Macau Residential 1H/2019

Macau’s residential market recorded increases of 1.3% and 10.6% for the number of transactions and average unit price, respectively, in 2018 year-on-year (YoY). With 10,822 transactions recorded and the average unit price hitting MOP10,076 per sq ft (GFA),  the annual figures benefited from the massive market activity in January and February 2018. 

However, the total number of transactions slowed in subsequent quarters, and the market recorded its lowest single month of transactions—416 in December 2018—since February 2016, 34 months earlier, when 268 transactions concluded. It is generally believed that the weak performance was caused mainly by a reduced pool of investors, since second-time or more homebuyers are being charged extra stamp duty due to government measures implemented in February 2018. Additional external factors, including the trade dispute between China and United States, Brexit uncertainty and increased mortgage rates, also played a part.

Since the new property market measures were implemented in February 2018, over 80% of buyers have been first-time local homebuyers, and they’re expected to continue to dominate the market in 2019.