As the days until the school term drew closer, Mr. Lu gradually emerged from the leisurely holiday state and returned to an all-out work mode. Early the next morning, He Ying brought steaming hot breakfast and picked him up from Jiangnan Garden District, heading to the next destination. "Mr. Lu, are we going straight to the sales center?" Lu Jincheng reclined on the rear seat of the business car, closed his eyes for a short rest, and nodded. The target of this trip was the East Lake Tianyue District in the High-tech District. Also known as—Pure Water Shore East Lake Villa. The villa community is situated in the core area of the High-tech District, adjacent to the district administrative offices, offering tranquility amidst bustling surroundings. Behind it lies the majestic East Lake, where one can hear the sound of waves hitting the shore early in the morning. Renowned for its excellent reputation, it even seems poised to become the new iconic residential area of the High-tech District. In 2015, with such a location, there was no need for extensive deliberation—you could easily buy it blindfolded. By the time the real estate market reaches its peak in a few years, you’d see the property value multiply if you decided to sell. After deliberate practice and training, He Ying’s driving skills had become remarkably steady. The ride was smooth throughout, almost devoid of the inertia of abrupt stops. During the journey, as Lu Jincheng took occasional breaks, he initiated small talk: "Do you know why I asked you to shortlist properties a while ago?" "Uh... because you’re planning to buy a house?" He Ying followed his lead and asked. "Yes, but that’s not entirely it." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs NoveIꜰire.net Lu Jincheng smiled and added, "Based on policy trends, now happens to be the best time to invest in real estate." As a close assistant, He Ying had developed an initial sensitivity to information. Working in the same company but being by the boss’s side meant gaining access to information and broadened perspectives far beyond those of ordinary office workers. "Last year, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development held meetings suggesting that cities with high inventory levels should exhaust all methods to reduce unsold commercial housing stock." "At the end of the year, Jiang City announced the full removal of purchase restrictions." "You’ve seen these news reports before, right?" "Yes, I’ve read them." "But these are just peripheral details. Last year’s stock market was the main focus, and few would have shifted their funds to real estate unless absolutely necessary." The business car was silent, even the background music flowed quietly. Lu Jincheng spoke slowly, and the driver listened attentively. "What’s truly crucial this year is the benchmark lending interest rate." "It’s dropped from an annual 6% to 5.6%, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points. The benchmark rate for five-year loans—essentially mortgage rates—has decreased from 6.55% annually to 6.15%. The benchmark deposit rate for one-year has been lowered by 0.25 percentage points." "In early February, the central bank announced a 0.5 percentage point reduction in the RMB required reserve ratio." "What do you think these changes signify?" Lu Jincheng paused to allow He Ying some time for self-reflection. "Um... housing prices are going to rise?" He Ying, not being a finance expert, was rather puzzled by these terms and tentatively replied. "It’s not just a rise." Mr. Lu chuckled, waved his hand dismissively, cleared his throat, and decisively declared: "It’s what we call a bull market." "A frenzy of a bull market is about to begin." No matter how cutting-edge a financial expert might be, none could rival Mr. Lu’s market predictions. Since the start of 2015, policies had been launch one after another. Policy 330, five rounds of reserve requirement and interest rate cuts, changes in second-home purchases, adjustments to housing fund policies, the revamped Policy 930... From the central authorities to local governments, rescue policies were rolled out intensively, releasing significant improvement-focused demand. While the real estate market in key tier-1 and prominent tier-2 cities rebounded rapidly, tier-3 and tier-4 cities remained mired in high inventory issues. The top directive called for inventory reduction, even urging developers to lower prices. As the stock market cooled gradually, the era of skyrocketing housing prices was set to unfold. Mr. Lu, perceiving the future clearly, naturally chose to ride the wave and made his move decisively. The East Lake Tianyue sales center was deserted, with barely any customers visible even during a weekday morning. Only the opulent lighting and strikingly good-looking property consultants filled the space. Most property consultants in sales centers are handsome and charming, exuding elegance. This showcases the strength of the developers behind the project. If a sales center’s property consultants don’t even meet visual standards, you ought to be cautious. Either the developer is merely showy or there’s nepotism within the HR department. With money, how could one not afford attractive consultants? If the superficial aspects are substandard, how good can the construction quality be? Thus, when purchasing a property, the first thing to observe is the consultants’ appearances. If their image fails, rule them out without hesitation. From a distance, a property consultant spotted the two remarkably refined young individuals. "Our community is located by the wetlands, offering fresh air year-round and a pleasant climate. It neighbors the city’s main artery—the Third Ring Road—and is only a few kilometers from the core area, providing convenient access to all corners of the city. Commuting is effortless; additionally, the Wu Huang Highway is within easy reach, allowing seamless transitions between cities. Everything is within your grasp." "Could you please introduce the villa layouts? Thank you." Mr. Lu didn’t need to speak; his assistant handled everything for him. When out, what matters most is observation and instinct. Merely witnessing He Ying purposely stepping back two paces, the property consultant’s expression became noticeably more enthusiastic. This clearly wasn’t a young couple house-hunting. It was likely an authentic and serious buyer. "Please wait a moment; I’ll retrieve the layout plans for the villas." Soon, the property consultant handed over the layout plans. The townhouses of East Lake Tianyue featured predominantly rectangular layouts, with only two size options currently available.