Shenzhen home sales rose 66 per cent, hit 30-month high, according to April data
- Surge reflects increase in March and early April, while real-time data shows sales have fallen since
Shenzhen home sales touched a record high in April amid falling mortgage rates, population influx and a cyclical upturn in sentiment, according to official data.
But industry analysts and agents were quick to point out the surge in April reflected mostly an increase in March and early April, when buyers returned to the market with an upbeat outlook and pushed up sales volumes. This is because of a lag between actual sales and official registration.
According to data from the official Shenzhen Real Estate Information Platform, 7,570 old homes changed hands in April, an increase of 66 per cent over the previous month and the highest monthly record since October 2016.
Less than 4,000 such homes were sold in the December to January period, while 5,500-6,000 units were sold in the same period a year ago, historical data shows.
“There was a marked uptick in sales volumes after Lunar New Year, when buyers dropped their wait-and-see attitude, spurred by lower mortgage rates, the government’s proactive stance towards attracting talent and the newly unveiled plans for the Greater Bay Area,” said Andy Lee Yiu-Chi, chief executive at Centaline Property for southern China.
The average price rose 0.9 per cent monthly to reach 52,787 yuan per square metre in April.