Knight Frank launches mid-year Wealth Report

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For the first time ever, Knight Frank also explores the demand for international accommodation in London from parents looking to place their children at private school, which has led to £2bn of investment.

Highlights from the report reveal the annual percentage change in prices to Q2 2018:

• Singapore leads the house price rankings (+11.5%). The city has witnessed resurgent price growth due to rising foreign demand and high land bids by developers.
• Prices in Tokyo have risen (9.4%). Growth is linked to economic sentiment, the city’s relative value compared to Hong Kong and Singapore, and investment ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games.
• European cities continue to strengthen – Madrid (10.3%), Berlin (8.5%) and Paris (6%). Domestic buyers in Paris are back, buoyed by an improved economy and cheap finance
• Los Angeles leads the rankings amongst US cities (7.8%). US cities registered positive growth in the year to June, reflecting the general health of the economy. In some cities inventory levels are still rising and it is likely to be 2019 until the full impact of Donald Trump’s State and Local tax (SALT) reforms are known.

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“Property market regulations continue to determine the direction and volume of capital flows. Singapore, Hong Kong and Vancouver have all seen new macro-prudential measures introduced in the last six months, from vacancy taxes to stamp duty hikes and tighter lending rules. Singapore leads our annual rankings to Q2 2018 but if policymakers have their way, the recent increase in stamp duty for foreign buyers and developers introduced in July 2018 will result in more moderate price growth," commented Kate Everett-Allen, partner, international residential research at Knight Frank.

“Investors may rue the rise in regulations which, in many cases add to their bottom line; on the other hand, new regulations have heightened market transparency enabling some purchasers to move into emerging markets with greater confidence.”

Download the full report.