Beijing has further optimized its housing policies and measures by adjusting minimum down payment ratios for first-time home-buyers, as well as some second-time home-buyers.
The new measures aim to ensure the stable and healthy development of the city's real estate market, according to the notice jointly issued on Wednesday by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Beijing branch of the People's Bank of China, the Beijing supervision section of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, and the Beijing Housing Fund Management Center.
The notice announced the minimum down payment ratio for a buyer purchasing their first home is adjusted to no less than 20 percent, down from 30 percent.
The lower limit of the interest rate for first-time buyers acquiring a commercial personal housing loan has been adjusted to no lower than the loan prime rate (LPR) -- a benchmark set by the central bank -- of the corresponding period minus 45 basis points. After the adjustment, the lower limit of the mortgage interest rate for a term of more than five years currently stands at 3.5 percent, according to the notice.
The notice also laid out new terms for loans from the housing provident fund, a fund that employees in the city pay into and can take funds or loans from when purchasing a home. The minimum down payment ratio for these loans has been lowered to no less than 20 percent for a first-time purchase of commercial housing, according to the notice.
The notice also stated that for families with two or more children registered in Beijing, the purchase of a second home will be recognized as the first home for the purpose of personal housing loans.
Beijing eases terms for first-time home-buyers
Beijing eases terms for first-time home-buyers
The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 37,834, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Saturday.
During the past 24 hours, the Israeli military operations in the Palestinian enclave killed 40 people and left 224 others wounded, bringing the total death toll to 37,834 and injuries to 86,858 since the latest round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out in early October last year.
The United States has continued to supply Israel with a huge amount of weapons and ammunition despite the high casualty numbers and outcry of the international community.
Two American officials said that since Oct 7, 2023, the U.S. has transferred to Israel at least 14,000 MK-84 bombs weighing about 908 kg, 6,500 bombs weighing about 225 kg, 3,000 guided air-to-surface "Hellfire" missiles, 1,000 bunker-penetrating bombs, 2,600 bunker-penetrating smart bombs that are dropped from the air and additional ammunition.
A UN report has pointed out that the large-scale civilian deaths caused by Israeli military operations in Gaza may constitute war crimes.
On June 19, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a report that Israeli forces were suspected of using heavy bombs in a series of attacks on the Gaza Strip that resulted in a large number of civilian deaths and widespread destruction of civilian targets. This may have violated the laws of war multiple times.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ended his three-day visit to the United States on Wednesday, and he briefed reporters that progress had been made on "a number of issues" during the trip, including the U.S. arms supply to Israel.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly accused the U.S. government of "withholding" weapons and ammunition needed by the Israeli army, dragging down its military operations in Gaza.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 37,834: health authorities
