17 Aug 2026

UK-based property services firm Savills reported a 47% increase in underlying pretax profit for the first half of 2026, supported by a strong improvement in its North American business and higher transactional activity. Underlying pretax profit rose to GBP 34.3 million, while the North American unit moved into profit after reporting a loss a year earlier. The company also completed its acquisition of US real estate investment bank Eastdil Secured for about USD 1.1 billion. However, Savills said geopolitical and economic uncertainty continued to affect investor sentiment and make transaction timelines difficult to predict.Read more

17 Aug 2026

New Zealand’s housing market remained subdued in July, with house prices edging lower and sales activity weakening as buyers continued to take a cautious approach. Seasonally adjusted median house prices fell 0.5% from the previous month and were 0.6% lower than a year earlier, according to data from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ). National home sales volumes declined 10% year-on-year, while the latest REINZ data also showed that properties were taking longer to sell. The figures point to limited momentum in the residential property market despite prices remaining relatively stable.Read more

16 Aug 2026

Dubai’s luxury residential market recorded 244 off-plan sales priced above AED5 million in July 2026, with a combined transaction value of AED3.42 billion, according to an analysis by Keturah using data from DXBinteract. The average value of these transactions stood at AED14 million, with demand spread across multiple price brackets. Apartments accounted for 151 transactions worth AED2.3 billion, while 93 villa sales generated AED1.1 billion. The data indicates continued demand beyond a small number of ultra-high-value transactions, with significant activity in the AED10-20 million and AED20-50 million segments. Over the preceding three months, developers recorded 942 off-plan residential transactions above AED5 million worth AED12.11 billion. Ready properties also recorded 43 transactions above AED5 million in July, valued at AED552.8 million.Read more

15 Aug 2026

South Korea has announced a fresh set of housing and financial measures aimed at increasing housing supply and improving access to homes for young people and newly married couples. The Financial Services Commission will raise policy support for construction project financing to at least 47.8 trillion won, or about USD 33.72 billion, from the earlier planned 26.3 trillion won. The government will also introduce new policy loans for young buyers and newlyweds purchasing homes for their own use, while keeping restrictions on speculative demand. The move comes amid rising house prices, household debt concerns and pressure on President Lee Jae Myung's government to address the housing market.Read more

15 Aug 2026

Dubai recorded 38,197 rental contracts in July 2026, taking the year-to-date total for the first seven months to 214,445, according to fäm Properties. The figure is 1.9% higher than the corresponding period last year, when the emirate registered a record 377,660 rental contracts for the full year. One-bedroom units accounted for 41% of contracts recorded so far in 2026. Meanwhile, Dubai recorded 13,872 property sales transactions worth AED 34.5 billion in July, with off-plan transactions accounting for 9,585 deals valued at AED 20.5 billion. Dubai South remained the leading area by sales volume for the fifth consecutive month, recording 2,351 transactions worth AED 2.6 billion. Apartment sales led July activity, while the highest-value apartment and villa transactions were AED 166 million and AED 73 million, respectively.Read more

14 Aug 2026

China Resources Land reported gross contracted sales of RMB14.10 billion for July, with contracted gross floor area reaching 0.410 million square metres. Sales value increased 6.0% year-on-year during the month, indicating a modest improvement in the company’s contracted sales performance. The latest figures come as Chinese property developers continue to operate in a challenging housing market, with sales performance remaining closely watched for signs of stabilisation. China Resources Land has also continued to generate recurring income from its investment property portfolio, providing another source of revenue alongside property development.Read more

14 Aug 2026

British construction group Balfour Beatty has raised its full-year 2026 operating profit forecast, supported by strong demand for infrastructure projects in the UK and the US. The company now expects low-double-digit percentage growth in profit from operations, compared with its earlier high-single-digit forecast. Its underlying operating profit rose to GBP 153 million in the first half from GBP 108 million a year earlier. Demand for US building projects and UK power infrastructure supported the performance, while the company ended the first half with an order book of around GBP 23 billion.Read more

14 Aug 2026

Sri Lanka has decided to lease six former ministerial bungalows in Colombo’s Cinnamon Gardens area for 30 years as part of an effort to turn underused state-owned properties into income-generating assets. The properties can be developed for tourism-related businesses, boutique hotels, cafes and restaurants, while ownership of the land and buildings will remain with the government. The move is linked to the government’s broader effort to reduce public spending on politicians and make better use of vacant state properties. Investors will be responsible for securing the approvals and other requirements needed to develop the properties.Read more

13 Aug 2026

Australia is struggling to build homes fast enough to meet its target of 1.2 million new dwellings by 2029, with construction activity currently below the required pace. Official data shows completed home construction is 27% below the quarterly rate needed to achieve the target, while industry forecasts suggest the country could fall short by about 15%. Rising construction costs, worker shortages, longer project timelines, higher financing costs and stalled apartment projects are putting further pressure on supply. Builders in major cities are also facing competition for labour from large infrastructure projects, including preparations for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.Read more

13 Aug 2026

The Trump administration is planning at least USD 900 million in construction and modernization work across the White House grounds, according to records reviewed by The Washington Post. The projects include the East Wing ballroom, a helipad, a visitor screening facility and upgrades around Lafayette Square. Funding has been assembled through transfers from federal agencies, private donations and other sources and placed in an account normally used for routine White House maintenance. The plans have drawn attention because the administration did not seek direct congressional approval for the overall construction programme, while a federal appeals court has ruled that congressional approval is required for the ballroom project.Read more