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Country Garden flags green shoots for China property
Rising transaction volumes in major cities, plus a headline return to profit by debt-ridden developer Country Garden Holdings (HKEX: 02007), could be flagging patchy signals of a long-awaited turning point from China’s beleaguered property market. According to a report by HSBC, a modest pickup in secondary home sales and targeted policy easing in cities such as Shanghai have begun to support improving sentiment towards the sector. However, analysts and company disclosures suggest that much of the apparent improvement remains subject to policy support and accounting adjustments rather than a sustained recovery in core housing demand. The latest data points to a tale of two different markets. In China’s four top-tier cities - Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen - transaction volumes have risen about 20% over the same period, while prices for second-hand homes have largely stabilised in recent weeks. HSBC data suggests that while declining listings since December suggest sellers are under less pressure to exit, buyers are gradually re-entering the market. “A functional secondary market brings more participants into the market, reinforcing the stability of newly discovered transaction prices,” Michelle Kwok, HS
Housing
UK announces new clean energy legislation for homes
The United Kingdom government has introduced new legislation that will require developers to install solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes. The planning requirements published by the government also said that plug-in panels that homeowners can self-install on balconies would be available in supermarkets in the coming months. UK ministers said the Iran war and the largest supply disruption in the history of the oil market reinforced the need to leverage clean power as an energy security tool. “The Iran War has once again shown our drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape the grip of fossil fuel markets we don’t control,” UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement. “Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase plug-in solar in shops, we are determined to roll out clean power so we can give our country energy sovereignty.” While the move has been welcomed by some energy companies, developers have raised concerns about the scale of solar required. “Every solar panel, heat pump and battery cuts bills and boosts Britain’s energy independence. And the government’s latest steps can help cut the costs of electri
Housing
Senate passes housing affordability bill with investor ban
The Senate passed the largest housing affordability bill in three decades, which would boost the supply of housing and ban investors from buying single-family homes. The bill cleared with an 89-10 vote. However, it still faces an uphill battle in the House, which passed its own bipartisan bill in February. House GOP leaders have already said the measure will need to be negotiated, suggesting they will not take up the Senate-passed bill. One of the most contentious issues in the bill is a ban on investors and companies from buying single-family homes if they already own 350 or more. Companies that add to the housing supply through building or serious renovations would be able to own more homes, but would need to sell those homes after no more than seven years. This provision wasn’t originally in the Senate bill or the bill the House passed; however, President Donald Trump championed the ban and indicated he wouldn’t sign a bill without it. While industry groups, like the National Association of Home Builders, Mortgage Bankers Association and National Conference support the bill, they said the seven-year limit would eliminate production of build-to-rent housing and “would take hundreds of thousands of housing un
Housing
US home price growth slows in December: S&P
United States home price growth slowed slightly in December as mortgage and inflation rates weighed on housing values. Prices were up 1.3% in the year to December, compared with 1.4% annual growth in November, according to the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller index. Across 2025, home prices rose by the smallest percentage since 2011. “Two structural forces have reshaped the market over recent years: mortgage rates and inflation,” said S&P Dow Jones Indices head of Fixed Income Tradables & Commodities Nicholas Godec. "The 30-year mortgage rate closed 2025 at 6.2%, well above the 4.8% 10-year average and a sharp contrast to the 3.9% average that prevailed from 2016 through 2020. Meanwhile, annual inflation for 2025 came in at 2.7% — modestly below the 3.1% 10-year average — but still outpaced home price appreciation by 1.4 percentage points, effectively eroding real home values for most owners.” On a monthly basis, national housing prices rose by 0.4%, the same percentage increase as in November. S&P’s 20-city composite index was up 0.5%. While prices gained 2.6% in the first half of 2025, the second half saw nominal declines of 1.3%, according to the Godec. December’s 20-city composite index lifted 1.4%, in line with Novemb
Housing
US pending home sales down in December, inventory sinks
United States pending home sales fell by 9.3% in December amid a slump in inventory, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Pending sales dropped across all regions during the month, and were also down 3.3% year-over-year. “The housing sector is not out of the woods yet,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. “After several months of encouraging signs in pending contracts and closed sales, the December new contract figures have dampened the short-term outlook.” “Even after accounting for typical seasonal patterns, interpreting in-person home search activity in the winter — especially in December — can be tricky due to public holidays, people taking time off, and wintry weather conditions,” said Yun. “We’ll be watching the data in the coming months to determine whether the soft contract signings were a one-month aberration or the start of an underlying trend.” Inventory levels in December were at 1.18 million homes, falling 9% from November to equal 2025’s lowest levels. While closing activity rose during the month, new listings slumped. “Consumers prefer seeing abundant inventory before making the major decision of purchasing a home. So, the decline in pending home sales could be a result of dampe

Housing
Trump plan to allow 401(k) for house down payments
White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett said the Trump administration plans to allow investors to use retirement funds to make a down payment on a house. This is part of the administration's plan to make housing more affordable for the average family. “We're going to allow people to take money out of their 401(k)s and use that for a down payment,” he told Fox News. Hassett also said that President Donald Trump is set to put the “final plan out in Davos next week”. In his interview with Fox News, Hassett also downplayed concerns that tapping into the 401(k) will hurt savers later in retirement. “We're still talking about the mechanics of it, but suppose that you put 10% down on a home, and then you take 10% of the equity of the home, and put it in as an asset in your 401(k), then your 401(k) will grow over time," he said. "As the value of your house grows, you'll be healthy and have more money for retirement.” Typically, Americans cannot withdraw funds from a 401(k) for a first-time home purchase without paying a penalty. The move represents a part of the Republicans' push to increase housing affordability. Recently, Trump directed representatives to buy US$200 billion in mortgage bonds in a bid to dri
Housing
U.S. housing market expected to steady in 2026
The U.S. housing market is set to become steadier in 2026 with realtor.com predicting interest rate relief and greater negotiating power for buyers. The real estate site predicts the average mortgage rate will be 6.3%, which is in line with Redfin's predictions and above Fannie Mae’s expectations of 5.9% Realtor also forecasts that U.S. home prices will rise 2.2% and home affordability will improve as incomes outpace inflation, pushing the typical payment share of income below 30% for the first time since 2022. In comparison, Redfin expects prices to increase by 1%, Zillow expects a 1.2% rise and Fannie Mae expects a 1.3 % jump However, inflation is expected to outpace these gains, with consumer prices likely growing more than 3%, meaning real (inflation-adjusted) home prices will decline slightly for a second consecutive year. Some U.S. cities will also see a higher rise than others, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast, due to lower supply pushing prices up, according to Realtor. Toledo, Ohio, is predicted to have the highest growth of 13.1%; however, its median home price of US$199,990 remains lower than Ohio’s state-wide median of US$275,00, according to Realtor’s data. This follows a trend of the maj
Housing
US existing home sales rise by 0.8% in November
Existing home sales in the United States rose by 0.5% in November, according to the National Association of Realtors' Existing-Home Sales Report. There were month-over-month increases in the Northeast and South, while the West stayed the same, and decreases in the Midwest. Year-over-year sales showed no change in the Northeast and South, and decreased in the Midwest and West. According to the NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, this was the third straight month of existing home sales increases, due to low mortgage rates during autumn. Despite this, inventory growth is beginning to stall. “With distressed property sales at historic lows and housing wealth at an all-time high, homeowners are in no rush to list their properties during the winter months,” he said. Yun added that while wage growth outpacing price growth improves house affordability, this could still be hampered if housing supply fails to keep pace with demand. During November, housing inventory fell 5.9% in October but grew 7.5% from the same time last year. He said single-family home sales have outperformed condominium sales in November, continuing an ongoing trend. “The typical price of a sold condo was 13.5% lower than the typical price of a si
Housing
US homebuilder sentiment up; construction costs weigh
United States homebuilder sentiment rose in December, but remains in the negative amid high construction costs and economic uncertainty. Builder confidence is up one point to 39 this month per the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. This is its highest point since April, though it has been below the breakeven level of 50 throughout 2025. “Market conditions remain challenging with two-thirds of builders reporting they are offering incentives to move buyers off the fence,” said NAHB chair Buddy Hughes. “Meanwhile, builders are contending with rising material and labour prices, as tariffs are having serious repercussions on construction costs.” The U.S.’ 10% tariffs on lumber took effect in October, along with 25% tariffs on some wooden household products like bathroom vanities. It has also imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium. NAHB’s current sales conditions index grew by one point to 42, while the future sales index was up one point to 52. The Northeast’s Housing Market Index dropped one point but remained highest at 47. The Midwest gained two points to 43, the South grew two points to 36, and the West was up four points to 34. According to NAHB’s survey, 40% of buil