Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles is that the acquisition of existing residential properties for the purpose of affordable rental housing is gaining momentum in major cities, particularly in Shanghai, as part of a broader strategy to address housing supply and demand issues [1][3][4] - Shanghai's Minhang District has initiated a public acquisition process for existing residential properties to be used as affordable rental housing, marking a significant step in the city's efforts to tackle housing inventory [2][3] - The central government has been supportive of local governments using special bonds and other financial tools to acquire existing properties for affordable housing, with several provinces already issuing such bonds [6][7] Group 2 - As of now, three of the four first-tier cities (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Shanghai) have announced plans to acquire existing residential properties for affordable housing, indicating a trend among major urban centers [4][6] - The issuance of special bonds for property acquisition has been reported, with Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces leading the way, raising a total of 19.2 billion yuan for this purpose [6][7] - The acquisition process is expected to alleviate inventory pressure on real estate companies and improve cash flow, thereby balancing the supply-demand relationship in the housing market [8]