Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 1,455 building units and parking spaces were purchased and sold in the first quarter of 2020 as per Stamp Duty record, and the total value of transactions was MOP7.89 billion, down by 43.4% and 44.2% respectively quarter-to-quarter.

Purchase and sale of residential units decreased by 850 quarter-to-quarter to 981 units, and the total value fell by 47.0% to MOP6.13 billion. Number of existing residential units transacted dropped by 772 to 840, amounting to MOP4.87 billion, down by 48.1%. Transaction volume of pre-sale residential units declined by 78 quarter-to-quarter to 141 units, and the transaction value reduced by 42.7% to MOP1.26 billion.

With respect to the average price per square metre of usable area, the overall average price of residential units decreased by 4.0% quarter-to-quarter to MOP100,332, with the average prices of those in the Macao Peninsula (MOP97,909), Taipa (MOP97,847) and Coloane (MOP123,212) falling by 2.1%, 11.5% and 2.9% respectively.

The average price per square metre of the existing residential units dropped by 3.4% quarter-to-quarter to MOP94,236. The transacted units were mainly in NATAP (137 units), Baixa da Taipa (113 units) and Areia Preta & Iao Hon (77 units), and the respective average prices per square metre were MOP118,817, MOP98,181 and MOP93,618.

As regards pre-sale residential units, the average price per square metre decreased by 9.5% quarter-to-quarter to MOP133,707; the average prices of those in Coloane (75 units), Móng Há & Reservatório (23 units) and Baixa da Taipa (10 units) were MOP125,455, MOP152,132 and MOP141,617 respectively.

The average price per square metre of usable area of office units went down by 2.5% quarter-to-quarter to MOP112,951 and that of industrial units dipped by 7.1% to MOP51,583.

In the first quarter, there were 1,734 real estate purchase and sale contracts signed, and the number of properties involved (1,861) fell by 28.4% quarter-to-quarter. Meanwhile, 1,928 mortgage contracts were signed, and the number of properties involved (3,122) dropped by 15.7%.

As regards construction in the private sector, there were 8,922 residential units in the design stage, 3,652 under construction and 608 under inspection as at the end of the first quarter. During the quarter, 16 residential units were issued the construction permit, all of which were studio flats with a usable area of 50 square metres or less located in the Macao Peninsula. Meanwhile, 1,065 residential units were issued the licence of use; all of them were situated in the Macao Peninsula, of which 61.7% were studio flats and 23.5% were two-bedroom units.