China’s housing market has always fascinated us. Now David Barboza writes that before calling a realtor or posting an ad, Chinese couples file for divorce when they decide to sell their property:

• In an attempt to cool a rapidly heating housing market, the government periodically considers introducing controls such as a 20% tax on the sale of second homes.
• If a couple has two homes and they divorce, then can reasonably claim that each owns one of the homes. They can then sell one of the properties to avoid the second home tax.
• Couples normally get remarried after the sale is complete.

Read more about what experts have to say, the view from the ground, and why the government is so concerned about the property market over here.

Source: The New York Times