Virus Outbreak: Virus dampens home-buying interestNEGATIVE SENTIMENT: Although the number of infections is low in Taiwan, people still refrained from making large purchases on concerns that the virus might persistBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterHousing transactions last month totaled 17,603 units in the six special municipalities, down 11.2 percent from one month earlier, as the coronavirus pandemic weighed on buying interest, analysts said. Transactions in Tainan slumped 10.8 percent to 1,697 units and weakened 9.8 percent to 3,314 units in Taoyuan. Taipei and New Taipei City were relatively resilient with declines of 6.9 percent and 5.3 percent to 2,241 and 4,591 deals respectively. The figures bucked the seasonal trend as the current quarter is normally a high season for the housing market, Hsieh said. The sentiment would erase a 2 percent annual gain in housing transactions in the first four months, Evertrust said.

Source: Taipei Times May 05, 2020 15:56 UTC