Will AI adoption shrink office space? Asia-Pacific firms are on the fence in survey

🔮 Will Argentina’s citizenship scheme lure property buyers from mainland China and Hong Kong?

🔮 What makes Hong Kong shun death-linked homes while France embraces the risk Properties linked to deaths face deep discounts and mortgage hurdles in Hong Kong, while French buyers bet on sellers’ longevity Prices for such properties could fall by as much as 50 per cent, while rents were typically about 20 per cent below market rates, they added.

🔮 Hong Kong’s SHKP sells 128 Sierra Sea flats ahead of possible US rate increase The latest sell-out included units offered at discounted prices ranging from about HK$5.47 million to HK$9.87 million Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), one of Hong Kong’s largest developers, has sold out the latest batch of flats at its Sierra Sea project in the New Territories, where units were offered at discounted prices ahead of a possible US Federal Reserve interest-rate increase by year-end. “Developers will continue to launch new flats in an orderly and steady cadence in the coming weeks,” said Derek Chan Hoi-chiu, head of research at Ricacorp Properties.

🔮 Swire Properties, Chinachem Group also announced plans to redevelop three buildings into a premium grade-A office tower in Taikoo Place Hong Kong homebuyers are poised to see new residential launches in the coming days and weeks following a sell-out weekend of more than 360 flats in two major projects in the city. Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), one of Hong Kong’s major developers and landlords, was set to hold a second round of sales for Sierra Sea Phase 2C(2) in Shap Sze Heung, which is between Sai Kung and Ma On Shan, with 152 flats on offer on Wednesday, it said in a statement.

🔮 New property purchase disclosure rule in Japan sparks fears it may curb foreign investment Rising interest rates and new legislation on nationality disclosure are raising concerns that foreign investors may reconsider real estate investment Tokyo’s implementation of a rule that requires all property buyers to declare their nationality is raising concerns among investors, according to analysts.

🔮 AI job losses set to rein in office demand in developed Asia-Pacific economies: report CBRE says 3.9 per cent of office jobs in developed parts of region are vulnerable to replacement by artificial intelligence A mild displacement of jobs across the Asia-Pacific region as companies expand their use of AI would trim five percentage points off growth in office space demand in the next few years, according to property consultancy CBRE. In a report released on Thursday it said 3.9 per cent of office jobs were vulnerable to artificial intelligence-driven displacement in developed markets in the region, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. However, only 1.7 per cent were similarly vulnerable in developing markets including mainland China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

🔮 DFI Retail Group says it will continue to invest in Hong Kong supermarkets Owner of Wellcome, Market Place, 3hreesixty and Oliver’s chains operates a network of more than 325 stores Hong Kong-headquartered DFI Retail Group, which owns and operates the city’s largest supermarket network, says it will continue to invest in new stores even though consumers remain cautious.

🔮 The 8,974 square feet Dairy Farm Guildford Road Shopping Centre will be sold via a public tender that closes at noon on November 19

🔮 Could Northern Metropolis draw educational leasing from Hong Kong’s Grade A office sector?

🔮 Higher borrowing costs could moderate investment activity in some markets during the second half of the year, Carroll said, adding that investor interest remained concentrated in markets with strong growth and positive supply-demand fundamentals.