Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 3,337 building units and parking spaces were purchased and sold as per Stamp Duty record in the first quarter of 2017, and the total value of transactions was MOP17.93 billion, down by 35.0% and 38.9% respectively quarter-to-quarter. Purchase and sale of residential units totalled 2,313, a decrease of 1,262 units; the total value amounted to MOP13.61 billion, down by 41.8%. Among them, pre-sale residential units purchased and sold dropped significantly by 69.3% to 306, and the total value fell by 68.5% to MOP 3.08 billion. Meanwhile, purchase and sale of existing residential units totalled 2,007, amounting to MOP10.54 billion, down by 22.1% and 22.5% respectively.
In terms of average price in the first quarter of 2017, the average price per square metre of usable area of pre-sale residential units was MOP129,439, and that of existing residential units was MOP83,333, up by 4.7% and 2.4% quarter-to-quarter respectively. Due to a sharp decrease in transactions of higher-priced pre-sale units, the overall average price of residential units fell by 4.4% quarter-to-quarter to MOP90,858.
The average price of residential units in the Macao Peninsula increased by 4.1% quarter-to-quarter to MOP85,893 per square metre, while the prices of those in Taipa (MOP97,117) and Coloane (MOP121,921) dropped by 8.7% and 0.9% respectively. Many of the residential units purchased and sold were in Baixa da Taipa (323), NATAP (218), Areia Preta & Iao Hon (173) and Barra/Manduco (173), and the average price per square metre was MOP93,885, MOP100,344, MOP81,115 and MOP67,675 respectively.
The average price of industrial units increased by 9.3% quarter-to-quarter to MOP56,248 per square metre, while that of office units decreased by 3.7% to MOP104,394.
In the first quarter of 2017, there were 4,058 real estate purchase and sale contracts signed, and the number of properties involved (4,077) dropped by 4.2% quarter-to-quarter. Meanwhile, 3,665 mortgage contracts were signed, and the number of properties involved (4,246) fell by 27.0%.
As regards construction in the private sector, gross floor area of construction of new buildings totalled 381 thousand square metres, providing 2,964 units (with 2,890 residential units) and 1,752 parking spaces for cars upon completion. Meanwhile, gross floor area of buildings completed totalled 254 thousand square metres, altogether providing 551 units (with 513 residential units) and 720 parking spaces for cars.