Property: Taipei's July Building Transfer Registrations Rise Year-on-Year and Month-on-Month, Hugging and Nangang See Strong Buyer Demand

The Taipei City Land Administration has released building transaction registration data for July 2026, showing a total of 2,352 units transferred across the city, representing a 13.5% increase from the same month last year and a 17.5% rise from June. Statistics indicate that Neihu, Wanhua, Da’an, Xinyi, Songshan, and Nangang districts all recorded monthly growth rates exceeding 20%.

Compared to the other five major cities in Taiwan, Taipei’s year-on-year transaction growth rate of 13.5% in July 2026 surpassed the six-metropolitan average of 8.8%. Its month-on-month growth of 17.5% also exceeded the six-city average of 12%. Cumulatively, Taipei recorded 14,340 transfer registrations from January to July 2026, up 3.8% from the same period last year.

Su Jin-cheng, chairman of the Taipei Real Estate Brokers Association, stated on August 5 that the recent surge in Taiwan’s stock market—hovering between 40,000 and 50,000 points—has prompted some high-profit investors to shift capital into real estate as a risk-averse strategy, sustaining stable buyer activity in July. With the second half of the year entering the pre-election period, policy-related headwinds are expected to ease, and there is growing anticipation for the relaxation of restrictions on second-home purchases.

From January to July 2026, Taipei recorded 14,340 transfer registrations, the third-lowest since 2017 and 22.2% lower than the peak seen in the same period of 2021. Since the Central Bank of Taiwan implemented its seventh round of credit controls in September 2024, buyer sentiment has remained weak for 22 consecutive months, keeping overall transaction volumes at relatively low levels. Many real estate agencies have expanded into rental management services to sustain operations.

Su noted that while monthly transaction volumes in 2026 appear stable, they remain at historically low levels. Although home loan restrictions have been slightly eased, the impact on boosting demand has been limited. While some capital from stock market gains has flowed into property, it is insufficient to fully support market momentum.

In July, central districts saw stronger demand. Neihu, Wanhua, Da’an, Xinyi, Songshan, and Nangang all posted monthly growth rates above 20%, while suburban areas like Beitou, Shilin, and Wenshan showed weaker performance. Notably, Nangang District recorded a 34.7% month-on-month increase and a 1.52-fold year-on-year surge, primarily driven by the recent rally in semiconductor stocks. In this tech-centric area, the trend of reinvesting profits into real estate is particularly evident. Neihu also saw a 40.2% monthly increase, with buyers typically under 40 years old—many young tech professionals purchasing property to diversify investment risks.

Su added that recent stock market volatility, with some stocks failing to recover after declines, has increased investment difficulty and heightened risk awareness. This has significantly raised the likelihood of capital shifting from equities to real estate. With policy headwinds likely exhausted and potential election-driven stimulus on the horizon, real estate demand is expected to continue warming. He predicts overall buyer activity in the second half of the year will outperform the first half. However, given the fast-changing financial landscape, caution is warranted to guard against potential negative spillovers from stock market turmoil to the property market.