Mansion Global Daily: St. Louis Ranks No. 1 in WSJ/Realtor.com Luxury Index, Nearly Half of U.K. Landlords May Sell Their Investments, and More
A strong STEM-based economy, affordable mansions and a vibrant arts scene brought the Midwestern metro to the top of the list. Read More
LISTING OF THE DAY
The Victorian brick warehouse now features 10 loft apartments and a hip underground pool, gym and club. Read More
DESIGNER’S CORNER
From fresh blooms to wall treatments, adding a splash of color and some natural elements can redefine your room. Read More
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NEWS BITES
Nearly Half of the U.K.’s Private Landlords Could Look to Sell if Rates Continue to Rise
U.K. landlords may soon be exiting the market in droves, according to a survey by Finbri. The property finance broker found that 44% of private landlords in the U.K. said they will try to sell their investments should the base interest rate hit 4.5%, which insiders expect to happen as soon as mid-May, with further increases also likely. "The combination of rising interest rates, successive hostile legislative and regulatory changes places significant burdens on private landlords," said Stephen Clark of Finbri. "Unsurprisingly, large numbers of private landlords are selling up and exiting the U.K. rental market." PropertyWire
Dubai Developer to Build a Land-Based Cruise Ship Development
Want all the luxury of a cruise without sea sickness? Good news—Dubai-based builder Samana Developers is creating a mid-luxury residential project inspired by cruise ships, but placed firmly on dry land. Located in Dubai’s Arjan district, the Samana Mykonos Signature project is expected to cost the developer AED 300 million (US$81.7 million) and feature 276 residential units, as well as 24 retail units. Renderings of the project show the structure has a sloping-style similar to a cruise ship and a massive "deck" pool, while individual residences have walls of glass and their own plunge pools. The National
California Home Sales Down 34%
What a difference a year makes. According to the California Association of Realtors, home sales in the Golden State were down 34.2% year over year in March, from 427,040 homes in 2022 to 281,050 last month. On a month-to-month basis, sales fell just 1% from 284,010 in February. Despite the declining sales, other metrics were more optimistic for potential sellers, including a 7.6% increase in California’s median home price—the first jump in seven months—from February’s $735,480 to $791,490 in March. World Property Journal
Hong Kong Home Prices Rise for Third Straight Month
Is Hong Kong’s housing market seeing daylight? In March, home prices in the city rose for the third straight month, climbing 1.35%, in the Rating and Valuation Department’s home price index, to 351.4, its highest level since reaching 360.3 in September. Despite the consistent gains, there’s reason to suspect that the city isn’t entirely out of the woods, as the growth has slowed month to month, as February saw the index grow by 2.22%, the biggest jump in almost three years, buoyed by news that the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were being rolled back. South China Morning Post
AROUND NEWS CORP
They Wanted to Retire in North Carolina. So How’d They End up in South Carolina? [The Wall Street Journal]
Why Brits Are Choosing Portugal for Their Retirement [The Times of London]
Spectacular Spec Home: New DC Dwelling for $9.9 Million Is ‘Habitable Art’ [Realtor.com]
‘Worst Year’ of Rental Crisis Upon Us as Affordable Properties Dwindle [news.com.au]