Even in tech hub Shenzhen, China’s property market succumbs to chills

SHENZHEN, China, Nov 29 (Reuters) – Daily life applied to be superior for Jerry Tang, who still left his rural hometown in 2014 to grow to be a genuine estate agent in Shenzhen – China’s tech megacity and just one of the world’s most popular residence markets.

Just a couple years in the past Tang could make up to 50,000 yuan ($7,800) in a good month selling apartments. Previous yr, he was earning close to 15,000 yuan a thirty day period, but this calendar year that’s fallen to about 5,000 yuan and mainly comes from commission on rentals.

“It truly is definitely a lot more challenging to offer this calendar year,” he mentioned. “Potential buyers are waiting around to see what transpires with the current market, whilst builders are hard cash-strapped, they are having time to spend fee to agents.”

In Shenzhen – dwelling to 17.6 million persons and firms like gaming powerhouse Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK) and telecommunications huge Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL) – some smaller sized realtor offices have shut. Eight actual estate brokers Reuters spoke with also say at least a third of their colleagues have either remaining the field or are wondering about it.

Lianjia, a important realtor, ideas to shut down a fifth, or about a hundred, of its workplaces in Shenzhen, economic information assistance Caixin noted in September, citing an inside memo. Lianjia and its guardian business KE Holdings did not reply to requests for comment.

The deficiency of turnover in Shenzhen’s assets industry and the fallout on the city’s true estate brokers stems in aspect from deliberate coverage endeavours about the previous yr by nearby authorities to make condominium selling prices additional inexpensive, which include demanding greater down payments for next households and capping resale selling prices.

But genuine estate brokers say it also owing to the recent crisis of self esteem hitting China’s house field, highlighting just how thoroughly the sector’s woes are reverberating. If Shenzhen – emblematic of China’s meteoric economic increase over the earlier 40 many years – is not immune, then couple spots in the country are.

China’s assets current market, which accounts for a quarter of GDP by some metrics, has been suffering unprecedented tension just after policymakers this yr introduced credit card debt caps to rein in excessive borrowing by developers.

That in transform has assisted guide to liquidity crises at developers such as China Evergrande Team (3333.HK), the world’s most indebted developer, and Kaisa Group Holdings (1638.HK). Both equally of them also take place to be headquartered in Shenzhen. Policymakers are, nonetheless, widely expected to stand business on the new guidelines which are perceived as necessary reform.

Prices for new houses in Shenzhen fell .2{73375d9cc0eb62eadf703eace8c5332f876cb0fdecf5a1aaee3be06b81bdcf82} in October from a thirty day period earlier – their first fall this year – and in line with the national normal. It continues to be to be seen, on the other hand, if Shenzhen’s assets selling prices will endure the extra sustained, albeit even now compact declines that have strike some 2nd-tier Chinese towns this yr.

In its favour, the southern tech hub’s economic system is not a lot smaller than that of fellow megacity Shanghai’s but Shenzhen has only a 3rd of the land, ensuring sturdy fundamental demand from customers for apartments.

“Purchasers are anxious about Evergrande and contagion, but in Shenzhen they know other developers would stage in to complete projects if they experienced to,” Tang explained.

For some, the more durable curbs and subsequent residence current market chills are a indicator that speculative getting – frequently rampant in China as traditionally there have been couple of other investment solutions – could turn out to be a point of the earlier.

“My parents’ era could near their eyes and place someplace to invest their cash and get a terrific return – they could gamble,” explained Lisa Li, who functions in the financial commitment market and not too long ago acquired a tiny studio apartment but observed the process nerve-wracking.

“Our era can not do that, we’d be in issues,” she said.

Which is chilly convenience, having said that, for Tang, 30, who says he is pondering of modifying work opportunities.

“I will need cost savings if I’m to uncover a girlfriend, and I am supporting my mum again house.”

($1 = 6.3836 Chinese yuan)

Reporting by David Kirton Additional reporting by Clare Jim in Hong Kong and Liangping Gao in Beijing Modifying by Ryan Woo and Edwina Gibbs

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