Housing market sees strong growth as prices soften

The local housing market started the year with its strongest early-January performance in several years, reflecting a rebound in buyer activity even as property prices continued to face mild downward pressure.

Data from the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) showed that 384 residential property transactions were recorded in the first half of January, marking the highest level for the period since 2018. Market activity more than tripled compared with the same period last year, suggesting renewed interest in home purchases after a relatively subdued market in previous months.

Market momentum was most evident on the Macau Peninsula, which accounted for the majority of transactions. A total of 299 deals were recorded in the area, a sharp increase from the 96 transactions registered in the same period a year earlier.

The Taipa residential market also showed signs of recovery, with transactions rising to 58 from 20 in the previous month. Coloane recorded 27 property sales, a significant improvement compared with nine transactions in early 2025, although the island’s market volume remains comparatively small.

Compared with early December last year, overall housing sales increased substantially, reflecting stronger seasonal buying interest. The total number of transactions rose by 297 from the 87 deals recorded at the start of the previous month.

Despite higher transaction volumes, residential prices continued a gradual downward trend. The average housing price was about MOP69,241 per square meter, representing a slight year-on-year decrease of approximately 0.92%.

Price levels varied across districts. Coloane registered the highest average price at MOP74,190 per square meter, followed by the Macau Peninsula at MOP69,499, while Taipa recorded MOP66,867 per square meter.

The month-to-month comparison showed a more noticeable adjustment, with the average price falling from MOP78,838 per square meter in early December to the current level, a decline of about 12%.