List of Research Topics
Housing Policy
The role of public housing
would better provision of public housing draw away prospective demand for private sector - analogy in unemployment benefit - both are public welfare - but occupants from public housing will eventually revert to private sector
Implication of selling public housing units by the Government
concern for intense competition for buyers both from both private and public sectors - comparison on their quality and sales restriction - find HOS sector will be hit most
Economic competitiveness at the expense of property market?
local property price is cited as main reason behind HK's losing competitiveness - look in cost structure of business operation and compare living costs with other cities - result indicates that argument is partially right
Review on Government land sales and revenue
historic records of land sales from auction, tender, private treaty grants and lease modifications
New mortgage relief's effect
study on this new tax incentive - would this be a good market boaster - effect on closing up the gap between rent and mortgage
What will benefit the market most: home starter loan or mortgage default loan ?
starter loan - injection of new blood to the market - in recession time owners had difficulties in meeting mortgage - risked banks' book - proposal for default loan - could prove more significant when concern for loan default far greater than market liquidity
Property Finance
Property hedging
Market downfall in 1997 - owners exposed to escalating loss with dry-up liquidity - look for hedging tools on risk indemnity - what form? - future index on property stocks - or new alternatives - developers' put option to buyers on first sell - opportunities in developing derivatives linked to physical property
Valuation problem
valuation assumptions rely on market comparable - evidence shows that they can not be sustained - especially when with ample future supply - price dampening effect of nearby future developments
Investment yield and discount rate
rental yield analysis failed to account for property boom in 1997 - the factor of expectation for price appreciation more than rental return - adoption of discount rate should differ from person to person - because each has different disposal incomes, growth rate on income, saving power etc. - individual factors are equally important than market factors e.g. Inflation & interest rate
Trend Study
Market focus on apartments in Repulse Bay
Owners' dilemma
recent slump hits many owners - notion of `buy high and sell high' now fails - price paid two years ago now can buy new one doubling its size- but they were locked in the price trap, unable to upgrade for an unforeseeable time - is property still an investment or consumption instead? - implication to future property price
Monthly transaction volume analysis
split into first hand and second hand markets
Housing demand
To rent or to buy?
Gap between rental and mortgage payment is closing up - price fell more than rent - stronger desire for ownership - willing to trade off between price and quality- some renters may become owners
Housing model
demand from two streams - home starters and existing owners - how they were interacted in the market and its impact - affordability ratio not an ideal analysis tool - update on current situation
Mortgage loan study
Use HKMA's mortgage loan statistic - keep track on the activity of second hand market - projection of demand from existing ownership will trade up
Supply Side
Detailed breakdown of developers' landbank, historic costs, land premium and progress estimation
Projects on the pipeline
Innovative Property Design
Flat layout design should take into account of financial need, the traditional flat layouts overlook the importance for financial planning need - in need of a rejuvenated design approach like the strata-title concept in 50s to catch sales
Can we breakthrough the traditional design concept?
Environmental building design concept and technology.
Telecommunication infrastructure in residential building
Surveyor's Role
Rethink on surveyor's market edge traditional businesses encroached on by other specialists - identify the strengths - look into ways to fight back
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