今日全球楼市速递(2010.09.01)

　　Mainland China

　　1. New homes in 48 projects, most located in the city and some in neighbouring areas, are due to be released this month as the traditionally high season for home purchases began. Some 60% of the new supply, comprising 1 villa development and 47 apartment projects, are in Songjiang, Jiading and Baoshan districts as well as in Pudong New Area. Small and medium-sized apartments not larger than 90 sq m comprise 42% of the new homes, according to a research released by leading real estate data portal Soufun.com. In contrast, 50 residential projects were registered in September 2009, Soufun statistics showed. "Real estate developers are more willing to release their homes now compared to June and July because they are gearing up for improved sales in September and October, the so-called 'golden and silver months' for home purchases in China," said Lu Yiping, an analyst with Soufun. "In particular, we've noticed that more luxury projects, priced above RMB50,000/sq m, are supposed to be released during the period." For instance, developers of at least 5 luxury developments, including Casa Lakeville in Xintiandi, Star River in Minhang and 989 Xikang Road, planned to launch apartments for sale sometime this month, according to Soufun. Buying sentiment for luxury houses has risen over the past month. A total of 110 new homes, both villas and apartments costing more than RMB10m/unit, were sold in Shanghai during the 1st 30 days of August, according to statistics released by China Real Estate Information Corporation. In July 66 units were sold. The supply of new homes, excluding those built for relocated residents under urban redevelopment plans, soared 173% to 456,000 sq m last week, the largest weekly stock in the city so far this year, Shanghai Uwin Real Estate Information Services Co said. (Shanghai Daily).

　　Hong Kong

　　1. A luxury residential site in Kowloon topped records at a land auction yesterday, underpinning the buoyancy of the runaway property market. Property sales, which had fallen in response to recent government cooling measures, are now expected to rebound after Kerry Properties won the most expensive site in Kowloon in terms of floor area price. Prices have exceeded estimates in land auctions held since the government introduced measures to slow the property market last month. Kerry beat 15 other bidders to snap up the site at 1 Ede Road in Kowloon Tong for HK$1.285 billion, or HK$16,587 per square foot. This was 95 per cent higher than the opening bid of HK$659 million and at least 17 per cent above market expectations. Hong Kong's home prices have surged about 45 per cent since the beginning of last year, prompting a series of cooling measures including reducing the availability of mortgage loans for luxury and investment properties as well as tighter control on speculative selling. (SCMP).

　　2. A lower jobless rate also aided retailers. Hong Kong retail sales grew for an 11th consecutive month in July amid an economic recovery aided by record tourist arrivals. Sales rose 18.9 percent to HK$27.2 billion after rising 15.3 percent in June, the government said yesterday. That topped the 14.1 percent median estimate in a poll of five economists. The economy expanded at a 6.5 percent annual rate in the second quarter, from an 8 percent pace in the three months through March that was the fastest since 2006. Falling jobless and record visitor arrivals have boosted sales. (The Standard).