02 Sep 2025

In July, UK mortgage approvals reached 65,352, the highest monthly total since January, signaling a potential stabilization in the housing market after the end of a homebuyer tax break earlier this year. Despite the rise in approvals, Nationwide Building Society noted a decline in house prices for August, reflecting ongoing affordability issues. Consumer borrowing also rose by 7% in the year up to July, marking the largest increase since October 2024. These trends show a mixed picture of recovery, with growth in mortgage activity alongside persistent affordability and borrowing pressures.Read more

02 Sep 2025

MUFG is set to launch a 100 billion yen (USD 680 million) fund targeting Japanese real estate, focusing on mid-sized offices, residential properties, and hotels in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. Institutional investors will contribute 30 billion yen, with the remainder financed through debt. This marks the company's second-largest fund, aiming to improve underperforming assets amid rising investor return expectations. The move follows other major fund launches this year by Dai-ichi Life, Marubeni, Orix, and Morgan Stanley. MUFG's asset management arm seeks to grow from 500 billion yen to 1 trillion yen in assets by 2030.Read more

02 Sep 2025

President Donald Trump's administration plans steps to address high housing costs in the United States. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained that the measures could include declaring a national housing emergency to tackle rising prices and limited supply. Falling rents are providing some relief, and lower interest rates may encourage more home sales, improving market activity. The administration is also exploring ways to simplify construction permitting and promote standardization to increase housing supply. Affordability remains a key focus, reflecting broader efforts to reduce financial pressures on Americans.Read more

02 Sep 2025

Hong Kong's retail market showed steady growth in July, with sales by value rising 1.8% and volume increasing 1%, marking the third consecutive month of gains. Total retail sales for the first seven months remain below last year's level, but government officials expect consumer confidence to stay stable, supported by tourism promotion and large-scale events. Tourist arrivals, particularly from mainland China, increased significantly, although many trips were brief. Jewellery and luxury goods led growth, while clothing and footwear showed small improvements, reflecting a cautious but steady recovery in consumer spending and retail activity.Read more

02 Sep 2025

Dubai's property market witnessed sales worth AED51.1 billion during August, marking a year-on-year rise of 7.9%, with transaction volumes climbing 15.4% to 18,678. Apartment sales dominated activity with AED30.2 billion in value, reflecting a 29.2% increase in volume. While villa sales declined 38.1% in volume, average prices per square foot increased 15.2% to AED 1,720. Key districts such as Business Bay, Jumeirah Village Circle, and Jebel Ali First recorded the highest activity. The most expensive sale was a luxury villa on Palm Jumeirah, fetching AED161 million.Read more

01 Sep 2025

Chinese developer Seazen Group has introduced Blockchain Metaverse Academy as a strategic partner through a USD 6.3 million share placement. The move is aimed at advancing real-world asset (RWA) applications, a field gaining traction among property firms exploring digital assets. Seazen will issue about 0.27 percent of its enlarged shares at a price slightly above its last trading value. This initiative follows the launch of Seazen Digital Assets Institute in Hong Kong, which is studying the tokenization of intellectual property and asset income. The partnership is expected to lower risks, reduce costs, and speed up innovation in RWA applications.Read more

01 Sep 2025

UK house prices saw a slight decline in August, falling 0.1% month-on-month, according to Nationwide Building Society. Annual growth also slowed to 2.1%, the weakest rate since mid-last year. Rising mortgage costs and stretched affordability have constrained buyers, with first-time homeowners facing payments that take up 35% of their take-home pay. While the Bank of England reduced interest rates, inflation concerns may limit future cuts. Analysts caution that potential property tax changes in the upcoming budget could further dampen market sentiment. The housing market shows signs of slowing after last year's strong growth.Read more

01 Sep 2025

CapitaLand Investment Limited is set to become the first foreign company to list a business park REIT on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, aiming to raise USD 294 million (INR 2,400 crore). The milestone is expected to open the door for more foreign participation in China's real estate market. Alongside, CapitaLand is monetising assets in India, with plans to sell a Chennai commercial property leased to Apple supplier Pegatron for about INR 600 crore. The sale is part of its capital recycling strategy to unlock value and reallocate funds toward new opportunities, reinforcing CapitaLand's focus on expanding its global real estate footprint.Read more

01 Sep 2025

The only home ever owned by screen legend Marilyn Monroe is at the center of a legal and cultural battle as its new owners seek to demolish it. The Spanish Hacienda-style house in Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood, where Monroe died in 1962, was purchased in 2023 for USD 8.35 million. Shortly after the sale, preservationists successfully petitioned the city to designate the property a historic landmark, halting the demolition. This ruling is now being challenged in court by the owners, who claim the home has been extensively altered and no longer holds historical significance.Read more

31 Aug 2025

JD Property, the infrastructure and asset management division of JD.Com, has teamed up with Partners Group and EZA Hill Property to create a Singapore-based real estate investment trust (REIT) valued at over USD 1 billion. The REIT is expected to be listed on the Singapore Exchange early next year and will include recently acquired logistics assets. The partners are working towards finalising the portfolio by October. The development highlights growing investor confidence in Singapore's REIT market, alongside increasing cross-border investment from Chinese and international capital.Read more