Ping An Securities·2025-10-28 10:47Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the real estate industry [1] Core Insights - The report highlights structural opportunities in the third and fourth-tier housing markets despite challenges such as inventory overhang and weak demand [6][8] - It emphasizes that the market for "good houses" is stabilizing, with a willingness to pay for quality increasing among consumers in lower-tier cities [6][8] Summary by Sections Market Overview - The inventory clearance cycle in third and fourth-tier cities is relatively stable, with a longer average clearance period of 50.5 months compared to 35.1 months in first-tier cities [11] - Price adjustments in these cities are gradually shrinking, indicating a stabilization in housing prices [11] Land Acquisition Trends - Land acquisition competition is weaker in third and fourth-tier cities, with fewer new entrants due to the exit of distressed developers [14][30] - The land transaction premium in third-tier cities has decreased by 0.7 percentage points compared to the previous year, indicating a more favorable environment for project profitability [14][30] Consumer Preferences - There is a noticeable trend towards larger units in third and fourth-tier cities, driven by family-oriented living arrangements and lower price thresholds [21][16] - The acceptance of "good houses" is higher in these markets, with consumers willing to pay a premium for quality [21][16] Competitive Landscape - The number of developers active in third and fourth-tier cities has significantly decreased, leading to a more favorable competitive environment for established players [30][31] - Companies that have maintained a presence in these markets, such as China Overseas Development and Greentown China, are likely to benefit from improved project margins [35][41] Implications for Higher-Tier Markets - The report suggests that the trends observed in third and fourth-tier cities may also apply to first and second-tier markets, where a differentiation and quality improvement trend is expected to continue [80] - Core areas in first-tier cities are anticipated to stabilize and potentially see price recovery, particularly for high-quality properties [80]