Strained Chinese cities are struggling to pay subsidies for home purchases

Amy Wang was counting on a 100,000 yuan ($13,800) subsidy promised by authorities in the eastern Chinese city of Weifang to furnish and furnish an apartment she bought two years ago. She is still waiting for the money and has yet to move in.

The 30-year-old now pays 6,000 yuan of her 8,000 yuan monthly salary on the mortgage for the 1.1 million yuan apartment and another 1,800 yuan to rent another apartment, relying on her parents for other basic expenses .

“I feel under a lot of pressure,” said Wang, who works in the electronics industry, and bought the bare shell of her apartment, without floors, interior walls or other amenities – which is common in China.