The region’s super-wealthy trail their peers in North America and Europe when it comes to parting with their money for a good cause, a survey by Wealth-X suggests.

The index for lived-in homes in December fell about 0.3 per cent to 392.5 from November, but rose 3.3 per cent on an annual basis.

Hotels in the region are likely to receive investment of more than US$9 billion this year, up 30 per cent from 2021, as confidence returns to the hospitality sector, according to JLL.

Property demand in Singapore is likely to remain subdued in the first half of the year as buyers digest the latest cooling measures, analysts said.

Hong Kong was the sixth most attractive property investment destination in a CBRE poll of some 30 cities in Asia-Pacific, after dropping out of the top 10 last year

The industry needs to overcome several hurdles including price volatility and regulatory risks before digital currencies can become mainstream, property analysts say.

There are signs that momentum is starting to build, according to London-based property agency Bective. The UK capital is a destination of choice for investors, Hongkongers included.

Chinese Estates Holdings, controlled by the family of Hong Kong tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung, says it will post an annual loss of HK$1.5 billion (US$192 million) for 2021, its biggest since it lost HK$8.85 billion in 2010.

The highly infectious Omicron strain of the Covid-19 pandemic and various restrictions on foreign homebuyers – made up in large part by Chinese investors – may also weigh on the housing market.

Housing shortages, low mortgage rates and rising construction costs are seen boosting home prices globally, while in China the government is likely to keep rein in the market.

Starting in the new year, investors seeking citizenship will have to buy commercial property rather than homes in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve under revamped rules.

The area is set to see new office buildings open in the next few years, including the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) Tower – new home to the Asian headquarters of auction house Phillips.

Nine out of 10 real estate funds plan to increase or maintain the same headcount, according to the joint survey by PwC and the Anrev.

Finland, with a median monthly salary of €3,217 last year, topped the global ranking of the happiest country on Earth for the fourth consecutive year, according to the 2021 World Happiness Report.

Home sales in Canada hit a historic high in October this year, and Hongkongers looking to buy property in the north American country should not wait for a correction and make their purchases as soon as possible, agents and analysts said.

With rents along Queen’s Road Central declining, brands and retailers such as Lululemon and Samsung are taking up space in a prime business and retail area in Hong Kong’s main business zone.

Adrian Cheng has invested in a unit of Animoca Brands – The Sandbox – a decentralised gaming virtual world, offering virtual real estate, called Land NFTs.

The study found that 18 per cent of Hongkongers are active investors in cryptocurrency, while 13 per cent are passive owners.

A limited supply of car parking spaces in Hong Kong and removal of double stamp duty has whetted investors’ appetite for this property segment.

Causeway Bay commanded the world’s most expensive retail rents for six consecutive years until 2020.

Paris and other European cities dominate the list compiled by Euromonitor International, owing to their more relaxed travel policies amid the pandemic.

Luxury home sales in Hong Kong are likely to hit a record high this year, after activity slumped last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There are more wealthy Asians than Europeans today, although the average age of wealthy people in the region - barring Japan - tends to be younger.

The North Face is opening its biggest store in Asia-Pacific in K11 Art mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, pointing to further recovery in Hong Kong’s battered retail property market.

Heritage buildings are not guarantees of premium rental fees, because the deciding factors are ultimately the location, and the dynamics of market demand and supply, analysts said.

JPMorgan will provide quarantine reimbursement for a single trip for the bank’s Hong Kong staff to visit loved ones between December 1 and next November.

The Philippines fried-chicken chain is set to purchase 51 per cent of Milkshop for US$12.8 million, adding another foreign company to its international portfolio.

Any interest rate hike in the United Kingdom is unlikely to have a significant impact on home prices, offering a limited upside for Hongkongers who are looking to move to Britain under the BN(O) scheme and buy property there, according to analysts and agents.

Investors are snapping up commercial properties despite lingering Canberra-Beijing tensions. Singapore and US funds have rushed in while Hong Kong-based investors have made their presence felt.

As working from home goes mainstream amid the pandemic, a Singaporean developer has designed flats that enable owners to run an office from home.