有外资代理行探讨环保商厦与租金关係，就每一个ESG因素影响写字楼市场租金溢价作调查，结果发现，每一项环保元素，足以令商厦拥有17.1%的租金溢价，即租金高17.1%。
该行就物业的ESG条款，研究及调查港九各商业区合共181幢有代表性的商厦，参照全球ESG趋势次序，定出24个标準，根据每幢被评估写字楼每项ESG标準来评分，依照24个标準给予商厦评分，满分为24分，结果发现，ESG总分每增加一分，租金溢价稳升17.1%，当然，写字楼位置及楼龄决定租金基础。
调查覆盖181幢指标商厦
该行代理表示，业主有不同方法取得较高ESG分数，从而得到更高租金溢价，考虑ESG可导致溢价，某些业主反应更快，关注点不仅环境，还包括社会和治理层面，目标是2050年或之前实现碳中和，跨国公司则要遵守其全球总部所订定标準，最快可能为2027至2030年。
事实上，香港租户尤其是上市企业，在做出决策时会更加重视ESG因素。
该行另一代理表示，ESG代表环境、社会及政府，环境标準包括电动车充电设施、可再生能源及对极端气候的抵抗力，社会标準包括艺术文化、物业内部设施及开放空间，政府标準包括出入安全、碳减排目标及绿色承诺及装修指南。
(星岛日报)
观塘市中心重建添住宅 增卖点
观塘为九龙东核心商业区之一，吸引不少大型企业落户。该区未来至少有5个商业项目待推，涉及总楼面近600万平方呎，当中规模最大的为市建局观塘市中心第4及5区重建项目，总楼面面积逾270万平方呎，除商业元素外，项目亦新增住宅部分，日后将提供约1,750伙住宅。
流标后改用途 增1750伙住宅
市建局于2022年底已推出观塘市中心第4及5区重建项目招标，但该地招标反应逊色，于去年1月截标时仅接获1份来自新地 (00016) 的标书，最终项目流标收场。事实上，由于疫情影响，商业市道表现并不理想，规划署为项目引入「垂直城市」(Vertical City) 的发展概念，建议将原有的「综合发展区 (1)」地带，改划为「其他指定 (混合用途)」地带，并将项目的总地积比率增至约12倍，变相其最高总楼面面积，较旧方案增约25%至约270.3万平方呎。而最显著的变化是当局为项目加设住宅元素，将新增1,750伙住宅，预计容纳约4,025人，将可增项目吸引力。
同时，商业部分的楼面亦会由旧方案约207万平方呎，降低约两成至165.4万平方呎，但未有再细分写字楼、零售及酒店等类别，以给予中标发展商更大弹性发展，减少涉及风险。据项目的规划图，项目的低层主要为商业、政府、机构或社区设施，中、高层则可作住宅或商业用途。不过，项目的落成日期预计延迟约5年至2033年。
行动区最快料2026年推出
同区的「观塘行动区」商业地亦有待推出，项目涵盖观塘码头广场宠物公园及比邻巴士总站等用地，政府建议将用地改划为「商业」发展用途，以发展办公室、零售、服务行业及/或食肆用途，同步设有公共交通交滙处及公眾休憩空间，总楼面约93.3万平方呎。发展局于2022年为用地兴建多条新的道路、有盖行人天桥等设施，向政府申请约6.1亿元拨款，料拨款获批后，工程将在约4年内完成，最快或有机会在2026年推出。
至于旧楼收购重建方面，伯恩光学杨建文家族于2017年亦已以约16.2亿元统一业发工业大厦2期业权，并于2021年连同比邻的1期地盘，及年运工业大厦向城规会申请一併重建为1幢商厦，申请已获城规会「开绿灯」。
(经济日报)
观塘有新商厦陆续落成，新地 (00016) 及载通 (00062) 合作发展的观塘The Millennity写字楼部分于去年已经入伙，商场已开幕。
商厦屡获承租
项目位于观塘巧明街98号，由2座大楼组成，佔地约50万平方呎，总楼面涉约65万平方呎，基座为商场部分。项目的写字楼早前已经录得不少租务成交，包括积金局，及金融科技公司DOO GROUP等。而据了解，部分商户已经进驻，包括饼店、咖啡店及食肆等。
上址前身为九巴车厂地，九巴早于2009年以约9.8亿元将其转售予母公司载通，其后新地于2010年以约4.9亿元购入一半权益，再于2016年8月斥约43.05亿元为项目完成补地价，当时每平方呎补地价3,743元。
(经济日报)
更多The Millennity写字楼出租楼盘资讯请参阅：The Millennity写字楼出租
更多观塘区甲级写字楼出租楼盘资讯请参阅：观塘区甲级写字楼出租
许家印山顶布力径银主屋4.7亿易手
超级豪宅银主盘以低价易手，由中国恒大集团创办人许家印及有关人士持有的山顶布力径超级豪宅，新近以约4.7亿易手，呎价约9.08万。
布力径10号B屋，面积约5171方呎，该大宅于2022年11月由建设银行 (亚洲) 接管，其后于去年3月初推出市场标售，当时市场估值约8.8亿，据了解，当时曾接获数十组买家查询，惟出价未达银主要求而收回。
最新市场消息指，上述大宅近日以约4.7亿成交，造价较去年放售时市场估值约8.8亿，低出约4.1亿或46.6%，呎价约90892元。
贝沙湾2200万成交
资料显示，许家印及相关人士曾向新世界一手购入布力径10号3幢洋房，为10B、10C及10E号屋，上述3幢洋房先后沦为银主盘；而10号E屋则于今年初推出招标，并于上月截标，惟暂未闻成交，面积约4933方呎，当时市场估值约5亿，呎价约10.1万。
另外，薄扶林地标豪宅贝沙湾6期5座高层A室，面积1086方呎，新近以2200万成交，呎价约20258元。原业主2009年以1629万购入，持货15年转手，帐面获利571万，升值约35%。
有地产代理透露，西贡傲瀧5座中层D室，面积1173方呎，3房套间隔，以1550万沽出，呎价约13213元，另外车位亦以200万成交。据悉，原业主2018年以2128万购入单位，持货6年，现转手若扣除车位，帐面蚀378万。
(星岛日报)
HK homes among the least affordable in Asia
Hong Kong's median home price of over US$1.1 million (HK$8.58 million) is 25.1 times the median annual household income.
This puts it among top four least affordable cities for homes in the Asia-Pacific region, a report by Urban Land Institute showed.
Shenzhen tops the chart with a ratio of 32.3 times, followed by Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Metro Manila, respectively with 28.7, 25.3, 25.1 and 25.0, the report said.
Rapid urbanization and population growth in these capitals and economic centers are blamed for the gaps.
The SAR's population rebounded last year by a net of 170,000 with some 80 percent of them coming from the mainland as the government introduced a Top Talent Pass Scheme, the ULI report said.
It said Hong Kong continued to stand out as the most expensive housing market in 2023 with a median home price of over US$18,000 per square meter.
The average home size of 50 square meters was also the smallest among developed economies in the region.
ULI said Hong Kong developers maintained an inventory of unsold units large enough for two-and-a-half years of consumption whereas the new supply of private homes dropped to 14,000, compared with 23,000 unsold units at the end of last year. This indicated there is a surplus of unsold units, it said.
Meanwhile, the Buildings Department approved 15 plans in March, including four on Hong Kong Island, two in Kowloon, and nine in the New Territories.
CK Asset (1113) got permission to build in Sai Ying Pun a 38-floor residential apartment development with a gross floor area of 111,746 square feet and non-residential area of 17,340 sq ft.
In other news, Wheelock Properties will launch sales of 154 flats at Park Seasons in Lohas Park this Saturday, priced from HK$4.55 million to HK$7.78 million and at an average of HK$14,997 per sq ft after discounts, compared to the previous batch of 168 flats priced at an average of HK$15,039 per sq ft.
The cheapest flat on offer is a 322-sq-ft one-bedroom unit, costing HK$4.55 million or HK$14,118 per sq ft, while lowest price per sq ft goes to a two-bedroom unit with an area of 453 sq ft selling for HK$6.35 million or HK$14,018 per sq ft.
(The Standard)
Hong Kong’s property market rebound is bittersweet pill for homebuyers as attainability measures seen weakening
A rebound in demand and home prices could delay ownership target for those who are still saving up to buy their first homes
Attainability measures improved slightly last year amid a property market slump, compared with levels in Singapore, according to Urban Land Institute
Hong Kong’s efforts to shore up property prices and end a three-year market slump are bad news for residents seeking to own their first homes in the city, after a modest improvement in affordability in recent years versus Singapore, according to the Urban Land Institute.
The government’s move in February to ease financing and raise mortgage limits for home purchases will boost demand and prices, making it harder or longer for those saving up money to attain home ownership, according to the 2024 Asia-Pacific Home Attainability Index it published on Tuesday.
“The government is trying to stimulate the housing market by reducing the cost of home purchases,” said Ken Rhee, CEO of Huhan Advisory and co-author of the report. “By the removal of stamp duties, it will attract many people from outside to purchase homes in Hong Kong in the coming years.”
The Hong Kong-based institute measures home attainability by two yardsticks: median home price to median annual household income, ideally less than 5 times, and median monthly rent to median monthly household income, ideally less than 30 per cent.
Hong Kong’s situation improved to 25 times and 45 per cent in 2023, versus 26.5 times and 46 per cent in 2022, the report showed. In Singapore, the trend was steady at 13.5 times and 36 per cent, versus 13.7 times and 35 per cent in 2022.
Home prices in Hong Kong have declined since they peaked in September 2021, as the Covid-19 pandemic and a recession brought the median down by 7.3 per cent to US$18,331 per square metre in 2023. In contrast, the median in Singapore rose by 9.7 per cent to US$11,749, fuelled by demand from expatriates who shunned Hong Kong’s tough Covid-19 curbs.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced the lifting of all property curbs during his budget speech in February, scrapping decades-old measures to stem market speculation. Home prices fell by about 7 per cent last year as high interest rates weakened demand.
The city’s property developers are sitting on a large stock of unsold units, an amount that would take about 2.5 years to absorb. At the same time, new supply of private homes also declined as buyers stayed on the sidelines, the report said.
While Hong Kong is infamous for its high cost of living and expensive homes, other Asian cities have also joined the Top 10 list. Shenzhen topped the ranking at 32.3 times due to underinvestment in new housing, the report said. Beijing, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City also made the list.
China last week unveiled the biggest stimulus yet to help end a three-year housing market slump with a US$41 billion relending facility to clear up unsold homes and idle land, and help the nation’s distressed developers.
The People’s Bank of China separately said it would remove the limits on mortgage rates for first and second home purchases, and cut down payment ratios for first- and second-time buyers to spur demand and quicken home ownership. The central bank will also lower interest rates on loans tied to individuals’ housing provident funds.
Local governments in mainland cities are also trying to stimulate the housing market by reversing the restrictions previously used to rein in home-price speculation, Rhee of Huhan Advisory said. The effect will take time to produce results, he said.
Tokyo experienced a 40 per cent surge in apartment prices last year, with a significant increase in demand coming from buyers from mainland China, the institute said in its report. Many wealthy Chinese buyers have shifted their focus from Singapore after the government slapped a 60 per cent stamp duty on foreign buyers, it added.
The cross-border trend will continue for the next two to three years as demand remains strong and supply is limited, a property agent from Japan said. Investors are not influenced by factors such as currency weakness, the agent added.
(South China Morning Post)
Seized Hong Kong Peak mansion linked to China Evergrande founder Hui Ka-yan sells at 40% discount for US$58 million
The luxury property, 10B at Black’s Link on The Peak, sold to an unknown buyer, source says
The mansion and two adjacent homes, also seized by creditors, are linked to China Evergrande founder Hui Ka-yan, once China’s richest person
Receivers of a Hong Kong luxury property owned by a company linked to a top former executive of China’s most indebted developer, China Evergrande Group, have sold the asset on The Peak at a significant discount.
The 5,171 sq ft mansion, 10B at Black’s Link, sold to an unknown buyer for HK$450 million (US$58 million), more than 40 per cent below a valuation of HK$800 million last year, according to a source familiar with the matter.
In March 2023, receivers put the asset up for sale to recover unpaid bills after the home was seized by China Construction Bank (Asia) in November 2022.
It is owned by Better Vision, whose director is Tan Haijun, according to a company registration search. Tan is also the director of Giant Hill, which owns adjacent mansions 10C and 10E Black’s Link, according to Land Registry data. Hui Ka-yan, Evergrande’s founder and former chairman, resigned as a director of Giant Hill on July 30, 2021. On the same day, Tan was appointed as Giant Hill’s director.
Hui, once China’s richest person, has seen his personal wealth dwindle since China Evergrande was enmeshed in a debt crisis triggered by Beijing’s “three red lines” policy, which curbed leverage in the property industry starting in August 2020.
A Hong Kong High Court in January approved a petition by creditors to liquidate China Evergrande, the world’s most indebted property developer, in the biggest such case seen in the city.
In March, the China Securities Regulatory Commission penalised China Evergrande 4.2 billion yuan (US$583.4 million), saying the group inflated its sales by 564 billion yuan in the years preceding its eventual collapse. It also fined Hui 47 million yuan and barred him from accessing the capital markets for life. Six other current and former executives of the Guangzhou-based home builder were slapped with penalties of between 200,000 yuan and 15 million yuan.
The 10C and 10E Black’s Link mansions, valued at more than HK$1.5 billion, were seized by creditors in November. The three adjacent mansions were remortgaged in late 2021 for HK$1.1 billion.
The 10E property, a three-storey detached house with an area of 4,933 sq ft and an estimated market value of HK$550 million, was put up for sale by public tender in March this year. Savills, the agent responsible for the sale, invited tenders for the property, which closed on April 22.
In January, a mainland Chinese buyer snapped up an ultra-luxury house at The Peak at a 35 per cent discount. The mansion, 25-26 A&B Lugard Road, sold for HK$838 million, according to Savills, the sole agent. The sale was linked to Shenzhen entrepreneur Xu Hang, co-founder and director of Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics.
(South China Morning Post)