Cities in China cancel curbs on home buying

Beijing – Two of China’s wealthiest cities said yesterday they would lift all restrictions on buying homes, joining a growing list of urban areas rolling back curbs as they look to prop up the faltering property market.

Many Chinese cities imposed restrictions and tough credit requirements on home purchases well over a decade ago in an effort to tamp down soaring prices and rampant speculation.

But they’re now reversing those policies in a bid to stem an economic slump characterised by a debt crisis among developers, low demand and falling prices.

The eastern city of Hangzhou– home to 12.5 million people – said yesterday it had ditched all purchase restrictions to promote the market’s stable and healthy development.

“From the date of issuance... those who buy lodgings within the bounds of this city will no longer have their purchasing qualifications reviewed,” it said.

Hangzhou, a major innovation hub home to tech giants such as Alibaba, is one of the most desirable and expensive places to buy property in China.

In a separate announcement, the northwestern city of Xi’an, which has a population of 13 million, said it had also cancelled all such restrictions.

The announcements quickly racked up over 230 million views on social media site Weibo, where many users were doubtful the policy would make any difference.

“With Hangzhou’s house prices, what’s the point of cancelling buying restrictions? I still can’t afford it,” wrote one commenter.

Bill Bishop, publisher of the influential Sinocism newsletter, called the move “a sign of desperation”.

He wrote on X: “If this does not goose sales there will be more trouble as prices will have to adjust downward a lot,”

More than 20 cities have abolished home purchase restrictions since the beginning of last year, according to an AFP tally.

Chengdu in southwestern China said last month it would no longer look at prospective buyers’ household registration documents, social security and other conditions before greenlighting purchases.

Several of the biggest cities – including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen – have partly lifted curbs but have resisted dumping them entirely.

Property and construction account for more than a quarter of China’s gross domestic product, but the sector has been under unprecedented strain since 2020.

That year, authorities tightened developers’ access to credit in a bid to reduce mounting debt.

Since then, major companies, including Evergrande and Country Garden, have teetered on bankruptcy while falling prices have dissuaded consumers from investing in property. –