NPR.

Leesion bought his apartment nine years ago.

He paid for it in full with the mortgage.

When I bought this house, I looked with pride at what I'd accomplished.

But his apartment is still only half finished, so he's paying his mortgage and rent to live

somewhere else.

Having your own apartment in China is kind of crucial for young men like Shin who want

to be attractive marriage prospects.

You know, like Shin grew up poor in the countryside.

He now has a good job at marketing and the big city in Tian, but an apartment can really

seal the deal.

And he did get married.

But while they're waiting for the apartment, they've put off having kids.

And at the same time, they're watching house prices in China skyrocket.

You're down in the middle of the middle of the middle of the middle of the middle.

I'll never have the ability to buy an apartment again.

I really can't afford the price today.

And Shin's problem may soon become President Xi Jinping's problem.

She was just reappointed over the weekend and China is in a real estate crisis.

This is the indicator from planet money I'm Darien Woods.

And I'm Whalen Wong.

The biggest asset class in the world is Chinese property and it's in trouble.

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