Home » Business » Real Estate
China's housing prices seen stable
Source: Xinhua |
March 22, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HOUSING prices in China are likely to be stable in 2010 and the number of houses to be sold will drop, an expert said at a real estate session of the Boao International Tourism Forum on Saturday.
"In 2010, housing prices will be stable in general, and I believe that fewer housing units will be sold compared with last year," said Zhu Zhongyi, vice chairman of the China Real Estate Association, in Sanya.
The government earlier this week ordered 78 central state-owned enterprises to quit the real estate business as their land acquisitions are blamed for fueling the rise in urban housing prices, which Zhu said is a signal to curb price increases.
But Zhu remained cautious on housing prices in metropolises like Shanghai and Beijing.
"It is hard to tell. We still have to wait and see," he said.
To curb soaring prices is a very difficult task given the lack of property tax and local governments' reliance on land leasing for revenues, said Chi Fulin, head of Hainan-based China Institute for Reform and Development.
Housing demand will keep rising in China in the coming years. China's urbanization rate will reach 55 to 60 percent from 41.8 percent now by 2020, and each percentage point means 10 million new urban residents who need homes in cities, Chi said.
"The demand for affordable housing will rise, and the government should shoulder the responsibility," Chi added.
The central and local governments rolled out a series of measures to dampen the overheated property market at the end of last year, including reimposing a sales tax on homes sold within five years of their purchase and raising the down payment requirement for families buying a second house using bank loans.
"In 2010, housing prices will be stable in general, and I believe that fewer housing units will be sold compared with last year," said Zhu Zhongyi, vice chairman of the China Real Estate Association, in Sanya.
The government earlier this week ordered 78 central state-owned enterprises to quit the real estate business as their land acquisitions are blamed for fueling the rise in urban housing prices, which Zhu said is a signal to curb price increases.
But Zhu remained cautious on housing prices in metropolises like Shanghai and Beijing.
"It is hard to tell. We still have to wait and see," he said.
To curb soaring prices is a very difficult task given the lack of property tax and local governments' reliance on land leasing for revenues, said Chi Fulin, head of Hainan-based China Institute for Reform and Development.
Housing demand will keep rising in China in the coming years. China's urbanization rate will reach 55 to 60 percent from 41.8 percent now by 2020, and each percentage point means 10 million new urban residents who need homes in cities, Chi said.
"The demand for affordable housing will rise, and the government should shoulder the responsibility," Chi added.
The central and local governments rolled out a series of measures to dampen the overheated property market at the end of last year, including reimposing a sales tax on homes sold within five years of their purchase and raising the down payment requirement for families buying a second house using bank loans.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
