Housing market regulations tighten in central China's Wuhan

WUHAN - Wuhan, a major central Chinese city, rolled out measures requiring higher down payments and stronger purchase restrictions in the latest attempts to tame the overheated property market.

The policies, announced late Monday, tighten the housing market rules introduced in early October.

According to the rules, first-time homebuyers with a Wuhan hukou (household registration certificate) must pay a minimum down payment of 30 percent, up five percent from earlier requirements. The down payment for second home purchases also will rise from 50 percent to 70 percent. Those who already own two houses in the city will not be allowed to purchase more houses.

People without a local hukou may only buy one house at a minimum down payment of 30 percent, and only if they have paid two or more years of personal income tax or social insurance in the city.

The municipal government also said it will increase land supply, restrict high land prices, enhance market monitoring and crack down on market activities that violate rules and laws.

Home prices in 100 major Chinese cities rose 14.9 percent in the first nine months of 2016, according to the China Index Academy, a private property research institute.

Wuhan was among a total of 19 Chinese cities to roll out policies to curb speculative housing purchases in early October.