Is China's real estate market out of the woods?

Pent-up demand and a stronger economy have helped, but it remains a renters' market

A residential compound in Beijing, where rental transactions in the first half of this year were down 23.1 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to home rental company Ilovemyhome. Several agents The Straits Times spoke to said
A residential compound in Beijing, where rental transactions in the first half of this year were down 23.1 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to home rental company Ilovemyhome. Several agents The Straits Times spoke to said this was mostly due to the lack of a "summer peak", which usually coincides with graduation season. PHOTO: REUTERS
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After months of sliding rentals and increased vacancies, China's rental market showed signs of a rebound last month, while real estate sales reflected pent-up demand from earlier this year.

But is the rental market truly out of the woods? Is this recovery sustainable in the long term?

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 18, 2020, with the headline Is China's real estate market out of the woods?. Subscribe