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Chinese Cities Ease Home-Buying Restrictions to Revive Property Market

To revitalize the struggling real estate sector and stimulate economic growth, major cities in China are taking significant steps to make it easier for individuals to purchase homes. Hangzhou and Xi'an, two prominent cities, have recently eliminated all remaining curbs on home-buying, signaling a shift towards more relaxed regulations in the property market.


Hangzhou's Policy Changes: Hangzhou, known as the home of tech giant Alibaba and EV maker Geely, has been gradually easing restrictions in the property market since early 2022. The city recently announced that it will no longer check social security records or household registration status when evaluating potential homebuyers, effective from May 9. This move aims to streamline the home-buying process and remove barriers for prospective buyers.

  1. Similar Measures in Xi'an: Following Hangzhou's lead, Xi'an, a northwestern city with a population of 13 million, announced similar policy changes to eliminate restrictions on home purchases. These changes reflect a broader trend among Chinese cities to loosen regulations and stimulate demand in the property market.

  2. Nationwide Trend: Other major cities, including Chengdu and Changsha, have also implemented measures to make the home-buying process more accessible. Chengdu, with a population of 21.4 million, recently scrapped all restrictions on home purchases, allowing individuals to buy homes without any eligibility criteria.

  3. Background on Property Market Crisis: China's property market has been in crisis since 2020, following government efforts to curb excessive borrowing by developers and rein in high debt levels. The collapse of Evergrande, once the nation's second-largest homebuilder, exacerbated the situation, leading to widespread financial instability and unfinished housing projects.

  4. Government Response: In response to the housing crisis, the Chinese government has introduced stimulus measures, including mortgage rate cuts and relaxation of home purchase curbs. However, these efforts have failed to stimulate demand significantly, as indicated by tepid home purchase intentions among Chinese citizens.

  5. Future Outlook: Despite ongoing challenges, analysts anticipate that the government may explore new measures to address the housing crisis, potentially including city-specific policies and initiatives to reduce housing inventory. There is speculation that local authorities may be allowed to purchase empty properties from the market for social housing purposes, signaling a possible bailout of the sector.


The recent policy changes in Hangzhou, Xi'an, and other Chinese cities represent a concerted effort to revive the property market and stimulate economic growth. Local governments aim to boost confidence among prospective buyers and address the ongoing challenges facing the real estate sector by eliminating barriers to home-buying and introducing supportive measures. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain, and further government intervention may be necessary to stabilize the housing market and restore investor confidence.



Source: CNN


Short description: Discover how major Chinese cities like Hangzhou and Xi'an are eliminating home-buying barriers to stimulate economic growth. Learn about the policy changes, their impact on the property market, and what they mean for prospective buyers.


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