投資市場氣氛好轉，不過，6年前購入的甲廈仍虧損離場。投資者林清林沽售金鐘遠東金融中心一個單位，建築面積2119方呎，作價7189萬，平均每呎3.39萬，持貨6年帳面虧損9%。

上址遠東金融中心23樓2室，建築面積2119方呎，市場消息透露，該單位由去年5月交吉，叫價1.07億，每呎5萬，放盤10個月未獲承接，近期終獲洽購，買家有見全面通關，看好甲廈後市，在雙方討價還價下，賣方大幅減價3511萬，幅度約33%，以7189萬易手。

面積2119方呎

原業主為投資者林清林，於2016年12月斥7892萬購入上址，持貨6年，期間雖經歷甲廈大升浪，未有及時止賺，今番帳面虧損約703萬，幅度9%。

6年帳面虧損9%

物業再上手業主於2009年8月，趁海嘯期間低迷時購入單位，涉資3030.2萬，於2016年間沽售，帳面勁賺4861.8萬，升幅1.6倍。

過去14年來，甲廈價格及租金走勢如坐過山車，由2009年海嘯期間起步，直至2019年動亂之前達至高峰，指標甲廈價格相繼破頂。

其中，深圳君豪置業於2017年7月以7.3億購入中環中心頂樓79樓全層，平均呎價5.58萬，創下當時全港商廈呎價新高，一個月後該公司再下一城，購入遠東金融中心33樓全層，呎價5.26萬，當時創該廈新高，亦是當時全港甲廈呎價第二貴。

隨後，核心區甲廈造價及租金不斷破頂，遠東金融中心最高紀錄亦是33樓全層於2018年4月由永倫集團承接，呎價高達約6.11萬，緊接紀錄由皇后大道中9號每呎6.18萬所打破。

總括來說，遠東金融中心於2019年初，平均呎價5.5萬，售價10年升5倍，成為甲廈之冠，力寶中心以平均呎價4.16萬居第二位。

近年在疫市持續下，甲廈買賣租賃兩閒，租金亦大跌逾70%，直至近期才略有改善。

資深投資者6年前購入金鐘甲廈，經歷甲廈大升浪，未把握止賺時機，至今沽售虧損9%。

(星島日報)

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羅素街2000廣場巨鋪每月100萬租出

兩地通關後，鋪市租賃趨活躍，由「玩具大王」蔡志明持有的銅鑼灣羅素街2000廣場，其中一個複式巨鋪以每月100萬租出，新租客為歐洲醫療集團。

歐洲醫療集團設旗艦店

羅素街2至4號2000廣場其中一個地鋪，面積約2000方呎，連同樓上3樓面積約5188方呎，合共7188方呎，獲歐洲醫療集團垂青，在此設立香港旗艦店，平均呎租139元。

2000廣場地鋪至3樓，曾是國際名牌Prada旗艦店，高峰期時月租900萬，自從疫情後，鋪位亦丟空一段時間，年前拆細招租，2樓鋪位相繼獲特色食肆進駐，最新地下複式鋪亦租出，正顯示遊客重臨後，鋪市逐漸升溫，而且，隨着醫療行業進駐，令該街道租客多元化。

特色食肆相繼承租

羅素街是遊客必到朝聖地，曾是全球最貴租街道，2013年高峰期，鋪位更以平均呎租2812元，創下歷史紀錄，惟2014年後自由行褪色，鋪租節節下跌。

近年疫市下缺乏遊客，國際名牌紛撤走，街道換上時裝、食肆以及口罩等短租客，租金普遍大跌80%，但租賃還是熱鬧。

近期，隨着兩地通關，羅素街呈現新景象，由英皇持有的羅素街8號英皇鐘錶珠寶中心地下3及5號鋪 (面積3068方呎)，近期由六福珠寶金行承租，更一簽6年長約，首3年月租80萬，其後3年則跟隨市況作調節。六福在此覓據點多時，過往鐘表品牌激烈，今次終如願得償。

(星島日報)

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屯門黃金海岸批建11幢住宅群 信和黃氏家族持有總樓面約39.2萬方呎

近年政府持續有序地增加土地及房屋供應，屋宇署昨日公布，今年1月批出15項住宅及商住發展的建築圖則，意味多個發展項目可於未來陸續上馬；當中包括多個大型發展項目，最矚目為信和集團黃氏家族持有的屯門黃金海岸項目，獲批建11幢住宅群，涉及可建總樓面約39.2萬方呎。

屋宇署昨日公布，今年1月共批出23份建築圖則，包括15項住宅及商住發展、5項商業發展、2項工廠及工業發展，以及1項社區服務發展。其中，信和集團黃氏家族旗下Golden Organise Ltd公司持有的屯門掃管笏第57區第3A地盤，即屯門黃金海岸範圍內，獲批建11幢樓高6至18層的住宅大廈，另設4幢1至2層高的住宅休憩設施等建築物，涉可建總樓面約39.29萬方呎。

會德豐地產發展的黃竹坑站港島南岸第6期項目，獲准建2幢31層高分層住宅連3層平台，涉及可建總樓面約50.38萬方呎。該公司於2021年4月投得項目發展權，該項目當年補地價約49.46億，每方呎補地價約9818元。

屋宇署1月批23份圖則

同時亦有多個豪宅項目獲批圖則，長實2021年投得的元朗流業街與涌業路交界住宅地，獲批建112幢樓高2層的洋房群，另有1幢3層高建築物作住戶休憩設施，涉及可建總樓面約7.85萬方呎。該地是長實於2021年8月以7.16億投得，當時每方呎樓面地價約9112元。

遠東發展、蘭桂坊集團等發展的西貢蠔涌第1期項目，獲屋宇署批出建築圖則，獲批建26幢樓高3層的洋房，涉及可建總樓面約5.66萬方呎。另外，該項目第2期去年11月曾向城規會申建22幢樓高3層的洋房，涉及可建總樓面約4.44萬方呎。換言之，整個項目則提供48幢洋房。

嘉里及新地規劃逾二十載的嘉里鴻基貨倉 (長沙灣發祥街3號)，終於有突破進展，昨獲該署批出建築圖則，獲准建1幢35層高、另有3層平台、2層地庫的商住項目，住宅部分涉可建總樓面約43.21萬方呎，另有3.21萬方呎非住宅樓面。

嘉里旗下西環山道79號至85號項目，亦獲批建1幢26層高住宅，可建總樓面約3.8萬方呎。發展商曾指，該項目料於下半年推售。

華懋佐敦德興街7至8號項目獲准建1幢19層高，另有各2層平台及地庫的商住大廈，總樓面約9.3萬方呎。宏安牛頭角定業街12至26號獲批建1幢18層高商住項目。

信和集團黃氏家族持有的屯門黃金海岸項目，獲批建11幢住宅群；會德豐地產黃竹坑站港島南岸第6期項目，獲准建2幢31層高分層住宅。

(星島日報)

Koko Mare list unveiled

Koko Mare in Lam Tin, developed by Wheelock Properties, has released the first price list, offering 98 units, with the cheapest at HK$5.94 million.

The discounted average price is about HK$18,330 per square foot, which is about 2 percent higher than Koko Rosso launched in February.

And Baker Circle Euston in Hung Hom, developed by Henderson Land Development (0012), has put another 56 flats on the market, with the lowest price at HK$3.99 million.

Wheelock Properties managing director Ricky Wong Kwong-yiu expects developers to gradually increase prices for new projects as market conditions improve.

Meanwhile, In One, jointly developed by Chinachem and MTR Corporation (0066) in Ho Man Tin, has received more than 9,600 checks for the 179 units in the three price lists while Twin City and VMS Asset Management reported the sale of a three-bedroom flat at The Vertex in Cheung Sha Wan for HK$14.35 million.

In other news, the Buildings Department approved 23 building plans in January. One of them was CK Asset's (1113) project at the junction of Lau Yip Street and Chung Yip Road in Yuen Long for 112 two-story garden houses. Also, Sino Land (0083) was allowed to build 11 residential buildings for its project at the Gold Coast in Tuen Mun, and Kerry Hung Kai Warehouse, held by Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016) and Kerry Properties (0683), was given the go-ahead for a 35-story commercial and residential project.

(The Standard)

Outlook for Hong Kong’s property market bright as end of interest rate increases in sight, analysts say

Overall home sales in Hong Kong could reach 66,000 units this year, up from 45,000 last year, analyst says

Major Hong Kong banks left their best lending rate unchanged even after the Hong Kong Monetary Authority raised the city’s base rate to a 15-year high of 5.25 per cent

With Hong Kong likely to have reached the peak of interest rate increases, sales of new and lived-in homes could hit 66,000 units this year, up nearly 50 per cent from last year, according to one analyst.

Market observers are confident the city’s property market is likely to improve further during the rest of the year, boosted by a number of positive developments, including the release of pent-up demand as well as the return of mainland Chinese buyers following the reopening of the border.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Thursday raised the city’s base rate to a 15-year high of 5.25 per cent, after the US Federal Reserve increased its target rate by a quarter point to a range of 4.75 per cent to 5 per cent. However, Hong Kong’s major lenders did not follow suit. HSBC and Bank of China (Hong Kong) kept their best lending rates unchanged at 5.625 per cent, while Standard Chartered kept its prime rate unchanged at 5.875 per cent.

“With the interest rate hikes [most likely] coming to a halt, this will definitely benefit first-time buyers because they are quite price-sensitive and interest-rate-sensitive,” a property agent said, adding that “majority” of potential buyers in the city are first-time buyers.

A total of 13,161 residential units, comprising 1,958 new homes and 11,203 lived-in units, have been sold in Hong Kong between January 1 and March 22, the agency said, citing Land Registry data.

The transaction volume was already about 25 per cent more than the 10,560 homes sold in the first three months of 2022, comprising 1,704 new homes and 8,856 lived-in units. In 2022, 45,000 homes were sold, a 27-year low.

Some 1,300 homes have been sold so far this month, the agent said, adding that the number will easily hit 2,300 for March, nearly double last month’s figures and a 28-month high.

“With banks deciding not to follow the latest US interest-rate hike, and the Fed likely to increase rates one last time in its next policy meeting, Hong Kong interest rates could be at their peak already or very close to it,” the agent said. “I believe the overall interest rates and mortgage rates are likely to hover around the current level for the remainder of the year.”

The border reopening with mainland China is also boosting the confidence of investors to snap up property as an economic recovery is also likely to bolster demand for homes in Hong Kong.

A rising prime rate will hurt the property market as mortgage-loan borrowers face higher monthly repayments, a mortgage broker said.

The payment on a typical HK$5 million (US$643,000), 30-year mortgage would rise by 1.6 per cent, or HK$347, to HK$22,452 per month, if the prime rate increases by 12.5 basis points, according to the mortgage broker. A quarter-point increase would cost 3 per cent more, or HK$695, to HK$22,803.

In 2020, home sales in Hong Kong reached about 63,0000 units, rising to 76,000 in 2021. Sales ticked higher following the government’s initiative in 2019 to relax mortgage-lending rules, allowing first-time homebuyers to secure loans up to 90 per cent of a flat’s value, for lived-in homes worth up to HK$8 million, up from HK$4 million previously.

“It is expected that the US interest-rate hike cycle will peak in or before May, while Hong Kong’s rate hike cycle is likely to have peaked,” another mortgage broker said. “The property market has already eliminated interest-rate concerns. Thanks to many favourable factors in recent months, the market has revived in the first quarter.”

The Fed’s eight consecutive interest rate hikes over the past 12 months to rein in runaway inflation in the US has inflicted unintended consequences on the US economy. It led to the collapse of three midsize US banks, including Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) - the biggest banking failure since the 2008 financial crisis.

“The SVB problem may prompt the Federal Reserve to slow down the pace of interest rate rises or even reduce interest rates,” said Raymond Cheng, managing director at CGS-CIMB Securities. “We think the mortgage rate in Hong Kong is likely to peak [because of] the lower rate hike outlook after the SVB issue.”

On the other hand, the recent uptick in demand for homes in Hong Kong is due to the release of pent-up demand, according to another agent.

“While transactions year-to-date appear to have rebounded somewhat, it is likely the result of pent-up demand and lower prices,” the agent said. “With rising rates as an overhang, the market is still far from being buoyant.”