https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/322512/feed Latest news and features on international property, including developers, buying habits and property price trends. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal US-based money manager Principal Asset Management says it is poised to become more active in Asia-Pacific property markets, believing investors have been “underweight” in the region’s office property segment. Richard Hill, its senior managing director and head of global real estate research and strategy, said the group was also seeing continued interest from institutional investors in the Asia-Pacific region looking to access opportunities in US commercial real estate as it was “too big to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371391/money-manager-eyes-asia-pacific-property-growth-tells-investors-keep-bet-us https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371391/money-manager-eyes-asia-pacific-property-growth-tells-investors-keep-bet-us Mon, 19 Oct 2026 23:00:05 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye From Hong Kong to New York, a deep divide is opening up in office markets around the world, as tenants compete for space in prime buildings while other properties face falling rents, low occupancy and financing pressures. The divergence reflects a global flight to quality, but also a disconnect between improving leasing fundamentals and a recovery in property values, according to analysts at Morgan Stanley and JLL. The divide is being reinforced by limited new supply in prime locations,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371225/investors-there-are-now-just-2-kinds-offices-best-and-rest https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371225/investors-there-are-now-just-2-kinds-offices-best-and-rest Sun, 18 Oct 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Tokyo’s implementation of a rule that requires all property buyers to declare their nationality is raising concerns among investors, according to analysts. Japan’s shift from an ultra-loose monetary policy to gradual normalisation of its interest rates was also likely to force investors to reconsider whether real estate assets were still attractive, they added. “Japan has had a really strong run for the last seven or eight years,” said Neil Brookes, head of Asia-Pacific capital markets at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371224/new-property-purchase-disclosure-rule-japan-sparks-fears-it-may-curb-foreign-investment https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371224/new-property-purchase-disclosure-rule-japan-sparks-fears-it-may-curb-foreign-investment Sun, 18 Oct 2026 03:00:07 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal A mild displacement of jobs across the Asia-Pacific region as companies expand their use of AI would trim five percentage points off growth in office space demand in the next few years, according to property consultancy CBRE. In a report released on Thursday it said 3.9 per cent of office jobs were vulnerable to artificial intelligence-driven displacement in developed markets in the region, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. However, only 1.7... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370934/ai-job-losses-set-rein-office-demand-developed-asia-pacific-economies-report https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370934/ai-job-losses-set-rein-office-demand-developed-asia-pacific-economies-report Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Malaysian property tycoon Lee Yeow Seng is making waves as one of the most aggressive buyers of commercial real estate in Singapore, and he is not done yet. His IOI Properties Group is in exclusive talks and due diligence to purchase two property assets – Chijmes, a retail venue inside a former Catholic convent in its civic district, and the nearby Capitol Kempinski hotel, CEO Lee said in an interview. He declined to disclose how much a final agreement will value the two assets at, citing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3370933/malaysian-tycoon-goes-singapore-property-buying-spree-catch-rest https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3370933/malaysian-tycoon-goes-singapore-property-buying-spree-catch-rest Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:40:24 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A US real estate firm announced on Wednesday it is buying the Chrysler Building and will undertake a vast makeover of the art deco landmark that dominates New York’s skyline. The Chrysler Building, which was opened in 1930 as a symbol of exuberance and modernity, had faced several years of uncertainty over its ownership. Tishman Speyer, a commercial landlord, said it and other investors will inject US$235 million into the property to refurbish its ageing interior and exterior. They will also pay... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370102/new-yorks-famed-chrysler-building-finally-finds-buyer https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370102/new-yorks-famed-chrysler-building-finally-finds-buyer Wed, 07 Oct 2026 20:04:14 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Higher interest rates have weighed on property markets in both Hong Kong and New York, but Morgan Stanley sees greater upside potential in the Asian financial hub – particularly the office segment – in the months ahead, according to its latest report. The US investment bank highlighted the similarities between two of the world’s leading financial centres, pointing out that Hong Kong’s monetary policy moved in lockstep with the US Federal Reserve, while both cities faced limited land supply,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370022/why-morgan-stanley-sees-more-upside-hong-kong-offices-new-york-towers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370022/why-morgan-stanley-sees-more-upside-hong-kong-offices-new-york-towers Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:00:12 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Malaysia is proving to be a middle ground for many Hong Kong and mainland Chinese investors looking to buy property in a country that provides the stability Singapore offers, but with competitive price points similar to those found in Thailand, according to analysts. Data from Juwai IQI, a property portal with 7 million listings across 111 countries, showed that in the first half of 2026, Malaysia was the fourth-highest destination for inquiries received from Chinese buyers. That compared with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369646/how-malaysia-offers-chinese-investors-singapores-comfort-prices-lower-thailand https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369646/how-malaysia-offers-chinese-investors-singapores-comfort-prices-lower-thailand Sun, 04 Oct 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong ranked seventh globally as a destination for attracting and retaining the next generation of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), trailing traditional rival Singapore in sixth place, according to a Savills study. The two top finance hubs in the Asia-Pacific region have been stepping up efforts to strengthen their positions as regional wealth-management hubs amid an unprecedented global transfer of wealth between generations. “Hong Kong offers many incentives similar to Singapore,”... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369536/hong-kong-ranks-7th-globally-drawing-next-wealthy-class-trailing-singapore-study https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369536/hong-kong-ranks-7th-globally-drawing-next-wealthy-class-trailing-singapore-study Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:01:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The first apartment came up for auction and nobody moved. More than 60 people crowded into a room in Singapore to watch seven properties seized in one of the world’s biggest money-laundering cases go under the hammer. Their opening prices totalled more than S$43 million (US$33.6 million). But when bidding began for a luxury unit at Gramercy Park, an upscale condominium near the city state’s Orchard Road shopping district, not a single hand went up. Next came a 2,658 sq ft (247 square metres)... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3369529/hardly-any-buyers-singapore-luxury-condos-seized-money-laundering-case https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3369529/hardly-any-buyers-singapore-luxury-condos-seized-money-laundering-case Fri, 02 Oct 2026 05:32:33 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg City Developments (CDL), the Singapore property group controlled by one of the country’s wealthiest families, said it wants to invest S$5 billion (US$3.9 billion) in Singapore, China and Japan by 2029 as part of measures to regain investor confidence after a feud within the clan. The firm also aims to sell S$6 billion of assets within the same period either via outright divestments or seeding suitable assets into managed vehicles, according to an exchange filing on Monday. It wants to set up a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3368989/cdls-kwek-clan-looks-invest-us39b-singapore-china-japan-raise-confidence https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3368989/cdls-kwek-clan-looks-invest-us39b-singapore-china-japan-raise-confidence Mon, 28 Sep 2026 02:27:04 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Italy is becoming a magnet for wealthy property investors thanks to its high quality of life and flat tax regime, and interest is also on the rise among mainland Chinese and Hong Kong buyers, according to property agents. Rome introduced a flat tax regime nine years ago to attract high-net-worth individuals, with foreign residents allowed to make a flat annual tax payment of €300,000 (US$342,000) on all their overseas income under the scheme’s latest rules. The tax incentive has become a draw... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368963/italy-attracts-wealthy-chinese-property-buyers-food-fashion-and-flat-tax https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368963/italy-attracts-wealthy-chinese-property-buyers-food-fashion-and-flat-tax Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:21 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Property markets in the Asia-Pacific region are likely to remain attractive despite heightened uncertainty over monetary policy after the US Federal Reserve delivered its first interest rate increase in more than three years this month, analysts say, with several asset classes and sectors expected to draw investor interest. “We’ve seen volumes, specifically cross-border volumes in the region, increase by around 30 per cent to date,” said Emily Fell, senior director for living sectors in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368796/how-asia-pacific-property-markets-are-drawing-fresh-capital-despite-us-rate-uncertainty https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368796/how-asia-pacific-property-markets-are-drawing-fresh-capital-despite-us-rate-uncertainty Sun, 27 Sep 2026 03:00:16 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Investor appetite for hotel assets increased in Hong Kong and the wider Asia-Pacific region in the first half of the year as consumers showed growing eagerness to travel and constrained supply supported property values, according to CBRE. The region netted US$8 billion of investment in the period, up 21 per cent from a year earlier, with Japan, mainland China and South Korea attracting the most activity, the property consultancy said in a report on Thursday. “Hotels have become one of the most... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368759/asia-pacific-hotels-most-compelling-investment-amid-travel-growth-flat-supply-cbre https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368759/asia-pacific-hotels-most-compelling-investment-amid-travel-growth-flat-supply-cbre Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:00:16 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong has climbed one place in a list of the world’s most transparent real estate markets by property consultancy JLL and subsidiary LaSalle Investment Management, though it still trails regional peers Singapore and Japan in the rankings. The city secured 14th place in the latest edition of the Global Real Estate Transparency Index, a report released every two years. The new report covers 146 city markets in 88 countries and territories worldwide. The ranking was the highest of any market in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368542/hong-kong-rises-property-market-transparency-rankings-trails-singapore-and-japan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368542/hong-kong-rises-property-market-transparency-rankings-trails-singapore-and-japan Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:00:07 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Nearly one-fifth of surveyed companies in the Asia-Pacific region believe wider adoption of artificial intelligence will reduce their real estate needs, a new study by CBRE has found. More than half – 56 per cent – held a neutral view, believing either that AI had no impact on office space demand or that it was too early to determine its effect, according to the property consultancy’s poll of corporate real estate executives in the region. The remaining 25 per cent said AI adoption would require... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3367940/will-ai-adoption-shrink-office-space-asia-pacific-firms-are-fence-survey https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3367940/will-ai-adoption-shrink-office-space-asia-pacific-firms-are-fence-survey Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:00:06 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Digital bank ZA Bank is taking 45,000 square feet (4,181 square metres) across four upper floors at Hysan Development’s Lee Garden Eight for its new headquarters, adding to a wave of financial and technology companies reshaping Causeway Bay’s commercial landscape. The move comes as landlords across the district grapple with a changing property market marked by excess office space. The bank is scheduled to move into Tower 3 in 2027, coinciding with Hysan and partner Chinachem Group completing the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3366941/hysan-courts-fintech-office-portfolio-za-bank-commits-new-causeway-bay-headquarters https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3366941/hysan-courts-fintech-office-portfolio-za-bank-commits-new-causeway-bay-headquarters Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:57:21 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Comments by US Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh at its annual economic policy symposium in Jackson Hole last month have reinforced expectations of an impending interest rate rise in the world’s largest economy, which would have significant impacts on assets and investors around the world. While the Fed kept its target rate in the range of 3.5 to 3.75 per cent at its meeting in July, Warsh’s comments last month about it having work to do in controlling inflation have heightened expectations... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3366386/which-overseas-property-markets-will-be-winners-and-losers-if-fed-raises-us-rates https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3366386/which-overseas-property-markets-will-be-winners-and-losers-if-fed-raises-us-rates Sun, 06 Sep 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Foreign purchases of US homes fell to their second-lowest level on record between April last year and March, although Chinese buyers remained the largest spenders as they bought higher-priced properties primarily in California, a new report found. Chinese buyers, last year’s top group, fell to third place in terms of home buying volume, behind Canada and Mexico. India and the UK were in fourth and fifth spots, according to a report on international transactions by the National Association of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3362454/foreign-buying-us-homes-falls-14-chinese-remain-top-spenders-despite-state-curbs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3362454/foreign-buying-us-homes-falls-14-chinese-remain-top-spenders-despite-state-curbs Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:38 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Hongkong Land will acquire Singapore’s Wheelock Place for about S$1.1 billion (US$900 million) through its Singapore Central Private Real Estate Fund (SCPREF), marking the fund’s first acquisition since its launch in February. The mixed-use commercial property on Orchard Road is being acquired from an entity owned by Hong Kong-listed Wharf Real Estate Investment Company, according to a statement released by Hongkong Land on Thursday. The transaction is expected to conclude by the end of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3362425/hongkong-land-acquires-singapores-wheelock-place-us900m-deal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3362425/hongkong-land-acquires-singapores-wheelock-place-us900m-deal Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:46:20 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal The US-Israel war on Iran has cooled demand for homes in Dubai as buyers hold off on making purchases and businesses delay relocations of executives and staff to the Middle East, according to analysts. The hostilities began in February with strikes in Tehran and later developed into a wider regional conflict. “While citywide sales volumes were down just 13.6 per cent year on year in the first half of 2026, activity weakened markedly in May and June, with the number of homes changing hands... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3361877/demand-dubai-homes-cools-middle-east-conflict-drags https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3361877/demand-dubai-homes-cools-middle-east-conflict-drags Sun, 26 Jul 2026 10:00:06 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Mainland Chinese immigrants were estimated to have bought as much as C$5.7 billion (US$4 billion) worth of homes in Canada last year, making them a key group of non-local investors propping up the residential property market, according to one estimate. Ottawa barred most foreigners from purchasing homes in 2023 to cool soaring prices, initially imposing the restriction for two years before extending it until 2027. The ban, however, exempted students, foreign workers and permanent residents. “A... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3361175/chinese-immigrants-emerge-pivotal-players-canadas-property-market-amid-foreign-ban https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3361175/chinese-immigrants-emerge-pivotal-players-canadas-property-market-amid-foreign-ban Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Australia’s tourism appeal and property price correction are reinforcing the case for mainland Chinese and Hong Kong investors to buy homes down under, according to agents. Education had long been a major draw for many mainland and Hong Kong buyers, but the country’s tourist attractions, relaxed lifestyle and moderating property prices in major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne were burnishing its appeal as a top investment destination, agents said. “Who wouldn’t like to look out from their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3360988/tourism-appeal-adds-australias-edge-drawing-mainland-chinese-hong-kong-homebuyers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3360988/tourism-appeal-adds-australias-edge-drawing-mainland-chinese-hong-kong-homebuyers Sun, 19 Jul 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Chelsea Yang Chelsea Yang Hong Kong has retained its position as the world’s most expensive residential property market despite a 10 per cent price decline from pre-pandemic levels, according to a new Deutsche Bank report warning that housing affordability continues to weigh on living standards. The investment bank lowered the city’s quality-of-life ranking to 55th this year, down from 48th in 2025. Even so, the financial hub has maintained its appeal to international investors and high earners when factoring in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3360501/where-priciest-residential-property-hong-kong-keeps-crown-livability-drops https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3360501/where-priciest-residential-property-hong-kong-keeps-crown-livability-drops Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:00:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg New Zealand’s flood-prone homes are outperforming the rest of the country’s moribund housing market, as buyers chase lower prices and shrug off climate risks. Properties facing the highest flood risk have gained 26.1 per cent in value since January 2020, compared with 19.8 per cent for homes with no exposure, property consultancy Cotality said in Wellington on Tuesday. Discounts of as much as NZ$100,000 (US$60,000) on some houses were proving too tempting for cost-conscious consumers, it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3359657/bargain-homes-are-be-had-new-zealand-heres-catch-floods https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3359657/bargain-homes-are-be-had-new-zealand-heres-catch-floods Tue, 07 Jul 2026 02:00:20 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Berkshire Hathaway’s all-cash acquisition of home builder Taylor Morrison for US$6.8 billion is likely to trigger more investment in the US housing market, as institutional confidence in the segment encourages more home purchases in the world’s largest economy by local and overseas buyers, according to analysts. The US-based conglomerate made the investment in May, deepening its bet on the US residential property market. It marked the first multibillion-dollar acquisition under CEO and president... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3359411/berkshire-hathaways-multibillion-dollar-buy-taylor-morrison-boost-us-housing-market https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3359411/berkshire-hathaways-multibillion-dollar-buy-taylor-morrison-boost-us-housing-market Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal With Japan imposing higher visa fees for tourists from July while moving away from an ultra-loose monetary policy, foreign investors must prepare themselves for both direct and indirect impacts on their real estate assets, according to agents and analysts. There is a dearth of data on the total number of homes bought by non-residents in Japan, but agents said the two main reasons for purchasing were to either use them as a primary base while they explored the country’s tourist destinations, or... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3358584/will-japans-tourist-visa-fees-interest-rate-policy-impact-its-booming-property-market https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3358584/will-japans-tourist-visa-fees-interest-rate-policy-impact-its-booming-property-market Sun, 28 Jun 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters President Donald Trump cancelled his plan to sign a bipartisan affordable housing bill on Wednesday in an effort to pressure his fellow Republicans to pass a long-stalled package of US national voting restrictions that has aggravated party fissures and shown the limits of his power. “Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency,” Trump wrote in a social media... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3358249/trump-cancels-signing-bipartisan-us-housing-bill https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3358249/trump-cancels-signing-bipartisan-us-housing-bill Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:16:20 +0000 Reuters Reuters Just a short ⁠stroll from Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach, auctioneer Clarence White struggles to drum up bids for an ⁠airy three-storey home that boasts five bedrooms and an alfresco lounge – price tag, A$5.2 million (US$3.64 million). “We know everyone’s cagey at the moment, but that’s OK … all power to those who are registered and those who take action,” the veteran auctioneer tells a small group of prospective buyers and onlookers, none of whom bids. Failed auctions like this were once the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3358130/property-was-australias-favourite-wealth-builder-tax-overhaul-aims-end https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3358130/property-was-australias-favourite-wealth-builder-tax-overhaul-aims-end Wed, 24 Jun 2026 03:02:32 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Thailand’s crackdown on a loophole that effectively bypasses its restrictions on land ownership by foreigners is causing prospective buyers to delay purchase decisions on luxury villas in resort destinations such as Phuket and Koh Samui, according to agents. Bangkok has stepped up its scrutiny of business and property ownership in the country, with the Department of Business Development (DBD) flagging 11,426 companies on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui where foreigners hold stakes, accounting for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3357761/thai-property-crackdown-foreign-buyers-hit-pause-villas-nominee-loophole-closes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3357761/thai-property-crackdown-foreign-buyers-hit-pause-villas-nominee-loophole-closes Sun, 21 Jun 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro When it comes to the performance of real estate markets in the Asia-Pacific, Japan reigns supreme. Asia’s second largest economy is the deepest, most widely traded, and the safest market in the region. Last year, Japan accounted for 28 per cent of direct investment in Asia-Pacific commercial real estate, data from MSCI shows. The average vacancy rate for grade A offices in Tokyo was 0.7 per cent in the first quarter of this year. Rents have risen for nine straight quarters, increasing 13.2 per... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3357114/japans-property-sector-looks-strong-so-why-are-investors-going-abroad https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3357114/japans-property-sector-looks-strong-so-why-are-investors-going-abroad Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong families in the United Kingdom and Canada are facing deep uncertainty due to shifting immigration policies and the rising cost of living, and some are looking for alternative destinations to settle. Property agents said Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), designed for retirees and anyone who can support themselves without employment, had become one of their top choices. The NLV provides a pathway for citizens outside the European Union and the European Economic Area who have enough... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3355359/spains-property-market-sees-boost-hongkongers-others-depart-uk-and-canada https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3355359/spains-property-market-sees-boost-hongkongers-others-depart-uk-and-canada Sun, 31 May 2026 01:30:14 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese companies have found it difficult to secure offices, logistics facilities and retail space when expanding their footprints abroad, forcing some to put their global expansion plans on hold due to failed property strategies, according to a JLL report. The real estate services firm said 82 per cent of corporate respondents in a survey reported either paying more than expected to buy or rent properties, or wasting time in failed searches or prolonged furnishing, representing a stern... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3354678/property-challenges-put-chinese-firms-go-global-plans-risk-jll-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3354678/property-challenges-put-chinese-firms-go-global-plans-risk-jll-says Mon, 25 May 2026 03:00:06 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal The artificial intelligence boom is partially spurring investment in Asia-Pacific’s data centre properties with a record US$11.6 billion worth of capital poured into the segment in 2025, according to CBRE. In Hong Kong, while AI-related demand is unlikely to be met because of technical limitations, leasing of data centre space was supported by “hyperscale CSPs (cloud service providers), mainland Chinese technology and e-commerce companies and financial institutions”, the property consultancy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3354407/ai-boom-fuels-us116b-data-centre-investment-asia-pacific-hong-kong-eyes-niche-role https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3354407/ai-boom-fuels-us116b-data-centre-investment-asia-pacific-hong-kong-eyes-niche-role Thu, 21 May 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui has retained its title as Asia’s priciest luxury retail strip, commanding €16,160 (US$18,980) 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... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3353134/hong-kongs-tsim-sha-tsui-tops-asia-luxury-retail-rents-bond-street-worlds-priciest https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3353134/hong-kongs-tsim-sha-tsui-tops-asia-luxury-retail-rents-bond-street-worlds-priciest Mon, 11 May 2026 08:35:05 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal China has become one of the largest sources of investment in land parcels and other properties in Singapore, as the safe-haven status of Southeast Asia’s top financial hub continues to attract global capital, according to analysts. China-linked developers and business entities have become more active in the market, said Alan Cheong, executive director for research and consultancy at Savills Singapore. “Chinese developers who have had experience in Singapore are now familiar with the rules,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3352046/singapores-safe-haven-status-draws-more-chinese-capital-property-sector https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3352046/singapores-safe-haven-status-draws-more-chinese-capital-property-sector Sun, 03 May 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Mainland China’s population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) – those with assets exceeding US$30 million – has grown by 23 per cent over the past five years to 121,677, and is projected to expand a further 18.8 per cent to 144,602 by 2031, according to Knight Frank. Despite that growth, China’s share of global UHNWIs edged down by one percentage point to 17 per cent this year and was expected to fall further to 15 per cent by 2031, as rapid wealth creation in the United States... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3351114/mainland-chinas-ultra-wealthy-numbers-rise-hong-kong-tipped-faster-growth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3351114/mainland-chinas-ultra-wealthy-numbers-rise-hong-kong-tipped-faster-growth Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:00:03 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye The US-Israeli war on Iran has unleashed sharp swings across global energy and financial markets, fuelling demand for safe-haven assets, with Hong Kong emerging as a potential beneficiary across gold, property and capital markets. In the second of a three-part series, we look at Hong Kong’s position as a stable base where demand for property has held firm despite the global turmoil. Hong Kong’s property market is showing early signs of renewed safe haven demand, with a surge in luxury... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3350575/hong-kong-property-may-see-uptick-safe-haven-demand-iran-war-rattles-dubai-market https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3350575/hong-kong-property-may-see-uptick-safe-haven-demand-iran-war-rattles-dubai-market Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:00:19 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal A proposed cap on the ground rents paid by leasehold homeowners in England and Wales is seen as favouring foreign property investors, including those from Hong Kong and mainland China, but another measure tightening rules in setting rents is dampening demand ahead of its implementation, according to analysts. An estimated 203,000 homes in England and Wales are registered to owners with an overseas address. Hongkongers hold 14 per cent, making them the largest group of foreign investors in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3349067/how-changes-home-rental-laws-england-will-impact-hong-kong-mainland-investors https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3349067/how-changes-home-rental-laws-england-will-impact-hong-kong-mainland-investors Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:00:07 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hongkongers Oscar and Stella Chan, a couple in their late 60s, have little interest in moving into a traditional residential care home. The retired civil servants rent a flat in Ma On Shan in the New Territories and, while they acknowledge that ageing at home is not always “as straightforward as it sounds”, they believe conventional care homes can “feel restrictive”. “If my financial situation and health allow, I would much prefer not to stay in a residential care home for the elderly,” Oscar... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3348254/hong-kongs-ageing-challenge-singapores-kampung-admiralty-model-answer https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3348254/hong-kongs-ageing-challenge-singapores-kampung-admiralty-model-answer Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Aileen Chuang,Peggy Ye Aileen Chuang,Peggy Ye For Hong Kong’s Topaz Family Office, investing in hotels in Japan holds up as a sound decision even as a Middle East war clouds the macroeconomic environment. The wealth manager has made Japan a central plank of its pivot into hospitality and real estate over the past two years, driven by a sharp post-pandemic tourism rebound. The investment thesis now looks increasingly robust thanks to multiple structural tailwinds and a growing pool of institutional capital flowing into the same trade. “Japan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/markets/article/3346535/japan-hotels-keep-luring-hong-kong-families-global-investors-despite-geopolitical-strains https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/markets/article/3346535/japan-hotels-keep-luring-hong-kong-families-global-investors-despite-geopolitical-strains Sun, 15 Mar 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun A budget bubble tea chain from China best known for its cheap ice creams and drinks may soon be adding roller coasters and immersive shows to its menu. Mixue, boasting more stores than McDonald’s and growing rapidly outside China, is planning to build a theme park at its headquarters in Zhengzhou, the capital of central China’s Henan province. The park will be based on its Snow King mascot, a singing snowman that has become one of Chinese retailing’s most recognisable intellectual properties... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3346502/chinese-bubble-tea-chain-mixue-straps-theme-park-project https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3346502/chinese-bubble-tea-chain-mixue-straps-theme-park-project Sun, 15 Mar 2026 02:00:07 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye A Singapore-rooted property family has put a rare residential estate in Hong Kong’s Southern district up for tender at about HK$300 million (US$38.4 million), testing demand for trophy homes as the city’s luxury housing market shows early signs of recovery despite soft prices. The tender for Belvedere, a low-density compound in Chung Hom Kok, would close at noon on April 28, according to marketing agent JLL. The property had been held by Remadour Estate since 1993, Land Registry records... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3346004/singapore-property-clan-puts-rare-hong-kong-estate-us384-million-tender https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3346004/singapore-property-clan-puts-rare-hong-kong-estate-us384-million-tender Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Even before US President Donald Trump launched his tariff blitz in April last year, Morgan Stanley warned that Asia’s trade-dependent economies were particularly vulnerable to an onslaught of protectionism. The region accounted for seven of the 10 economies with the largest trade surpluses with the United States, while Taiwan, South Korea and Japan derived between 15 and 30 per cent of their corporate revenues from the US. However, those vulnerabilities were less consequential than anticipated.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3345928/4-reasons-asias-property-will-endure-despite-iran-war-headwinds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3345928/4-reasons-asias-property-will-endure-despite-iran-war-headwinds Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye From Sydney to Hong Kong, wealth migration is reshaping the global super-luxury property market as activity picks up after two subdued years – though the dominance of relative newcomer Dubai is now being tested by the war in the Middle East. In Sydney, Peter Li, general manager at Plus Agency, said commission revenues on super-luxury homes had risen about 20 per cent from a year earlier. The firm, which handles more than US$300 million in annual sales, has hired six new staff members since... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3345695/worlds-wealthy-relocate-rewriting-property-map-will-hong-kong-win-out https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3345695/worlds-wealthy-relocate-rewriting-property-map-will-hong-kong-win-out Sat, 07 Mar 2026 03:00:16 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Singapore is the most expensive city in the Asia-Pacific region to outfit an office, driven by increased labour costs, a shortage of contractors and strict building standards, according to real estate consultancy Knight Frank. The city had the highest average fit-out cost at US$2,029 per square metre – ahead of Tokyo (US$1,994) and Taipei (US$1,593) – in the firm’s survey of 23 cities across Australasia, East Asia, Southeast Asia and India. It was also the most expensive place to set up an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3345398/singapore-offices-cost-most-outfit-asia-pacific-survey-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3345398/singapore-offices-cost-most-outfit-asia-pacific-survey-says Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:30:32 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro A decade ago, some investors believed the United States’ retail industry was going the way of the subprime mortgage market, whose collapse triggered the 2008 global financial crisis. The combination of the overbuilding of shopping centres and the dramatic rise of online shopping plunged bricks-and-mortar stores into crisis. Fears of a “retail apocalypse” were rife. The double whammy of overcapacity and the “Amazon effect” also hit the United Kingdom’s retail sector hard, with prominent stores... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3345094/unique-resilience-australias-retail-property-deserves-attention https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3345094/unique-resilience-australias-retail-property-deserves-attention Mon, 02 Mar 2026 06:30:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal As Hong Kong, mainland China and several other Asian markets usher in the Year of the Horse on Tuesday, the region’s commercial real estate sector is expected to draw increased cross-border capital, with certain segments set to outperform as mega-deals make a comeback, analysts said. Asia-Pacific was set to be a focus among global investors, with data cited by global commercial real estate consultancy Colliers showing that capital raised for the region’s property markets had surged by 130 per... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3343573/asia-pacific-properties-set-steal-spotlight-mega-deals-return-year-horse https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3343573/asia-pacific-properties-set-steal-spotlight-mega-deals-return-year-horse Sun, 15 Feb 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese companies are driving a fresh wave of investment in overseas properties, with new energy industrial facilities, cross-border e-commerce logistics centres, and smart city projects becoming investment hotspots, Knight Frank has said. Traditional residential development was on the wane, while industrial property, logistics real estate and commercial complexes were emerging as core investment priorities, according to a January report by the London-based property consultancy. It forecast that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3341527/chinese-firms-are-scoping-out-overseas-property-what-catching-their-eye https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3341527/chinese-firms-are-scoping-out-overseas-property-what-catching-their-eye Sun, 01 Feb 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ras Al Khaimah, one of seven city-states in the United Arab Emirates, is stepping ‌up efforts to lure Chinese and Hong Kong investors into its ‍real estate, green and digital sectors as the UAE and China seek to deepen cooperation. The fourth largest of the seven Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) aims to attract over 3.5 million tourists each year ⁠by 2030, up from 1.3 million in 2024. US and Hong Kong-listed integrated casino and hotel operator, Wynn Resorts, is set to open a casino there, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/investor-relations/article/3341557/ras-al-khaimah-eyes-chinese-and-hong-kong-investors-uae-china-ties-deepen https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/investor-relations/article/3341557/ras-al-khaimah-eyes-chinese-and-hong-kong-investors-uae-china-ties-deepen Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:06:38 +0000