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The Land Registry today (February 2) released its statistics for January 2012.
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in January was 4,490 (-19.8 per cent compared with December 2011 and -54.7 per cent compared with January 2011)
* The 12-month moving average for January was 8,616 (5 per cent below the 12-month moving average for December 2011 and 35.5 per cent below that for January 2011)
* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in January was $27.8 billion (-14.7 per cent compared with December 2011 and -52.9 per cent compared with January 2011)
* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 3,507 were for residential units (-18.5 per cent compared with December 2011 and -56.2 per cent compared with January 2011)
* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $22.2 billion (-13.5 per cent compared with December 2011 and -33.4 per cent compared with January 2011)
The sale of residential units refers to sale and purchase agreements with payment of stamp duty. These statistics do not include the sale of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme except those after payment of premium.
Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.
As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.
Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in January was 280,782 (-16.9 per cent compared with December 2011 and -44.1 per cent compared with January 2011)
The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.
Ends/Thursday, February 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:01
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