BEIJING, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Beijing relaxed

restrictions on home buying on Monday, following similar moves

by Shanghai and Shenzhen, in a bid to boost demand and prop up

the struggling property market.

Beijing will lower the mininum down payment ratio for

first-time homebuyers to no less than 15%, while second home

buyers would enjoy a minimum down payment of 20%, the city's

Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said in a

statement.

It would also ease restrictions on home purchases by

non-local buyers, lowering the requirement for continuous social

insurance or income tax payments in the city to three years in

central areas, down from the previous threshold of five years.