Hong Kong’s Town Planning Board has rejected a developers’ consortium application to rezone the Harbourside HQ office project in Kowloon Bay for residential development. Analysts say sellers remain under pressure as commercial vacancy rates stay high.
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South China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-29 00:01
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Sept. 28 placing Metro AG’s Russian subsidiary under Kremlin control. The division was transferred to the “temporary management” of a company formed on Sept. 8 and wholly owned by Metro Russia CEO Johannes Tolay. Metro said it formally retains ownership but no longer has operational control.
TThe Kyiv IndependentOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-28 22:56
German retailer Metro AG said it is analyzing the effects of transferring its Russia-based assets to temporary management by Torg Rus. A decree signed by President Vladimir Putin placed the full stake in Metro Warehouse Noginsk and Retail Property 5 under temporary management.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered German retailer Metro’s Russian assets into temporary management by JSC UK Torg Rus, registered on September 8. Its sole owner is Johannes Tolay, who has led Metro Cash & Carry since 2023. Putin separately authorized the sale of Western Union’s Russian subsidiary.
The Russian assets of German retailer Metro have been placed under the temporary management of Torg Rus under a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin. Metro said its Russian operations continue as usual, with no changes to operating processes or obligations to suppliers, customers and employees.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has defended his economic record ahead of an expected fourth interest rate rise in 2026. The Reserve Bank is poised to lift the cash rate from 4.35% to 4.6%, potentially pushing typical mortgage rates to 6.5%. Chalmers said persistent inflation was worsened by overseas decisions and that the Iran war had imposed a heavy cost on Australian families.
TThe GuardianOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-28 20:39
Britain’s new support scheme for first-time buyers could deliver the biggest boost to housebuilders in years, helping revive sales that have remained sluggish since the previous “Help to Buy” programme ended in 2023.
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ReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-28 19:00
Experts warn that two or three more Reserve Bank of Australia rate rises could devastate the property market while leaving housing even less affordable, as higher borrowing costs outweigh falling prices. The RBA is widely expected to raise its cash rate from 4.35% to 4.6%, adding about $100 a month to interest on a $700,000 loan.
TThe GuardianOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-28 15:00
More than one-third of Hong Kong office tenants expect to grow their headcount over the next 12 months, but only about one-fifth are likely to expand their premises, according to Colliers. The survey points to a widening gap between hiring plans and real-estate expansion, as occupiers use existing offices more efficiently to absorb growth.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-28 11:32
Property agents say Italy is attracting wealthy investors with its quality of life and flat-tax regime, while interest from mainland Chinese and Hong Kong buyers is growing. Introduced in Rome nine years ago, the scheme allows foreign residents, under its latest rules, to pay an annual €300,000 flat tax on all overseas income.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-28 00:00
US homebuyers were expected to get some relief this year, but the Iran war and fears of rising inflation have brought renewed pressure, with mortgage rates back at 7%.
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Bloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-27 15:00
The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to raise its cash rate from 4.35% to 4.6%, the fourth increase of 2026 and its highest level since 2011. The move could push typical mortgage rates to 6.5%, add about $119 to monthly repayments on an average new loan and further depress house prices and consumer spending. Markets expect another rise early next year.
TThe GuardianOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-27 15:00
Hong Kong developers have sold more than 290 flats launched over the weekend. Property agents said buyers are seeking to lock in mortgage rates before interest rates are expected to rise later this year, while major banks’ decision to hold rates after the US Federal Reserve’s increase appeared to encourage demand.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-27 10:56
International investors are seeing early signs of recovery in mainland China’s office and retail property markets, but concerns about oversupply are keeping them cautious, JLL says. The firm expects foreign institutions to return when new supply is absorbed by fresh demand.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-27 08:00
An FT analysis says institutional investors are being blamed for soaring housing costs, putting private equity in the crosshairs of US midterm election campaigns.
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Financial TimesOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-27 04:00
Asia-Pacific property markets are expected to remain attractive despite increased monetary-policy uncertainty following the US Federal Reserve’s first rate increase in more than three years this month. Analysts say several asset classes and sectors could attract investors, while cross-border volumes in the region have risen about 30 per cent so far.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-27 03:00
The British government said on Saturday that it will confirm its new equity loan programme, called “Your First Home,” in next month’s budget.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-26 17:40
A new study found that online lenders were more likely than brick-and-mortar counterparts to approve mortgages in areas at high risk of wildfires, while also offering better interest rates.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-26 10:30
Pacific Investment Management Co. is facing severe losses on a commercial mortgage-backed security linked to a two-tower office complex in downtown Philadelphia after the property suffered an 85% writedown.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-26 00:00
Mortgage rates have climbed above 7.45% for the first time in years, as inflation, government spending and a strong economy contribute to a housing crunch.
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NBC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-25 20:40
Japanese farmers go to extraordinary lengths to protect perfect strawberries and grapes from the elements, but the industry has been less successful at protecting itself from intellectual property theft overseas.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-25 11:00
European government bond yields retreated Friday morning after a severe sell-off earlier in the week. US Treasury yields reached fresh multi-decade highs on Wednesday and Thursday, while American mortgage rates climbed to 7%, their highest level since Donald Trump returned to office.
EeuronewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-25 09:08
Investor interest in hotel assets rose in Hong Kong and across Asia-Pacific in the first half of the year as stronger travel demand and limited supply supported property values, CBRE said. Hotel investment in the region reached US$8 billion, up 21 per cent year on year, with Japan, mainland China and South Korea drawing the most activity.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-25 08:00
Hong Kong has sharply narrowed Dubai’s lead in global super-prime residential property sales in recent months as the conflict weighs on Middle East activity, Knight Frank says. Dubai remained first in the second quarter with 131 sales of homes priced at US$10 million or more, worth US$2.17 billion in total, though that value fell 27% from the previous quarter.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-25 01:00
The average U.S. long-term mortgage rate climbed above 7% this week for the first time since January 2025. The fifth consecutive weekly increase adds another affordability setback for prospective homebuyers.
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The Associated PressOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-24 23:00
Two price reductions came within days for Alton Bradshaw’s $1.28 million listing in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
A year ago, Sydney property stylist Joanne Cauchi was turning away work, buying new furniture and supervising home installations nearly every day. Australia’s housing slowdown is now exposing less visible economic costs.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-24 21:35
For most Australian homeowners, the cost of the country’s sharpest housing downturn in years has been a modest decline in property values since interest rates began rising in February.
US new-home sales climbed in August at their fastest pace of the year, indicating that lower prices and sales incentives are helping to ease affordability pressures.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-24 20:00
Sales of new U.S. single-family homes surged to an eight-month high in August as buyers took advantage of price cuts and other incentives. Rising mortgage rates linked to the war in the Middle East continued to weigh on the housing market.
Homebuyers may have more options than they realize for reducing mortgage costs in 2026, including assuming a seller’s loan or using investment assets.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-24 17:30
Russia’s Finance Ministry is changing the Family Mortgage program from October 1 so rates and loan limits vary by the number of children and the family’s location. In Moscow and nearby regions, rates will range from 12% for one-child families to 4% for families with five or more children; construction loans remain at 6%.
MMeduzaOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-24 16:18
Mortgage rates have risen above 7%, delivering another setback to Americans seeking to purchase a home.
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CNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-24 16:13
US mortgage rates have risen above 7% as surging government bond yields and higher oil prices linked to the war in Iran fuel inflation fears. The pressure comes as national elections approach.
Canada’s Competition Bureau has reached an agreement with Sobeys parent Empire to strictly limit or stop the grocery giant’s use of property controls. The agency found the practice anti-competitive.
CCBC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-24 14:04
DBS Bank says investors are moving away from treating China as a single investment bet and are instead picking individual winners. Technology is replacing property as the growth engine, with artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and innovative drugs seen as sectors that could benefit.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-24 08:00
The long-anticipated reckoning for the US office market has arrived. The item also highlights costly upgrades to college sports venues, Florida’s latest development boom and a preview of the makeover of a New York icon.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-24 08:00
Miami’s ultra-luxury housing segment is thriving despite a broader market cooldown, with cash transactions taking the lead. UBS sees a lower risk of a housing bubble, while high-end brands including Bugatti and Porsche are entering the market.
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CNBCOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-24 06:19
Economists say Australians are “scrambling” to find extra work as living expenses and mortgage costs climb. Unemployment rose unexpectedly from 4.5% in July to 4.6% in August, its highest level since the pandemic, but analysts say the increase is unlikely to deter the Reserve Bank of Australia from raising rates again next week.
TThe GuardianOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-24 06:12
With office vacancies in Kowloon East still high, the Planning Department has said it has no objection to a request to convert a commercial project to residential use. A consortium involving CSI Properties, Asia Standard International and property tycoon Cheung Chung-kiu has applied to rezone the Harbourside HQ office building at 8 Lam Chak Street, Kowloon Bay.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-24 06:00
After years of retreat, foreign investors are beginning to revisit mainland China’s commercial property market, attracted by sharply lower asset prices, wider yields and cheaper yuan financing. Analysts said cross-border capital remains only a small share of the market and does not yet represent a broad return. Some international investors are instead participating through China’s domestic capital markets, including onshore REITs.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-24 00:00
Hong Kong moved up one place to 14th in JLL and LaSalle Investment Management’s latest Global Real Estate Transparency Index. Despite the improvement, it remains behind regional peers Singapore and Japan. The biennial report covers 146 city markets across 88 countries and territories.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-23 23:00
US mortgage rates climbed to their highest level in more than two years, adding pressure to a housing market already weighed down by high prices and sluggish sales.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-23 21:00
An e61 Institute analysis of historical data suggests most Australian property investors could ultimately pay less capital gains tax under Labor’s budget reforms. The research says public debate has overstated the cost to landlords, although investor credit growth has slowed and changes to negative gearing may still affect market decisions.
TThe GuardianOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-23 15:00
The rate on the most popular U.S. home loan climbed last week to its highest level in more than two years, breaking above 7% for the first time since the opening week of Donald Trump’s term. Federal Reserve rate increases aimed at curbing inflation and higher oil prices pushed up Treasury yields that underpin borrowing costs.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-23 14:25
Online brokerages and digital banks that once promoted “zero-branch, fully online” models have recently been opening physical outlets in Hong Kong. Analysts view the move as a strategic effort to improve branding and service quality while gaining market share, but say its effect on the city’s retail property market will be limited. Futu Securities International (Hong Kong) has opened a new global headquarters at Pacific Place.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-23 07:00
Euronews Business examines how homeownership among younger Europeans has changed compared with previous generations and explores what is driving the shift.
EeuronewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-23 04:30
Euronews Business examines how homeownership rates among younger Europeans have changed compared with previous generations and explores what is driving that shift.
The median monthly rent for a one-bedroom flat in Portugal is €1,128, according to property portal Idealista—123% more than the €505 cost of renting a room. Prices are highest in Lisbon, Faro and Madeira.
EeuronewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-22 10:18
A one-bedroom flat in Portugal has a median monthly rent of €1,128, 123% above the €505 median cost of renting a room, according to property portal idealista. Lisbon, Faro and Madeira have the highest prices.
A one-bedroom flat in Portugal costs a median €1,128 per month to rent, according to property portal idealista—123% more than the €505 median for a room. Prices are highest in Lisbon, Faro and Madeira.
Foreign investors continue to build their presence in Hong Kong’s commercial real estate market. An Amazon unit and Singapore-based Shorea Capital are among the latest buyers; Colliers said Shorea won the tender for The Pemberton, a mixed office and retail property in Sheung Wan, for an undisclosed sum, highlighting sustained demand from Southeast Asian investors.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-22 10:00
The Mumbai residential transaction reached 7.11 billion rupees ($74.3 million), the highest known sum paid for a home in India. Angel One founder Dinesh Thakkar was the buyer of the eight-level waterfront tower.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-22 08:02
DWS is considering emergency measures as investors withdraw money from an open-ended retail property fund.
FFinancial TimesOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-22 04:00
Investment funds in Spain are increasing their bets on major property deals in 2026. A lack of transparency around property ownership makes it difficult to track the share held by large landlords and new market players or obtain a real-time view of the market.
EeuronewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-22 04:00
New investment funds emerging in Spain rank among the biggest property deals of 2026. A lack of transparency over property ownership makes it difficult to track how much large landlords hold, who is entering the market and what the business looks like in real time.
The share of Spaniards renting or looking for a room has risen to 3.2% from 2.8% a year earlier. Fotocasa says higher prices and limited supply are pushing tenants toward shared homes instead of traditional rentals.
EeuronewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-21 20:18
The share of Spaniards who have rented or searched for a room has risen to 3.2%, from 2.8% a year earlier. Fotocasa says higher prices and limited supply are prompting many tenants to share homes instead of pursuing conventional rentals.
After years in which sellers held the advantage, the US housing market is gradually tilting toward buyers. Many potential buyers, however, are still hesitant to make a move.
CCNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-21 14:00
New World Development said it received approval from the Shanghai Stock Exchange to spin off and list a real estate investment trust containing its K11 Shanghai assets. The NWD C-Reit is expected to raise about 3.82 billion yuan, with estimated net proceeds of 3.24 billion yuan for the developer.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-21 12:00
Hong Kong’s de facto central bank may have expected US rates to rise last week, but probably did not anticipate the Federal Reserve’s strongly hawkish shift. Its unanimous rate hike and clear signal of further increases are unlikely to derail the city’s property recovery.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-21 08:30
Property prices near the new Huanggang Port have already surged months before the border facility opens, property agents say, as buyers seek a “dual-city lifestyle”. The crossing is expected to open before the end of the year with 24-hour operations, co-location and joint-inspection clearance intended to make travel between Shenzhen and Hong Kong faster and more convenient.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-20 08:00
Property brokers in China’s major cities expect more activity as potential buyers respond to Beijing’s recent policy shift aimed at reviving the sluggish real estate market. Some say inquiries are overwhelming them and they are rushing to close deals, while others hope for additional government stimulus to sustain the momentum in confidence.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-20 03:00
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday for the first time since 2023, seeking to contain stubbornly high inflation. The central bank also indicated that another increase could come later this year, while mortgage rates climbed to nearly 7%, intensifying affordability concerns.
TThe Associated PressOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-19 23:00
After years of seeking to persuade developers and investors that it can offer a viable alternative to Miami and Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale is beginning to gain traction.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 22:00
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Iranian exchange BitBank, its software developer Pishtaz Simorgh Electronic Trade Company and three people linked to Babak Zanjani’s corporate network. Treasury alleges Zanjani used BitBank to move hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin to the IRGC, while another sanctioned entity used it to transfer receipts to Iran’s government.
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CryptoSlateOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 16:40
British home prices are expected to rise less than previously forecast, gaining just 1.3% this year as difficult economic conditions discourage people from moving. Renters, meanwhile, are likely to face sharper increases, a Reuters poll found.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 15:05
The rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has surged to 7.2%. Combined with prices near record highs, the increase is placing homeownership beyond the reach of millions of people.
NNBC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 13:10
Nearly one in five Asia-Pacific companies surveyed by CBRE believe broader AI adoption will reduce their real estate needs. Some 56 per cent are neutral, saying AI has no effect on office demand or that it is too soon to tell, while 25 per cent expect AI adoption will require…
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 10:00
U.S. mortgage rates rose for a fourth straight week, pushing the average long-term home loan rate to just under 7%, the highest level in more than 19 months and a fresh challenge for homebuyers and the market.
TThe Associated PressOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-17 18:00
New US applications for unemployment benefits fell unexpectedly last week, although the Labor Day holiday may have overstated the decline. The underlying trend still suggests a stable labor market, while rising mortgage rates are weighing on the housing sector.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-17 17:35
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has adopted a developer-friendly no-action stance on crypto, giving software developers who build crypto trading tools some breathing room.
TThe BlockOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-17 16:50
Freddie Mac says the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.95% this week from 6.76% last week. Rates have increased for four consecutive weeks, marking the biggest one-week jump in 16 months.
CCNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-17 16:30
Hong Kong’s property market avoided an immediate blow from the Federal Reserve’s quarter-point rate increase after HSBC and other major local banks left their prime rates unchanged. Industry insiders warned that another hike could undermine the market’s fragile recovery.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-17 10:00
Germany’s renewable-energy developers are entering a shakeout after years of rapid expansion, as worsening project economics push a growing number into financial distress.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-17 09:41
Sun Guangqing’s prefabricated-home factory opened in China in 2022, as the property sector entered a prolonged crisis and just months before Beijing lifted pandemic curbs. Those developments crippled its two main sources of demand, pushing the factory toward exports.
RReutersOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-17 06:40
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority raised its base rate for the overnight discount window by 25 basis points to 4.25% on Thursday, matching a rate increase by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-17 00:50
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority followed the US Federal Reserve in raising interest rates for the first time since 2023. The move could threaten a property recovery that began last year.
Hong Kong’s de facto central bank raised its base rate by 25 basis points to 4.25% on Thursday, hours after the US Federal Reserve lifted its federal funds target range to 3.75%–4% to contain inflation amid conflict in the Middle East. It was Hong Kong’s first rate increase since 2023.
Annual pay varies by roughly €10,000 across Spanish regions, while the price of a 90-square-metre home can differ by as much as €383,000. In the Balearic Islands and Madrid, buyers need more than €129,000 saved for a deposit.
EeuronewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-16 14:00
John Lai Sung-ziang, a third-generation member of a long-established Hong Kong developer family, agreed to buy a 2,888-square-foot, four-bedroom high-floor flat at Estoril Court in Mid-Levels for HK$98.8 million on August 31. Weeks earlier, the family sold a long-held property in North Point, highlighting capital moving between real estate sectors.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-16 10:00
China’s central bank governor, Pan Gongsheng, said slower loan growth is becoming the new normal as contraction in the property and local-government sectors weakens credit demand faster than emerging industries can make up the shortfall.
RReutersOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-16 05:35
Southeast Asian investors have become the largest group of non-local buyers in Hong Kong commercial property, led by Singapore-based capital, Savills says. Transactions above HK$50 million involving local and non-local investors have reached an estimated HK$30.36 billion this year.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-16 00:00
Hong Kong commercial property prices are expected to keep falling as tighter bank lending coincides with weaker demand, creating a risk of a “vicious cycle,” a property agency warned. Banks have used stricter approval standards and terms for commercial-property mortgages over the past three years.
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-15 23:00
Former race car driver Nikita Mazepin could become the owner of Lesta Games, Russia’s largest video game company, according to sources cited by Forbes Russia. The deal is reportedly nearing completion, with the company valued at 30–35 billion rubles. Mazepin’s UKM Group confirmed it is pursuing deals in digital technology, fintech, and AI.
MMeduzaOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-15 16:52
The Minutes Reader extension turns the original page into a focused reading view and translates articles and video subtitles on demand. It is in limited beta.
