Global luxury housing prices increased 4.2% in the year to September, according to a Knight Frank report released Tuesday.
Guangzhou saw the greatest price growth in its luxury market despite cooling in the rest of China’s luxury cities, with prime prices there increasing 36.3% in the past year, according to the international brokerage’s Prime Global Cities Index. The report tracks the quarterly growth in prime properties, or the top 5% of the housing market, in 41 major cities.
More:Guangzhou is No Longer Living in the Shadow of Beijing and Shanghai
The greatest price growth over the past year has been concentrated in the Asia Pacific, with that region claiming five out of the top 10 cities for annual growth.
Shanghai has logged a nearly 15% price hike in the past 12 months, though the market is slowing down and actually saw prime prices decrease by 0.7% in the third quarter.
Luxury home prices in Seoul are up 11.2% year-over-year. Prices in Sydney and Melbourne are up between 10 and11%.
"Melbourne and Sydney have now ranked within our top 10 for annual prime price growth for 10 consecutive quarters," said Kate Everett-Allen, a partner at Knight Frank in the report.
Cape Town, South Africa, ranked No. 3 globally for the fastest rising luxury prices, with year-over-year appreciation of 14.5%. Knight Frank chalked the growth in Cape Town to constrained supply, as the city is landlocked between the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding mountains.
Toronto’s reign as one of the hottest prime markets is beginning to wane. While the Canadian city ranked No. 5, with annual price growth at 11.5%, prices have been falling there. Prices fell 6.6% in the third quarter, compared to three months prior.
At the other end of the spectrum, Russia has seen the worst market growth of any location included in the Knight Frank report. Moscow logged an almost 10% decline in prices and St. Petersburg a 7% fall, according to the report.
More:European Luxury Markets Resurge, China’s Dominance Weakens
Meanwhile, prime prices are diverging in Europe. London’s luxury market, hit by increased stamp duty and the economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit, has seen its high-end real estate prices fall 4.6% over the past year.
It’s a different story in Spain, where wealthy South American buyers, particularly from Venezuela, have driven luxury prices up in Madrid by nearly 12%.
The second-home market in Paris is also booming, with luxury prices up 11.3%.
With typical prime prices averaging €18,000 (US$20,840) per square meter, the report says, "buyers—both domestic and international—are now recognizing the comparative value in such markets, whether looking for an investment or second home."