The highflying housing prices in Shanghai have made it popular for a newlywed to purchase homes with the help from both of their parents, the Shanghai Evening Post reported on Wednesday.

More than 80 percent of newlyweds have bought homes with the support from their parents.

Parents of both brides and bridegrooms usually give out the down payments of the homes for their children and the newlyweds pay the monthly mortgage loans.

It is true that local newlyweds can afford the monthly mortgages, but cannot afford the down payments which mostly account for at least 30 percent of the home prices, said an industry analyst.

According to a survey of 147 homes for newlyweds, 53 percent of the initial payments are paid by parents, and only 31 percent are paid by the couples themselves.

Zhao Xiaopeng, came to Shanghai with his wife after graduating from non-local universities. The couple, with a monthly income of 5,000-10,000 yuan (US$602 - US$1,200), has bought a pre-owned apartment priced at 400,000 yuan, with 30 percent paid by their parents as down payment and the rest in mortgage loans.

Seventy percent of newlyweds choose to live with their parents, mainly native Shanghaiese. Living with parents can save time for doing housework and parents can also help them bring up children, said a local newlywed, adding that they can buy home for their own when their can afford to in the future.

(Shanghai Daily April 14, 2005)