Core Insights - A recent survey indicates that 40% of potential homebuyers plan to delay or abandon their home purchase in 2025, a 17 percentage point increase from the same period in 2024 [1] - As of May 2025, China's total debt has surpassed 300 trillion yuan, equivalent to 2.8 times the GDP, indicating extreme leverage among residents and a continuing decline in homebuying demand [1] Group 1: Economic Environment - Many potential homebuyers are concerned about income growth uncertainty due to declining performance in the real economy, leading to layoffs and salary cuts [3] - The job market is shrinking, with 11.89 million university graduates competing for limited job opportunities, contributing to high unemployment rates [3] - The current environment has led families to postpone home purchases to avoid financial strain from potential job loss and mortgage payments [3] Group 2: Housing Market Trends - Home prices are in a long-term downward trend, with new residential property prices in 300 cities down 3.2% year-on-year and second-hand home prices down 5.1%, marking the third consecutive year of decline [5] - Buyers are typically reluctant to purchase in a declining market, fearing they may be trapped in a depreciating asset [5] Group 3: Household Financial Behavior - The proportion of household assets tied up in real estate is 77%, with over 41.5% of families owning two or more properties, indicating limited room for further leverage [8] - As of March 2025, the balance of real estate loans was 53.2 trillion yuan, growing only 1.5% year-on-year, the lowest growth rate since 2008, reflecting a rapid decline in loan demand [8] Group 4: Changing Buyer Sentiment - Post-pandemic, consumers are becoming more rational about home purchases, prioritizing savings over real estate investments, with 49.7% preferring to save money, the highest since 2015 [10] - The preference for purchasing property as an investment has dropped to 15.3%, the lowest on record, indicating a shift in consumer behavior towards financial prudence [10]