https://www.scmp.com/rss/322512/feed Latest news and features on international property, including developers, buying habits and property price trends. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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 Aileen Chuang,Peggy Ye Aileen Chuang,Peggy Ye For Hong Kong’s Topaz Family Office, investing in hotels in Japan holds up as a sound decision even as a Middle East war clouds the macroeconomic environment. The wealth manager has made Japan a central plank of its pivot into hospitality and real estate over the past two years, driven by a sharp post-pandemic tourism rebound. The investment thesis now looks increasingly robust thanks to multiple structural tailwinds and a growing pool of institutional capital flowing into the same trade. “Japan... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346535/japan-hotels-keep-luring-hong-kong-families-global-investors-despite-geopolitical-strains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346535/japan-hotels-keep-luring-hong-kong-families-global-investors-despite-geopolitical-strains?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun A budget bubble tea chain from China best known for its cheap ice creams and drinks may soon be adding roller coasters and immersive shows to its menu. Mixue, boasting more stores than McDonald’s and growing rapidly outside China, is planning to build a theme park at its headquarters in Zhengzhou, the capital of central China’s Henan province. The park will be based on its Snow King mascot, a singing snowman that has become one of Chinese retailing’s most recognisable intellectual properties... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346502/chinese-bubble-tea-chain-mixue-straps-theme-park-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346502/chinese-bubble-tea-chain-mixue-straps-theme-park-project?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 02:00:07 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye A Singapore-rooted property family has put a rare residential estate in Hong Kong’s Southern district up for tender at about HK$300 million (US$38.4 million), testing demand for trophy homes as the city’s luxury housing market shows early signs of recovery despite soft prices. The tender for Belvedere, a low-density compound in Chung Hom Kok, would close at noon on April 28, according to marketing agent JLL. The property had been held by Remadour Estate since 1993, Land Registry records... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346004/singapore-property-clan-puts-rare-hong-kong-estate-us384-million-tender?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346004/singapore-property-clan-puts-rare-hong-kong-estate-us384-million-tender?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Even before US President Donald Trump launched his tariff blitz in April last year, Morgan Stanley warned that Asia’s trade-dependent economies were particularly vulnerable to an onslaught of protectionism. The region accounted for seven of the 10 economies with the largest trade surpluses with the United States, while Taiwan, South Korea and Japan derived between 15 and 30 per cent of their corporate revenues from the US. However, those vulnerabilities were less consequential than anticipated.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3345928/4-reasons-asias-property-will-endure-despite-iran-war-headwinds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3345928/4-reasons-asias-property-will-endure-despite-iran-war-headwinds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye From Sydney to Hong Kong, wealth migration is reshaping the global super-luxury property market as activity picks up after two subdued years – though the dominance of relative newcomer Dubai is now being tested by the war in the Middle East. In Sydney, Peter Li, general manager at Plus Agency, said commission revenues on super-luxury homes had risen about 20 per cent from a year earlier. The firm, which handles more than US$300 million in annual sales, has hired six new staff members since... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345695/worlds-wealthy-relocate-rewriting-property-map-will-hong-kong-win-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345695/worlds-wealthy-relocate-rewriting-property-map-will-hong-kong-win-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 03:00:16 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Singapore is the most expensive city in the Asia-Pacific region to outfit an office, driven by increased labour costs, a shortage of contractors and strict building standards, according to real estate consultancy Knight Frank. The city had the highest average fit-out cost at US$2,029 per square metre – ahead of Tokyo (US$1,994) and Taipei (US$1,593) – in the firm’s survey of 23 cities across Australasia, East Asia, Southeast Asia and India. It was also the most expensive place to set up an... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345398/singapore-offices-cost-most-outfit-asia-pacific-survey-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345398/singapore-offices-cost-most-outfit-asia-pacific-survey-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:30:32 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro A decade ago, some investors believed the United States’ retail industry was going the way of the subprime mortgage market, whose collapse triggered the 2008 global financial crisis. The combination of the overbuilding of shopping centres and the dramatic rise of online shopping plunged bricks-and-mortar stores into crisis. Fears of a “retail apocalypse” were rife. The double whammy of overcapacity and the “Amazon effect” also hit the United Kingdom’s retail sector hard, with prominent stores... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3345094/unique-resilience-australias-retail-property-deserves-attention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3345094/unique-resilience-australias-retail-property-deserves-attention?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 06:30:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal As Hong Kong, mainland China and several other Asian markets usher in the Year of the Horse on Tuesday, the region’s commercial real estate sector is expected to draw increased cross-border capital, with certain segments set to outperform as mega-deals make a comeback, analysts said. Asia-Pacific was set to be a focus among global investors, with data cited by global commercial real estate consultancy Colliers showing that capital raised for the region’s property markets had surged by 130 per... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3343573/asia-pacific-properties-set-steal-spotlight-mega-deals-return-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3343573/asia-pacific-properties-set-steal-spotlight-mega-deals-return-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese companies are driving a fresh wave of investment in overseas properties, with new energy industrial facilities, cross-border e-commerce logistics centres, and smart city projects becoming investment hotspots, Knight Frank has said. Traditional residential development was on the wane, while industrial property, logistics real estate and commercial complexes were emerging as core investment priorities, according to a January report by the London-based property consultancy. It forecast that... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3341527/chinese-firms-are-scoping-out-overseas-property-what-catching-their-eye?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3341527/chinese-firms-are-scoping-out-overseas-property-what-catching-their-eye?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ras Al Khaimah, one of seven city-states in the United Arab Emirates, is stepping ‌up efforts to lure Chinese and Hong Kong investors into its ‍real estate, green and digital sectors as the UAE and China seek to deepen cooperation. The fourth largest of the seven Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) aims to attract over 3.5 million tourists each year ⁠by 2030, up from 1.3 million in 2024. US and Hong Kong-listed integrated casino and hotel operator, Wynn Resorts, is set to open a casino there, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/investor-relations/article/3341557/ras-al-khaimah-eyes-chinese-and-hong-kong-investors-uae-china-ties-deepen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/investor-relations/article/3341557/ras-al-khaimah-eyes-chinese-and-hong-kong-investors-uae-china-ties-deepen?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:06:38 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Japan’s property market was less likely to deliver significant rewards to investors because of heightened geopolitical tensions with China, more than a tightened monetary policy, according to analysts. “The yield spread is likely to narrow as cap rates are unlikely to widen,” said Chinatsu Hani, head of research at Tokyo-based CBRE. “However, spreads should remain in positive territory.” The Bank of Japan in March last year began unwinding its nearly decade-long negative interest rate policy –... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3339362/have-investors-missed-boat-japans-property-market-amid-tensions-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3339362/have-investors-missed-boat-japans-property-market-amid-tensions-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 01:30:13 +0000 Chen Hong Chen Hong Landlords in Hong Kong and Singapore are expected to continue allocating space to flexible office operators as multinational corporations reshape the sector’s risk profile and fuel long-term demand, according to industry experts. A major driver behind this shift is the rapid change in who uses flexible workspaces. Global companies now represented 41 per cent of Asia-Pacific flex office users, the highest proportion worldwide and nearly triple North America’s 14 per cent, according to Piers... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3336733/hong-kong-and-singapore-landlords-embrace-flex-offices-multinationals-reshape-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3336733/hong-kong-and-singapore-landlords-embrace-flex-offices-multinationals-reshape-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 03:30:10 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Numbers do not always tell the whole story. But they are revealing nonetheless. In 2013, direct investment transaction volumes in India’s commercial property sector stood at around US$1.3 billion. By contrast, in China (excluding Hong Kong), investment activity reached US$27 billion. In South Korea, transactions stood at US$12.2 billion, data from MSCI shows. The woefully low level of investment in India – a leading emerging market that at the time was already the world’s third-largest economy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3336433/indias-property-market-enters-big-league-challenges-remain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3336433/indias-property-market-enters-big-league-challenges-remain?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:30:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hongkong Land is set to launch what it expects to be the largest private real estate fund in Singapore, with more than S$8 billion (US$6.2 billion) in assets under management, including prime commercial projects in the waterfront Marina Bay district. At inception, the Singapore Central Private Real Estate Fund (SCPREF) would include one-third stakes in One Raffles Quay and Marina Bay Financial Centre Towers 1 and 2, the Hong Kong-based commercial landlord and developer said in a statement on... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3336260/hongkong-land-poised-launch-us6-billion-singapore-property-fund?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3336260/hongkong-land-poised-launch-us6-billion-singapore-property-fund?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:30:18 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), the private investment holding company of the Cheng family and the parent firm of debt-ridden New World Development (NWD), has no plans to sell its prized Rosewood brand, according to sources familiar with the matter. “Rosewood has delivered exceptional results in recent years and is one of the family’s most cherished luxury hotel brands,” a source said. The group’s properties were operating as usual, with strategic investments in nearly 30... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3336121/rosewood-hotel-brand-hong-kongs-chow-tai-fook-not-sale-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3336121/rosewood-hotel-brand-hong-kongs-chow-tai-fook-not-sale-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 01:41:35 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, former heir apparent to Hong Kong property giant New World Development (NWD), has partnered with a Dubai royal and businessman to spruce up the retail, leisure and cultural offerings of Wafi City, one of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city’s top shopping destinations. Cheng and Dubai Sheikh Mana bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, founder and chairman of the Wafi Group, signed an agreement to set up a new entity called Wafi Anime 11 in Dubai on Wednesday, according to a statement on... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3336095/adrian-cheng-signs-retail-partnership-wafi-group-headed-dubai-royal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3336095/adrian-cheng-signs-retail-partnership-wafi-group-headed-dubai-royal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:16:29 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Every quarter, Knight Frank publishes an index tracking the movement of prime residential prices and rents in leading cities around the world. Although the index is just a snapshot that should be treated with caution given significant differences in the performance of submarkets within cities, its findings are nevertheless revealing. In the sales market, five of the six cities with the fastest growth in prices last quarter were in Asia. In Tokyo, prices rose a staggering 56 per cent on an... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3335554/asias-housing-affordability-squeeze-shows-no-signs-slowing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3335554/asias-housing-affordability-squeeze-shows-no-signs-slowing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 08:31:35 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Prime office rents in Hong Kong and Singapore are expected to reach parity within two years, driven by diverging dynamics in demand and supply for office properties in the rival business hubs, according to CBRE. By the fourth quarter of 2027, tenants in premium office spaces in Hong Kong were set to pay just over US$122 per square foot per year, while those in Singapore would face slightly higher costs at about US$123 per square foot annually, said Ada Choi, head of research for Asia-Pacific at... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3333789/hong-kong-and-singapore-prime-office-rents-set-equalise-2027-cbre-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3333789/hong-kong-and-singapore-prime-office-rents-set-equalise-2027-cbre-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 01:30:15 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui remained the world’s fourth most expensive retail strip with rents at US$1,515 per square foot per year, as two other core shopping districts in the city – Causeway Bay and Central – also ranked among the Asia-Pacific’s priciest shopping locations, according to Cushman & Wakefield. London’s New Bond Street jumped two spots from last year to emerge as the world’s most expensive retail district, according to the real-estate services consultancy’s 35th “Main Streets Across... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3333415/hong-kongs-tsim-sha-tsui-holds-ground-worlds-fourth-priciest-shopping-district?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3333415/hong-kongs-tsim-sha-tsui-holds-ground-worlds-fourth-priciest-shopping-district?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:53:57 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Australia, with its stable political and economic landscape, is likely to attract more property investors from Hong Kong and mainland China in the coming year, according to agents. The luxury property segment of the world’s sixth-largest country is also expected to see increased interest from affluent investors looking for cost-efficient safe havens amid changes in the immigration and residency requirements of the US and the UK, among other jurisdictions. “For many years, Australia has been a... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3332923/australia-draws-mainland-hong-kong-homebuyers-back-stable-policies-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3332923/australia-draws-mainland-hong-kong-homebuyers-back-stable-policies-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 03:00:16 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong remains one of the world’s least affordable housing rental markets as constrained median household incomes are unable to keep up with limited availability and high demand in the city, according to German asset manager DWS. Three of the five least affordable housing rental markets were in Asia, with Bangkok and Mumbai taking up the top two spots and Hong Kong coming in fourth, according to DWS’ report tracking 80 cities worldwide released on Friday. Mexico City and Johannesburg rounded... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3330218/hong-kong-rents-fourth-least-affordable-globally-bangkok-tops-list-dws-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3330218/hong-kong-rents-fourth-least-affordable-globally-bangkok-tops-list-dws-study?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:30:08 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Zhang Xin, a Chinese property billionaire whose co-founded company Soho China was behind many projects that gave Beijing its futuristic skyline, has acquired land in a prestigious residential neighbourhood in New York City for a luxury condominium development. Manhattan-based Closer Properties, led by Zhang, acquired five adjacent parcels on the city’s Upper East Side in a cash transaction totalling US$62.5 million, it said in a statement on Wednesday. Closer, which develops, owns and operates... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3330020/soho-china-tycoon-zhang-xin-buys-land-nycs-tony-upper-east-side-luxury-condos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3330020/soho-china-tycoon-zhang-xin-buys-land-nycs-tony-upper-east-side-luxury-condos?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:15:59 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal As Japan enters a new era with the likely election of Sanae Takaichi as the first female prime minister of Asia’s second-largest economy, is it time for property investors to end their enduring love affair with Japanese real estate? The 64-year-old Takaichi emerged last week as the leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, paving the way for her to seek the premiership, although uncertainties remain following the collapse of a coalition with the party’s allies. Under an anticipated... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3329467/china-hong-kong-property-markets-stabilise-it-time-investors-quit-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3329467/china-hong-kong-property-markets-stabilise-it-time-investors-quit-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Fancy living in a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs-themed neighbourhood? How about an opulent flat influenced by the luxury fashion house Versace? If that is not your thing, what about a luxury abode with a layout approved by tennis legend Rafael Nadal? Branded residential property – projects affiliated with well-known international marques and built in partnership with a developer – continue to be dominated by hotel brands, as homebuyers prefer to obtain the same amenities or services from those... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3327839/disney-versace-and-nadal-rise-branded-residences-and-why-hong-kong-outlier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3327839/disney-versace-and-nadal-rise-branded-residences-and-why-hong-kong-outlier?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Now that the US Federal Reserve has embarked on a policy easing cycle, with some other central banks around the world following suit, property investors must treat these changes as temporary and remember that there is no substitute for proper research into specific markets and assets, according to consultants. The Fed cut its target rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4 to 4.25 per cent during the sixth meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee last week. The Fed’s easing was widely... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3327073/fed-rate-easing-cycle-under-way-which-real-estate-markets-offer-value-money?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3327073/fed-rate-easing-cycle-under-way-which-real-estate-markets-offer-value-money?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal The resumption of a policy easing cycle following the US Federal Reserve’s quarter-point interest-rate reduction is likely to spur more investments into property globally, according to analysts. For mainland China and Hong Kong, however, the impact could be less significant owing to fundamental and geopolitical strains, they added. “Rarely do central banks do ‘one and done’,” said Pamela Ambler, head of capital markets research for Asia-Pacific at JLL. “This [Fed] cut is likely to kick off a... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3326288/feds-rate-cut-fuel-property-investment-globally-hong-kong-faces-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3326288/feds-rate-cut-fuel-property-investment-globally-hong-kong-faces-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:30:12 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren The luxury home market in Shanghai, China’s commercial and financial hub, has displayed some signs of fatigue as owners of some flats had to roll out price cuts of more than 30 per cent to woo buyers. A correction, following nearly two years of growth, was a warning to wealthy local investors who believed that homes worth at least 30 million yuan (US$4.2 million) would always be good buys. “The luxury housing segment, particularly lived-in homes, should have run out of steam because some buyers... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3325417/shanghai-luxury-home-market-shows-signs-losing-steam-price-cuts-fail-woo-buyers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3325417/shanghai-luxury-home-market-shows-signs-losing-steam-price-cuts-fail-woo-buyers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 04:00:19 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal South Korea’s new restrictions on foreign homebuyers are likely to cool housing prices in Seoul and neighbouring cities, according to property agents, following a surge in the number of buyers from mainland China and Hong Kong who bought homes in the middle and high-end segments of the market. Hongkongers and mainland Chinese had acquired 96,955 properties in South Korea as of May, a 78.5 per cent increase from the 54,320 real estate assets that they owned in 2020, according to a report by The... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3325389/south-koreas-ban-foreign-homebuyers-cool-seoul-prices-chinese-investments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3325389/south-koreas-ban-foreign-homebuyers-cool-seoul-prices-chinese-investments?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 02:00:18 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg New Zealand will loosen its ban on foreigners buying houses, opening the door for wealthy investors to purchase luxury properties as part of a push to revive its sluggish economy. The coalition government on Monday said it would allow holders of so-called golden visas to buy houses worth at least NZ$5 million (US$3 million), carving out an exemption to restrictions that have largely kept overseas buyers out of the market since 2018. The change will not take effect until the end of the year, when... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3323874/new-zealand-opens-doors-property-market-only-rich-foreign-buyers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3323874/new-zealand-opens-doors-property-market-only-rich-foreign-buyers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 05:24:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Japan’s renewed economic vigour is spurring more investment in its property market, especially the multifamily segment, but the environment presents challenges for investors, according to Hong Kong-based Avatar Capital Partners. The world’s fifth-largest economy was attracting more property investment from both domestic and foreign capital, which required the asset-management firm to be savvy in its investment choices to secure assets, said Angel Li, a founding partner. Avatar said in July that... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3323741/japans-property-market-booms-us228-billion-investment-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3323741/japans-property-market-booms-us228-billion-investment-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Aug 2025 02:00:23 +0000 Reuters Reuters The property investment arm of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com and two other firms plan to launch a Singapore-based real estate investment trust (Reit) with assets potentially valued at more than US$1 billion, said two sources with knowledge of the matter. JD Property, the unlisted infrastructure investment and asset management platform of JD.com, is setting up the Reit with Swiss investment firm Partners Group and EZA Hill Property, which is backed by Asian investment firm Hillhouse, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3323417/jdcoms-property-unit-joins-two-firms-us1-billion-singapore-reit-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3323417/jdcoms-property-unit-joins-two-firms-us1-billion-singapore-reit-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 02:09:15 +0000 Ellis Ng Ellis Ng Family offices are expanding their real estate holdings in Hong Kong as global economic shifts and market reforms enhance the city’s appeal as a leading investment destination. Hong Kong remains a prominent wealth hub and has more than 2,700 single-family offices, according to a 2024 Deloitte study. In a 2025 report by Altrata, the city ranks third globally in terms of the number of ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals, defined as those with over US$30 million in assets. “Hong Kong’s property... https://www.scmp.com/specialist-publications/special-reports/topics/wealth-family-offices/article/3322829/investors-flock-local-real-estate-amid-global-downturn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/specialist-publications/special-reports/topics/wealth-family-offices/article/3322829/investors-flock-local-real-estate-amid-global-downturn?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal For Mariana Zobel de Ayala, the chance to help develop the Philippines’ tourism industry by boosting Ayala Land’s investments in retail and hotel properties could not have come at a better time. As the senior vice-president for leasing and hospitality of one of the largest developers in the Philippines, Zobel de Ayala believes tourism will be a major driver of the country’s economic expansion. Ayala Land, which bought the 578-room New World Makati Hotel from distressed Hong Kong developer New... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3322876/why-philippines-zobel-de-ayala-clan-betting-us25-billion-retail-hotels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3322876/why-philippines-zobel-de-ayala-clan-betting-us25-billion-retail-hotels?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 02:00:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s luxury home rents increased the most globally in the second quarter, according to Knight Frank, benefiting from an influx of high-net-worth individuals through the capital investment scheme. A survey tracking 16 cities worldwide showed upscale residential rents climbed 8.6 per cent in the April to June period from a year earlier, the consultancy said. Tokyo came a close second with an 8.3 per cent increase, followed by New York at 6.9 per cent. Singapore ranked 13th with a 1.5 per... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3322670/hong-kong-luxury-rents-lead-world-86-surge-second-quarter-knight-frank?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3322670/hong-kong-luxury-rents-lead-world-86-surge-second-quarter-knight-frank?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 23:30:06 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Prime residential prices are cooling globally, with Hong Kong performing the worst, according to the latest study by Knight Frank. In a survey of 46 cities worldwide, Hong Kong ranked last with a 14.3 per cent decline in prices in the second quarter compared with the same period last year. On a quarterly basis, the city again took the bottom spot with an 11.7 per cent drop. Average annual growth in housing prices across the nearly four dozen cities slowed to 2.3 per cent in the June quarter,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3322309/global-prime-property-prices-cool-hong-kong-leads-decline-knight-frank-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3322309/global-prime-property-prices-cool-hong-kong-leads-decline-knight-frank-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Singapore’s office leasing activity surged 12-fold in the first six months of the year, topping the Asia-Pacific region, while Hong Kong leasing remained subdued amid a stubborn supply glut, according to a report by Colliers. Tenants relocating to newly completed premium spaces drove the spike in demand in Singapore, the report said. The city state, widely deemed Southeast Asia’s top finance hub, also saw rents improve by 1.3 per cent to S$12.10 (US$9.42) per square foot per month as of the... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3322258/singapore-office-demand-soars-12-fold-while-hong-kong-remains-subdued-colliers-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3322258/singapore-office-demand-soars-12-fold-while-hong-kong-remains-subdued-colliers-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 23:30:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg UK home prices are almost £11,000 (US$14,900) cheaper than three months ago, with sellers competing for attention during the market’s summer lull. Average asking prices fell 1.3 per cent to £368,740 this month, property website Rightmove said on Monday. While the decline was in line with long-term trends for the month of August, it follows larger-than-usual drops in June and July. More than one in three properties have been reduced in price since first coming to market, Rightmove added. It said... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3322164/uk-house-hunters-home-property-prices-drop-u14900-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3322164/uk-house-hunters-home-property-prices-drop-u14900-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 01:07:26 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China has changed the Greek capital in both visible and less obvious ways. On the one hand, authentic Chinese restaurants – from spicy hotpot to Cantonese cha chaan teng – have sprung up in central Athens, where many patrons speak the northeastern Chinese dialect and work for China Ocean Shipping Company, an industry giant managing Europe’s fifth-largest port. On the more discreet side, Chinese buyers have snapped up thousands of flats in a rush to apply for the Greek investor residency scheme,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321996/how-chinese-investors-quietly-transformed-athens-one-visa-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321996/how-chinese-investors-quietly-transformed-athens-one-visa-time?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters A record number of Singapore public housing units were sold for S$1 million (US$780,000) or more in the June quarter, a private data provider said on Wednesday, taking the number of high-value sales in the first half of the year to almost 75 per cent of last year’s total. Eight out of 10 Singaporeans live in public housing built and sold by the government, and its affordability is a key issue for policymakers alongside high living costs. According to real estate agency OrangeTee Group, a record... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3321682/sales-singapores-million-dollar-public-flats-hit-record-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3321682/sales-singapores-million-dollar-public-flats-hit-record-high?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 06:17:07 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Towards the end of his life, Goh Cheng Liang was known as the richest Singaporean, owning some of the world’s most luxurious superyachts, but his humble beginnings left an indelible mark on the elusive paint tycoon and spurred his philanthropic efforts. He died on Tuesday at the age of 98. Goh, the founder of Wuthelam Group which owns close to a 60 per cent stake in Nippon Paint Holdings, and – according to Forbes – had an estimated net worth of US$13 billion (S$16.7 billion), died with family... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3321611/singapores-richest-man-dies-98-goh-cheng-liangs-journey-nippon-paint-tycoon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3321611/singapores-richest-man-dies-98-goh-cheng-liangs-journey-nippon-paint-tycoon?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:26:59 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Saudi Arabia could replicate the success of Dubai in attracting foreign property investors, including those from Hong Kong and mainland China, following the kingdom’s relaxation of homebuying rules, according to experts. A new law approved by the kingdom last month is set to allow non-Saudis to buy real estate in designated zones. The law will take effect in January. “Saudi Arabia can absolutely succeed at making itself a major destination for investment and residency,” said Kashif Ansari,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3320480/saudi-arabia-next-dubai-hong-kong-and-mainland-chinese-property-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3320480/saudi-arabia-next-dubai-hong-kong-and-mainland-chinese-property-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 01:30:13 +0000 Yuke Xie Yuke Xie US investment in Asia-Pacific real estate jumped 31 per cent year on year in the second quarter, as investors chased yields and stable growth in markets such as Australia, Singapore and Japan amid looming tariff challenges. Mainland China, meanwhile, was weighed down by an ongoing property crisis and mounting default risks. Cross-border real estate investments in Asia-Pacific reached US$12.1 billion in the second quarter, a 50.1 per cent surge year on year and the highest level since the third... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3320449/us-leads-second-quarter-asia-pacific-real-estate-deals-assets-worth-us5-billion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3320449/us-leads-second-quarter-asia-pacific-real-estate-deals-assets-worth-us5-billion?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 01:30:16 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Mainland Chinese hotel operators are expected to significantly increase their presence in Hong Kong’s hotel industry, potentially replacing established brands in the coming years, according to analysts. Currently, Western and international operators dominate Hong Kong’s hotel landscape, while Chinese ones have a minor presence. Among some of the more notable mainland players, BTG Homeinns operates both upscale and mid-market hotels in Hong Kong, including the Wharney Hotel in Wan Chai, Oasis... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3319733/chinese-hotel-brands-poised-reshape-hong-kongs-hospitality-scene-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3319733/chinese-hotel-brands-poised-reshape-hong-kongs-hospitality-scene-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Wimbledon, the London suburb best known for being home to the tennis tournament of the same name, is resisting the decline of home prices in the UK capital, according to agents. With celebrities such as tennis legend Boris Becker and X Factor judge and executive producer Simon Cowell among the list of past and present residents, Wimbledon has outperformed the rest of prime southwest London in terms of pricing, according to Savills. In the second quarter, home prices in Wimbledon’s prime district... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3318797/wimbledon-courts-wealthy-homebuyers-amid-decline-london-home-prices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3318797/wimbledon-courts-wealthy-homebuyers-amid-decline-london-home-prices?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 01:30:12 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal One in 388 homeowners in Hong Kong has a net worth of more than US$30 million, making the city No 3 in terms of ultra-wealthy residents among urban centres outside the US, according to a study released on Wednesday by Altrata. Overall, Hong Kong also had the third highest number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) owning homes in the city, with 19,439, trailing New York’s 33,222 and Los Angeles with 19,781, according to the US-based group that tracks the world’s affluent. The UHNWs who... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3318420/one-388-hong-kong-homeowners-has-net-worth-more-us30-million-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3318420/one-388-hong-kong-homeowners-has-net-worth-more-us30-million-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:00:24 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji When Indian property developer DLF launched a housing project in Gurgaon on the outskirts of capital New Delhi last month, all the flats sold out within a week despite a minimum price tag of more than US$1 million – a figure that would have daunted most buyers until recently. The successful sale of the project called DLF Privana North in Gurugram followed two others over the 116-acre (47-hectare) residential development, DLF Privana South and DLF Privana West, each of which were sold out in 72... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3317567/indias-luxury-property-market-boom-has-no-plateau-sight-it-sustainable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3317567/indias-luxury-property-market-boom-has-no-plateau-sight-it-sustainable?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 10:05:42 +0000 Charmaine Chan Charmaine Chan Visitors to the Pantheon often leave with tangible souvenirs – a Roman coin, a pendant of its famous dome, a model of the ancient architectural marvel. But Singaporean architect Lim Koon Park, founder of Park + Associates, took home something more profound: a feeling of oneness with nature. “What really attracts you when you enter is the oculus open to the sky,” he recalls of his family’s excursions to the temple-turned-church in Rome, Italy. Through the circular hole puncturing the Pantheon’s... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3316929/singapores-first-3d-printed-house-out-there-yet-introverted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3316929/singapores-first-3d-printed-house-out-there-yet-introverted?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:45:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal New Zealand’s revamped golden-visa programme is likely to lift demand for its luxury homes, as wealthy Hongkongers and mainland Chinese count among the top applicants, according to consultants. Since the relaunch of the Active Investor Plus (AIP) programme in April, the government has received some 200 applications for the fast-track residency initiative, according to Greener Pastures New Zealand. The top three sources of applications were the US with 85, mainland China with 26 and Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3317029/new-zealand-golden-visa-lures-potential-luxury-property-buyers-hong-kong-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3317029/new-zealand-golden-visa-lures-potential-luxury-property-buyers-hong-kong-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jul 2025 01:30:16 +0000 Salina Li Salina Li A person connected to veteran HSBC banker Peter Wong Tung-shun bought a luxury unit in Hong Kong’s Southern district for HK$125 million (US$15.9 million), as sentiment in the city’s property market improves gradually. Two connected units at the Parkview apartment complex in Tai Tam, with a total area of 4,616 sq ft, were sold for HK$27,080 per square foot to Lion Rock (HK), according to Land Registry records. The property was handed over on Tuesday. The sole director of Lion Rock, Jeremy Wong... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3315939/person-connected-hsbcs-wong-buys-luxury-flat-hong-kong-us159-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3315939/person-connected-hsbcs-wong-buys-luxury-flat-hong-kong-us159-million?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 09:30:07 +0000