MONEY MASTER

Quick Summary Stamp duty for homes above HK$100m raised to 6.5% (from 4.25%) Targets only  0.3% of transactions Luxury sales surged in late 2025 Home prices rose  3.3% in 2025 , first annual gain in four years What Changed? Hong Kong will increase stamp duty on  luxury residential properties valued above HK$100 million  to  6.5% , up from 4.25%, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan. The measure: Takes effect  Thursday Still requires Legislative Council approval Expected to generate around  HK$1 billion annually  The policy mainly affects the  ultra-luxury segment , accounting for just  0.3% of total transactions . Why Now? The move comes after a strong rebound in high-end sales: 81 deals above US$10 million in Q4 2025 — the highest since late 2021 Home prices rose  3.3% in 2025 , ending a four-year decline Luxury momentum has been driven by: Renewed investor confidence Improving economic outlook Expectations of further price g...

Singapore has fired another round in its ongoing war against property speculation. With the government extending the  Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD)  holding period to  four years  and raising the top rate to  16% , the property landscape is shifting once again—and with it, the outlook for several SGX-listed stocks. While these measures aim to ensure a more sustainable housing market,  investors must reassess their exposure  to real estate-related counters in the short to medium term. Potentially Impacted Stocks 1. Real Estate Developers These stocks are likely to see immediate sentiment-driven pullbacks due to anticipated demand softening, especially from short-term investors and speculators. City Developments Limited (C09) UOL Group Limited (U14) GuocoLand (F17) Oxley Holdings (5UX)  – already sensitive to policy risk due to higher leverage and reliance on local buyers Expect  slower take-up rates  for new launches and  margin pressure...

Singapore is turning up the heat on short-term property speculation. In a coordinated move on Thursday night, the  Ministry of National Development ,  Ministry of Finance , and the  Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)  announced new  cooling measures  for the private residential property market — extending the  seller’s stamp duty (SSD)  period and hiking rates significantly. Effective  July 4 , anyone selling a private residential property  within four years  of purchase will face  higher SSD rates , with the steepest penalty —  16%  — now applying to properties sold within the  first year , up from 12% previously. Updated Seller’s Stamp Duty Rates (Effective July 4) Holding Period Previous SSD New SSD Up to 1 year 12% 16% >1 year – up to 2 years 8% 12% >2 years – up to 3 years 4% 8% >3 years – up to 4 years 0% 4% Beyond 4 years 0% 0% The government cited a “ sharp rise ” in  short-term flipping ...

New Property Tax Reduction for Low-End Homes Hong Kong will cut stamp duty to HK$100 ($12.80) for homes valued at HK$4 million ($515,000) or below . Previously, transactions between HK$3M-HK$4M were taxed up to 1.5% of deal value . Finance chief Paul Chan announced the move in his 2025 budget speech. Hong Kong’s Struggling Real Estate Sector Property prices have plunged 27% since 2021 , nearing  2016 levels  due to  high borrowing costs, weak economy, and oversupply . Despite scrapping all extra stamp duties & relaxing mortgage rules last year, home prices still fell 5% in 2024. The latest tax reduction will benefit ~15% of all property transactions, according to government estimates. Government’s Property Market Dilemma Hong Kong’s economy is heavily reliant on property revenue , making real estate stabilization crucial. Previous policy changes failed to stop the downturn, leading to this new tax cut targeting budget home buyers. Summary: Stamp duty cut to HK$100 for...