Beijing – Women in China are increasingly buying houses. In 2020, just under one in every two houses sold in the 30 most important Chinese cities was bought by a woman.

The Chinese real estate market is increasingly falling into the hands of women, according to an article in the China Business Forum newsletter. In some regions, women have even been buying more real estate than men since 2019. And last year almost half of all homebuyers based in China’s 30 most important cities were women. Back in 2016, only one in seven city-based properties belonged to a woman, the article says.

According to the China Business Forum, wealthy women 50 years of age and above lead the way among active female real estate buyers. However, younger women supported by their parents are also making up ground in this regard, the article states.

The article also sheds some light on aspects in connection with gender roles. It used to be common in China for men to own residential property in order to appear more attractive as a potential husband. It is not only this state of affairs that has been shaken up, with women now also playing the decisive role when it comes to a purchase decision in 60 percent of all couples that buy property together today. However, while well-educated women are only too happy to take decisions of this kind, it remains common for women without a university degree to leave the decision to the man.