Center

Apartment prices climb to new peak

By Zhan Lisheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-02-06 10:05

GUANGZHOU: The average price of a new apartment in Guangzhou hit a record 7,524 yuan ($964) per square meter last month despite the government's efforts to keep property prices stable.

The new price represented increases of 85 yuan ($10) per square meter compared with December and 500 yuan ($64) compared with November.

Related readings:  Sluggish house market in 2009  House prices 'harming building of harmony'  Big house, or big burden?

According to statistics released by the city's land resources and housing management bureau, more than 7,200 residential apartments, covering a total space of 820,000 square meters, were sold last month. Those figures represented the biggest buying run since the government implemented measures to control the property sector in May last year.

More than 1,000 more apartments were sold in January than in December 2006, representing an additional 100,000 square meters of space.

Li Wenjiang, chief analyst at Hopefluent Real Properties, aHong Kong-listed property agent and consultancy, attributed the price rise to the bullish sentiment in the stock market last year, which brought in extra income for local market players.

"Many residents raked in bumper harvests from the stock market last year. Some chose to buy houses with the money they earned from the stock market, either to improve their living conditions or as another investment to dilute their risks from playing the stock market," he said.