House loans hit record, despite slowing growthBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterThe nation’s house loans and land financing last month climbed to record highs, but at the weakest pace in 19 months and 33 months respectively, as developers and buyers turned cautious amid interest rate hikes and economic uncertainty, the central bank said on Thursday. Home loans increased by NT$41.88 billion (US$1.39 billion), or 8.64 percent, from a year earlier, the central bank told an online news conference. Interest rate hikes, selective credit controls and unfavorable tax terms weighed on sentiment, the officials said. Similarly, land financing last month grew 12.53 percent year-on-year, mitigating for the past one to two years, the central bank said. Developers grew increasingly apprehensive over spiking construction costs and labor shortages, and many slowed the pace of construction and product launches, the central bank said.
