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REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Sept 1 (Reuters) - China is set to take further action including relaxing home-purchase restrictions as it scrambles to tackle a deepening crisis in its massive debt-riddled property sector, four people familiar with the matter said. They plan to act as existing policies failed to sustain a sector rebound earlier this year, the people added. The property sector accounts for roughly a quarter of the world's second-largest economy. However, it is in the throes of an unprecedented debt crisis that market participants fear could spread throughout the financial sector at home and beyond. They also reduced the downpayment ratio to no lower than 20% for first-home buyers and no lower than 30% for second-home purchases.

Persons: Aly, Morgan Stanley, Julie Zhu, Jane Xu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Regulators, Council, Information Office, Reuters, Housing, People's Bank of China, National Administration of Financial, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou

Coins and banknotes of China's yuan are seen in this illustration picture taken February 24, 2022. Country Garden, China's largest private developer by sales, did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment. Lower deposit rates will partially offset various pressures on banks' narrowing net interest margins - a key gauge of profitability, said Nicholas Zhu, a banking analyst at Moody's. "The impact of the deposit rate cut is material, given that close to three-quarters of Chinese banks' liabilities are deposits," Zhu said. China's mortgage loans totalled 38.6 trillion yuan ($5.29 trillion) at the end of June, representing 17% of banks' total loan books.

Persons: Florence Lo, Nicholas Zhu, Zhu, Ziyi Tang, Ryan Woo, Wang Jing, Davide Barbuscia, Anne Marie Roantree Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corp, Agricultural Bank of China, Reuters, Industrial Bank Co Ltd, China Bohai Bank Co Ltd, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Washington, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, New York, Lincoln

☆ China relaxes mortgage rules to help homebuyers in latest stimulus push
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

That’s a big cut from the existing requirements of minimums of 30% and 40% for first-time and second-time buyers in cities that implement home-buying restrictions, such as Beijing and Shanghai. In addition, minimum mortgage rates for buyers of second homes should be no less than 20 basis points over the loan prime rate (LPR), the statement said. Currently, minimum mortgage rates for second-time buyers are no less than 60 basis points over the LPR. The LPR is the benchmark for most household and corporate loans in China and is set by the central bank each month. “For banks, it can effectively reduce the phenomenon of early loan repayment and mitigate the impact on banks’ interest income,” they added.

Persons: That’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of China, National Administration of Financial Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Shanghai

☆ From holidays to mortgage waivers, UK homebuilders dish out freebies to revive sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Ajose Koilparambil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

If they have a 5% deposit, then deposit boost works well where we give an additional 5% so that they can secure a 90% loan-to-value mortgage," said a sales director with Persimmon. Some homebuyers are opting for exchange options, where the builder purchases the buyer's existing property and the payment helps fund the new-home purchase. "Mortgage holidays", offered by Persimmon and other builders, are also popular among homebuyers with builders contributing towards home-loan payment during a specific period. Reuters GraphicsKNOCK ON MARGINSThe incentives, while aimed at boosting demand, come at a cost for homebuilders struggling to keep costs low. Persimmon said last month sales incentives and marketing costs shaved off 2.1% from its half-year gross margins.

Persons: Toby Melville, Barratt, Persimmon, Aynsley Lammin, Peel Hunt, Sam Cullen, Cullen, Taylor, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Sweta Singh, Saumyadeb Organizations: REUTERS, British, Reuters Graphics, Bank of England, Reuters, Peel, Thomson Locations: Bristol, Britain, British, Bengaluru

☆ China's Aug factory activity picks up unexpectedly - Caixin PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A worker wearing a face mask works on a production line manufacturing glassware products at a factory in Haian, Jiangsu province, China February 29, 2020. The Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 51.0 in August from 49.2 in July, beating analysts' forecasts of 49.3 and marking the highest reading since February. The data, a snapshot of the sprawling manufacturing economy, surprised to the upside but offered a mixed picture of the sector, a day after an official survey showed manufacturing activity contracted for a fifth straight month. The Caixin manufacturing PMI surveys around 650 private and state-owned manufacturers and focuses more on export-oriented firms in coastal regions, while the official PMI surveys 3,200 companies across China. Manufacturers reported increases in both output and total order intakes thanks to firmer market demand, the Caixin survey showed.

Persons: Wang Zhe, Wang, Ellen Zhang, Ryan Woo, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, P Global, Analysts, Manufacturers, Caixin Insight, Thomson Locations: Haian, Jiangsu province, China, Rights BEIJING

☆ Asian shares set for worst month since Feb on China gloom
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) added 0.1% but was still headed for a monthly loss of 5.9%, the largest since February. Data on Thursday showed China's manufacturing activity contracted for a fifth straight month in August, and the expansion in services sector lost a little momentum. Chinese blue-chips (.CSI300) were flat but a 2.5% rebound in property stocks boosted Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index, which rose 0.7%. Barring the China gloom, investor confidence jumped in August, with a global confidence index (ICI) from State Street Global Markets surging 11.4 points to 107.7, led by North America which recorded the strongest reading in a year on easing recession fears. Brent crude futures were little changed at $85.88 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 0.1% at $81.74.

Persons: Marvin Loh, payrolls, Stella Qiu, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: U.S, PCE, Japan's Nikkei, ICI, Street Global, North, Global ICI, State Street Global, Federal, European Central Bank, Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: China, SYDNEY, Asia, Pacific, Japan, North America, Europe, Germany, Spain

☆ US pending home sales rose in July for the second month in a row
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington, DC CNN —US pending home sales ticked up in July by 0.9%, rising for the second month in a row despite elevated prices and rising mortgage rates, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors. “However, rising mortgage rates and limited inventory have temporarily hindered the possibility of buying for many.”There was regional variation in pending home sales according to the index. Pending sales rose in the South, up 2% from June; and the West, which was up 6.2% from June. Affordability challenges expected to keep sales coolPending home sales or contract signings tend to lead existing home sales by roughly one to two months. Few homeowners with ultra-low mortgage rates of 3% or 4% are willing to sell their home and buy another one at 7%.

Persons: ”, Lawrence Yun, Jobs, ” Yun, “, Danielle Hale, ” Hale, Hale Organizations: DC CNN, National Association of Realtors, Realtor.com, Buyers, Mortgage, Association Locations: Washington

☆ Guangzhou eases mortgage rules as China ramps up efforts to revive property sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Guangzhou on Wednesday became the first major Chinese city to announce an easing of mortgage curbs as the government ramps up efforts to revive the crisis-hit property sector and shore up the sputtering economy. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Mainland Property Index rose as much as 3.3% after the Guangzhou city government's announcement. Like its peers, the company has been hurt by a drop in margins as property sales and the value of the homes themselves plummeted as the economy slowed. BANKS MARGINThe mortgage rate cuts will add to margin pressure on banks. China's benchmark banking sector index fell 1.04% after the Guangzhou mortgage announcement while China's CSI300 index gained 0.02%.

Persons: Jackson Wang, Wang, I'm, Raymond Cheng, Vivian Xue Organizations: Guangzhou, Wednesday, Hang Seng Mainland, Country Garden, provident, CGS, CIMB Securities, APAC, Fitch, Reuters Locations: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hang Seng, Linyi, China, Hong Kong

☆ New Zealand house prices to rise again on supply shortage, rate cut hopes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Anant Chandak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary poll dataBENGALURU, Aug 30 (Reuters) - New Zealand house prices are forecast to rise again next year due to an ongoing supply shortage and expectations for interest rate cuts, according to a Reuters poll of property market analysts. That is short of a roughly 20% correction most property analysts predicted in May following a pandemic-era boom that boosted prices by more than 40%. Prices have started to rise again on returning demand meeting limited available supply. New Zealand house prices were expected to decline 4.8% this year, the latest Reuters poll of 11 property market analysts taken Aug. 14-28 showed. Average property prices were then expected to rise 5.0% and 6.0% in 2024 and 2025, respectively, an upgrade from 3.4% and 5.0% in the previous poll.

Persons: Miles Workman, homebuyers, Anant Chandak, Susobhan Sarkar, Ross Finley, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Reserve Bank of New Zealand, ANZ, Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Bengaluru

☆ China new home prices growth likely flat in 2023, dragging on economy - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Liangping Gao | Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: A construction site of residential buildings by Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured in Tianjin, China August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File PhotoThe expected 0% year-on-year growth in home prices compared with a 1.4% gain tipped in the previous forecast in May, a Reuters poll of 12 economists conducted from Aug. 16-25 showed. “It is estimated that every one percentage point decline in property investment may drag down the GDP growth rate by 0.1 percentage points,” said analyst Ma Hong at Zhixin Investment Research Institute. China observers are sceptical that the property sector could turn a corner in the near term despite Beijing’s support measures. The government has suspended publishing data on youth unemployment, which has hit record highs in what analysts say is partly a symptom of regulatory crackdowns on big employers in real estate and other industries.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Wang Xingping, Fitch Bohua, ”, Ma Hong, Gao Yuhong, Xing Zhaopeng Organizations: REUTERS, Fitch, Authorities, Zhixin Investment Research Institute Locations: BEIJING, Tianjin, China, “

A construction site of residential buildings by Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured in Tianjin, China August 18, 2023. The expected 0% year-on-year growth in home prices compared with a 1.4% gain tipped in the previous forecast in May, a Reuters poll of 12 economists conducted from Aug. 16-25 showed. "It is estimated that every one percentage point decline in property investment may drag down the GDP growth rate by 0.1 percentage points," said analyst Ma Hong at Zhixin Investment Research Institute. China observers are sceptical that the property sector could turn a corner in the near term despite Beijing's support measures. The government has suspended publishing data on youth unemployment, which has hit record highs in what analysts say is partly a symptom of regulatory crackdowns on big employers in real estate and other industries.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Wang Xingping, Fitch Bohua, Ma Hong, Gao Yuhong, Xing Zhaopeng, Liangping Gao, Ryan Woo, Shuyan Wang, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Fitch, Authorities, Zhixin Investment Research Institute, Thomson Locations: Tianjin, China, BEIJING

☆ Consumers aren't even close to being tapped out. Here's why, and what that means for the stock market.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Most projections for a stock market decline hinge on a weakening US consumer. Bearish investors cite $1 trillion in credit card debt, upcoming student loan payments, and a depletion of excess pandemic savings. But the US consumer has plenty of capacity to spend, and that's great news for the stock market. In reality, US consumers have plenty of firepower left to spend money, grow the economy, and drive the stock market higher. And given that consumption makes up about 70% of GDP, this strength should continue to flow through to the economy and stock market.

Organizations: Service, Bloomberg Mortgage Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Why Are Mortgage Rates So High, and How Long Will They Stay Up?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Gregory Schmidt | More About Gregory Schmidt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“We have a much more complicated economy.”What influences mortgage rates? When inflation is running high, the Fed raises those short-term rates to slow the economy and reduce pressure on prices. That has been going on for over a year, with the Fed’s rate climbing above 5 percent, from near zero, and mortgage rates following suit. A strong economy affects mortgage rates in other ways, too. A robust job market gives households more money to spend, which increases demand for mortgages, sending rates higher.

Persons: ”, “ Organizations: Treasury, U.S .

☆ China approves guidelines to boost affordable housing amid property debt crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Chinese property sector is in a deepening crisis with a rising risk of default among some developers as they struggle to sell apartments and raise funds. Separately, China's central bank announced guidance on relaxing residential housing loan rules, in a move aimed at boosting loan applications and house purchases. The central bank also said it would stick to the principle that houses are for living in and not vehicles for speculation. On Friday, the housing ministry, the central bank and the national financial regulator also jointly issued a notice easing mortgage policies to help revive the sector. China's housing market has over the past two years been grappling with a severe debt crisis - initially triggered by government moves to rein in ballooning debt.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Premier Li Qiang, Ellen Zhang, Ryan Woo, John Stonestreet, Susan Fenton, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Premier, Xinhua, People's Bank of, Ministry of Housing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, People's Bank of China

☆ Zillow offers a 1% down payment loan program
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Zillow Home Loans pays an additional 2%, bringing the total down payment to 3%, which is typically the minimum payment required for a conventional home loan. Currently the program is only available to buyers in Arizona, according to Zillow, with plans to expand. With mortgage rates crossing over 7% in recent weeks and home prices rising, home sales have plummeted over the past year. Offering a low down payment program is in line with Zillow’s return to its core business after a short-lived expansion into the ibuying business. Zillow also offers a down payment assistance tool to see if you are eligible for other programs.

Persons: Zillow, Rich Barton, haven’t, Orphe Divounguy, ” Organizations: DC CNN, Mortgage, Association, US Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterans Affairs, Consumer Financial Locations: Washington, Arizona, homeownership, Phoenix

☆ Opinion | America Has a Mortgage Problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Peter Coy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Indeed, seasonally adjusted sales of new homes rose 31 percent in July from a year earlier, while seasonally adjusted sales of existing homes (a bigger market) fell 17 percent over the same 12 months. The Fed raises rates to cool off the housing market and the inadvertent effect is to increase housing construction. On third glance, though, rate lock really does screw up the housing market. When the inventory of existing homes for sale declines because of rate lock, “the matching process that has to occur becomes more complicated,” he said. In May the inventory of existing homes for sale, 1.08 million, was less than half its average since 1999.

Persons: Robert Dietz, ”, ” Campbell, Princeton’s Markus Brunnermeier Organizations: National Association of Home Builders Locations: U.S, “

☆ Home affordability is the worst it has been since 1984
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington, DC CNN —Buying a house requires a much bigger slice of people’s income now — making this the most unaffordable housing market since 1984, by one measure. The number of cost-burdened renters increased by 1.2 million, to a record 21.6 million households, between 2019 and 2021. In all, 40.6 million households were housing-cost burdened in 2021, including 20.3 million who were severely burdened. Affordability picture remains grim this yearHopeful house hunters continued to face challenging affordability conditions in July as rising mortgage rates and historically low housing inventory pushed prices higher, said Edward Seiler, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s associate vice president for housing economics. “Unfortunately, given today’s lack of inventory and affordability levels, it may take years before home affordability returns to more ‘normal’ levels,” he said.

Persons: Black Knight, Knight, “, ”, Andy Walden, Edward Seiler, Seiler, Joel Kan, Walden, ” It’s Organizations: DC CNN, Federal Reserve, Black, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, Mortgage, Moody’s Investors Service Locations: Washington

☆ Barbara Corcoran says this is the No. 1 mistake new home buyers can easily avoid: 'Go back for another look'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Barbara Corcoran says the biggest mistake new homebuyers do is forget to go back for a second look. "People fall in love with the house and think at that moment in time it's their new house," she said. Industry experts agree that going back for a second look is crucialMike Biryla, a real estate agent at The Agency, agrees with Corcoran that going for another look before signing on the dotted line is worth it. "When you go back for a second look, it should be to make sure that the floor plan makes sense for you." Biryla tells CNBC Make It a second look is about reaffirming your initial feeling.

Persons: Barbara Corcoran, Corcoran, Mike Biryla Organizations: America, Industry, The Agency, CNBC, Getty

[1/5] Workers walk out of a construction site of residential buildings by Chinese developer Country Garden, in Tianjin, China August 18, 2023. Both sites are run by Country Garden, China's largest developer by sales volume before this year, now mired in a debt crisis threatening to spill over to the wider economy. Once considered one of the more financially sound developers, Country Garden is now a bellwether of how the cycle has turned for developers. Country Garden built its success by quickly selling a large number of units for low margins and by promising "five-star living" in less popular, smaller cities. Tianjin has about a dozen Country Garden projects, with the majority finished and delivered, said Gao Fei, investment advisory manager at the Tianjin branch of Centaline Property Agency.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Wang, Wei, Gao Fei, Gao, Laurie Chen, Clare Jim, Sumeet Chatterjee, Sonali Paul Organizations: Workers, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Construction, Nomura, Centaline Property Agency, Thomson Locations: Tianjin, China, Rights TIANJIN, HK, Beijing, Shenyang Tengyue, Centaline, Hong Kong

☆ Nvidia set the market alight last quarter. Can it repeat the trick?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Artificial intelligence darling Nvidia’s upcoming earnings report could be a boost or a drag on a market already mired in the summer doldrums. Nvidia reached a $1 trillion market cap in May, becoming the ninth company to achieve that milestone. Tech stocks rose on Monday, indicating optimism among investors about Nvidia’s earnings. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index on Monday gained 1.6%, marking its biggest one-day jump this month and stalling the recent sell-off in tech stocks. Tech stocks faltered somewhat on Tuesday, as weak retail earnings and elevated Treasury yields put pressure on stocks.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Phillip Toews, that’s, …, ”, Louis Navellier, Dan Ives, Jerome Powell, Anna Bahney, Read, Clare Duffy, —, X Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, CNN, Nvidia, Toews Asset Management, US Federal Reserve, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Tesla, Navellier, Associates, Tech, Nasdaq, Wedbush Securities, Federal, Kansas City, Dow Jones, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Homeowners, Twitter Locations: Jackson Hole , Wyoming, Northeast, Midwest, West

☆ Almost 40% of first-time home buyers seek out money from their parents, says Zillow's Skylar Olsen
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAlmost 40% of first-time home buyers seek out money from their parents, says Zillow's Skylar OlsenHosted by Brian Sullivan, “Last Call” is a fast-paced, entertaining business show that explores the intersection of money, culture and policy. Tune in Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC.

Persons: Zillow's Skylar Olsen, Brian Sullivan, “ Organizations: CNBC

☆ Taylor Morrison CEO: Nothing in the latest existing home sales data was surprising
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTaylor Morrison CEO: Nothing in the latest existing home sales data was surprisingSheryl Palmer, Taylor Morrison CEO, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss some of the housing market's positive data, how seasonality will play into today's real estate sector and the demographic implications of the bifurcation in first-time home buyers and others.

Persons: Taylor Morrison, Sheryl Palmer

☆ US home prices rose in July after 5 months of declines
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington, DC CNN —US home buyers have a new challenge in addition to mortgage rates above 7%: Prices are rising again, reversing five months of year-over-year declines, according to a National Association of Realtors report released Tuesday. Prices rose in the Northeast, Midwest and South but were unchanged in the West in July, the NAR report found. Current homeowners are refusing to sell and are hunkering down with their ultra-low mortgage rates that are at least half the current rates. Sales of existing homes — which include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops — dropped below expectations and were down 2.2% from June to July. “Two factors are driving current sales activity — inventory availability and mortgage rates,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.

Persons: —, ”, Lawrence Yun, Freddie Mac, Melissa Cohn Organizations: DC CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, ”, William, Mortgage Locations: Washington, Northeast, Midwest, West

☆ What mortgage rates over 7% mean for the housing market
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington, DC CNN —An already miserably unaffordable housing market is getting more expensive. As mortgage rates top 7% — the highest they’ve been in 21 years according to Freddie Mac — home buyers face ballooning costs. “The fact that we are seeing rates at these highs is having an impact on the housing market,” Freedman said. “That’s bad news for mortgage rates which correspondingly may rise to 8%,” he said. “We thought mortgage rates would be much lower by now,” she said.

Persons: Freddie Mac, “, ”, Bess Freedman, Brown Harris Stevens, Freedman, ” Freedman, Buyers, ” Lawrence Yun, Yun, Jessica Lautz, we’d, Melissa Cohn, Cohn, “ Banks, ” Cohn Organizations: DC CNN, Federal, National Association of Realtors, NAR, “, Fed, William, Mortgage, ” Fed, Treasury Locations: Washington

"We think the situation is probably getting a little bit worse because of this Country Garden incident," Chan told CNBC in a phone interview Thursday. The debt troubles at Country Garden and the uncertainty of government support are feeding into broader unease in the Chinese housing market. Louise Loo Oxford EconomicsThe Chinese property sector has been reeling since 2020, when Beijing cracked down on the debt levels of mainland property developers. Chan said S&P's bear case for China's property sector is for 11 trillion yuan in sales this year, and 10 trillion yuan for 2024. Land sales divergenceAs China's property sector consolidates amid the debt and credit malaise, state-owned developers are better positioned to grow than non-state ones.

Persons: Edward Chan, Chan, Evergrande, Louise Loo, Global's Chan, That's, China's, Gary Ng Organizations: Future Publishing, CNBC, JPMorgan, Louise Loo Oxford, Oxford Economics, Natixis Corporate, Investment Banking Locations: Chengdong, Hai, City, East China's Jiangsu Province, China, U.S, China's, Beijing

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