https://www.scmp.com/rss/279395/feed Latest news and features on property investment, including prices and trends and wider issues that might affect property markets. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Chinese property stocks are poised for a comeback, as investors believe that a rebound in tier-one city home prices is a sign that the sector’s years-long woes are nearing an end. The pickup in home prices in mega cities such as Beijing and Shanghai has coincided with a spike in transaction volumes, indicating that buyers are piling in after prices have fallen to more affordable levels. In March, more than 30,000 lived-in homes were sold in Shanghai, the highest in five years, after the city... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3352031/battered-chinese-property-stocks-primed-comeback-industry-shows-signs-turning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3352031/battered-chinese-property-stocks-primed-comeback-industry-shows-signs-turning?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 04:30:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong homebuyers snapped up most of the new flats released on Thursday, with developers beginning to ramp up new construction amid sustained housing demand. All 120 units at the One Victoria Cove I in Hung Hom, jointly developed by Henderson Land Development, Hysan Development and Empire Group, were sold by 5.20pm, according to agents. Meanwhile, New World Development (NWD) and MTR Corp’s Pavilia Farm III above Tai Wai MTR station found buyers for 19 of the 45 units as of 6.50pm. Most recent... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3352063/hong-kong-homebuyers-flock-new-launches-flats-sell-out-swiftly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3352063/hong-kong-homebuyers-flock-new-launches-flats-sell-out-swiftly?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:35:13 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Non-local residents in Shenzhen can now buy property in some of the city’s core districts after the local housing authority eased restrictions and raised home-loan caps, a move likely to further improve the real estate prospects of mainland China’s top tech powerhouse. Those holding a valid residence permit can buy one residential unit in Futian and Nanshan districts, and Xinan in Baoan district, without having to pay social security or individual tax for a year. The rules came into effect on... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351968/chinas-top-tech-hub-shenzhen-eases-homebuying-curbs-raises-loan-caps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351968/chinas-top-tech-hub-shenzhen-eases-homebuying-curbs-raises-loan-caps?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye A top-floor residence at High Peak in Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels West neighbourhood has sold for HK$420 million (US$53.7 million) as activity in Hong Kong’s high-end housing segment remains heated after a strong first quarter. The penthouse unit at 23 Po Shan Road sold to a company called Shine Action on April 8, Land Registry records showed. The buyer is believed to be a mainland resident, based on the name of Shine Action’s director in the Companies Registry, Zheng Jiang. Momentum at the pinnacle... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351873/hong-kong-penthouse-sells-us54m-mainland-chinese-buyer-luxury-demand-spikes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351873/hong-kong-penthouse-sells-us54m-mainland-chinese-buyer-luxury-demand-spikes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:30:11 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye A wave of demand from mainland Chinese buyers is restoring liquidity to Hong Kong’s trophy home market, enabling owners who have held onto pricey assets for many years to lock in gains. Among them, mainland property tycoon Zhao Zhijun sold two adjoining units at 8-12 Peak Road for a combined HK$320 million (US$40.8 million), according to Land Registry records, generating a gain of about 86 per cent compared with the purchase price 16 years ago. Zhao, chairman of mainland investment firm Niverse,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351736/pair-hong-kong-luxury-homes-sells-us41m-market-sizzle-increases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351736/pair-hong-kong-luxury-homes-sells-us41m-market-sizzle-increases?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s lived-in home prices jumped 1.4 per cent to a 28-month high in March, according to the latest official data on Tuesday, with the property market remaining resilient despite uncertainties created by the US-Israel war on Iran. The widely watched index released by the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) stood at 312.8 last month, the highest since 315.6 in November 2023. The increase reflected a sustained recovery that began 11 months ago, showing a cumulative price gain of nearly 9.2... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351644/hong-kong-home-prices-rise-higher-march-rents-peak-fifth-month-straight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351644/hong-kong-home-prices-rise-higher-march-rents-peak-fifth-month-straight?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:38:44 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. What began as a crisis in 2019 reshaped Hong Kong’s student housing market. Social unrest spurred an exodus of mainland students, adversely affecting demand and putting pressure on thinly capitalised, lightly managed operators. However, a technically skilled cohort, including... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3351534/how-hong-kong-can-keep-its-student-housing-sector-open-smaller-players?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3351534/how-hong-kong-can-keep-its-student-housing-sector-open-smaller-players?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Every quarter, Knight Frank publishes a report on luxury residential transactions – sales of homes worth US$10 million or more – in 12 leading markets around the world. In the final quarter of last year, Hong Kong was the second most actively traded market after Dubai, recording 81 deals with a total value of US$1.5 billion. For 2025 as a whole, Hong Kong was the fourth most widely traded market, ahead of London, which topped the ranking in 2022. Hong Kong’s strong performance is mostly... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3351520/asian-private-wealth-emerging-force-property-investment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3351520/asian-private-wealth-emerging-force-property-investment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s sales of luxury homes more than doubled in the first quarter from a year earlier, helped by a buoyant stock market and attractively priced assets that drew the attention of wealthy investors including mainland Chinese buyers, according to analysts. The segment was likely to record another increase in the second quarter, they added. “With the wealth effect from accumulated gains in the stock market over the past two years, both local and mainland Chinese capital have seized the... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351361/frenzy-hong-kong-luxury-homes-set-continue-after-156-sales-rise-first-quarter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351361/frenzy-hong-kong-luxury-homes-set-continue-after-156-sales-rise-first-quarter?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 06:00:21 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Shenzhen’s residential inventory has fallen to a seven-year low, putting the southern technology hub ahead of other first-tier Chinese cities in clearing excess housing stock – a condition investors see as essential for a broader property market recovery. While inventory had declined across major Chinese cities, analysts said the recovery remained uneven after five consecutive years of weakness in the housing market. A broader rebound across city tiers and property types is likely to take... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351407/why-shenzhen-may-be-first-climb-out-chinas-property-slump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351407/why-shenzhen-may-be-first-climb-out-chinas-property-slump?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developers released nearly 300 new flats to the market amid enthusiastic demand from potential homebuyers as the latest official data show completion of private residential units is set to decline this year and next. By 6pm, all 218 units at the One Victoria Cove Phase I in Hung Hom, jointly developed by Henderson Land Development, Hysan Development and Empire Group, were sold, while at the Pavilia Farm III atop Tai Wai station in Sha Tin by New World Development (NWD) and MTR... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351421/hong-kong-developers-clear-stock-amid-strong-demand-and-shrinking-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351421/hong-kong-developers-clear-stock-amid-strong-demand-and-shrinking-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:40:29 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings With bad loans and repayment collateral in focus, Chinese banks are increasingly using satellites to evaluate their clients’ terrestrial assets, mounting a hi-tech offensive to safeguard against rising credit risks. China Merchants Bank and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank started making use of satellites this year, following a 2022 launch by Ping An Bank and a 2020 move into satellite remote-sensing technology by Zhejiang E-Commerce Bank. Furthering the trend, the Postal Savings Bank of China... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351315/default-our-stars-chinas-banks-use-satellites-track-assets-sky-high-scrutiny?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351315/default-our-stars-chinas-banks-use-satellites-track-assets-sky-high-scrutiny?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Zhu Wenqian,Cheryl Arcibal Zhu Wenqian,Cheryl Arcibal A consortium led by Sino Land, alongside state-backed mainland developers China Overseas Land & Investment and China Merchants Land, has won a tender for the Kam Sheung Road Station Phase Two development, signalling continued confidence in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis and its long-term growth prospects, particularly among mainland developers. The group – which also includes Great Eagle Holdings – plans to invest more than HK$13 billion (US$1.7 billion) to build high-quality residential... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3350904/sino-land-led-consortium-clinches-kam-sheung-road-phase-two-us17-billion-investment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3350904/sino-land-led-consortium-clinches-kam-sheung-road-phase-two-us17-billion-investment?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:30:30 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s commercial property market attracted US$1.6 billion in investment in the first quarter, up 41 per cent from a year earlier, as demand for office, retail and hotel assets picked up amid improving liquidity, according to JLL. Investment volumes could receive a further boost from global investors looking to redeploy their capital amid the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, the property consultancy said in a report on Tuesday. “With Asia increasingly perceived as a relatively... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350899/hong-kong-property-investment-soars-lower-funding-costs-rising-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350899/hong-kong-property-investment-soars-lower-funding-costs-rising-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation said on Monday that it had received eight bids for a commercial and residential development at one of the critical hubs in the Northern Metropolis, a large-scale project that aims to bolster the city’s economic base and foster closer integration with the Greater Bay Area. The number of bids for the Kam Sheung Road Station Phase Two property development exceeded expectations, indicating developers’ interest in the Northern Metropolis project, according to analysts. The... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350761/hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-gains-momentum-key-project-attracts-8-bids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350761/hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-gains-momentum-key-project-attracts-8-bids?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:00:05 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Chow Yun-fat, the legendary Hong Kong actor, has sold a Mid-Levels flat after more than three decades, securing a roughly 91 per cent gain, as the city’s secondary housing market continues to strengthen. The 541 sq ft, three-bedroom flat in Corona Tower fetched HK$7.5 million (US$960,000), or HK$13,863 per square foot. The sale agreement was signed on February 11 and the transaction was registered on March 11, according to Land Registry records. The deal generated a gain of HK$3.58 million... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3350739/chow-yun-fat-nets-91-gain-hong-kong-flat-after-31-years-prices-rebound?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3350739/chow-yun-fat-nets-91-gain-hong-kong-flat-after-31-years-prices-rebound?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Hong Kong’s real estate market has come a long way in the past year. For a sign of the extent to which its outlook has improved, look no further than the rapid shift in expectations for the growth in house prices this year. As recently as January, Morgan Stanley characterised its prediction of a 10 per cent rise in secondary home values as a non-consensus call. Fast forward to today, and its forecast is in line with those of most other industry experts. The outlook for the city’s office market... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350677/why-hong-kong-property-recovery-sceptics-miss-bigger-picture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350677/why-hong-kong-property-recovery-sceptics-miss-bigger-picture?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong-headquartered Toys ‘R’ Us Asia has pivoted to an experience-focused format and smaller stores in the city following an expansion programme that sought to increase its outlets as it navigates the changing retail landscape. The group planned to close the year with 20 stores in Hong Kong, representing a 40 per cent rise from 2025, said Leo Tsoi, CEO of the toys and collectibles retailer. The strategy allows the group to be more nimble and adapt to the demographic shift, as toys and... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350624/toys-r-us-game-changer-kidults-compact-shops-fuel-pivot-hong-kong-retail-evolves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350624/toys-r-us-game-changer-kidults-compact-shops-fuel-pivot-hong-kong-retail-evolves?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:30:13 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong homebuyers’ strong demand for new flats extended a streak of brisk sales for developers with one project selling out in a single day, underscoring the city’s broader recovery in housing prices. All 88 units at the Pavilia Farm III project by New World Development and MTR Corporation in Sha Tin were sold on Saturday, prompting the developers to put 75 more flats on sale later that night. Elsewhere in Kai Tak, 133 units of KT Marina II were snapped up over the weekend, according to... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/3350638/hong-kong-homebuyers-extend-sell-out-streak-amid-renewed-confidence-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/3350638/hong-kong-homebuyers-extend-sell-out-streak-amid-renewed-confidence-market?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:10:25 +0000 Zhu Wenqian,Cheryl Arcibal Zhu Wenqian,Cheryl Arcibal Growing public anxiety over artificial intelligence-driven job loss, especially in technology and other white-collar sectors, has weighed on housing sentiment in the US and India. Yet data remains insufficient to quantify the direct impact of AI-related job fears on China’s sluggish home-buying sentiment, though analysts expect such concerns to make households more cautious about long-term housing purchase decisions. China’s rapid AI adoption to boost automation and productivity had implications... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350466/will-ai-job-fears-hurt-chinas-housing-market-they-have-us-and-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350466/will-ai-job-fears-hurt-chinas-housing-market-they-have-us-and-india?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela Countryside living has never been more appealing than it is today. During Covid, urbanites flocked to rural areas in droves, looking to escape to bigger and greener pastures that would provide much-needed respite and calm during times of calamity. Fast forward a few years and the countryside’s charms show no signs of waning. To prove it, a slew of celebrities have bought permanent homes in pastoral landscapes from the Beckhams (David developed a love for beekeeping along with it) to the Sussexes... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/design/article/3350476/how-beckhams-and-ellen-degeneres-are-inspiring-cottagecore-trend-urban-homes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/design/article/3350476/how-beckhams-and-ellen-degeneres-are-inspiring-cottagecore-trend-urban-homes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Property tycoon Pan Shiyi issued a rare critique of China’s real estate sector, describing its development model as a “Ponzi scheme” and urging the industry to restore integrity and better protect homebuyers, just days after a fraud trial saw a guilty plea from the founder of China Evergrande – the US$300 billion debt juggernaut whose 2021 collapse triggered a systemic property meltdown. Writing from the United States on Thursday via his personal WeChat account, Pan reflected on the trajectory... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350448/tycoon-pan-shiyi-slams-china-property-ponzi-evergrande-boss-pleads-guilty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350448/tycoon-pan-shiyi-slams-china-property-ponzi-evergrande-boss-pleads-guilty?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:00:22 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal DBS Bank (Hong Kong) has agreed to pay about HK$2.62 billion (US$334 million) for six floors at The Center – once the world’s most expensive skyscraper – marking the city’s largest office transaction so far this year. The lender acquired the 32nd, 36th, 37th, 56th, 62nd and 76th floors late last month, with the deal registered on Tuesday, according to Land Registry records. The purchase adds 151,934 sq ft of gross floor area, DBS said in a statement on Wednesday. The price works out to roughly... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350140/dbs-hong-kong-acquires-six-floors-center-us334-million-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350140/dbs-hong-kong-acquires-six-floors-center-us334-million-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:50:31 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong landlords who fail to fix water seepage affecting flats below face a minimum inspection bill of HK$17,000 (US$2,170) if they take no action within 28 days of notification under a pilot scheme designed to fast-track such cases. The plan, launched by a joint office under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and Buildings Department, shifts the responsibility of shouldering inspection costs from the government to flat owners who fail to address water seepage... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350088/hong-kong-landlords-face-hk17000-inspection-bill-over-ignored-water-seepage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350088/hong-kong-landlords-face-hk17000-inspection-bill-over-ignored-water-seepage?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:40:38 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s reputation as a safe haven could be reinforced by the geopolitical shock waves from the US-Israel conflict with Iran, potentially supporting demand for premium office space in its core business districts, according to analysts. While the city was not insulated from global uncertainty, it could benefit over the medium term as Gulf investors reassessed geographic diversification and sought stable financial hubs, said Jack Tong, director of research and consultancy at Savills Hong... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349700/geopolitical-tensions-may-bolster-hong-kong-office-demand-gulf-capital-looks-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349700/geopolitical-tensions-may-bolster-hong-kong-office-demand-gulf-capital-looks-east?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye While Hong Kong developers have accelerated project launches following the Easter holiday, primary home sales are settling into a measured phase following an earlier surge in demand. The shift is evident at La Mirabelle I in Tseung Kwan O, where Sino Land and its partners released a third batch of units on Sunday. Buyers snapped up 71 of the 261 units on offer, pointing to less urgent demand than in earlier rounds. The latest batch comprises 33 one-bedroom units, 178 two-bedroom units and 50... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3349784/hong-kong-home-sales-outlook-firm-even-demand-ebbs-tseung-kwan-o-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3349784/hong-kong-home-sales-outlook-firm-even-demand-ebbs-tseung-kwan-o-project?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:30:17 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developers are preparing to launch nearly 1,300 units in the coming days and weeks, with some edging up prices amid improving homebuying sentiment. On Sunday, 261 units at La Mirabelle I will be released, with average prices ranging from HK$15,335 (US$1,958) to HK$19,613 per square foot after discounts of up to 15 per cent, according to Sino Land, one of the project’s developers. The pricing marks a 1 per cent increase on the previous batch, which Sino said reflected the quality of the... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349556/hong-kong-developers-roll-out-1300-homes-prices-edge-firmer-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349556/hong-kong-developers-roll-out-1300-homes-prices-edge-firmer-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong homebuyers flocked to the second round of new flat sales at the La Mirabelle I project in Tseung Kwan O on Tuesday, underscoring continuing demand for property amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Of the 168 units offered via a price list, 152 had been sold as of 6.40pm, according to Sino Land. A further 86 flats were made available by tender. Sino is one of the project’s co-developers. The launch generated more than HK$1.1 billion (US$140 million) in revenue, the developer... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349223/hong-kong-property-launch-sees-brisk-sales-buyers-unfazed-trumps-iran-warning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349223/hong-kong-property-launch-sees-brisk-sales-buyers-unfazed-trumps-iran-warning?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:26:19 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developers are raising prices of new homes this week following sold-out launches in recent days, further testing the appetite of homebuyers amid geopolitical and interest rate uncertainties. Henderson Land Development put another 39 units at its Chester project in Hung Hom on sale on Monday, with 25 homes finding buyers, according to agents. With an average discounted price of HK$22,198 (US$2,831) per square foot, the units were priced 4.57 per cent higher than the 123 units that sold... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349172/hong-kong-developers-test-homebuyers-modest-price-increases-after-sell-outs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349172/hong-kong-developers-test-homebuyers-modest-price-increases-after-sell-outs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:30:44 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan does not mince his words. In an interview with Reuters on March 23, he said Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz was, “in a sense, an Asian crisis”. Many industry experts agree with him. Before the war in Iran erupted, China, India, Japan and South Korea accounted for 75 per cent of oil and 59 per cent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows through the strait. In a report on March 6, Nomura said Asia was the “epicentre of the energy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3349119/why-asias-data-centres-are-insulated-iran-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3349119/why-asias-data-centres-are-insulated-iran-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal A proposed cap on the ground rents paid by leasehold homeowners in England and Wales is seen as favouring foreign property investors, including those from Hong Kong and mainland China, but another measure tightening rules in setting rents is dampening demand ahead of its implementation, according to analysts. An estimated 203,000 homes in England and Wales are registered to owners with an overseas address. Hongkongers hold 14 per cent, making them the largest group of foreign investors in the... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349067/how-changes-home-rental-laws-england-will-impact-hong-kong-mainland-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349067/how-changes-home-rental-laws-england-will-impact-hong-kong-mainland-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:00:07 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Once dubbed the world’s tallest abandoned skyscraper, Goldin Finance 117 in northern China appears to be in the homestretch of a marathon construction effort – after nearly a decade of dormancy and a year of resumed work – even as the nation’s property market struggles to leg out a sustained recovery. Late last month, workers began installing a diamond-shaped crown on top of the building – designed to be 596 metres (1,955 feet) tall upon completion – in the port city of Tianjin, according to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348901/chinas-long-delayed-skyscraper-goldin-finance-117-nears-completion-amid-property-woes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348901/chinas-long-delayed-skyscraper-goldin-finance-117-nears-completion-amid-property-woes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s New World Development (NWD) has shelved plans to acquire the remaining stakes in three commercial sites in Causeway Bay, signalling continued caution among developers despite signs of improving demand in the core office market. The company, which has been selling assets to reduce debt, said it would “exercise prudence as appropriate, having regard to cost and efficiency, as well as overall market supply and demand, with a view to delivering reasonable returns”. NWD, which reported... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348834/new-world-pulls-back-causeway-bay-acquisition-amid-uneven-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348834/new-world-pulls-back-causeway-bay-acquisition-amid-uneven-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:34:41 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s property transactions crossed 7,000 for the sixth consecutive month in March – the first time in four years that monthly volumes stayed above this level – despite a slight fall last month, according to official data. Residential transactions declined by about 5.3 per cent to 6,316 from a month earlier, while their month-on-month value decreased by 4.19 per cent to HK$55.18 billion (US$7.04 billion), according to data from the Land Registry on Thursday. New and lived-in home sales... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348739/hong-kongs-property-deals-exceed-7000-6-straight-months-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348739/hong-kongs-property-deals-exceed-7000-6-straight-months-march?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:24:36 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Veteran Hong Kong sports administrator Lawrence Yu Kam-kee is selling his Kowloon Tong home of over 50 years for about HK$190 million (US$24.2 million), after waiting patiently for market conditions to improve. “I had wanted to sell for a long time but waited until the market improved a bit to get a better price,” Yu told the South China Morning Post. He added that he had moved out of the house about a year ago as it was too large for a single occupant. The sale agreement had been signed and a... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348677/hong-kong-home-bought-52-years-ago-fetches-owner-252-times-return?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348677/hong-kong-home-bought-52-years-ago-fetches-owner-252-times-return?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 David Tingxuan Zhang David Tingxuan Zhang For years, China’s embattled real estate sector has been framed as a terminal drag on the economy – a deflating bubble that policymakers are unwilling to rescue but unable to ignore. That framing misses what is happening. The absence of a large bailout is not so much a sign of the leadership’s indifference as a deliberate choice. It points to something more consequential than short-term market stabilisation: a systemic effort to redesign the sector’s role in the macroeconomy. The old development... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347891/reinflate-property-sector-no-china-wants-ambitious-redesign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347891/reinflate-property-sector-no-china-wants-ambitious-redesign?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Prime office supply in mainland Chinese cities and Hong Kong is estimated to peak this year, while demand remains hampered by an economic slowdown and global uncertainties, according to Cushman & Wakefield. At the end of 2025, premium office inventory in 21 major cities in Greater China – including Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, as well as Taiwan – amounted to 99.2 million square metres (1.07 billion sq ft), up 4.6 million square metres or 8.4 per cent from a year earlier,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348648/mainland-china-hong-kong-premium-office-supply-peak-demand-lags-cushman-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348648/mainland-china-hong-kong-premium-office-supply-peak-demand-lags-cushman-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:30:13 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong homebuyers snapped up new launches on Tuesday as developers accelerated sales amid concerns over slower rate cuts and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. By about 3.50pm, all 254 flats released at the La Mirabelle project in Tseung Kwan O had been sold, according to market agents. “Today’s positive sales results at La Mirabelle is a vote of confidence for the Hong Kong residential market,” said Daryl Ng, chairman of Sino Group. “The Hong Kong residential market fundamentals are... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348547/hong-kong-homebuyers-pile-new-launches-despite-rate-jitters-and-middle-east-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348547/hong-kong-homebuyers-pile-new-launches-despite-rate-jitters-and-middle-east-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:49:52 +0000 Andrea Lo Andrea Lo Step away from the high-rise blur of Central and Hong Kong Island life loosens its tie a little. The energy shifts as the city skyline gives way to sea views, hills and even stillness in some places. Perennially coveted, Mid-Levels remains one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious addresses. Elevated both literally and symbolically, it offers some of the city’s most dramatic vistas, as well as urban seclusion. Completed in 2025, The Legacy at 8 Castle Road, developed by Henderson Land, is a notable... https://www.scmp.com/directories/luxe-homes/article/3348347/hong-kongs-luxury-living-evolution-mid-levels-chai-wan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/directories/luxe-homes/article/3348347/hong-kongs-luxury-living-evolution-mid-levels-chai-wan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Spare a thought for investors seeking shelter from the energy shock caused by the war in Iran. There are no sanctuaries. Government bonds, a traditional beneficiary of a flight to safety, have fallen in response to fears central banks will be forced to raise interest rates to combat a surge in inflation. Even gold, long viewed as a refuge in times of geopolitical uncertainty, has fallen about 15 per cent this month following a blistering rally. The safe haven credentials of Dubai have taken a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348353/japans-property-market-well-placed-withstand-iran-war-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348353/japans-property-market-well-placed-withstand-iran-war-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:30:10 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hongkongers Oscar and Stella Chan, a couple in their late 60s, have little interest in moving into a traditional residential care home. The retired civil servants rent a flat in Ma On Shan in the New Territories and, while they acknowledge that ageing at home is not always “as straightforward as it sounds”, they believe conventional care homes can “feel restrictive”. “If my financial situation and health allow, I would much prefer not to stay in a residential care home for the elderly,” Oscar... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348254/hong-kongs-ageing-challenge-singapores-kampung-admiralty-model-answer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348254/hong-kongs-ageing-challenge-singapores-kampung-admiralty-model-answer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Michael Han Michael Han When it comes to Chinese policy, what section of the work report it ends up in can say more than the policy itself. At the National People’s Congress, the most significant signal was not headline-grabbing stimulus but a quiet re-categorisation. Property policies have yet again been relegated to the risk prevention section in the government work report. This shift confirms that Beijing has fundamentally reappraised the sector. For global investors, the absence of a property stimulus bazooka was a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347753/chinas-property-pivot-growth-engine-protected-household-asset?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347753/chinas-property-pivot-growth-engine-protected-household-asset?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Homebuyers continued to signal confidence in Hong Kong’s residential market on Saturday, brushing off global economic risks tied to the Middle East conflict and expectations of slower interest rate cuts, as a new project by Henderson Land Development sold out within hours. All 123 units at Chester, the fifth phase of the Midtown South redevelopment in Hung Hom, were snapped up, according to property agents. “About 60 per cent of buyers are end users while about 40 per cent are investors and... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3348249/hung-hom-flats-sell-out-hong-kong-homebuyers-brush-aside-middle-east-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3348249/hung-hom-flats-sell-out-hong-kong-homebuyers-brush-aside-middle-east-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:40:15 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As China’s property downturn drags on, foreign companies in downstream industries are revamping their business models to cope with a decline in new construction projects, but the country’s stable policy environment is helping to ease the transition, according to an executive at a leading US supplier. Lift giant Otis is looking for new growth momentum in China’s government-led urban renewal drive, which includes a push to install or upgrade lift systems in ageing apartment buildings, said Judy... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348155/chinas-property-downturn-grinds-foreign-suppliers-strive-adapt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348155/chinas-property-downturn-grinds-foreign-suppliers-strive-adapt?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developers on Friday released 222 new flats in Kowloon, the city’s largest batch of units on a single day since buyers were warned about the uncertain direction of interest rates. K&K Property launched 122 one-bedroom units at foto+, a single residential tower in Mong Kok close to Olympic station, while Wang On Properties put 100 units up for sale at the Connext project in Wong Tai Sin. By 7pm Friday, 103 of the foto+ units had found buyers. Sales at Connext, meanwhile, kicked off at... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348175/hong-kong-developers-test-market-222-units-released-amid-interest-rate-uncertainty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348175/hong-kong-developers-test-market-222-units-released-amid-interest-rate-uncertainty?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:30:11 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s lived-in home prices rose 1.6 per cent in February, marking the 11th straight month of positive movement for the residential property segment, as the city’s rents scaled another peak, according to official data. Since reversing a downward trend in April, second-hand home prices had climbed nearly 8 per cent so far, bringing the official index to a 22-month high, according to data released on Friday by the Rating and Valuation Department. The latest monthly increment was also larger... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348081/hong-kong-home-prices-surge-near-two-year-high-iran-war-clouds-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348081/hong-kong-home-prices-surge-near-two-year-high-iran-war-clouds-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:04:50 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Major Hong Kong developers Henderson Land Development and Kerry Properties both reported mixed 2025 results, with stronger home sales partly offsetting softer rental income and a subdued commercial property market. The earnings underscored how the city’s developers are shifting focus towards projects that can still generate cash flow, mainly high-end housing in Hong Kong and top-tier mainland cities, while waiting for offices and retail to recover. Recent geopolitical tensions, including the... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3347616/hong-kongs-henderson-land-trims-dividend-iran-clouds-outlook-china-slump-lingers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3347616/hong-kongs-henderson-land-trims-dividend-iran-clouds-outlook-china-slump-lingers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:51:28 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Regal Hotels International Holdings and its units have sold the 494-room Regal Oriental Hotel for about HK$1.52 billion (US$194 million) to the real estate investment arm of Centaline Group, which operates one of Hong Kong’s largest property agency networks, to be converted into a student hostel. Regal Hotels and affiliates Century City International Holdings and Paliburg Holdings agreed to dispose of the 17-storey hotel on Sa Po Road, including two basement floors, the group said in a filing... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347571/regals-us194-million-hotel-sale-highlights-investor-push-hong-kong-student-housing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347571/regals-us194-million-hotel-sale-highlights-investor-push-hong-kong-student-housing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:13:39 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hongkonger Katie Chan was hoping to buy a flat to live in, and although the 37-year-old accountant was in no rush, the potential longer pause in interest rate cuts could delay her decision. For Chan, the ideal mortgage would be if the one-month Hong Kong interbank offered rate (Hibor) fell below 1.95 per cent, but this year the key driver for local mortgage costs and corporate borrowing rates had only dropped to as low as 2.02 per cent, according to data tracked by the Hong Kong Association of... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347469/potential-rate-cut-pause-geopolitical-tensions-may-cloud-hong-kong-property-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347469/potential-rate-cut-pause-geopolitical-tensions-may-cloud-hong-kong-property-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:30:16 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Retailers and restaurant operators in Hong Kong are rethinking how they use space as rents fall and demand weakens by moving back to street-level shops and experimenting with short-term “pop-up” leases. Hong Kong Hing Kee Java Edible Bird’s Nest (HK JEBN), known locally as “Lau Soeng” – Cantonese for “upstairs” – built its business by avoiding expensive street-front rents and operating from higher floors. It is now doing the opposite. “After the pandemic, the retail market has been weak,” said... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3347466/upstairs-moves-downstairs-hong-kong-outlets-head-street-level-landlords-cut-rents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3347466/upstairs-moves-downstairs-hong-kong-outlets-head-street-level-landlords-cut-rents?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 07:30:09 +0000