Shenzhen housing move spurs hopes of easing

South China's Shenzhen in Guangdong province relaxed curbs on local home purchases by lowering payment requirements for second homes to as low as 40 percent effective Thursday.

Real estate industry experts said on Thursday Shenzhen's move has raised hopes that other first-tier cities might consider similar easing.

Shenzhen sub-branch of the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, issued a notice late on Wednesday stating that the technology hub will lower down payment ratio for second homes to 40 percent, effective Thursday.