Core Insights - The real estate market is facing challenges for both buyers and sellers, with national average prices remaining flat in 2025 according to Zillow Research [1] - Buyers are struggling due to high prices and uncertainty around mortgage rates, leading to market stagnation [2] - Experts are beginning to analyze and forecast the housing market for 2026 as the fourth quarter of 2025 progresses [3] Home Prices - Zillow Research anticipates home values to remain unchanged through January 2026, with a peak growth of nearly 1.9% expected in August [4] - Economists from the Mortgage Bankers Association predict several quarters of declining prices, with no national price increases expected until 2028 [4] Mortgage Rates - Fannie Mae projects mortgage rates to decrease to 6.4% by the end of 2025 and further to 5.9% by the end of 2026, although this may be an optimistic estimate [5] - The Mortgage Bankers Association forecasts a slight drop in rates to 6.3% by 2027, with no significant changes expected in 2025 and 2026 [5] Home Sales - Sales are expected to remain stagnant until the end of 2025, but Zillow Research indicates that inventory may surpass sales, providing buyers with more options in 2026 [6] - Fannie Mae has a positive outlook for 2026 home sales, predicting an 8.9% year-over-year increase by the end of the year [6] - The National Association of Realtors forecasts home sales based on mortgage rates dropping to 6%, which would make home buying affordable for an additional 5.5 million households [7] - The Mortgage Bankers Association also anticipates an increase in sales for 2026, projecting 5 million new and existing home sales compared to 4.8 million in 2025 [8]

Group 1 - The core buying demographic for housing has shifted from the 70s and 80s generations, totaling over 400 million, to the younger 90s and 00s generations, which only comprise around 300 million [2] - The number of newborns has significantly declined, with 2023 witnessing fewer than 9 million births, half of the figure from 2016, indicating a shrinking future demand for housing [2] - The effectiveness of various housing market stimulus policies since 2021, such as lowering down payments and interest rates, has diminished, suggesting that these measures can only provide temporary support rather than create a robust market [4][5] Group 2 - The economic growth rate has slowed from around 10% to approximately 5%, leading to a shift in perception of real estate from an appreciating asset to a necessity for living [7][8] - By 2030, housing prices in different cities are expected to diverge significantly, with core urban areas like Beijing and Shanghai maintaining stability, while secondary cities may experience declines of 10-15% or more [10][13] - The risk of price depreciation is particularly high in lower-tier cities due to population outflow and insufficient industry, with potential declines of up to 30% by 2030 [13] Group 3 - The decision to buy or sell property is highly individual, with recommendations for first-time buyers to focus on manageable monthly payments and for investors to consider divesting from lower-tier properties [15] - The era of real estate as a wealth-building tool is perceived to be over, with future investment opportunities likely to arise in sectors such as technology, consumption, and health [15][17] - The analysis serves as a reminder that the era of widespread price increases in real estate has concluded, and future adjustments will be necessary, emphasizing the importance of informed decision-making in the housing market [17]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report anticipates weak-form stabilization in the property market but does not foresee a strong recovery in the near term [10] - National residential sales have shown significant declines, with a year-on-year decrease of 6.5% in 2022 and a projected further decline of 17.0% in 2023 [7] - The average selling price of residential properties has seen a slight increase of 2.2% in 2023, but a decrease of 4.8% is expected in 2024 [7] National Forecast - Sales value in 2023 is projected at RMB 11,662 billion, down from RMB 12,473 billion in 2022, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 6.5% [7] - Residential sales volume is expected to decrease to 1,117 million square meters in 2023, down from 1,221 million square meters in 2022, marking an 8.5% decline [7] - The average selling price per square meter is projected to be RMB 10,437 in 2023, with a slight increase from RMB 10,214 in 2022 [7] Sales - Aggregate contracted sales for the top 100 developers are expected to decline significantly, with a year-on-year decrease of 42% in 2023 [11] - National residential sales have shown a downward trend, with a year-on-year decline of 18% expected in 2024 [11] - The report highlights that major developers are experiencing varying levels of sales performance, with state-owned enterprises (SOEs) showing a decline of 6% while private developers face a more significant drop [30] Construction - New construction starts are projected to decrease to 954 million square meters in 2023, down from 1,198 million square meters in 2022, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 20.4% [7] - The area under construction is expected to decline to 8,384 million square meters in 2023, down from 9,050 million square meters in 2022, marking a 7.4% decrease [7] Financing - Real estate investment is projected to decline to RMB 11,217 billion in 2023, down from RMB 12,408 billion in 2022, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 9.6% [7] - Land sales proceeds are expected to drop to RMB 2,941 billion in 2023, down from RMB 3,339 billion in 2022, indicating a decline of 11.9% [7] Long-term Forecasts - The report projects a continued decline in residential sales, with expectations of a further decrease in 2024 and 2025 [11] - The long-term outlook remains cautious, with potential for gradual recovery contingent on policy support and market stabilization [10]