Hi,

As a long-term expat in Asia and elsewhere I am now returning to Hong Kong. Looking at rents and considering mortgate, buying an apartment is an interesting alternative. I am complete new to properties, thus appreciate some helpful input. Threads on this site and info elsewhere points at direction that it can be sound and that prices will keep on rising, due low mortgate rates etc.

Looking into a chrystal ball is always difficult, so I appreciate some advises;

1. Mortgate interest rates are low. How long can we speculate that they will remain so, or say even below 4%? Of course this depends on USA also...

2. Property prices seem still on rise and have been speculated to keep on rising this year and parts of next. By how much? Then what will happen? Flatten out or down? And if down by how much, how long?

3. Any advise on following areas as investment of property: Tung Chung, Tsing Yi, Olympic? Convenient areas are also Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok and similar but properties are older.

I should also say that I will be in HK 12-18 months and after that I could be in HK still, or alternatively work elsewhere in Asia and rent out or sell the property.

Much thanks for help.

Regards
Anders

Number of Transactions- 35 Residential Estates
=====
2008
wk. 01 : 381
wk. 02 : 396
wk. 03 : 377
wk. 04 : 263
wk. 05 : 204
wk. 06 : 072 : 4.Feb- 10.Feb (CNY)
wk. 07 : 137
wk. 08 : 153
wk. 09 : 153
wk. 10 : 159 / 73.98
wk. 11 : 186 / ??
wk. 12 : 169 / 73.01 : 10.mar- 16.mar

Per The Standard: victor.cheung@singtaonewscorp.com

Midland chief Buggle Lau Ka-fai says the Lunar New Year is usually an off season for property deals, but that activity normally picks up after the holidays. Not this year.

Realtor Frank Knight believes that prices ay stabilise in about six months.

"Mass residential values are 28 percent higher than six months ago, while they have risen 10 percnt in the past two months", says head of research Xavier Wong Kit-hung. "The market may need three to six months to consolidate."

And, as transactions dip, some home sellers are willing to compromise on the "ultra high" offer prices.

= =

Things seem to be rather different in TC, where the number of transactions has continued to remain rather high (xx inMarch), and prices have bee raesonably steady- with only a handful of sellers cutting prices to get deals doen quickly and give buyers a bargain. Most sales have been done at reasonably firm prices.

For more info, look: here and here too