Hong Kong's property market was busy over the
Christmas weekend, with buyers snapping up new and old homes, while
prices at blue-chip estates are expected to remain intact into the new
year.
The Yoho Hub
atop the MTR Yuen Long Station sold more than 80 percent of the flats
offered in the first round of sales during the long Christmas weekend,
raking in over HK$3 billion, said Victor Lui Ting, deputy managing
director at Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016).
The developer revealed the fourth price list
yesterday for 145 flats at an average price of HK$21,261 per square foot
after discounts, with no premium compared to the previous price lists.
The list includes 25 one-bedroom, 62 two-bedroom,
48 three-bedroom and 10 four-bedroom apartments, ranging from 326 sq ft
to 1,036 sq ft in size. The second round of sales is expected to be
launched at the beginning of 2022, said Lui.
In the secondary market, transactions at 10
blue-chip housing estates picked up by 36 percent over the previous
weekend, data from a property agency showed.
A total of 15 secondary deals were recorded, and
the New Territories slightly outperformed Kowloon and Hong Kong Island,
with seven deals. Three blue-chip estates - Caribbean Coast in Tung
Chung, City One Shatin, and Kingswood Villas in Tin Shui Wai - saw a 40
percent increase in the number of deals over the previous week.
Property agenct said that as the border between
the mainland and Hong Kong is expected to reopen soon, buyers who failed
to get a primary home turned to the secondary market for good-value
apartments in different districts, to beat the expected rise in prices.
Tsuen Wan has become a "hidden gem" in the
secondary market since prices in the district are cheaper than other
districts, while the Northern Metropolis concept may also benefit Tsuen
Wan in the future, another property agent said.
The agent added that the number of house-viewing
requests received by the branch jumped 25 percent over the three-day
Christmas holidays from a week ago.
Separately, 384 transactions were recorded in Tai
Koo Shing so far this year, an increase of 10 percent over the last
year's figure, another agent said.
As one of the blue-chip estates in Hong Kong
Island, the agent said that the average price of HK$20,109 per sq ft is
expected to remain intact next month.
(The Standard)
The five biggest factors that may influence Hong Kong home prices in the year ahead
Forecasts
for price movement in 2022 range from a drop of 2 per cent by Morgan
Stanley to a rise of 10 per cent by property agency
The city’s property market saw much slower growth in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic
Hong Kong has repeatedly been touted as the least affordable housing market over the years, with the average household needing to save for about 20 years to buy a home.
It costs HK$16,239 (US$2,082) per sq ft to buy a property in Hong Kong, according to data from a property agency.
But Hong Kong saw slower growth
in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. It placed 116th among 150
cities surveyed for house price growth in the third quarter, according
to another agency’s global residential cities index.
Home prices rose 3.9 per cent in the first 10 months of 2021, according to data from the Rating and Valuation Department. Forecasts for price movement in 2022 range from a drop of 2 per cent from Morgan Stanley to a rise of 10 per cent from a property agency.
Here are five major factors that may influence home prices in the coming year:
1. Interest rate movement
The
market should watch out for an acceleration in US interest rate rises
if inflation is uncontained, with three increases generally expected in
2022, a surveyor said.
This expectation has prompted a softening of the valuation index, a
weekly gauge that tracks major banks’ valuations for used homes in 133
housing estates, compiled by a property agency. It saw the biggest drop
in six weeks to 28.38 points in the week ended December 19. One of the
index below 40 indicates a bearish view of the market and a downward
trend in home prices, while one above 60 points indicates a bullish
trend.
If the city’s aggregate bank balance remains sufficient, the Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate (Hibor), which is widely used for linking mortgage rates,
may not keep pace with increases in the US interest rate, according to a
mortgage broker. Next year, Hong Kong’s mortgage interest rate will
remain below 2 per cent, and the low-interest rate environment will
continue for the 14th year, the mortgage broker added.
For a 30-year mortgage,
if the Hibor-linked mortgage rate is increased by 1 per cent, the
monthly repayment goes up by HK$495 for a HK$1 million loan, according
to the mortgage broker.
The
actual Hibor-linked mortgage rate fell to a 10-year low of 1.36 per
cent in 2021. More than 90 per cent of mortgage holders use Hibor linked
mortgages, according to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
2. Chief Executive election in March 2022
A
change of leadership could usher in a new mindset regarding the supply
of flats and measures that have restrained demand. A lot would depend on
the strength of a new Chief Executive’s implementation of these measures though, a surveyor said. Things to look out for may include:
a)
New land and housing policies such as measures to help first-time
buyers or restrictions on buying a second apartment, and more details
about the Northern Metropolis and the Lantau Tomorrow Vision projects.
b) A lower threshold for compulsory sales under the Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance (Cap 545).
c) More incentives for redevelopment.
3. Covid-19 developments
The market will doubtless be lifted by the border reopening between China and Hong Kong and its positive impact on the economy. Pandemic control measures
globally as well as the effectiveness of new vaccines for Covid-19 and
its variants are worth monitoring as they will affect the opening of
international borders.
4. Hong Kong’s economy
Overall economic conditions
could be a challenge if there is an escalation in Covid-19 cases and
the city ends up back in lockdown, similar to what’s happening in some
European countries, said Michael Wu, senior equity analyst at
Morningstar. As such, rising unemployment would be a key.
Hong Kong had seen 12,599 confirmed or probable Covid-19 cases as of Monday.
The
Hang Seng Index (HSI) is down around a quarter in 2021 since
mid-February. Hong Kong’s property prices tend to decline post-HSI
decline, most probably because of a negative wealth effect, according to
Morgan Stanley. The performance of the stock market will affect wealth
and buying sentiment.
Other
economic indicators correlated to home price movement include real GDP
growth, inflation, rental yield over mortgage and residential sales
volume in the secondary market, Morgan Stanley’s report added.
5. Economy in mainland China
Meanwhile,
GDP growth in mainland China, the financial problems of mainland-based
developers and geopolitical factors such as fraught relations with the
US, may be causes for concern. They will determine whether mainland
buyers return to Hong Kong’s housing market in droves in 2022.
Maintaining
a stable and healthy economy in the run-up to the 20th congress of the
Chinese Communist Party in the second half of 2022 is set as the top
priority for the year, according to a Standard Chartered Bank report
released on December 10. The bank forecasts GDP growth of 5.3 per cent
in China next year.
Goldman
Sachs expects the People’s Bank of China to inject more long-term
liquidity via required reserve ratio cuts. One more cut is expected in
the first quarter of the year, as well as various lending facilities,
and an easing of property policies at local level.
The
investment bank said in its report released on December 26 that
headwinds to growth remain, however. The property market might continue
to cool, the city’s zero-Covid strategy could drag on consumption, and
Beijing’s anti-pollution measures before the Winter Olympic Games early
next year could weigh on industrial production.
(South China Morning Post)
商廈今年低位彈 買賣升4成
今年寫字樓交投從低位反彈，有報告指，今年暫錄1,096宗寫字樓買賣，按年升4成。
因應中港通關經整年商議仍未落實，商廈市場受創最大，全年市況偏淡靜，特別是港九指標商廈情況更見嚴峻；而隨着中環大型臨海商業用地中標價刷新賣地記錄，為商廈市場鮮有的喜訊。
有代理表示，今年暫錄得約1,096宗寫字樓買賣成交，總成交金額約374.94億元，按年分別上升約43%及29%；宗數為2019社會事件及2020新冠肺炎後首度破千宗水平。租賃市場方面，2021年暫時有約6,541宗寫字樓租務成交，對比去年增加約24%；總成交金額則錄得約6.95億元，亦比2020年上升約23%。與買賣走勢相似，今年成交宗數亦是自2019及2020年後再度衝破6,000宗水平，租務氣氛都有好轉迹象。
預測明年價升5至10%
該代理續表示，2021年全年港九指標商廈買賣個案暫錄得72宗個案，當中九龍區表現較佳，佔41宗成交，遠超出去年約15宗水平，相信由於九龍甲廈呎價較相宜且質素又見不俗，因而吸引投資者入市。而租賃表現就較疲弱；而今年港九指標商廈暫共錄得約570宗租務個案，走勢一般，令各核心商業區空置情況難以改善，港島區11月整體甲廈空置率為10%，比今年1月上升0.58個百分點，當中中環最新空置率錄約8.03%，比年初亦升0.86個百分點，金鐘11月空置率則為9.43%，持續徘徊於8%至9%水平。
該代理預測，雖然變種病毒來襲，但港府近月積極爭取中港「小通關」，預計即使計劃延後，但始終見曙光，下年有機會落實初步通關，料商務人士可更方便來港，為商廈市場帶來支撑力，對買賣及租賃市場都為利好因素。預測2022年全年會錄得1,200宗水平，成交金額會達400億元，買賣價則會有5%至10%上調空間，而租務成交量則料會有6,500宗水平，而受到高企的空置率拖累，料租金僅會有0%至5%升幅。
(經濟日報)
海港中心全層意向呎租50元
本港疫情走勢穩定，為甲廈市場釋出正面訊息，部分業主亦趁勢放租旗下物業。灣仔海港中心12樓全層，以意向呎租約50元放租，較早前叫租下調約10%。
叫租下調約10%
有代理表示，灣仔港灣道25號海港中心12樓全層，面積約15929方呎，意向呎租約50元，涉及月租約79.6萬，現已交吉。代理指，舊租客為大型衞星通信公司，剛於今年年中遷出，前月租約89萬，對比此番意向月租，下調約10%。是次招租物業位處中層，可眺望優美維港海景，加上物業配有豪華全寫字樓裝修及間隔，租客可即租即用，節省開支及裝修時間。
代理續稱，海港中心坐落於灣仔核心商業地段，佔盡地利優勢，加上未來沙中綫會展站將設出入口連接，日後通車後人流勢增，為物業增值。代理認為，今番放租物業屬核心區矜罕大面積盤源，亦屬海港中心唯一全層放租。一旦兩地恢復往來，核心商業區租盤將嚴重短缺，加上業主叫價表現克制。翻查記錄，同幢最近全層租務成交追溯至2020年12月錄得，其23樓及24樓以呎租約60元租出，故相隔近一年有新全層供應，預計是次物業洽租反應會見理想。
(星島日報)
更多海港中心寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：海港中心寫字樓出租
更多灣仔區甲級寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：灣仔區甲級寫字樓出租
九龍城舊樓強拍底價七億
自港鐵屯馬綫「駛入」九龍城區後，區內舊樓併購活動明顯加快，不少財團透過強拍途徑增加土儲；由遠洋集團收購的九龍城大華大廈，落實於明年1月18日舉行強拍，底價7.05億。
項目位於衙前塱道3至13號，上月底獲土審處批出強拍令，該財團持有不少於80%業權。現為一幢6層高商住物業，地下、1至3樓為護老院，另有7個地鋪，樓上4及5樓每層有10伙住宅單位，合共提供30伙，早於1967年落成，至今樓齡約54年。
遠洋集團持逾八成業權
該項目地盤約7030方呎，現劃為「住宅 (甲類)2」用途，若以9倍地積比率作商住重建發展，可建約63270方呎。項目鄰近港鐵宋皇臺B2出口，步行前往不足2分鐘，出入便利。拍賣行為仲量聯行。
另外，由財團申請強拍的西營盤保德街1至7號舊樓，將於今日在戴德梁行舉行強拍，底價約3.77億。上址現為1幢樓高8層商住舊樓，地下為商鋪，樓上為住宅；地盤約3005方呎，若以地積比約9倍重建，預計可建約27045方呎。
總結今年舊樓強拍個案，迄今暫錄16宗申請，對比去年全年的35宗，數字為近4年來最少，按年減少19宗，跌幅達54%；而土審處今年亦批出約24宗舊樓強拍令。
(星島日報)
太興中心一座位於上環心臟地帶，大堂及各樓層亦曾進行翻新，物業質素提升，而大廈亦鄰近港鐵上環站，適合中小企進駐。
太興中心一座是一幢乙級商業大廈，位於上環皇后大道中237號，屬於分散業權的商廈。目前物業可提供出租及出售，與同區的商廈比較，該物業租務成交較買賣成交為頻密。太興中心一座在1990年落成，樓齡約31年，物業樓高共29層，設有2部載客升降機及1部載貨升降機，而大堂及各樓層曾進行翻新，同時有水牌指示，方便商客穿梭各層。
物業每層約2,180平方呎，景觀方面以開揚及城市景為主，滙集不同類型的企業進駐，例如證券、會計、藥業等行業。
鄰近港鐵站 餐飲種類多
交通配套方面，太興中心一座位於上環核心，交通配套十分齊全，巴士路綫能往返港島、九龍及新界，亦鄰近港鐵上環站E2出口，由出口步行至5至10分鐘便到該物業。同時附近設有電車站，方便商客來往港島區。物業附近一帶具備良好交通優勢的條件，可以為商客提供不同形式的商務體驗。
餐飲方面，該物業身處位於中環及上環之間，考慮餐飲更有彈性，就以中環為例，該處一帶有不同類型的西式餐廳，為商客提供全面的西式餐飲體驗。如果對中式餐飲有興趣，可步行至無限極廣場、信德中心一帶，該商場設有不同的中式酒樓，為熱愛中式美食的商客提供更完善的商務餐飲。
近期，上環區的商廈租務成交較平穩，其中太興中心一座於上月錄得成交，涉及低層全層，以5.45萬元租出，面積2,180平方呎，平圴呎租約25元；秀平商業大廈，於上月錄得成交，涉及高層全層，以2萬元租出，面積773平方呎，平圴呎租約25元；聯威商業中心於9月份錄得成交，以1.5萬元租出，面積518平方呎，平圴呎租約29元。
(經濟日報)
更多太興中心一座寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：太興中心一座寫字樓出租
更多太興中心一座寫字樓出售樓盤資訊請參閱：太興中心一座寫字樓出售
更多無限極廣場寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：無限極廣場寫字樓出租
更多信德中心寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：信德中心寫字樓出租
更多上環區甲級寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：上環區甲級寫字樓出租
更多上環區甲級寫字樓出售樓盤資訊請參閱：上環區甲級寫字樓出售
