Beijing, Shanghai announce detailed property curbs

BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The municipal governments of Chinese capital Beijing and business hub Shanghai on Saturday spelled out detailed rules aimed at cooling the property market following the central government's fresh regulatory plan earlier this month.

Single adults with a permanent Beijing residence registration, who have not made purchases in the city before, are allowed to buy only one apartment, according to the announcement.

Shanghai said banks will be banned from giving loans to local residents who are buying a third apartment or more, according to a government announcement.

Meanwhile, the two cities will raise down payments for second-home buyers.

The two mega-cities both vow to strictly implement the 20-percent tax on capital gains from property sales.

Beijing said the tax will be exempt if the property is the seller's only one and they have owned it for five years or more. The Shanghai announcement did not mention similar policy.

Other rules include ensuring land supplies for residential housing, enhancing regulations over property sales, and building a long-term mechanism for the housing market.

Beijing said it will complete construction of 70,000 units of affordable apartments in 2013. Shanghai targets completion of construction of 10,000 units of such apartments this year.