Mainland Chinese buyers significantly increased their Hong Kong property purchases in the first four months of 2026, acquiring over 41% of last year's total. April saw a nearly 48% month-on-month rise in registrations, reaching a two-year high.
Australian property market activity has significantly slowed due to interest rate hikes, Labor's tax reforms, and global economic uncertainty. Investor and first home-buyer applications have dropped, leading to a 'buyer's strike' and a 'recalibration period' for the market.
Fears of negative equity for first-time buyers in Sydney and Melbourne are easing as falling house prices are concentrated in the top end of the market. Data shows the cheapest properties have seen modest gains or slight declines, unlike the upper quartiles. Experts suggest low unemployment and low arrears rates mitigate mortgage payment risks, though negative equity can limit options for selling or refinancing.
New data suggests falling house prices in Sydney and Melbourne are concentrated in the upper market segments, potentially assuaging fears for first-time buyers with small deposits who typically purchase in the lower end.
Guangzhou's Nansha District has released "Nansha Ten Articles" to stimulate its real estate market. The plan includes subsidies for residents trading in old homes for new ones in Nansha, with potential total subsidies reaching 170,000 yuan.
Hong Kong's land registry reported 8,537 property sale contracts in May, marking the second month above 8,000 and the first consecutive strong market in five years. Residential sales also saw a significant year-on-year increase.
Australia's property market is experiencing a slowdown following tax reforms that limit negative gearing for new investors. Auction clearance rates have dropped, and some analysts predict price declines, though underlying housing shortages and demand-side measures may limit the fall.
Australia's property market is experiencing a shift following tax reforms that limit negative gearing for new investors. Auction clearance rates have dropped, prices are falling in some cities, and analysts predict declines of up to 10%. While rising interest rates and economic outlook also contribute, the reforms aim to curb speculation and improve affordability for first-time buyers.
Investors anticipate larger hotel conversion transactions as financing improves, with a shift towards institutional-grade assets attracting insurers, sovereign wealth funds, and private equity firms.
Australia's housing market is showing clear signs of a correction, with falling auction clearance rates, reduced buyer attendance, and widening bid-ask spreads. Factors include rising interest rates, potential tax changes, and increased construction activity, leading to predictions of price drops in major cities.
Mainland Chinese retail brands are increasingly entering Hong Kong, with a notable shift from food and beverage to non-F&B sectors like fashion, beauty, and jewelry, according to JLL analysts. This trend is helping landlords fill vacant retail spaces.
Changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax announced in the federal budget have dampened market sentiment, leading to a drop in auction clearance rates nationwide. Experts suggest this cooling market may present an opportunity for first-home buyers.
Spain's property market is showing signs of cooling after a boom, with experts predicting moderation rather than a bubble burst. Price drops are appearing, sales are slowing, and affordability is a growing concern, especially for middle-income households.
In 2025, Spain's luxury property market hit a record with 12,000 homes over €500k sold to foreigners. Non-EU buyers rushed before the Golden Visa ended, while EU demand and price hikes also contributed. Post-visa, non-EU purchases dropped 30%.
Taiwan's 520 property market shows a weakening trend, with fewer new projects launched. Large developers are pushing high-priced units in prime locations, while smaller ones await market recovery. New home prices are seeing adjustments in some areas, particularly in Taoyuan.
A Centre for London report proposes replacing stamp duty and council tax with an annual property wealth tax to address London's housing crisis. The tax would encourage downsizing, fund social housing, and help renters save for deposits.
Hong Kong's property market is showing signs of improvement, with residential prices expected to rise in 2026 due to lower mortgage rates and demand from mainland China. Lived-in home prices reached a 28-month high in March, and overall home sales climbed significantly in April.
Australia's proposed capital gains tax reforms, replacing the 50% discount with cost-base indexation from July 2027, are causing concern among young investors like Vanessa and Daniel, who fear it will reduce their financial security and ability to enter the housing market.
Hong Kong's retail sales surged 12% year-on-year to HK$106.3 billion in Q1. However, experts predict rents will only grow modestly and are unlikely to return to pre-Covid levels soon, citing a shift towards experience-driven retail and diversified tenant mixes.
Sun Hung Kai Properties' project in Hong Kong's New Territories saw hundreds of buyers, with 121 flats sold out despite a price increase, indicating strong market confidence and a sustained upward cycle.
Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui has retained its title as Asia’s priciest luxury retail strip, commanding £16,160 (US$22,000) per square metre in annual rents, as the city remains among the world’s most active markets in terms of new high-end store openings, according to Savills. London’s Bond Street replaced Tsim Sha Tsui as the top global luxury retail property market with rents of £19,228 per square metre per year, according to the ninth edition of the UK-based property consultancy’s Global Luxury...
A wave of bullishness is sweeping through Hong Kong’s real estate market. A report by S&P Global Ratings on May 5 said an “upside surprise” could materialise. One of the catalysts for a stronger-than-expected recovery was evidence of more competitive bids at residential land auctions in recent months. S&P said, “Hong Kong has become the first major city in China whose property market has bottomed. That could attract developers from mainland China looking to secure new projects”. More aggressive...
Hong Kong recorded a 17 per cent growth in investment in the first quarter of the year driven mainly by machinery purchases and construction-related activities, according to the city’s finance chief, reflecting a steadily improving property market. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Sunday acknowledged a gap in perceived economic growth among residents working in different sectors as the city recorded its fastest quarterly GDP rise in nearly five years of 5.9 per cent. But he remained...
Hong Kong homebuyers snapped up new flats on offer on Saturday, fuelling optimism that the bull run in the city’s property market will continue. All 154 units at Sun Hung Kai Properties’ Lime Spark project sold out as of 4.30pm, while 147 homes, or 93 per cent of the 158 flats available at Henderson Land’s Highwood Phase 2 project, found buyers, according to real property agents. “Home prices have climbed by nearly 8 per cent this year, and prospective buyers are likely to find that a delay in...
