Buyers that already own at least one house shouldpay a down payment of not less than 40% when apply-ing for loans for more houses. The interest rate for loansshould not be lower than 110% of the contemporarybenchmark rate announced by the People's Bank of Chi-na. The proportion of the down payment and the interestrate should rise sharply with the increasing number ofhouses they own. However， the monthly housing loanpayment from the borrowers should not be higher than50% of their monthly income， a rule that was once onlya suggestion but has now become an official regulation.