受疫情等因素打擊，甲廈租賃市場陰霾密布。據一外資代理行指出，整體甲廈租金於今年下跌約5.4%，中環區跌幅為6.5%，現今市場需求疲弱，加上未來供應量偏高，料明年甲廈租金再跌約10%至15%。
中環今年租金跌6.5%
該代理行昨日發表的2021年第四季香港寫字樓租賃市場報告，該行指出，整體甲廈租金於今年下跌約5.4%，若以各區劃分，中環跌幅約6.5%，灣仔及銅鑼灣則為7.7%，港島東跌幅於各區中最高，幅度達8.1%。
預料明年將出現大量新增供應，合共400萬方呎，而至今只有12萬平方呎獲預先承租預計明年整體租金將下跌10%至15%，2022年底的租金跌幅將自高峰回落40%。
該行代理指出，由於缺乏主要需求帶動，加上供應過剩的情況將延續至明年，2022年的寫字樓租金很大機會進一步回落。
該行另一代理稱，對於新項目來說，多個樓層獲承租固然最為理想，但在首宗承租個案中訂定理想的條款亦相當重要，因為這可為該項目的租金訂下參考指標，同時有助決定租戶組合、建立商廈的品牌及市場定位。該行另一代理說，與內地通關程度，以及個別中資開發商為減省開支而退租的規模會有多大，將成為影響2022年本港寫字樓租賃需求的兩大變數。
(星島日報)
本港疫情走勢穩定，為工商鋪市場釋出正面訊息，部分業主亦趁勢放租。灣仔英皇集團中心高層全層，屬海景優質戶，以意向呎租約35元放租。
每月租金32萬
代理表示，灣仔軒尼詩道288號的英皇集團中心22樓全層，面積約9323方呎，意向呎租約35元，涉及月租約32.6萬。
該代理稱，今番物業位處大廈高層，享有部分海景景致，亦可遠眺馬場景，景觀怡人。
該代理指，業主可提供基本寫字樓裝修，全層物業令租客使用上更具靈活性。同時，翻查資料，今次推出的22樓為英皇集團中心罕有全層放租盤源，為該廈目前僅有全層樓面招租。英皇集團中心為灣仔區內指標商廈，企業進駐有助提升品牌形象；大廈地庫設有停車場，照顧到自駕人士需要，設備齊全，為物業提升競爭力。
該代理續稱，今番物業由發展商英皇集團持有，加上集團總部亦設於該廈，質素及管理上有信心保證。該代理指出，英皇集團中心坐落於灣仔及銅鑼灣之間，受核心商廈群包圍，周邊集中工商鋪。
另外，港鐵灣仔及銅鑼灣站都在步行距離之內，又有多綫巴士及電車路綫途經軒尼詩道。
該代理表示，是次招租物業為港島核心商業區知名商廈，加上位處高層全層，更罕有擁海景景觀。
(星島日報)
更多英皇集團中心寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：英皇集團中心寫字樓出租
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
華懋13.68億奪大埔滘住宅地 「麵粉價」一年急升35% 每呎樓面地價6051元
近年政府加快推地，以增加房屋供應，上周五截標的大埔滘住宅地，招標結果昨揭盅，由華懋以13.68億，力壓7財團奪標，每方呎樓面地價約6051元，符合市場預期，而呎價對比去年10月批出的毗鄰地皮，相隔逾一年升約35%。華懋指出，該項目計畫興建低密度獨立屋及分層單位。
大埔滘段住宅地上周五截標，當時吸引8家財團入標，昨日火速開標，地政總署公布招標結果，由華懋以13.68億奪標，每方呎樓面地價約6051元，符合市場預期。值得留意的是，是次呎價對比去年10月底批出的同區毗鄰住宅地，當時由雅居樂集團陳氏家族以私人名義斥資4.51億投得，每方呎樓面地價約4478元，換言之，是次成交樓面地價相隔逾一年高出約35.1%。
蔡宏興：續找尋合適項目
華懋集團執行董事兼行政總裁蔡宏興表示，集團十分高興參與大埔滘的發展，對本港未來充滿信心，會繼續找尋適合的項目，為香港營造智慧宜居城市。
華懋集團執行董事兼地產業務董事總經理區慶麟稱，該項目屬近年難得一遇的大型住宅用地，適合多元化發展，計畫興建低密度獨立屋及分層單位。另外，項目位處於大埔公路旁，背山面海，能夠營造宜居及舒適的住屋環境，相信對市場有一定吸引力。
地皮上周五截標時，除中標的華懋外，其餘入標發展商包括信和、嘉華國際、遠東發展、佳明集團、建灝地產及漢國置業等。
區慶麟：興建低密度住宅
有測量師指出，項目在大埔公路山上，未來白石角站還未有確切交通規劃，可能是對於這地皮的不確定性，有可能是發展商出價的考慮因素。預料項目落成後，會以低密度中型單位為主，料屆時每方呎價可售1.6萬至1.8萬。
另一測量師認為，該地盤面積對比去年批出的鄰近地皮大1.2倍，唯是次用地本身有不少瑕疵，包括山坡的地形和地塊中夾雜的私人物業等。不過該區享有遠海景，料未來將發展成為恬靜的特色小區。
測量師表示，上述大埔住宅地鄰近以低密度住宅如滌濤山、翡翠花園等豪宅為主，附近環境清靜，居住環境舒適，地皮規模不大，投資金額不高，加上市況向好，吸引不少中小型發展商參與競投，地皮內有其他私人土地影響發展，不過亦不減發展商興趣，料大機會發展成低密度豪宅的大單位。
可建總樓面逾22萬呎
大埔公路─大埔滘段的大埔市地段第234號用地，鄰近區內著名豪宅屋苑鹿茵山莊西南面，鄰近樟樹灘路，指定作私人住宅用途，該地盤面積約150718方呎，可建總樓面約226076方呎。
由於上述地盤範圍內有一些私人地及數幢村屋，據賣地章程顯示，中標發展商需負責在指定位置興建通道，預留通道予連接該私人地段及地盤以外範圍，並須負責維修和保養地皮現存的斜坡。
(星島日報)
過去四年連奪七項目
近年華懋密密參與投地市場，無論是政府推出招標的土地、港鐵及市建局項目，均有積極參與入標競投，若連同合資項目在內，近4年來連奪7地，包括6個住宅項目，以及1個商業地皮發展。
夥希慎奪銅鑼灣商業地王
華懋對上一次奪地為今年5月夥拍希慎投得銅鑼灣加路連山道商業地皮，相隔短短半年再下一城，昨以13.68億投得大埔滘段住宅地成功吸納土儲發展。資料顯示，華懋5月中旬曾夥拍希慎，以197.78億投得銅鑼灣加路連山道商業地皮，地價為今年「第二貴」的地皮，以該項目可建總樓面107.64萬方呎計，每方呎樓面地價18374元。
除上述商業項目外，近4年來該集團連奪6個住宅項目，連同昨日投得的大埔滘住宅在內，涉及可建總樓面逾192.7萬方呎；其中於去年8月以5.3188億投得西貢蠔涌西貢公路近響鐘路住宅地，以可建總樓面約57523方呎計，每方呎樓面地價約9246元；該項目今年7月獲批建5幢3及6層高的低密度住宅，以及6幢2及3層高的洋房，主打3至4房戶為主。
另外，去年亦斥資9.128億投得市建局深水埗東京街/福榮街發展項目，以可建總樓面約10.4萬方呎計，樓面地價約8743元；該盤料最快明年第四季至2023年初推盤，唯仍要視乎項目工程進度而定。
去年奪市建東京街項目
該集團亦早於19年5月與會德豐地產、恒基、新世界、中國海外及帝國集團，共6家發展商合組的「巨無霸」財團，斥資125.9億投得啟德跑道區4C區2號住宅地發展，樓面地價約19636元，亦是華懋首次「插旗」啟德區住宅發展。
除積極購買地皮，明年亦連接有新盤推出，當中最矚目為18年12月奪得的港鐵何文田站第2期項目，單位總數約800伙，戶型涵蓋1至4房單位，主打2房及3房戶；發展商曾透露，部署今年底至明年1月前申請預售樓花同意書，爭取明年中推售。屆時該盤將是何文田站上蓋首個新盤，相信會吸引不少實力買家。
(星島日報)
鄧成波家族沽大角嘴工廈 博富臨置業承接作價2.88億
鄧成波家族連環沽貨，由該家族持有的大角嘴中華漆廠大廈一籃子物業，採售後租回形式，以2.88億獲博富臨置業承接，原業主持貨10年帳面獲利約8200萬，物業期間升值約4成；該家族於今年以來連沽逾40項目物業，套現近105億元。
博富臨置業昨日公布，該公司以2.88億購入大角嘴雅蘭街5B號廣東道1163號中華漆廠大廈一籃子物業，包括該廈1樓至9樓及屋頂平台，總樓面約55258方呎，以易手價計，呎價約5211元；同時，交易完成後，上址除一樓外，將以月租56萬租予賣方，為期兩年。
涉中華漆廠一籃子貨
資料顯示，鄧成波家族於2011年以約2.06億購入上址，故持貨10年帳面獲利8200萬，物業期間升值近4成。
事實上，「鋪王」鄧成波於今年五月離世後，該家族連環沽售旗下物業，期間合共沽出逾40項物業，套現金額高逾105億，其中，最大宗的為屯門東亞紗廠工業大廈，作價約22.4億。近期，該家族新以1.8億沽出銅鑼灣禮頓道巨鋪，持貨4年帳面蝕讓約3500萬，物業期間貶值約16%。
持貨十年獲利8200萬
受疫情等因素打擊，鋪市陰霾密布，再錄蝕讓個案，盛滙基金以2750萬購入旺角洗衣街地鋪，呎價約2.86萬，原業主持貨5年帳面蝕讓850萬，物業期間貶值逾兩成；該基金於今年以來連購25間鋪，涉資約5.7億。
盛滙2750萬購洗衣街地鋪
鋪市再錄蝕讓，盛滙基金創辦人李根興指出，該基金最新購入旺角洗衣街111至121號地鋪，面積約960方呎，以買賣公司易手，作價2750萬，平均呎價約28646元，原業主於2016年以3600萬購入，持貨5年帳面蝕讓850萬，物業貶值約23.6%。該鋪由食肆以約4.8萬承租，料享回報約2.09厘。
李氏評論指，上述鋪位門闊約10呎、深約60呎，若中港兩地於日後可通關，料市值租金可升至10萬，屆時回報可升至4%，故成交價低市價約兩成，該鋪屬該基金於今年買入的25間街鋪，合共涉資約5.7億，計畫明年再購入35間鋪，涉資約8億，強調疫情持續發酵，惟對後市仍然樂觀，測預明年核心區鋪市整體升2至3成，民生區鋪市則升10%至15%。
(星島日報)
佐敦舊樓地盤擴規模 樂風等斥7.5億收購
發展商紛加快收購步伐，樂風集團昨日公布，繼早前完成收購佐敦南京街11號至17號後，該集團最新夥拍博領資產管理及石壁投資牽頭財團，完成收購佐敦南京街11至21號大部分業權，涉資7.5億。
佐敦南京街11號至21號為8個獨立地段，共涉及4幢物業，地盤面積約7250方呎，該地段現時劃入商業用途，預計項目總收購價約8.3億，以最高地積比率12倍計算，樓面呎價約9540元。
周佩賢：料重建甲廈
樂風集團創辦人及主席周佩賢指，集團成功購入南京街11號至21號大部分業權，並達至申請強拍門檻的業權份數，目前餘下尚未收購的單位，集團將向土地審裁處入稟申請強拍出售，並計畫發展成甲廈項目。
傅厚澤等2.2億購九龍城舊樓
石壁投資董事總經理區偉志表示，項目距離佐敦港鐵站僅一分鐘步程，同區逾13年沒有全新商廈落成。
市場消息透露，嘉林邊道20號及20A號舊樓，由傅老榕家族成員傅厚澤等人收購，作價2.244億，項目共有10個單位，實用面積為1053方呎，成交價2200萬至2420萬，平均呎價約20893至22982元，舊樓1956年入伙，樓齡屆65年。
(星島日報)
Home prices decline to seven-month low
Private home prices in Hong Kong declined for two consecutive months by 1.2 percent in November from October, the lowest in seven months after reaching a record high in September, according to government data.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said it is considering that money will not be kept by law firms anymore for home sales in the secondary market. This came after the shutdown of Wong, Fung & Co, a law firm specializing in property transactions, which led to over HK$100 million being frozen in the firm's bank account in January.
In the secondary market secretary for food and health Sophia Chan Siu-chee bought a 906-square-foot two-bedroom apartment at Baguio Villa in Pok Fu Lam, South District in November, for HK$17.8 million. Chan had to pay a 15 percent double stamp duty of HK$2.67 million since she holds multiple properties in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
This came as the family of former Ocean Grand Holdings (1220) founder Michael Yip Kim-po sold a unit at Leighton Hill in Happy Valley for HK$169 million this month, which earned them a fourfold gain of HK$137.7 million.
Meanwhile, a property agency’s data showed an increasing number of large transactions in the Peak and South District, one of the most luxurious neighborhoods in Hong Kong.
The agency firm recorded 200 primary and secondary transactions amounting to HK$26.1 million in the area, which surged 34.2 and 46.9 percent in terms of the number and amount of transactions.
It is expected that the number of transactions will rise 20 to 30 percent in 2022.
(The Standard)
Chinachem wins site for $1.37b
Chinachem was awarded a residential site in Tai Po for HK$1.37 billion, or HK$6,050 per square foot, which is within the market estimates between HK$950 million to HK$ 1.8 billion.
The site in Tai Po Kau covers about 150,716 square feet and has a maximum gross floor area of 226,080 square feet. It is worth noting that the land parcel includes some six privately-owned sites, and the awarded developer is required to build roads for them.
It is expected to develop into a low-rise luxury residence, which is similar to the neighboring luxury homes such as Kerry Properties' (0683) Constellation Cove and Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016) Savanna Garden, a surveyor said.
A total of eight developers, mostly small to medium, joined the bid before it closed last Friday, including Sino Land (0083), K Wah International (0173), K&K Property, Far East Consortium (0035), Grand Ming Group (1271), Hon Kwok Land Investment (0160), and New Explorer Investments.
As the market sentiment is picking up, the rather small site area and the expected lower investment made it attractive to smaller to medium homebuilders, the surveyor explained.
(The Standard)
Tycoon Henry Cheng’s wife pays HK$450 million for luxury flat on The Peak, as the super-rich seek safety in bricks and mortar
Katherine Ip Mei-hing bought the four-bedroom, 4,256 square-foot apartment at 8 Peak Road last month, say sources familiar with the deal
Volatility in stock markets has made luxury homes in prestigious locations an attractive investment, property agent said
The wife of Henry Cheng Kar-shun, Hong Kong’s third-richest man, has bought a flat on The Peak for HK$450 million (US$57.7 million), as the city’s most well-heeled residents continue to channel their capital into bricks and mortar to protect their wealth.
Katherine Ip Mei-hing bought the four-bedroom, 4,256 square-foot apartment at 8 Peak Road from CSI Properties and Phoenix Property Investor last month, according to sources familiar with the deal.
The price tag translates to HK$105,535 per sq ft, a new record at the luxury residential project.
“Rich families from Hong Kong and the mainland love to buy properties on The Peak because of the rare supply. Given recent volatility in stock markets, many clients prefer to invest in luxury homes at prestigious locations that are more resilient to dramatic changes in market conditions,” property agent said.
The agent believes that the trend will continue in 2022, considering the limited investment alternatives.
“The top-end residential sector should be a bright spot once the border reopens between Hong Kong and the mainland. At present, a number of potential buyers are reluctant to visit Hong Kong due to the quarantine measures,” the agent said.
CSI and Phoenix Property acquired 19 flats and one villa at the 8 Peak Road development, formerly known as Oasis, for HK$1.82 billion in 2015. The deal included 33 car parking bays and five motorcycle parking spaces.
Oasis, built in 2004, consists of 34 units and one villa.
Ip bought her flat via a share transfer, which could save her stamp duty of up to HK$67.5 million, according to the sources, who wished to remain anonymous.
Buyers of a second home are normally required to pay a double stamp duty of 15 per cent of the flat price, the agent said.
“In this case, where the buyer is regarded as buying shares, not property, stamp duty does not have to be paid,” the agent said.
Ip’s husband, the billionaire Henry Cheng, is the chairman of New World Development.
Cheng and his family members are ranked the third richest in Hong Kong by Forbes with a fortune of US$22.1 billion. Their family assets include stakes in New World, Chow Tai Fook and a handful of property investments in mainland China.
The number of lived-in luxury homes changing hands on the Peak and in the Southern district rose to the highest level since 2012 this year, with 142 deals completed, according to data from another property agency. That was an increase of 25.4 per cent from 2020.
Taking into account new homes, the total number of transactions rose by about a third to 200 deals this year.
The total value, including both second-hand and new homes, jumped 46.9 per cent to HK$26.1 billion this year, the agency said.
“The active trading of luxury homes indicates strong demand from investors and end users,” the agent said.
(South China Morning Post)
Hong Kong to scrap middleman role of law firms in mortgage transactions to protect homebuyers
A new rule will allow a bank to pay the mortgage loan secured by a homebuyer directly into the bank account of the seller electronically
The move aims to protect buyers who find themselves out of pocket when the law firm handling their transaction goes bust
The role of lawyers as middlemen in residential mortgage transactions is to be abolished under new rules designed to protect Hong Kong homebuyers.
The change will allow a bank to pay the mortgage loan secured by a homebuyer directly into the bank account of the seller electronically. The buyer would then use a cashier order to pay the remaining balance to the seller.
The new rule, put forward by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Wednesday, is aimed at protecting buyers who find themselves out of pocket when the law firm handling their transaction goes bust or gets into difficulties.
It is expected to take effect in the second half of next year after a consultation followed by a trial period. It will initially cover secondary market transactions before being extended to new flats.
It will change the current practice in which both bank and customer first pay the money to a law firm which then passes it on to the lawyer of the seller.
“The Hong Kong Monetary Authority strongly supports this initiative to better protect bank customers in property transactions and to reduce the credit and operations risks of [banks] in their mortgage business,” said Arthur Yuen Kwok-hang, deputy chief executive of the HKMA, in a circular sent to all banks.
During a 10-year period to April 2021, more than 1,500 homebuyers found a combined HK$530 million (HK$67.98 million) trapped in the frozen bank accounts of 25 troubled law firms, according a Legislative Council document and court papers.
On average, the homebuyers spent more than two years getting their money back. Many did not get refunded in full, putting their home buying plans in jeopardy.
The risk caught the public’s attention after a high profile case in December 2020. The Law Society, which regulates some 120,000 solicitors and 900 law firms, closed down Wong, Fung & Co and froze its bank accounts after discovering a former clerk at the company had misappropriated an unspecified sum from clients. The company handled 4.9 per cent of the city’s second-hand property transactions in 2019.
A total of 637 homebuyers complained that their money, totalling HK$368 million, was trapped in the defunct law firm’s bank accounts as a result.
Some of the buyers were forced to declare bankruptcy or needed to get other bank loans to complete their transaction.
The Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB), the local industry body, supports the change of rules announced today.
“Over the years, HKAB has been discussing with the relevant regulators, the Law Society of Hong Kong and different stakeholders to come up with a new payment arrangement for residential property transactions relating to customers with mortgage loan,” a spokeswoman said.
“Customer protection is always the priority of banks. We aim to protect the interests of the parties involved to ensure relevant transactions will be processed smoothly.”
(South China Morning Post)