China Weighs Removing Major Homebuying Curbs to Boost Demand

  • China may ease restrictions on non-local home buyers
  • Officials are also mulling measures to shore up stock market

China has given local governments more latitude to explore ways to stabilize the market. 

Photographer: Raul Ariano/Bloomberg
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China is considering removing some of the largest remaining restrictions on home purchases after previous measures failed to revive a moribund housing market, according to people familiar with the matter.

Regulators are working on a proposal that would allow mega cities such as Shanghai and Beijing to relax restrictions for non-local buyers — those who don’t have a so-called Hukou residence permit for that location — the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. It’s a barrier many smaller cities have already removed.