Secondary home sales hit four-week high
Hong Kong's secondary homes market hit a four-week high with 22 deals in 10 major housing estates over the weekend, rising 37.5 percent week-on-week, benefiting from the low-interest-rate environment after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates near zero, said Midland Realty.
A 213-square-foot apartment in Tin Lai Court in Tin Shui Wai fetched HK$3.08 million, or HK$14,460 per sq ft, the highest selling price in nearly a year, according to Many Wells Property Agent.
Tai Koo Shing has recorded around 10 second-hand transactions so far this month at an average selling price of HK$20,916 per sq ft, similar to last month, property agency said. However, a 695-sq-ft flat with a terrace only sold for HK$11.5 million, or HK$16,547 per sq ft, HK$1.3 million cheaper than the asking price.
Kerry Properties (0683) sold two houses in luxury The Bloomsway in Tuen Mun recently for around HK$81 million. The luxury project reported 13 transactions so far this month, and the developer is expected to have pocketed around HK$580 million from these sales.
Property agent explained that there were not many new home projects launched over the weekend, and this boosted secondary deals in housing estates.
Property agent believed that as the United States will not raise interest rates for two years, the low-interest-rate environment in Hong Kong is expected to continue for a period of time and as such repaying mortgages will be a relatively more cost-effective option than renting an apartment.
In the commercial market, the vacancy rate of Grade A office buildings in Central rose to a seven-year high of 5.05 percent in May and is expected to rise further, according to the property agency.
Meanwhile, overall prices of industrial buildings in May rebounded for the second consecutive month, rising 0.6 percent month-on-month, but rents fell 1.1 percent, according to another property agency.
The agency expects that the implementation of the national security law, the beginning of the process of abolishing Hong Kong's special status by the United States, and the continuous social unrest will bring uncertainties to the market.
(The Standard)
中環甲廈空置率5% 7年高
有代理數據指出5月甲廈空置率全部按月上升，其中過去「一盤難求」的中環區甲廈最新空置率已升至5.05%，創近7年新高。
代理表示，有數據指出，整體港島區甲廈空置率為6.9%，較4月上升0.38個百分點，當中5個核心商業區包括銅鑼灣、灣仔、中環、上環及金鐘，5月份甲級商廈空置率均錄得按月升幅，幅度約0.19至0.51個百分點不等。
當中最大升幅為銅鑼灣及中環區，銅鑼灣為5區中空置率最高，最新數字為8.73%；而過往空置率一直維持在1至3%的中環，亦由3月時突破4.12%後，連續3個月持續上升，至最新5.05%，為2013年10月後首次錄得超過5%水平，當月空置率為5.16%。
代續表示，現時香港商業環境面臨多種挑戰，令本港營商環境增添陰霾。市場陸續傳出企業「大搬細」、尋頂租等個案，如最新市場消息指，中環區多幢指標商廈相繼出現頂租盤，如皇后大道中9號、美國銀行中心，其中中環中心頂租盤多逾10個。如一個中層全層單位，租客從事旅遊業務，租用面積近2.5萬平方呎，現以每月約175萬元放頂租，呎租約70元。
港島乙廈空置率6.12%
代理指出，至於乙級商廈表現方面，港島區整體空置率為6.12%，較4月份上升0.41個百分點，當中銅鑼灣、灣仔、中環及上環最新乙廈空置率都較4月份高，升幅約0.07至0.77個百分點不等。中區乙廈同樣為重災區，由4月約4.81%，急升至最新5.58%。反而上環區乙廈空置率按月輕微下調0.3個百分點，至5月約8.6%。
代理預測，隨着港區國安法逐步落實，為香港商業前景信心添加不穩定性，加上疫情仍然持續，料經濟復甦需時，下半年整體寫字樓市場審慎，需求仍有待觀察，預料核心區甲廈空置率將繼續上漲。
(經濟日報)
