In light of the ongoing property crisis, Premier Li Qiang has stressed the importance of shifting China's focus from mere availability of housing to the quality of construction. He emphasized the need for high-quality smart homes that cater to the diverse needs of the population, highlighting the potential for trillions of yuan in investment and consumption driven by urbanization [4ef7a88a]. As of 2023, China's urbanization rate stood at 66.16%, indicating a significant opportunity for growth in the housing sector [4ef7a88a].
To stimulate the property market, tax breaks have been introduced in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, including deed tax reductions for first-time homebuyers, which will take effect on December 1 [4ef7a88a]. Additionally, Guangzhou has announced plans to acquire commercial housing units to bolster its affordable housing stock [4ef7a88a]. The Ministry of Finance has called for measures to stabilize the real estate market, reflecting the government's proactive stance in addressing the challenges facing the sector [4ef7a88a].
Meanwhile, the office market in China continues to face significant challenges, particularly in cities like Shanghai, where landlords are offering free furnishings to attract tenants amid declining rental prices and rising vacancy rates [131f3d50]. A recent survey indicated that one-third of corporate tenants are unable to afford office furnishings, leading landlords to consider further discounts to retain them [131f3d50]. The average office rent in Shanghai has fallen 2.7% to 7.61 yuan (US$1.07) per square metre per day, with the vacancy rate for premium office buildings expected to exceed 24% by the end of 2024 [131f3d50].
Despite these challenges, 38% of surveyed companies plan to expand their office space by 2026, citing cost savings as a primary reason for relocation [131f3d50]. The commercial real estate market in China is experiencing rising vacancy rates and declining rents, exacerbated by the legacy of COVID-19 lockdowns and the trend of remote work [2b418df9]. This situation adds to the strain on China's financial system and hampers efforts to stimulate private investment spending [2b418df9].
In the broader context, the commercial real estate markets in the US and China are facing headwinds, raising concerns in a higher-for-longer rate environment [47eb5fc7]. However, Singapore's United Overseas Bank remains optimistic about the ASEAN region, citing investment flows in new economy areas such as sustainability and the region's low unemployment [47eb5fc7].
As the US housing market grapples with declining existing home sales and rising mortgage rates, the challenges in the commercial real estate sector are mirrored in China's ongoing struggles with its property market [9b749437]. Despite these hurdles, the US economy is expected to show strong growth in the third quarter, with retail sales exceeding expectations [9b749437]. The interplay of these factors continues to shape the economic landscape in both countries, with investors closely monitoring developments in the housing and commercial real estate sectors [3c43732a].