Summary of Conference Call on China Property Market Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the **China Property** market, discussing the ongoing downcycle and its implications for sales and rental prices. Key Points and Arguments Market Downcycle - Expectation of another **two years of downcycle** in the property market, with sales projected to decline by **10% in 2026** and **5% in 2027** [1][53] - Housing price expectations have fundamentally changed, with a notable shift towards renting due to lower rental yields compared to mortgage rates [1][6] Rental Market Dynamics - In **9M2025**, rental transaction units in Shanghai increased by **12% YoY**, but rental prices in four tier 1 cities declined by **3% YoY** as of October 2025 [2][8] - The increase in rental transactions suggests a growing rental supply, attributed to: 1. Rising social rental housing supply in tier 1 cities (400k-600k units per city) [2][34] 2. Conversion of secondary listings for sale to rental due to difficulties in selling properties [2][18] 3. Supply from vacant properties, with an estimated **18.8% vacancy rate** nationwide [2][28] Mortgage and Cash Flow Analysis - Monthly rental expense for a property valued at **RMB 1 million** is **RMB 1,508**, while the mortgage payment is **RMB 2,562**, indicating a preference for renting over buying [3][14] - A **40bps reduction** in mortgage rates by end-2026E could necessitate a **38% decline** in property prices for cash flow parity between renting and buying [3][7] Policy Responses and Risks - Potential policy measures to stabilize property prices include: 1. Suspension of social housing supply (unlikely due to the 15th Five-Year Plan) [4] 2. Interest rate cuts (over 100bps) which may negatively impact banks' net interest margins [4] - A rise in mortgage default rates poses a downside risk, potentially leading to more foreclosure sales and further price declines [4] Sales Forecasts - Revised national residential sales value forecast down by **3-13% for 2025-26E** [1][53] - Anticipated **10% decline** in national property sales in GFA/value terms for 2026E and another **5% in 2027E** [1][53] - Top 100 developers' contract sales decreased by **41% YoY** in October 2025, indicating ongoing market weakness [53] Social Rental Housing Impact - Social rental housing supply is expected to continue to compress rental prices and dilute demand for private residential housing [33][35] - The government plans to supply **8.7 million units** of social rental housing, which could cover **13-16%** of households renting a house in tier 1 cities [34][40] Inventory and New Starts - Property new starts are expected to decrease by **10% in 2026** and **5% in 2027** after a **19% decline in 2025** [54][55] - The inventory level may return to average levels by mid-2027, considering the latest sales and new starts forecast [3][53] Additional Important Insights - The shift in homebuyer preferences towards renting is driven by the **low rental yields** (1.81% in tier 1 cities) compared to mortgage rates (3.07%) [7][15] - The ongoing downcycle has led to a **35% drop** in the Centaline secondary price index in tier 1 cities since its peak [6] - The **social rental housing** supply peaked in 2022 but is expected to decline in 2026-27E, potentially affecting rental dynamics [33][36] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call regarding the current state and future outlook of the China property market, highlighting the challenges and shifts in consumer behavior.