Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the complex reasons behind developers' reluctance to significantly lower housing prices and the local governments' frequent easing of real estate policies, emphasizing the need for market stability rather than drastic fluctuations [1][9]. Market Background - Since the second half of last year, the domestic housing market has shown a downward trend, with the average national housing price dropping from 11,000 yuan per square meter to 9,560 yuan per square meter, a decline of over 15%. As of August this year, only 29 out of 100 key cities saw new housing prices increase, while 69 cities experienced price declines [3]. - The second-hand housing market is even more challenging, with only 23 cities seeing price increases, while 74 cities reported declines [3]. Current Housing Prices - Despite the overall decline, housing prices remain high, with the average price in 60 key cities at 17,593 yuan per square meter. Purchasing an ordinary commodity house often costs two to three million yuan, while first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have average prices reaching 60,000 to 70,000 yuan per square meter, leading to costs of six to seven million yuan [5]. Developer and Government Actions - Many developers are choosing to "hold the line" on prices, with promotional discounts rarely exceeding 10%. Concurrently, local governments have introduced numerous policies to ease the real estate market, with 299 regulatory measures implemented in the first half of 2022, including relaxed purchase restrictions, loan limits, and housing subsidies [6]. - Some cities have even introduced "price drop limits" to prevent developers from significantly lowering prices [6]. Reasons for Price Stability - A sudden drop in housing prices could exacerbate market hesitation, making it harder for developers to sell existing inventory, as buyers tend to wait for lower prices [8]. - Significant price reductions could lead to dissatisfaction among previous buyers, potentially resulting in compensation claims and social instability [8]. - A drastic decline in prices could diminish developers' willingness to acquire land, negatively impacting local government revenues from land sales, which are crucial for infrastructure projects and economic growth [8]. - A cooling real estate market would also affect numerous related industries, including steel, cement, and home furnishings, which employ a large workforce, thus threatening job stability [8]. Conclusion - The easing of real estate policies and developers' reluctance to lower prices significantly stem from a desire to avoid drastic fluctuations in housing prices, which could lead to social and economic instability. Stability is currently the primary goal of real estate market regulation [9].

Group 1 - The core issue is that a significant drop in housing prices could trigger a series of chain reactions, impacting economic and social stability [4] - Local governments rely heavily on land finance as a key source of revenue, and a sharp decline in housing prices would reduce developers' willingness to acquire land, leading to a sluggish land market and decreased fiscal income [3] - The real estate sector is interconnected with numerous upstream and downstream industries, such as steel, cement, and home appliances, providing many jobs; a collapse in housing prices would directly impact these industries, leading to reduced investment demand and increased unemployment [5] Group 2 - Homeowners may express dissatisfaction due to asset depreciation if housing prices fall significantly, potentially leading to social unrest and legal disputes [5] - A drastic decline in housing prices could exceed the down payment ratio for many buyers, resulting in widespread defaults and increased financial risks for banks [5] - Developers face heightened inventory pressures and increased difficulty in sales if housing prices drop, which could exacerbate the risk of loan recoveries for banks [7] Group 3 - Local governments and developers are reluctant to see a sharp decline in housing prices due to the potential economic and social risks, prompting them to implement various measures to stabilize the real estate market [7] - The fundamental goal of recent adjustments in the real estate market across various regions in China is to prevent drastic fluctuations in housing prices, thereby maintaining overall economic and social stability [7]

Group 1 - Huang Qifan's predictions about the real estate market have been largely validated, with expectations for the next two years aligning with his forecasts [1][3] - He predicted a significant decline in new home sales, estimating that annual transactions could drop below 1 billion square meters, representing a total reduction of approximately 40% [5] - Huang also forecasted that housing prices would stabilize, with average growth rates aligning closely with GDP growth rates or even slower, which has been observed in the current market [7] Group 2 - The previous rapid increase in housing prices was driven by supply-demand imbalances, monetary factors, and external influences, but the current market has shifted to a state of oversupply, reducing upward pressure on prices [10][12] - Policy measures from the government, such as efforts to stabilize the real estate market, are expected to continue, but the recovery may face challenges, leading to a likely continuation of declining sales area trends [15] - Predictions indicate that new construction and investment in real estate will continue to decline, with estimates suggesting a 15.6% drop in new construction area and an 8.7% decrease in development investment by 2025 [19]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the key tasks outlined in the government work report following the 2025 National Two Sessions, focusing on economic growth, consumption potential, asset price stability, and market confidence restoration [1]. Group 1: Economic Growth and Consumption - Liu Shijun emphasizes the need for China to maintain a medium-speed economic growth rate of at least 4% to surpass the high-income threshold, suggesting that the nominal growth rate should exceed the actual growth rate [2][3]. - The report highlights the importance of consumption as a key driver of economic growth, noting that China's final consumption accounts for nearly 20 percentage points less of GDP compared to international levels [2]. - Liu Shijun proposes increasing urban and rural residents' pensions from 220 yuan per person per month to around 400 yuan in one to two years, aiming for 600 yuan in three years and 1,000 yuan in five years, which could activate over 1 trillion yuan in consumption potential [3]. Group 2: Policy Adjustments and Market Confidence - Wang Yiming points out that the government work report prioritizes boosting consumption and expanding domestic demand, reflecting a shift in policy focus from investment to consumption [4][5]. - The report indicates that stabilizing asset prices, particularly housing prices, is crucial, with a need for clear responsibilities and effective policies to manage supply and demand [6]. - Liu Yuanchun notes that the policy framework for 2025 must be adaptable to uncertainties, with a focus on maintaining a strong decision-making capacity in response to external shocks and internal risks [8][9]. Group 3: Enhancing Business Vitality - Yang Ruilong identifies four key areas to stimulate the vitality of domestic business entities: clarifying property rights, allowing self-management and accountability, ensuring fair competition, and minimizing unnecessary administrative intervention [10][11]. - The article stresses the importance of protecting private enterprise rights and creating a competitive environment for private businesses, particularly in infrastructure and major research projects [11].