房市关注:楼市新政有效吗?

中国房地产持续火热，中国政府已经颁布了一系列新政策，新的措施真的能对现在楼市有成效吗？房子的价格一直是大家比较担心的，新的政策能为我们减少负担吗？

Reporter:

China implemented three rounds of market curbs last year, which was also regarded as the most stringent restrictions in the short but turbulent history of the Chinese property market. Many are questioning why another round of even more severe blows is needed.

Real Estate Investment Research Center Director Liu Lin from the National Development and Reform Commission says the current market performance is far from the government's initial goal.

"The market adjustment policies had an initial effect last year. Housing prices saw a slight drop during the middle of the year but rose a bit during the last four months. At the same time, inflation, negative interest rate, and sufficient capital in developers' hands have pushed up housing prices. That's why at the beginning of the New Year, the central government has come up with a new round of policies to show their resolution in curbing soaring housing prices."

The new policy focuses on eight different aspects of the real estate market. Second-home buyers need to pay 60 percent instead of the previous 50 percent as a down payment. The number of properties a household can purchase has also been further limited.

More importantly, the local governments are asked to set price targets for the year and publicize their plan to the public. Those government departments which can't accomplish their adjustment goal will have to face inquiry and even punishment.

Professor Wang Lina from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has been conducting research and investigations in many cities across the country over the property market issue. She says that instead of focusing on other parties involved in the real estate market, this time the central government is overseeing the performance of local government bureaus."

Central government has implemented so many policies, but many of those are short term ones without an overall strategy. The revenue system in China is not appropriately set up. Central government has the biggest share of tax revenue while local government doesn't get much. Many of those have to rely on selling land to get revenue. Without solving those fundamental problems, China's real estate problem will always exist."

China is in the middle of urbanization, and many cities across the country, especially second and third tier cities located in western regions are in great demand for money to develop their local infrastructure. Renting land to real estate developers is their main income resource. High floor prices are the result of high land prices.

The professor says she believes the new policy will have some effect in adjusting housing prices, however, more long-term policies need to be added to solve the problem.

For CRI, I'm Liu Min