper, was bought by property developer Wang Zhijun.

media_camera It has since been put back on the market.

media_camera The block was subdivided with one piece of land reportedly having been sold.

La Mer, Vaucluse

Billionaire Chinese property developer Dr Chau Chak Wing was revealed as the buyer of James Packer and Erica Baxter’s $70 million Vaucluse home, La Mer, in 2015. The six-level mansion broke a national record when it sold, only to be beaten out this year by the $80 million purchase of four Vaucluse properties by Menulog co-founder Leon Kamenev.

media_camera La Mer, Vaucluse, was bought by property developer Dr Chau Chak Wing.

media_camera It previously belonged to James Packer and Erica Baxter.

media_camera It broke a national record when it sold for $70 million.

Werribee, Vaucluse

One of China’s wealthiest businessmen was the buyer of a prize Vaucluse mansion sold in June this year for $20 million. Agriculture tycoon Sun Shaofeng emerged as the buyer of the 3330sq m trophy home which has dual-street frontage, seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, a garage for five cars, and a swimming pool and was built around World War I. It also has three living rooms, two sunrooms, a billiard room, a table tennis room and outdoor terraces.

media_camera This Vaucluse mansion was bought by agriculture tycoon Sun Shaofeng.

media_camera It sold for $20 million.

media_camera It sits on 3330sq m of land.

Bishopscourt, Darling Point

Previously owned by the Anglican Church, Bishopscourt in Darling Point was bought by Wang Qinghui in late 2015 for $18 million. The Australian resident placed on the Forbes Rich List of China in 2014 and is an investor in the Beijing Xinwei Telecom Technology Group. The neo-gothic mansion sits on 6216 sqm of land, has 15-bedrooms and was the official residence of successive Anglican Archbishops.

media_camera Bishopscourt in Darling Point sold for $18 million.

media_camera It was bought by Forbes Rich Lister Wang Qinghui.

media_camera The property has 15 bedrooms and was owned by the Anglican Church.

Coolong Rd, Vaucluse

Another late-2015 sale came from the purchase of a $36 million Vaucluse home by supermarket chain owners Huang Qiaorong and Zhang Xuansong. The Luigi Roselli property was on the market for two years before it was bought by the couple. The harbour front property has a tennis court, heated infinity pool and a private jetty.

media_camera This Vaucluse home sold for $36 million.

media_camera It was bought by supermarket chain owners Huang Qiaorong and Zhang Xuansong.

media_camera It was designed by Luigi Roselli.

Vaucluse Keeper’s Cottage, Vaucluse

The iconic and historic Vaucluse Keeper’s Cottage was snapped up by Chinese billionaires Jianmin Song and Hailing Xu of the Nanshan Group in August. The pair shelled out $7.5 million for the home with intentions to use the property as the Group’s Sydney residence. The trophy listing on Old South Head Rd sits bellow the iconic Macquarie Lighthouse and was built in 1881 by James Barnett. There three-bedroom, five-bathroom home sold with DA approval for a pool and has level lawns, working stable, an office, gas fireplaces, a jacuzzi and a cool room.

media_camera The Vaucluse Keepers Cottage sold for $7.5 million.

media_camera The property was bought by Chinese billionaires Jianmin Song and Hailing Xu.