One Year into New Presidency, ‘Uncertainty’ Looms in U.S. Housing Market
And why Trump himself may not affect the health of the industry much at all. Read More
BY THE NUMBERS
TRENDING TODAY
LISTING OF THE DAY
A Spacious London Townhouse With the City’s Oldest Fig Tree Out Back
Behind a recently refurbished five-story, five-bedroom townhouse in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London’s oldest and largest fig tree continues to spread its branches and bear fruit. Read More
THE INSIDERS
Atlanta’s Luxury Buyers Want Simpler Elegance, Broker Says
Collette McDonald, former broker to the Atlanta Falcons, loves the city’s condos but warns of their uncertain investment potential. Read More
NEWS BITES
U.K. Rents Last Year Grew at Their Slowest Rate Since 2013 Average rents in the U.K. have increased 1.6% in 2018, according to the Deposit Protection Service, their slowest growth rate since 2013. Rents in London had the slowest growth, at 0.4%. Sales prices have also grown at their slowest pace since 2012, a fact widely attributed to Brexit-related economic uncertainty. Reuters
Hong Kong Authorities Won’t Lift Mortgage Restrictions on ‘Bull Run’ Market In spite of criticisms from lawmakers over tight mortgage restrictions, Hong Kong’s Monetary Authority chief executive Norman Chan Tak-lam has no plans to lift the so-called "spicy policies" any time soon. Mr. Chan cited the risk of increasing prices even further. He also said the market is still on a "bull run," but could slow down in response to rising U.S. interest rates. South China Morning Post
Perth, Scotland, Has Country’s Slowest Rate of Price Growth, Increasing Affordability The average home price in Perth has risen 11% in the last five years, up to £181,329 (US$254,847), compared to 23% growth in other major Scottish cities in the same period. This makes it the only Scottish city to see improved affordability in recent years, with homes now costing 5.44 times the average salary, down from 5.5. Glasgow had the fastest price increases in Scotland, with home prices rising 35% up to an average of £173,990 (US$244,532). PropertyWire
Double-Digit Increases Forecast for Singapore in 2018 as Investors Turn Bullish Singapore’s market is showing signs of recovery after four years of price declines, with values increasing in the past two quarters. Savills Singapore now forecasts 12% to 15% growth for the year, as buyers from elsewhere in Asia are increasingly drawn to the market’s relative openness and stability. Elsewhere, Credit Suisse has forecast a 5% to 10% price increase for 2018, and Morgan Stanley and OCBC Investment Research have predicted an 8% increase. Financial Times
AROUND NEWS CORP
Would You Let Your Child Sleep In This Cantilevered Bed? [The Wall Street Journal]
Expect Home Values to Rise in These 10 States [MarketWatch]
Brooklyn Luxury Tower’s Rooftop Pool Will Be Highest in the City [New York Post]
The Safest Cities in the U.S., and the Most Dangerous [realtor.com]