Beijing Lifts Property Investment Curbs for Foreign Firms

China has lifted a long-standing restriction that barred foreign companies from purchasing residential properties for non-self-use, as part of the efforts to boost foreign investment and stabilize the country’s beleaguered real estate sector.

The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) on Monday issued a notice outlining nine new measures to streamline cross-border investment and financing rules. The reforms further refine the country’s “steady foreign investment” framework, a policy drive Beijing has pursued aggressively since 2023 to counter slowing inflows.