In 1980, the government published "Law of Economical Housing". This law has given the opportunities for low-income families and middle class to purchase housing with a specific price lower than the free property market. These housing estates had achieved a standard quality and equipped with all kinds of community facilities, such as schools, nurseries, activity centres, and shops, etc. Subsequently, Macao government had published the law of "Contract of Development for Habitation" in 1984 in solving the lack of local housing, particularly satisfying the need of low-income families, assisting the development of local construction business, encouraging the improvement of organisation structure and housing constructional techniques. This stimulated an increase in housing supply to fulfil the practical need for local housing, as well as adapted the purchasing power of local citizens. In order to improve the above-mentioned law, the government had adjusted and revised the housing policies in 1993 and 1995 respectively, as well as regulating Decree-Law N°13/93/M and 26/95/M, as clear regulations for selling economical housing and the integral arrangement for public housing via public application.

The government had revised and adjusted the Law of Economical House in different eras, in order to make the law more perfect. The constructional technique of economical housing estates has certain degree of development since 1980 to now. Now, the total number of economical housing apartments is 28,000.