(ECNS) -- Rapid growth in Beijing's urban rail transport system has made less-costly suburban life increasingly attractive, according to data from 5i5j, a major property brokerage firm.
Huilongguan in Changping, Beiyuan in Changyao and Shangdi in Haidian, three communities in northern Beijing, reported the highest rate of apartment rental deals, said the firm.
Most notably, deals in Huilongguan grew by 277.6 percent in 2014, 24.2 percent in 2015 and 44.6 percent in 2016.
Overall, rental agreements in these three areas now account for more and more of the market. Deals in Huilongguan rose from a 1.054 percent share in 2013 to 4.837 percent in 2016.
In comparison, home rentals in downtown areas saw clear declines in 2013 and 2014. As Beijing opens more subway lines, many commuters choose to live in suburbs such as Fengtai, Daxing and Tongzhou.
Hu Jinghui, vice-president of 5i5j, said the gap in infrastructure, transportation, living conditions, education and medical care between central urban areas and the distant suburbs is closing and attracting more tenants due to lower prices.
Hu said the shift is good for the capital's efforts to optimize its population mix, reduce congestion and lower living stress in downtown areas.
