In a significant policy shift aimed at revitalizing its struggling real estate sector, Beijing municipal authorities announced substantial easing of home purchase restrictions on Wednesday. The new measures represent the capital’s most aggressive intervention to date as it battles persistent declines in property values.
The revised regulations reduce the mandatory income tax payment period for non-local residents seeking homeownership from two years to just one year, dramatically expanding potential buyer eligibility. Additionally, multi-child families now receive authorization to purchase supplementary residences within Beijing’s central districts—a notable departure from previous limitations.
Financial barriers have been simultaneously reduced through revised lending protocols. Prospective buyers utilizing China’s housing provident fund for secondary properties now face reduced down payment requirements of 25%, down from the previous 30% threshold.
These interventions arrive amid sustained downward pressure on Beijing’s housing market. Official data reveals consistent month-on-month depreciation throughout the past quarter, creating urgency for municipal intervention. The current measures build upon August’s partial deregulation that lifted purchase restrictions in suburban territories while maintaining constraints within the Fifth Ring Road central district.
National authorities have concurrently pledged intensified stabilization efforts for 2026, emphasizing city-specific approaches to optimize housing supply and reduce excessive inventory. Market anxieties intensified recently when state-backed developer China Vanke sought bond repayment extensions totaling approximately $285 million, highlighting persistent sector-wide vulnerabilities despite governmental support measures.