TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Housing transactions in Taiwan's six major cities totaled 18,211 units in March, CNA reported on Tuesday.
Sales increased 16.8% from February, while decreasing 21.1% from 2024. First-quarter transactions totaled 48,035 units, a 23.6% decline from last year's same period and the lowest quarterly figure in eight years.
Taiwan Realty Estate said housing transaction volumes increased from February, partly due to more new property handovers after the Lunar New Year. The firm also noted mortgage cases awaiting disbursement from last year's fourth quarter were completed and transferred early this year.
Taichung recorded the highest number of transactions, exceeding 4,000 units and showing monthly and yearly growth. New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Kaohsiung followed, with sales ranging from 3,026 to 3,735 units, a 4% to 15% increase from February and a 14% to 34% decrease from 2024.
Taipei saw about 2,400 units traded, a 29.7% increase from February and an 11.3% decrease from 2024. Tainan recorded the fewest transactions, with 1,550 units, a 23.2% increase from the previous month and a 46.4% decrease from last year.
New Taipei and Tainan recorded their lowest monthly and quarterly housing transactions since 2016. Great Home Realty said the sluggish performance in new construction and secondhand housing markets in New Taipei contributed to a general slowdown in overall market activity.
Rising housing prices in some Tainan areas, driven by recent industrial growth, have slowed first-time homebuyer demand. Last year, the average price was NT$256,000 (US$8,065) per ping. Although Tainan's housing prices remain the lowest among six major cities, they have doubled in a decade.
Sinyi Realty said the housing market was highly active from March to September last year, averaging 31,000 monthly transactions. However, Taiwan Institute of Economic Research added rising construction costs, increased bank mortgage rates, and the Central Bank's credit controls are expected to limit housing transaction growth this year.
