房贷断供困局：2025年断供率持续攀升背后的经济隐忧与政策应对

Core Insights - The mortgage default rate in China has risen to 4.7% in July 2025, marking a 0.3 percentage point increase from June and continuing a four-month upward trend, particularly affecting third and fourth-tier cities where the rate has reached 6.8% [1][2] - Economic pressures, including a GDP growth rate of only 4.8% in the first half of 2025, have contributed to declining household income growth, which has fallen to 3.2% compared to 5.8% in the same period of 2022, impacting repayment capabilities [1][2] - The continuous decline in housing prices, with new home prices down 5.7% and second-hand home prices down 6.9% year-on-year, has exacerbated the situation for homebuyers, leading to increased default intentions [2][4] - The financial stability of the banking sector is under threat, with the non-performing loan rate for real estate-related loans rising to 3.7%, and potential new non-performing loans exceeding 400 billion yuan if defaults continue [4][6] - Government and financial institutions are implementing measures to stabilize the real estate market, including lowering down payment ratios and adjusting mortgage interest rates [4][6] Economic Factors - The economic downturn is a significant factor, with the National Development and Reform Commission reporting a GDP growth target of 5.2% for 2025, which has not been met [1][7] - The decline in household income growth has directly affected repayment abilities, particularly for high-debt families where mortgage payments exceed 50% of their income [1][2] Housing Market Dynamics - The ongoing decline in housing prices has led to a significant number of homebuyers facing negative equity, with some cities experiencing price drops exceeding 15% [2][4] - The number of unfinished housing projects has surpassed 380, affecting nearly 390,000 homeowners, contributing to the rising default rates [2][4] Financial Sector Response - Major banks have increased provisions for potential bad loans, with state-owned banks setting aside over 280 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, a 22.6% increase from the previous year [6][9] - Banks are offering various relief measures, including loan repayment extensions and interest rate adjustments, to assist struggling homeowners [6][9] Future Outlook - The future of the mortgage default rate will depend on macroeconomic recovery and stabilization of the real estate market, with expectations that policy effects will lead to a peak and subsequent decline in default rates by the end of the year [7][9] - The transition from the previous housing market model to a more sustainable development framework is essential for addressing the underlying issues of mortgage defaults [9]