TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s presale housing market saw a dramatic downturn in April.
The nationwide average of daily disclosed transactions for presale homes fell to just 111.3 units in April, compared to 507.6 units during the same month in 2024, a drop of over 70%, per TVBS. Each of the six major metropolitan areas reported fewer than 30 daily transactions, marking a sharp decline from last year.
Tseng Ching-der (曾敬德), a research manager at Sinyi Realty, said that after a series of regulatory tightening measures by the Central Bank last year buyer sentiment has become more cautious. They are now more selective, focusing on properties that meet specific personal needs.
He said the market has shifted to a case-by-case basis, where only projects with standout features attract buyers. These include proximity to MRT stations, affordable prices for owner-occupiers, large-scale site planning, and strong overall value.
Taipei’s daily transaction average dropped from 26 units per day in April 2024 to just 7.5 this year, while New Taipei City fell from 81.4 to 28.7. Taoyuan plummeted from 94.2 to 19.4, and Hsinchu County and City declined from 32.6 to just 4.
In central and southern Taiwan, Taichung fell from 103.8 to 17.6, Tainan from 47.6 to 7.6, and Kaohsiung from 48.5 to 8.3. The downturn was consistent across all regions.
Tseng said this year’s spring sales season, traditionally peaking around Youth Day on March 29, saw much weaker demand than in previous years. The subdued market atmosphere reflected widespread caution and a wait-and-see attitude among buyers.
Compared to the booming conditions in the first half of 2024, Tseng described the current market as being in “freefall.”