What's the difference between a work residence permit and a residence permit?

If you have a work permit in Beijing, your qualification for buying a house is the same as that of a family in Beijing. You don't need a residence permit to buy a house. Beijing residence permit and Beijing work residence permit are two parallel policies. Both have different distribution objects and conditions. Beijing residence permit is issued to foreigners who have legally stable employment or legally stable residence or continuous study in Beijing, and the issuing authority is the Municipal Public Security Bureau; Beijing's work residence permit is for foreign talents, and the specific examination and approval is the responsibility of the Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. The qualification requirements for applicants are: "The number of enterprises and institutions with legal personality ... the number of unincorporated branches applying for the Beijing Work Residence Permit shall not exceed 5 in principle". Individuals can choose bidding according to their own needs. So you can buy a house in Beijing without a residence permit.