'Quality homes' norm boosts property market

SHANGHAI — China's property market is showing renewed signs of recovery, with both new home sales and secondhand transactions increasing, fueled in part by rising demand for high-quality housing spurred by newly introduced national standards for "quality homes".

Released by China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the upgraded national standards for residential projects, which came into effect on May 1, cover seven aspects that include living environment, building space, structure, indoor environment and building equipment.

Among the most notable provisions are a minimum ceiling height of three meters for new residential buildings, mandatory elevators in structures with four or more floors, and enhanced sound insulation for walls and floors.

Many industry insiders believe that meeting these new standards for a "quality home" is becoming a key selling point for properties that are up to standard, drawing increased interest from prospective buyers.

During the recent five-day May Day holiday, which marked the first public holiday after the new standards were implemented, China's real estate market in many regions maintained the recovery momentum seen in the first quarter of 2025, with several first- and second-tier cities posting robust transaction figures.

In Shanghai, one of China's most important regional real estate markets, total home sales during the holiday, including new and secondhand properties, rose 36 percent year-on-year. New home transactions were up 12 percent, while secondhand home sales surged by 44 percent.

Similarly, the South China metropolis of Shenzhen in Guangdong province recorded 826 new commercial housing subscriptions from May 1 to 5, with 317 units completing online contracts, up 23.89 percent year-on-year.

According to data released by the China Index Academy, during the May Day holiday, Beijing saw a total of 302 new residential properties signed online, and those covering 34,200 square meters, marking year-on-year increases of 114 percent and 107 percent, respectively.

In Yantai, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, demand for high-quality homes was on full display during the May Day holiday. All 100 units of the first phase of a residential project named Boshiyayuan were sold on May 1, its launch day.

"This project impressed us with its planning, layout and amenities," said a homebuyer surnamed Zheng. "Each unit has a private elevator and the community features a basketball court, gym, swimming pool, yoga studio and communal dining hall. Even the aluminum front door with high-level insulation met our expectations."

More and more homebuyers like Zheng are increasingly shifting their focus from simply "having a place to live" to seeking "livable quality", according to Ding Zuyu, president of property research institution CRIC.