How could Xia Xiaolan have the energy to suppress Yangfan Real Estate?

People should avoid adding unnecessary drama and overestimating their importance.

She attended the land auction to observe the scene and assess how land prices in Qiong Island would rise next year, as well as how to price Haitian Garden.

After watching the auction, Xia Xiaolan made her decision:

“1,300 yuan per square meter is still too low. We could raise it above 1,500, but of course, as a conscientious developer, I’m only planning to sell at 1,400 yuan per square meter.”

No one at Qihang would oppose Xia Xiaolan’s words.

At most, they would secretly scoff at the phrase “conscientious.”

Haitian Garden was the most timely commercial housing project in Ye City after the establishment of the provincial special economic zone. It should have been the first to enter the market, but because Xia Xiaolan was busy with Asia Department Store matters at the time, Haitian Garden’s launch was repeatedly delayed, turning directly from pre-sale to ready-for-occupancy units.

Others who moved quickly, taking advantage of available land and rushing construction schedules, launched their projects earlier than Haitian Garden.

Ge Jian said the quality of those other properties was far inferior to Haitian Garden, yet their pricing wasn’t low, with average prices exceeding 1,300 yuan per square meter.

He wondered where these buyers came from, having never seen quality commercial housing, yet they weren’t picky.

“Few people are buying to live, most are buying for investment. Those who can’t speculate in land speculate in housing – it’s perfectly normal. When you’re speculating, quality doesn’t matter!”

The houses Ge Jian looked down upon weren’t necessarily truly bad. Common people in the late 1980s didn’t have high requirements for commercial housing. Ge Jian had entered the industry through Qihang’s projects and had been spoiled by Xia Xiaolan’s high standards, but for current buyers, even poor-quality commercial housing was better than many old public housing units.

They had no basis for comparison to know what high-quality commercial housing meant.

Having an elevator automatically meant high-end commercial housing, regardless of whether it was just two lonely elevator buildings standing there without even a courtyard landscape – having an elevator meant it was high-end!

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t wrong in calling herself a conscientious developer. She provided supporting facilities that her peers currently ignored. Whether in Pengcheng or Qiong Island, residents of Qihang’s developments wouldn’t curse about inadequate facilities even 20 years later.

Building underground parking was troublesome, requiring two hollow levels underground and tall buildings above – this needed both technology and investment!

Only Qihang wasn’t afraid of the trouble and willing to invest in the cost.

Conscientious President Xia set Haitian Garden’s opening price at 1,400 yuan per square meter. Advertisements were distributed everywhere, and when some people saw the price had risen again from last month, they cursed Qihang viciously:

“Province establishment, province establishment – the foreign factories haven’t even arrived, but housing prices have already risen. Before the province was established, a square meter only cost a few hundred yuan, and hardly anyone bought it. Less than a year after establishment, prices have more than doubled! I remember someone bought a unit last month for only 1,320 yuan per square meter, and just one month later, it’s risen to 1,400?”

“Yes, it’s rising so fast!”

“Can’t afford it, surely no one will buy…”

“No, this is different from before – these are ready units, pay and move in immediately!”

“That’s worse than pre-sale units – at least those give time to gather money—”

While land was being speculated expensively, Ye City locals weren’t enthusiastic about commercial housing.

Many people lacked awareness of buying property as an investment – they all had places to live, so why buy more?

1,400 yuan per square meter – how dare these construction companies aim so high!

Although Xia Xiaolan had considered Qiong Island’s special characteristics, focusing Haitian Garden on small units with the smallest being 50 square meters of internal space, even a single unit cost over 70,000 yuan – still too expensive for ordinary people.

But some people, while complaining about the price, were determined to take a look.

While pre-sale units allowed time to gather money, ready units were easier to understand.

Who knew how pre-sale units would turn out, but ready units could be seen with their own eyes?

Before Qiong Island’s administrative restructuring, the official per capita income wasn’t high, but that was just official statistics. Some people’s income wasn’t included in official statistics – after all, a few years ago, Qiong Island was famous for smuggled cars… These few people didn’t lack money, and now with strict crackdowns on smuggling, they couldn’t risk their old business and needed to find other ways to make money.

These few people were bold, more experienced, had money, and were most suitable to be what Xia Xiaolan called “property speculators.”

Fast-rising property prices were good.

If prices didn’t rise, they wouldn’t buy!

A few hundred yuan per square meter before province establishment, now over a thousand – what about next year, the year after?

There were also speculators from other regions coming to Qiong Island.

Like Meng Guanchao, who had insider information and capital, buying land immediately.

Many more weren’t like Meng Guanchao – they had some assets but not enough to speculate in land. The Ye City government wouldn’t sell land in small mu-sized plots anyway!

No, even if they sold land in mu-sized plots now, few could afford it.

The newly auctioned residential land exceeded 200,000 yuan per mu.

With that money, one could buy three small units in the Haitian Garden!

If one was bolder and got bank mortgages, three units could become six – as long as prices kept rising, bank loan interest wouldn’t matter!

Some people operated this way.

While Haitian Garden’s units were criticized as expensive, they sold quickly on opening day!

Small units suited buyers’ intentions.

But Haitian Garden’s actual environment exceeded their expectations – the property was better than imagined, with sales agents calling it a high-quality livable development.

Ha, it seemed true!

The complex had pools and many flowering trees – living there felt like living in a park.

No, it was more beautiful than ordinary parks.

“Should we keep this unit to live in ourselves?”

Once speculators had such impulses, they couldn’t suppress them. Originally planning to buy three small units, they unconsciously exchanged two small ones for 80-square-meter slightly larger units.

For living in, slightly bigger was better.

Sales agents smiled silently, letting customers change their minds.

As President Xia had said, Qihang’s houses must be built well and beautifully, making even speculators unable to leave – that would establish a reputation on Qiong Island!

President Xia also said some people speculate in stocks and accidentally become shareholders.

So it was normal for property speculators to accidentally become residents!

Though criticized before launch, Haitian Garden sold well afterward, with both actual residents and investors praising it highly.

After praising it, they criticized other developments for putting no effort into construction – if all were built like Haitian Garden, they would surely be easier to sell in the future!

Other real estate developers in Qiong Island all wanted to shoot arrows at Xia Xiaolan’s knees – Beauty, sit down, can you leave some business for your peers?!

…

In the office, Miss Xia, no, President Xia spoke righteously:

“Mr. Meng, please judge – should I accommodate peers by deliberately making houses of lower quality?”

Meng Guanchao played along well, nodding vigorously at President Xia’s performance: “That’s impossible! Only poor students should work hard to catch up with excellent students’ grades, how could excellent students deliberately perform poorly to accommodate poor ones? Under President Xia’s leadership, Qihang has always been the industry benchmark. President Xia is also a renowned architect – who could understand building houses better than you?”

President Xia put away her righteous expression and observed Meng Guanchao.

What was up with Comrade Guanchao today, being excessively flattering?

“Mr. Meng, if you have something to say, just say it. We’re old friends, no need to beat around the bush.”

Meng Guanchao did speak directly:

“President Xia, is that priority transfer agreement you signed with me earlier still valid?”