Japan’s stiffer home-sharing controls have dampened Japanese home sales among Hong Kong buyers who are increasingly investing in the country’s properties to operate shared lodging services. The new rules have also forced the world’s largest home ... ( read original story ...)
LCQ3: Maximum coverage for mortgage loans provided under Mortgage Insurance Programme
In February 2015, the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited tightened the arrangements under the Mortgage Insurance Programme (MIP) by reducing the maximum MIP coverage for eligible residential properties from 90% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio to 80 per cent ... ( read original story ...)
One of the world’s hottest property markets is readying a contentious change
Hong Kong's housing market has shown little sign of cooling after years of consistent price increases. In response, the government is now considering a controversial measure. Property in the semi-autonomous region of China has long ranked among the world ... ( read original story ...)
Enough is enough: Never mind the property industry – decent housing for Hong Kong people is a social issue
Enough, enough and more enough – the time has come to call an end to all this nonsense surrounding Hong Kong’s property market and the government’s alleged attempts to cool prices. Yet another initiative is about to be launched which imposes what is ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong buyers’ interest in Japanese property cools in the short term after Osaka quake
A strong earthquake in Osaka this week has not only rattled Japan’s second-largest city, but also shaken Hong Kong buyers’ growing interest in Japanese property in the short term, according to real estate agents. “One of our clients was paying a ... ( read original story ...)
21-year high – Hong Kong property sales expected to touch US$51 billion in first six months this year
Property sales in Hong Kong are expected to touch HK$400 billion (US$50.96 billion) – a 21-year high – in the first half this year, as one after another homes, office towers and parking spaces set records in the world’s most expensive real estate ... ( read original story ...)
More land supply means more unsold flats, Hong Kong developers’ group says while denying homes are being hoarded
Hong Kong’s property developers have denied hoarding flats, saying that the reason there are more unsold newly built homes in the city, which is suffering an acute housing shortage, is because of an earlier increase of land supply. According to the ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong homebuyers snap up flats in city’s first two sales after US interest rate increase
Homebuyers in Hong Kong rushed to buy flats on Friday and Saturday in the city’s first two sales after the US raised interest rates, indicating no dip in the buoyant and expensive local property market. As of 5pm on Saturday, all 119 units on offer ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong’s fixer-upper tycoon pushes limit of property investing
Everyone told Goodwin Gaw not to do it. The sprawling shops, offices and homes complex in Beijing that private equity group Gaw Capital Partners had in its sights was a dud, property moguls said. Beneath the four towers of Pacific Century Place was a ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong’s Swire sells two office towers in Cityplaza development for US$1.9 billion
according to property firm JLL’s May Property Market Monitor, adding that demand mainly focused on eastern Hong Kong Island and the east of Kowloon, which accounted for around 76 per cent of the new lettings in May. Swire Properties saw its underlying ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong tracks US Fed rate hike, but impact on economy seen as limited
Hong Kong’s de facto central bank tracked the US Federal Reserve in lifting interest rates again on Thursday, but analysts said homeowners in the city’s red-hot property market would be cushioned from the impact for now. The US central bank on ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong’s Victor Li pays $1.3 billion for London office tower
Hong Kong tycoon Victor Li has bought a London office tower for 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) as he expands his overseas portfolio after taking over the business empire of his billionaire father Li Ka-shing. Property company British Land and a ... ( read original story ...)
US Fed policy compounds pressure on Hong Kong’s mortgage rates
Short term interest rates in Hong Kong are rising at a lively pace and reviving concerns among analysts that tightening financial conditions will challenge the highly valued local property market. Three-month Hibor, Hong Kong’s short-term interbank ... ( read original story ...)
Hongkongers will feel the squeeze as mortgage rates gain momentum
The monthly mortgage repayment of homeowners in Hong Kong is expected to rise to 70 per cent of their monthly income by the end of this year – the highest level in nearly two decades – as mortgage rates kick upwards and home prices show no signs of ... ( read original story ...)