Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that purchase and sale of property decreased significantly in the third quarter of 2011 on account of the measures introduced by the Government to curb the soaring property prices. As per Stamp Duty record, a total of 3,738 building units were purchased and sold at MOP9.62 billion in the third quarter, down by 71.1% and 75.2% respectively quarter-to-quarter. There were 2,194 residential units purchased and sold at MOP5.92 billion, down by 73.4% and 82.2% respectively over the previous quarter. Analyzed by year of completion of the building, 696 residential units purchased and sold were completed in 2000 and after, 868 units in 1990-1999 and 630 units in 1989 and before. As regards floor area of the unit, the majority (1,012) had an area of 50 to 99.9 square metres (46.1% of total). The average transaction price of all residential units amounted to MOP36,345 per square metre of usable area, down by 17.9% quarter-to-quarter. The average price of those in the Macao Peninsula (MOP35,416), Taipa (MOP38,162) and Coloane (MOP61,893) decreased by 16.3%, 10.1% and 11.7% respectively quarter-to-quarter. The average price of residential units with an area of 100 to 149.9 square metres decreased by 19.8% quarter-to-quarter to MOP41,210 per square metre, those having 50 to 99.9 square metres decreased by 17.5% to MOP35,778 per square metre. In addition, the average price of office units decreased by 7.1% quarter-to-quarter to MOP34,011 per square metre; however, the average price of industrial units increased by 25.1% to MOP14,678 per square metre. In the third quarter of 2011, a total of 2,262 cases of real estate sale and purchase contracts were made, down by 35.8% quarter-to-quarter, and the number of units dropped by 29.5% to 3,032. Moreover, there were 1,884 cases of residential mortgage contracts signed, a decrease of 24.4% quarter-to-quarter. In the third quarter of 2011, gross floor area of buildings completed stood at 18,066 square metres, altogether providing 122 units (107 are residential units), 73 parking spaces for cars and 38 parking spaces for motorcycles.
