by WANG Tingting
On August 25, six Shanghai departments jointly issued new property measures covering purchase restrictions, mortgage rates, provident fund loans and property tax.
The rules, effective August 26, lift limits for eligible households buying homes beyond the Outer Ring, abolish the distinction between single and married buyers, allow more flexible mortgage pricing, and expand the use of housing provident funds. Analysts said the package represents the city's most accommodative stance yet and is aimed at spurring demand in suburban markets where inventory has been slower to clear.
The policy rollout followed a weekend of frenzied sales at two of Shanghai's priciest projects.
On August 23, Shanghai One Courtyard sold 66 apartments averaging 198,000 yuan per square metre within an hour, generating 4.8 billion yuan. The development, near Xintiandi and co-developed by Citic Financial Asset, New Lake and SUNAC, has now topped 22 billion yuan in sales this year, retaining its title as China's best-selling single project. A day later, Jinmao The Puyuan in Hongkou cleared 99 units in just 26 minutes, priced as high as 185,000 yuan per square metre.
Luxury demand remains robust. According to E-House China, Shanghai logged 1,096 transactions above 30 million yuan in the first half of 2025, following 1,542 last year—both well above the city's pre-2023 average. Analysts said strong absorption of high-end projects, supported by looser credit, will help stabilize sentiment and guide broader expectations.
More launches are queued up. Kerry Properties is preparing the second phase of Jinling Huating in Huangpu, following a sell-out in March. China Resources Land also plans to bring Ruifu on the Bund in Hongkou to market. With developers keen to capitalize on the seasonal window, industry observers expect the combination of fresh supply and new policies to buoy sales.
"Now is the best window for buyers," one analyst told Jiemian News, noting that the timing of the easing—just before the traditional peak season—was "well calculated" to unlock demand.
