عالمی ریئل اسٹیٹ خبریں

Melbourne | ReNews International Desk News
Victoria, which has traditionally been regarded as one of Australia’s relatively affordable housing markets, is also facing growing affordability pressures. A latest report indicates that rising borrowing costs and declining housing affordability are making home purchases increasingly difficult for ordinary and middle-income buyers.
Although housing in Victoria is generally considered more accessible than in some of Australia’s most expensive markets, the advantage has been weakened by higher borrowing costs and the broader increase in household expenses. Buyers relying on mortgages are facing greater financial pressure when assessing their ability to purchase a home.
Higher borrowing costs directly affect monthly mortgage repayments, meaning prospective buyers now have to consider not only the purchase price but also interest rates, loan terms and the overall repayment burden before entering the housing market.
The deterioration in affordability is particularly significant for households operating with limited purchasing capacity relative to their income. Rising living costs can further reduce the amount of household income available for mortgage payments, potentially encouraging some buyers to postpone home purchases.
The situation also highlights the fact that housing affordability cannot be measured by property prices alone. Mortgage rates, household income, taxes, insurance and other housing-related expenses all contribute to the actual cost of home ownership.
First-home buyers are likely to remain among the groups most exposed to these pressures. Limited borrowing capacity and higher monthly costs could push some buyers towards smaller properties, more affordable locations or continued renting as they reassess their purchasing options.
Despite the affordability challenges, demand could remain resilient in relatively accessible segments of Victoria’s housing market. The strength of demand will depend on factors including borrowing costs, household income growth, housing supply and broader economic conditions.
The developments in Victoria also carry wider significance for Australia’s housing market. If affordability pressures are intensifying even in areas regarded as relatively affordable, housing accessibility could remain a major economic and social challenge across the country.
Victoria’s experience demonstrates that housing affordability is increasingly shaped by the combined impact of property prices, borrowing costs, household incomes and the overall cost of living, rather than property prices alone.

Hong Kong’s luxury residential market recorded higher prices and a sharp increase in ultra-luxury transactions in the first nine months of 2026, with mainland Chinese buyers continuing to support demand, according to property consultancy CBRE.

Luxury home prices rose 5.3% year to date and stood 11.3% above the market trough recorded in March 2025. CBRE said the market remained resilient despite greater volatility and uncertainty over interest rates. Activity in the top end of the market accelerated. There were 197 transactions involving properties priced above HK$100 million between January and September, a 109.6% increase from the same period last year. The value of those deals rose 54.9% year on year to HK$28.2 billion.

Mainland Chinese buyers remained a major presence in Q3, accounting for 72% of luxury residential transactions in the primary market and 68% in the secondary market. CBRE said sustained mainland demand and the limited supply of prime residential properties continued to support prices.

Eddie Kwok, the firm’s executive director of valuation and advisory services in Hong Kong, said the luxury market had held up despite interest-rate uncertainty and tighter capital controls. Kwok added that high-net-worth buyers, particularly those from mainland China, continued to drive activity in the ultra-luxury segment, while restricted new supply helped underpin values in prime locations.

Saudi Arabia’s real estate market is drawing investment amid global geopolitical and economic uncertainty, supported by strong domestic demand and efforts to increase housing supply. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing said more than 15,000 residential plots were made available through the Sakani platform between January and the end of October 2026, alongside projects launched by private developers.

Developer Arada has entered the Saudi market through a partnership with local company XTOPIA, backed by a SAR 50 billion ($13.3 billion) portfolio of land and development opportunities. Their first project is a SAR 14 billion residential development in Riyadh’s Al Rimal district. Separately, Riyadh Region Municipality, the ministry and the National Center for Privatization & PPP have opened the expression-of-interest, prequalification and proposal stages for a joint investment project involving municipal land in northern Riyadh. The 50-year private-sector partnership is the municipality’s first under this model.

More land could help ease price pressures over the medium term if plot locations and sizes match demand. It may also generate work for developers, contractors, engineering firms and building-material suppliers, while supporting homeownership and urban growth beyond major cities.

Real estate developer Ahmed Omar Basoudan told that increasing supply alone would not resolve the market’s challenges. Housing must also be affordable, appropriately located and well serviced, with infrastructure and construction costs kept under control. He said the latest land releases and private projects reflected continued efforts to balance supply and demand as the Kingdom’s population and cities grew.