https://www.scmp.com/rss/7321/feed Mukul Munish is a Senior Commissioning Editor at Specialist Publications of the South China Morning Post. He edits Weekend Property which appears every Saturday in the Business section of SCMP. Apart from handling the coverage of property, he edits the Private Banking Directory and overlooks all the business related special reports. He has previously worked as a business writer for the Financial Times Group, AFP, The Standard and Radio Corporation of Singapore. He won the SOPA Best Business... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Asia’s luxury property market has grown sharply in value fuelled by the rise of ultra high-net-worth individuals. A recent report by international property consultancy Knight Frank shows that two Asian cities are in the top 10 of the world’s most desirable investment destinations for 2019. The Philippines’ capital Manila and city state Singapore’s luxury property markets are considered the hottest destinations in Asia. 9 luxury destinations that fail to live up to the hype The report says... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3019000/luxury-homes-manila-place-buy-property-now-while-going?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3019000/luxury-homes-manila-place-buy-property-now-while-going?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jul 2019 04:00:07 +0000 Dubai has attracted some of the top celebrities and glamorous personalities from all over the world. A-listers like David and Victoria Beckham, Indian superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan and other Gulf personalities own luxury houses there. Now, luxury property developers are targeting ultra-rich property investors from Hong Kong and mainland China. The latest high-end property to be marketed is a set of luxury villas in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai’s most attractive destination. Why Dubai has a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2185793/inside-dubais-luxury-property-xxii-carat-palm-jumeirah?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2185793/inside-dubais-luxury-property-xxii-carat-palm-jumeirah?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Feb 2019 02:00:33 +0000 Hong Kong’s red-hot luxury property market attracts some of the top international property investors. These buyers have their own preferred areas where they like to invest. The Peak, for example, entices mainland Chinese-based electronics and property tycoons, who want the status of owning a house on the prestigious landmark. 5 of the most exclusive addresses in Hong Kong They are willing to pay exorbitant prices for properties that command 360-degree views across Victoria Harbour. Likewise,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2169792/5-top-areas-hong-kong-where-investors-love-buy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2169792/5-top-areas-hong-kong-where-investors-love-buy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Oct 2018 04:01:23 +0000 Singapore’s luxury residential market is different from other major cities in Asia such as Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok and Hong Kong. The Lion City has an active public housing market, and private housing in mass residential and luxury sectors is also robust. Hence, some of the top HDBs, as public housing is known, are priced as much as the private housing in the same area. Continuing our series on top luxury places to stay in regional cities, we take a look at Singapore and the top five areas to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2136780/5-luxury-residential-areas-singapore-you-need-know-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2136780/5-luxury-residential-areas-singapore-you-need-know-now?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Mar 2018 04:03:36 +0000 Shanghai has the ritziest properties in mainland China with prices matching those of Hong Kong’s.  Shanghai to offer more land exclusively for rental homes development While The Peak and Mid-Levels are associated with luxury properties in Hong Kong, Shanghai has the Bund, Pudong, and areas around the former French Concession, where the rich and international jet set live. Huge commercial project could create new business district for Shanghai Here are the five most exclusive places to live and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2134291/5-most-exclusive-shanghai-areas-buying-luxury-properties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2134291/5-most-exclusive-shanghai-areas-buying-luxury-properties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Feb 2018 05:04:04 +0000 Australia’s most exclusive houses near Sydney Harbour are  being marketed to Hong Kong and Chinese investors from a whopping HK$66.13 million to a penthouse priced at HK$612 million. One Barangaroo, developed by Crown Resorts, is billed as Australia’s most prestigious residence and one of the most luxurious  in the world. Todd Nisbet, executive vice-president - strategy and development at Crown Resorts, says One Barangaroo is limited to 82 residences. “The new property will offer top class... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2132996/think-hong-kong-property-expensive-sydneys-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2132996/think-hong-kong-property-expensive-sydneys-one?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Feb 2018 02:00:00 +0000 Hong Kong has some of the most expensive and exclusive real estate in the world. The prices and quality of real estate here match some of the most prestigious real estate in New York, Paris and London.   Most expensive retail property in Asia? Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay Peak Road, The Peak, Hong Kong Average price: over HK$120,000 per square foot  Peak Road, at the very top of Victoria Peak, is the world’s most expensive and exclusive address. The lush green road claims top spot after two... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2131142/5-most-exclusive-addresses-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2131142/5-most-exclusive-addresses-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jan 2018 09:03:44 +0000 Royalty, celebrities and the international jet set have frequented St. Moritz since the time Audrey Hepburn, Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin were the talk of the town. These days, George Clooney, Sharon Stone, Naomi Campbell and Robert de Niro rank among those with residences in one of Europe’s most exclusive ski resorts / residential cities. Now a Swiss-based hotel group is marketing properties to Hong Kong and Chinese investors, a first for Asians. Grace St. Moritz Apartments comprises... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2130043/st-moritz-sets-their-gaze-hong-kong-and-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2130043/st-moritz-sets-their-gaze-hong-kong-and-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Jan 2018 09:33:55 +0000 Hong Kong’s luxury property prices will continue to rise in 2018, led by demand from rich mainland buyers and cash-rich Hong Kong investors, according to three research houses. Knight Frank, JLL and Cushman & Wakefield estimate that luxury home prices will increase 8 to 10 per cent this year, continuing the longest period of price rises in the luxury residential sector. Knight Frank, which predicts that luxury home price will rise by 8 per cent, says Hong Kong’s residential prices have risen... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2127781/research-predicts-further-rises-ahead-luxury-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2127781/research-predicts-further-rises-ahead-luxury-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jan 2018 04:31:19 +0000 Scores of women have emerged as independent, smart and financially savvy entrepreneurs in China in recent years. Swiss-based investment bank UBS noticed this trend and is offeringa  tailored approach – UBS Unique – focused exclusively on wealthy women. “As Asia leads the way in wealth creation, many Asian women have told us that they wish to be served in ways that focus more on family and legacy than pure investment outcomes,” Marina Lui, UBS’ regional market manager, China International, and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2125280/ubs-becomes-first-bank-invest-asias-women-billionaires?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2125280/ubs-becomes-first-bank-invest-asias-women-billionaires?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Dec 2017 02:00:00 +0000 A house in the fashionable London district of Notting Hill recently went on sale for £17 million (HK$177.6 million). The asking price did not raise any eyebrows among wealthy investors since the six-storey house is in an upmarket area. What was surprising was that the owner wanted to be paid in bitcoin, the digital currency which has been grabbing headlines all the world. The owner wanted 5,000 bitcoin for the mansion, which in 2010 would have only been sufficient to have bought a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2124114/should-bitcoin-be-used-buy-and-sell-properties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2124114/should-bitcoin-be-used-buy-and-sell-properties?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Dec 2017 04:58:40 +0000 Mukul Munish Mukul Munish Hong Kong’s property developers are coming up with new ideas in terms of technology and other modern design breakthroughs to make life easier for homebuyers. Some offer a one-touch remote that can switch on lights, air conditioner and other electrical appliances in the flat, while others have launched apps that help residents to make club bookings, order food from nearby restaurants and pay management fees. Savvy developers are incorporating modern engineering techniques with the future in mind... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2122127/hong-kong-homes-smarten-attract-millennial-buyers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2122127/hong-kong-homes-smarten-attract-millennial-buyers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Dec 2017 08:32:24 +0000 Spanking new buildings have transformed parts of the northwestern New Territories from rural to urban. But the laid-back lifestyle still makes the area a haven for those fleeing the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island. Kingswood Villas in Tin Shui Wai was one of the first luxury properties in the area. “The development of Kingswood Villas thoroughly changed the face of an otherwise unknown rural area,” says Charlie Xue of City University’s department of architecture and civil... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/luxehomes-2017-annual-edition/article/2122200/new-territories-north?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/luxehomes-2017-annual-edition/article/2122200/new-territories-north?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Dec 2017 02:01:12 +0000 Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay has once again emerged as the most expensive retail space in Asia in terms of rentals, and the second most expensive in the world after New York’s Upper 5th Avenue, according to an annual survey. Property consultants Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) said annual retail rentals in Causeway Bay reached HK$21,255 per square foot, just behind Upper 5th Avenue’s HK$23,400 per square foot. C&W added that rentals in Causeway Bay had softened in the last year, but the area still... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2122067/most-expensive-retail-property-asia-hong-kongs-causeway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2122067/most-expensive-retail-property-asia-hong-kongs-causeway?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Nov 2017 00:15:30 +0000 Timing is of utmost importance in the launch of a new business. But when Pilar Morais and her family launched CHI International – a company which operates serviced apartments in Hong Kong – in the summer of 2008, it couldn’t have been at a worse time. The launch coincided with the outbreak of the global financial crisis followed by mass layoffs and budget cutbacks by financial institutions, the main client base for serviced apartments. Morais remembers the experience as the first of two of the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/special-reports/topics/xxiv-2017/article/2120671/hong-kong-serviced?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/special-reports/topics/xxiv-2017/article/2120671/hong-kong-serviced?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Nov 2017 02:01:04 +0000 Hong Kong and mainland Chinese investors will get a chance to buy one of the most expensive property developments in London, with minimum prices starting at a whopping HK$180 million. The property, located in ultra-chic Mayfair, has historical value as it was General Dwight Eisenhower’s military headquarters during the second world war. It has also enjoyed significant literary prominence, featured in the works of Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse and Jane Austen, in addition to being... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2120025/londons-grosvenor-square-mayfair-may-gain-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2120025/londons-grosvenor-square-mayfair-may-gain-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Nov 2017 01:33:02 +0000 The maker of Aston Martin, the car favoured by 007 James Bond and numerous billionaires, is now entering a totally new business – real estate. The Aston Martin Residences in Miami broke ground recently and consists of 391 luxury condominiums, marking the British carmaker’s first luxury property venture. Construction of the 66-storey waterfront Aston Martin Residences, in partnership with local firm G&G Business Developments, is on track for completion in 2021. The project is located at 300... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2117562/aston-martin-building-us50-million-luxury-apartments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2117562/aston-martin-building-us50-million-luxury-apartments?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Oct 2017 04:00:12 +0000 Hong Kong’s luxury real estate may be the most expensive in the world, but uber rich international buyers will continue to buy luxury properties in the near future as the SAR is considered a safe haven, a top US-based property expert says. Stephanie Pfeffer Anton is the executive vice-president for Chicago-based Luxury Portfolio International. The company releases luxury property reports several times a year to provide in-depth insight about affluent consumers, their buying habits and their... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2115510/why-rich-chinese-buyers-are-still-buying-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2115510/why-rich-chinese-buyers-are-still-buying-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Oct 2017 05:37:34 +0000 News broke yesterday that a Hong Kong couple made a whopping US$330,000 profit in nine months by reselling a parking lot at a luxury estate in Ho Man Tin. Are parking lots a better investment than luxury condos in Hong Kong?   A single residential car park space costing US$665,000? Surely that’s madness, you might think? Well, welcome to Hong Kong. Investors in the city have shown strange tendencies in owning a piece of property. With property prices touching record levels in recent months,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2111960/do-overpriced-hong-kong-parking-spaces-make-smart?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2111960/do-overpriced-hong-kong-parking-spaces-make-smart?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Sep 2017 06:15:15 +0000 Sales of new homes in Hong Kong dipped sharply in July and August in a sign that the property market may have peaked, but prices remained stable, says a report by Knight Frank. The Hong Kong Monthly Report by the international property consultant showed that home sales plunged in July and August with fewer primary units launched as buyers adopted a wait-and-see approach. Residential sales plunged 42.4 per cent month-on-month in July to only 3,515, Knight Frank’s report shows. Primary sales or... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/weekend-property/article/2110268/luxury-property-buyers-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/weekend-property/article/2110268/luxury-property-buyers-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Sep 2017 02:17:32 +0000 Savvy Hong Kong property investors intending to buy overseas property may need to focus on the volatile currency market more than any other factor, as even a small movement in the sector could affect returns and the price of luxury properties in major cities, according to a report. The Global Currency Monitor Report, released by international property consultants Knight Frank, suggests that currency market movements can have a significant impact on the returns provided by an overseas asset, and... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2109260/savvy-hong-kong-property-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2109260/savvy-hong-kong-property-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Sep 2017 02:10:27 +0000 Hong Kong may have the most expensive luxury properties in the world, but it is not in the top five list of luxury property markets to invest in. This is according to international property consultant Knight Frank, which has listed Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Monaco and Dubai as the top destinations for luxury property investment for the super-rich. Knight Frank’s Prime International Residential Index (PIRI) ranks luxury property prices in 100 cities worldwide. According to PIRI last year, the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2107588/five-luxury-property-markets-set-rise-2017?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2107588/five-luxury-property-markets-set-rise-2017?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Aug 2017 04:00:15 +0000 The Peak remains the top destination for high net worth overseas property investors, say estate agents. For mainland property investors with over HK$20 million to spare on properties, real estate on The Peak is their first choice. Last year, a low-profile property tycoon from Shenzhen shocked the property market when he paid a staggering HK$2.1 billion for a 9,212 sq ft house at 15 Gough Hill Road for his own use. Chen Hongtian, who has a fortune of 16 billion yuan (HK$18.9 billion), according... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2106392/top-investment-peak-still-offers-most-prestigious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2106392/top-investment-peak-still-offers-most-prestigious?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Aug 2017 05:11:03 +0000 Clearwater Bay’s residential prices have risen moderately in the past year or so, in keeping with the rising trend of residential prices in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, according to estate agents. Apart from the general firming of the residential prices, agents say there are other factors that have affected the pricing trends, such as buyers moving from the rather “crowded” Sai Kung residential market to Clearwater Bay and high-net-worth buyers, with budgets of over and about HK$50 million,... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2104430/clearwater-bay-offers-families?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2104430/clearwater-bay-offers-families?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Jul 2017 01:23:18 +0000 Property analysts have called on Chief Executive Carrie Lam to treat Hong Kong’s runaway property prices as the new administration’s top priority, adding that realistic steps must be taken to release supply of land. Record property prices have driven out multinationals from the city, and forced them to move their headquarters to cities such as Shanghai and Singapore. Mercer’s annual Cost of Living survey for expatriates showed Hong Kong to be the second costliest city in the world, with... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/weekend-property/article/2102619/hong-kong-chief-executive-carrie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/weekend-property/article/2102619/hong-kong-chief-executive-carrie?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Jul 2017 03:03:49 +0000 Hong Kong is known for its eye-popping property prices as the land-starved special administrative region competes with New York, London and Monaco to be the place where the most expensive property in the world is found. Now, according to various real estate experts, a property at 110 Repulse Bay Road has been crowned the priciest in the world on a per square foot basis. The luxurious waterfront house measures 4,120 sq ft, has four bedrooms and four bathrooms, and is priced at US$87.3 million –... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2099379/hong-kong-property-priciest-world-us873-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2099379/hong-kong-property-priciest-world-us873-million?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jun 2017 09:30:00 +0000 Buyers beware! Sweeteners, such as mortgage loans of up to 90 per cent of the value of new flats, may be hazardous to the long-term finances of homeowners, especially if local benchmark mortgage interest rates start to go up – as they are expected to – real estate experts warn. They caution that such sweeteners come with high interest rates, similar to the subprime lending rates in the United States which triggered the 2008 global financial crisis. Subprime lending meant that virtually anyone... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2098407/homebuyers-beware-sweeteners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2098407/homebuyers-beware-sweeteners?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jun 2017 04:02:34 +0000 Hong Kong’s wealthy property investors have always preferred buying super cool London properties as the UK is considered a safe investment for its transparency and right of law. Now a combination of factors such as a weaker British pound and the Brexit have given impetus to Hong Kong buyers to snap up properties. Some investors are ready to pay eye-popping prices to get the ritziest addresses in London. Here we list five expensive properties that Hong Kong investors will love to add to their... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2097290/top-five-properties-london-perfect-hong-kong-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2097290/top-five-properties-london-perfect-hong-kong-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jun 2017 02:30:45 +0000 Lengthy queues to secure new homes are expected to become even longer in the second half of the year if recent statistics are an indication of what’s to come in Hong Kong’s property sector. Sky-high prices, a slew of government cooling measures and the seemingly imminent interest rate rise have failed to dent Hongkongers’ insatiable appetite for property. Figures from the Land Registry, compiled by estate agent Centaline Property Agency, show that in April the number of residential property... https://www.scmp.com/property/article/2096604/highest-monthly-sales-new-homes-21-years-hong-kong-raise-fears-ever-higher?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/article/2096604/highest-monthly-sales-new-homes-21-years-hong-kong-raise-fears-ever-higher?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jun 2017 02:49:29 +0000 Yuen Long has been steadily growing in size over the years, with the former farming district in the New Territories now boasting the attributes of a modern miniature city, with skyscrapers, restaurants and an impressive transport network. The area, encompassing Tin Shui Wai, began its transformation thanks to a growing transport network, especially the MTR’s West Rail line which has cut travel time from Yuen Long to Central and Tsim Sha Tsui to less than an hour. Other modes of public transport... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2093056/yuen-long-given-modern-makeover-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2093056/yuen-long-given-modern-makeover-all?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 May 2017 01:29:54 +0000 Hong Kong’s property market has evolved over the past few years, with real estate prices soaring 150 per cent since 2010 – while home sizes have dramatically shrunk. Runaway prices seems to have led to the age of “microhomes”. Property experts and analysts say that this trend of small apartments is expected to continue as more developers embrace a strategy of building tiny homes to take advantage of the rising demand for these types of property, ranging from less than 200 sq ft to more than 400... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/luxe-homes/topics/luxehomes-property-outlook-2017/article/2092247/size?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/luxe-homes/topics/luxehomes-property-outlook-2017/article/2092247/size?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 May 2017 02:52:49 +0000 Hong Kong’s chronic shortage of affordable co-living space for international students could finally be a thing of the past as more operators are looking to launch such accommodation. Analysts and property experts suggest that a shortage of student accommodation has forced most coming to study here to pay high prices in the private sector. According to the latest official statistics available, for the school year 2014-2015, a total of 22,400 applications were received by local universities for... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2089491/co-living-spaces-make-renting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2089491/co-living-spaces-make-renting?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Apr 2017 07:00:11 +0000 Thwarting canny speculators appears to be turning into a herculean task for the government which has so far failed to arrest runaway property prices. Take the latest government effort to drive out speculators by plugging a legal loophole which allowed first-timers to buy multiple properties in a single sale and purchase agreement, thus avoiding the 15 per cent stamp duty. On Tuesday, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said that Hong Kong homebuyers purchasing more than one flat at a time would no... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2087415/closing-loopholes-analysts-doubt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2087415/closing-loopholes-analysts-doubt?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Apr 2017 02:33:24 +0000 Wealthy mainland investors were key players in Hong Kong’s luxury residential market in the first quarter of this year, snapping up properties at staggering prices. Property agents and developers say that the transactions in the luxury market continued to be active from the start of the year, with investors from across the border accounting for the majority of deals completed during the first three months of this year. According to a report by DBS private wealth unit, measures taken by the... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2083719/splurging-mainland-chinese-dominate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2083719/splurging-mainland-chinese-dominate?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Mar 2017 01:51:00 +0000 Fortress Hill and neighbouring Tin Hau are enjoying a construction boom of new residential buildings and shopping malls. These neighbourhoods are not too far from the gleaming shopping centres of Causeway Bay, such as Sogo and Hysan Plaza. Tin Hau is next to busy Causeway Bay and a quiet residential area with a combination of dong laus, high-rises built in the 1970s and 1980s, along with some new residential buildings that have propped up in recent years. The area has also attracted a number of... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2083713/tin-hau-and-fortress-hill-draw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2083713/tin-hau-and-fortress-hill-draw?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Mar 2017 01:35:41 +0000 Are Hong Kong property owners living in a fool’s paradise, expecting interest rates to remain low? In raising short-term rates after the US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points last week, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) chief executive Norman Chan Tak-lam warned that more rate rises are expected to follow, meaning mortgage rates will soon follow suit. Chan advised homeowners and property investors to make necessary preparations for managing credit,... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2081776/home-prices-remain-stable-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2081776/home-prices-remain-stable-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Mar 2017 02:20:01 +0000 Record high prices have yet to deter buyers from going on a spree as there has been a flurry of activity in Hong Kong’s property market, leading to the end of the first quarter. Property observers say that an uptick in buying sentiment has pushed developers into flooding the market with new flats. David Ji, director and head of research, greater China, at property consultancy Knight Frank, said in a research report this week that residential sales rebounded 24 per cent last month, with the... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2079523/eager-beavers-buoyed-strong-buying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2079523/eager-beavers-buoyed-strong-buying?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Mar 2017 10:00:30 +0000 Hang Hau and neighbouring South Tseung Kwan O, once backwaters in the New Territories, are fast becoming huge residential districts and top destinations for young couples and first-time property buyers. Analysts and property developers say that a vastly improved infrastructure in recent years and proximity to Kowloon East, which is planned as an alternative central business district (CBD) by the government, has attracted upwardly mobile young couples and first-time property buyers to the... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2077691/going-young-couples-rise-choose?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2077691/going-young-couples-rise-choose?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Mar 2017 04:33:27 +0000 It’s time that banks revised their mortgage ceiling to help first-time homebuyers take the first step on the property ladder, according to a property professional. K.S. Koh, chief executive and founder of luxury property consultants Landscope Christie’s, says that despite the imminent prospect of the United States Federal Reserve raising interest rates later this month, a relaxation of the mortgage ceiling would not create instability in Hong Kong’s banking system. In 2015, the Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2075731/ease-mortgage-curbs-and-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2075731/ease-mortgage-curbs-and-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Mar 2017 01:41:06 +0000 Thousands of people pack into Happy Valley every Wednesday night for the weekly horse racing, one of two weekly race meetings held in the city. The other is every weekend at Sha Tin. The racecourse was built in 1845 to provide entertainment for the British. The area was previously swampland, but also offered the only flat ground suitable for racing on Hong Kong Island. According to news reports, the government prohibited rice growing by villages in the surrounding area to make way for the... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2075725/hong-kongs-good-fortune-happy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2075725/hong-kongs-good-fortune-happy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Mar 2017 01:26:29 +0000 Hong Kong’s new chief executive would have to overhaul the administration’s policies on property to bring some semblance of balanced growth to more areas in the city, according to a top local real estate expert. Nicholas Brooke, chairman of the Professional Property Services consultancy and a recognised authority on land administration and planning matters, says that various options should be explored for the proper implementation of land supply. The land sales policy has been lopsided, Brooke... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2073673/hong-kongs-next-chief-executive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2073673/hong-kongs-next-chief-executive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Feb 2017 01:27:06 +0000 A number of developers could face problems in the near future after buying land at Kai Tak, according to property experts. Mainland and local property developers had rushed to purchase land at Kai Tak at what seemed to be high prices, possibly sowing the seeds of creating a real estate bubble. In addition, the US Federal Reserve has indicated the likelihood of further interest rate rises this year, which will likely dampen buyer interest. Eddie Hui, professor of construction and real estate at... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2071704/homes-prices-take-kai-tak-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2071704/homes-prices-take-kai-tak-market?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Feb 2017 04:31:22 +0000 Some property analysts regard Chi Fu Fa Yuen as a poor cousin to the better-developed Pok Fu Lam. Others see it as an also-ran to Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau, where apartment prices have risen with the recent inauguration of the South Island Line. However, Chi Fu Fa Yuen seems to have good feng shui and a thriving secondary market where flats are actively traded because, agents say, they are more competitively priced than Pok Fu Lam and Aberdeen. Property agencies, such as Ricacorp, Centaline and... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2071710/chi-fu-fa-yuen-properties-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2071710/chi-fu-fa-yuen-properties-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Feb 2017 03:18:42 +0000 Barring a major economic shock – and even more draconian government measures – Hong Kong’s property prices are expected to continue on their relentless march skywards, thanks to a slew of new projects that went on sale recently. Government attempts to rein in prices do not appear to have made any significant impact on the red-hot sector, and last year’s new 15 per cent stamp duty hardly seems to have curbed prices in the primary market, where developers have offered various incentives. Some of... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2061240/through-roof-prices-new-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2061240/through-roof-prices-new-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jan 2017 03:49:07 +0000 Tseung Kwan O has come a long way from its time as a quiet seaside suburb, and is now a flourishing area of modern buildings, with property developers offering luxury facilities and top-class construction to attract young middle-class couples. Agents and developers alike say young people are drawn to the area because they can find bigger, newer homes, with more space around them to relax in and play than in older, smaller flats on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Victor Tin, associate director,... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2059925/smart-customers-drawn-tseung-kwan-o?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2059925/smart-customers-drawn-tseung-kwan-o?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jan 2017 06:20:33 +0000 Hong Kong’s luxury and mass residential home prices are expected to weaken, but will not be seriously affected in the long term despite an end to the era of cheap money, analysts and property developers say. Last week, the United States Federal Reserve raised the cost of borrowing by 25 basis points, its second hike since December 2015, and three more rate rises are expected in 2017. Hong Kong’s financial markets had factored in a rate rise of 25 basis points for some time and the Fed’s action... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2056799/challenging-times-short-term-pain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2056799/challenging-times-short-term-pain?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Dec 2016 01:54:35 +0000 Size certainly mattered this year, and predictions are that Hong Kong will be flooded by tiny flats in the forseeable future. Small flats were all the rage in 2016, with property developers tempting buyers with these micro homes. Most developers concentrated on building small homes of 400 sq ft or less and they sold like hot cakes, as factors, such as restrictions on the size of mortgages approved by the banks and the impending interest-rate hike, restricted buyers’ finances. Denis Ma, head of... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2054834/tiny-hong-kong-flats-are-all-rage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2054834/tiny-hong-kong-flats-are-all-rage?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Dec 2016 18:16:26 +0000 Home ownership in Hong Kong is an impossible dream for most people in the city. Every attempt by the government to rein in prices seems to have failed. And adding weight to the city’s predicament is the Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF), a think tank founded by former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa. It warns in a recent Land and Housing report that the government needs to do more to fix problems at the bottom rung of the housing ladder: public housing. OHKF suggests that one fix would be to... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2047186/hong-kong-think-tank-believes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2047186/hong-kong-think-tank-believes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Nov 2016 03:50:45 +0000 What a difference a week makes in the high-octane world of Hong Kong’s property market. Until last Friday, property prices were on a strong upward trend across the city. However, the surprise came when Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced that the government was raising the property stamp duty for the second time in three years in an effort to curb runaway prices. In a televised press conference, Leung said that effective November 4, the stamp duty on property transactions for non... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2045105/reigning-surging-home-prices-latest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2045105/reigning-surging-home-prices-latest?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Nov 2016 04:58:22 +0000 Has Hong Kong’s real estate market turned the corner after suffering price drops over the year? Three surveys by international property consultants, such as Knight Frank, JLL and CBRE, suggest that volumes and prices saw an upswing in the third quarter, as new projects received a strong response from buyers. “Hong Kong’s residential transaction volume increased 34.4 per cent month-on-month in September to 7,826, a four-year high,” according to David Ji, director and head of research and... https://www.scmp.com/specialreports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2042985/word-caution-hong-kongs-property?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/specialreports/property/topics/weekend-property/article/2042985/word-caution-hong-kongs-property?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Nov 2016 04:32:26 +0000