Investment Rating - The investment rating for the real estate brokerage industry is currently below the neutral line, indicating a downward trend in the market [6][9]. Core Insights - As of May 2025, the real estate brokerage industry’s prosperity index stands at 45.3, slightly up by 0.7 points from April, but still below the critical threshold of 50, suggesting ongoing issues with insufficient demand and transaction activity in the second-hand housing market [6][9]. - The report indicates a mixed performance across 46 key cities, with only 10 cities surpassing the 50 mark, while the remaining 36 cities are experiencing contraction [9][18]. - The report highlights that while the overall market remains under pressure, there are signs of stabilization at the bottom, particularly in certain smaller cities benefiting from policy support and local demand [18]. Summary by Sections National Real Estate Brokerage Industry Overview - The prosperity index for the national real estate brokerage industry in May 2025 is 45.3, indicating a slight improvement but still reflecting a downward trend overall [6][9]. - The index's increase is attributed to a reduction in the decline of housing search enthusiasm and improved transaction efficiency, despite a continuous rise in total housing listings [10][11]. Key Cities' Real Estate Brokerage Industry Prosperity - Among the 46 cities analyzed, only 10 have a prosperity index above 50, with first-tier cities facing significant pressure and second-tier cities showing considerable challenges [9][15]. - The report notes that third and fourth-tier cities are performing well, with cities like Yichang leading with a prosperity index of 68.15, driven by local demand and supportive policies [15][18]. Market Dynamics - The report identifies a "partial recovery and increasing differentiation" in the market, with over half of the 25 cities showing an increase in their prosperity index, while 21 cities experienced a decline [15]. - The average prosperity index for third and fourth-tier cities is 51.56, outperforming first-tier cities at 46.41, indicating a significant disparity in market performance across different city tiers [15][18].