China property firms increase land holdings – and more of Today’s China Real Estate Links | November 22, 2012

Here is a list of the day’s latest China real estate news collected from around the web:

• China property firms increase land holdings

  At a time when local governments are eager to boost revenues, China’s major property developers have accelerated their land purchases amidst a cautious recovery in the real estate market.

  The country’s top real estate firms led by China Vanke Co. Ltd. have taken advantage of low land prices and have broaden their land banks with about $1.34 billion (8.87 billion yuan) in first- and second-tier cities at the onset of the fourth quarter, official data from local governments showed.

• China property transactions rise in November

  Property transactions rose sharply in 36 out of 40 cities surveyed in the week ending November 18, with Harbin, in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, recording the highest weekly growth of 971.67 percent year-on-year, according to the latest industry figures.

  Based on the findings, China Index Academy, a property research organization under China’s online real estate firm Soufun, now suggests that the total sales performance for November will hit record levels.

• Inventory may hold back prices of mainland real estate

  Increased property sales, stabilising home prices, and aggressive land purchases by major developers all point to a positive outlook for the mainland real estate market, say property analysts.

  But beneath the surface, they warn, lurks a hidden worry – sizeable inventories – which could emerge to derail improving sentiment next year.

• Chinese investors snap up UK properties

  INVESTORS from China and the Middle East are snapping up properties in Bristol city centre. A report from property firm CBR into the state of the market found wealthy foreign investors were flocking to the UK in search of bargains. And the report highlighted Bristol as an investment hotspot which has found particular favour with Chinese investors.

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