Summary of Key Points from the China Property Monthly Tracker Industry Overview - The report focuses on the **Chinese property market**, specifically analyzing the performance of primary and secondary property sales, completions, and new starts in August 2025, with expectations for September 2025. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Sales Performance**: - Nationwide primary sales volume and value decreased by **11%** and **14%** year-over-year (yoy) respectively, while completions fell by **21%** yoy, aligning with expectations. However, the decline in new starts was more severe at **20%** yoy, which was below expectations [1][7][28]. - Secondary sales volume also showed a modest decline, largely inline with expectations, at a decrease of mid-single digits percentage (MSD%) yoy [1][7]. 2. **Price Trends**: - Prices for both primary and secondary markets continued to decline, with secondary prices experiencing a more significant drop. In Tier-1 cities, primary average selling prices (ASPs) were relatively more resilient compared to secondary ASPs [1][7][10]. - The average selling price index for 70 cities showed a decline of **0.3%** for primary and **0.6%** for secondary markets month-over-month (mom) in August [7][30]. 3. **Construction Activity**: - New construction starts and completions are expected to continue their decline, with forecasts indicating a **20%** yoy decrease for both metrics in September [1][15]. - The completed but unsold residential inventory decreased by **1%** mom, indicating some improvement in inventory management [7]. 4. **Developer Activity**: - Developers' land acquisition intensity decreased, with new land acquisitions in August accounting for **38%** of contract sales, down from **52%** in the previous months. The average project-level gross profit margin (GPM) for these acquisitions was **21%** [8][69]. - Developers are focusing on profitability over volume, with a significant portion of land investments concentrated in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities [8][69]. 5. **Market Sentiment and Expectations**: - Looking ahead to September, expectations include continued price weakness, particularly in secondary markets, while primary ASPs in high-tier cities may show resilience [1][9]. - The overall demand score for the property market slightly dropped to **40/100**, indicating a challenging environment for home purchases, influenced by sluggish mortgage performance and buyer sentiment [52][54]. Additional Important Insights 1. **Government and Policy Impacts**: - The report highlights the potential for government interventions, such as easing housing purchase restrictions in Tier-1 cities and further mortgage rate cuts, which could support market recovery [17][19]. - There is a focus on urban renewal and inventory reduction as key themes in central-level policies since August 2025 [77]. 2. **Liquidity Challenges**: - Developers are facing a funding gap estimated at **Rmb3.3 trillion** for 2025, which could hinder their operational capabilities unless sell-through rates improve or government buybacks are intensified [53][56]. 3. **Market Dynamics**: - The report notes that competition for key land parcels in major cities is expected to increase, with local governments potentially increasing the supply of quality land to meet fiscal needs [16][19]. 4. **Secondary Market Trends**: - Secondary market sentiment is expected to improve slightly in September, supported by seasonal factors, although overall performance remains weak compared to previous years [14][43]. This comprehensive analysis provides a detailed overview of the current state and future expectations of the Chinese property market, highlighting both challenges and potential areas for recovery.