房价如果持续下跌，最头疼的不是炒房客，而是这4类人

Core Insights - The real estate market in China continues to experience a downturn, with both transaction volume and prices declining significantly in the first half of 2024 [1] - New residential sales area from January to April reached 29,200 million square meters, a year-on-year decrease of 20.2%, while sales revenue fell to 28 trillion yuan, down 28.3% [1] - The average sales price of residential properties dropped to 9,595 yuan per square meter, reflecting a 9.2% decline year-on-year [1] - The second-hand housing market is also under pressure, with a notable increase in listings across major cities, indicating rising inventory levels [1] Group 1: Impacted Groups - First-time homebuyers who purchased at market peaks are facing significant losses, exemplified by a case where a buyer's property value halved from 96,000 yuan to 46,000 yuan per square meter within three years [2] - Middle-class families holding multiple properties are experiencing severe asset depreciation, as real estate constitutes 77% of their total assets, leading to substantial financial losses amid falling prices [4] - Real estate developers are at risk as buyer sentiment shifts to a "buy high, sell low" mentality, making it increasingly difficult to sell existing inventory [5] Group 2: Industry Consequences - If prices continue to decline, developers may face liquidity issues, potentially leading to a significant industry shakeout [6] - Real estate professionals are struggling due to reduced transaction volumes, resulting in layoffs and a shift towards other career opportunities as the market contracts [6]