bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Peggy Sito

Prices of second-hand homes in Hong Kong have risen by almost 3 per cent since the latest round of monetary easing in the United States on September 14, according to Centaline Property Agency.
However, sales volumes are down, partly because purchasing power shifted to the new housing market and buyers were becalmed by the government's short- and long-term measures to cool demand.
Centaline residential department managing director Louis Chan Wing-kit said buyers remained rational after a third round of monetary easing, or QE3, was announced in the US, and the result was that prices rose modestly, by 2.7 per cent.
The US Federal Reserve signalled at the same time that interest rates would remain low until 2015, but the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced measures on the same day to tighten access to second mortgages in a bid to cool the market.
Data compiled by Centaline shows 32 flats sold at 10 selected housing estates over the September 15-16 weekend after the QE3 was announced. Weekend sales at the 10 estates ranged from 25 to 33 in the following weeks.
On the October 13-14 weekend, sales fell to 25, down from 33 the previous weekend, according to Centaline.
Chan said some owners became reluctant to sell in anticipation of higher prices in future, partly contributing to the drop in sales. Midland Realty said the drop in second-hand sales was also partly caused by buyers turning to new flats.
Developers are competing with each other to launch projects this quarter, and the new supply due to be released saw potential buyers withhold their purchasing decisions, according to Midland.
On Monday, billionaire property tycoon Lee Shau-kee said the city's property boom was likely to be over because there would be a big increase in new flats on the market under the government's plan. This would put the brakes on home price growth, he said.


The world’s free-spending, money-printing spree will cost us dearly in the end

Europe’s central bank head Mario Draghi prepares some sub-zero relief for wilting Eurozone

Xi Jinping's security commission to also tackle financial industry

Time to taper? Not if you look at bank loans

Hong Kong second-hand flat prices rose 3pc in the month since QE3

An aerial view of Taikoo Shing, a prime residential area where many owners are reluctant to sell given the high price of buying another flat in the same estate. Photo: Robert Ng 

Property

Hong Kong & China