By Jin Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-07-31 09:25

According to statistics from the People's Bank of China, the increase of loans outstanding in June alone was 451.5 billion yuan, while it's only 247.3 billion in May. Of the additional increase of 56.6 billion yuan loans from the same time a year ago, 79.9 percent were household loans.

"Since the majority of household loans were mortgage loans, it's clear that more funds have been relocated to the property market lately," said Shen Minggao, an economist at Citigroup.

Related readings:  Expert: Market forces to squeeze China's securities sector  Index strikes 4440, a new high  China's indices survive global decline overnight  More curbs possible for real estate  Property prices up 7.1% in major cities

"Investments in luxury residential properties also shot up as many investors cashed out of the Shanghai stock market and turned to luxury properties as long-term investments," said Lina Wong, managing director of Colliers, an international real estate service provider.

In line with the increased transaction volume, selling price for luxury properties grew 2.7 percent in the first half, compared with 3.5 percent in the past 12 months. The rents also grew 2.9 percent, while it rose 3.8 percent from last June.

Worldunion said it's like the two markets are on a seesaw, when "one goes up, the other comes down."

The National Bureau of Statistics has announced that China's real estate investment rose 28.5 percent from a year earlier to 988.7 billion yuan in the first half of 2007.

"Anticipation of further renminbi appreciation should secure a continuous inflow of foreign capital and help fuel the property market," said Wong of Colliers.

      1   2     

      1   2