MarketOctober 27, 20262 min readAI translation

Cathay Index: Presale Prices Steady, Volume Up; Kaohsiung Sees Steepest Quarterly Drop in Sale Price at 5.64%

In Q3 2026, presale home prices were broadly steady and sales volume rose, but trends varied across cities, with Kaohsiung posting the largest decline and New Taipei and Hsinchu County and City seeing sharp drops in sales volume.

In three sentences

Cathay Construction's Q3 2026 real estate index shows presale home prices held steady and sales volume rose nationwide.
In Kaohsiung, the probable sale price for presale homes was NT$0.3782 million per ping, down 5.64% quarter on quarter, the largest decline among all cities.
New Taipei's sales volume fell 41.51% quarter on quarter, Hsinchu County and City's fell 49.99%, and Taichung's fell 35.19%.

On prices, the nationwide probable sale price was NT$0.5817 million per ping, up 0.65% quarter on quarter. Only two cities rose by more than 5%: Taoyuan at NT$0.4872 million per ping, up 5.15%, and Taichung at NT$0.5232 million per ping, up 5.13%.

Taipei was at NT$1.4023 million per ping, up 1.17% quarter on quarter, and Hsinchu County and City was at NT$0.6457 million per ping, up 1.20%. New Taipei was at NT$0.6817 million per ping, down 2.01%, and Tainan was at NT$0.3645 million per ping, down 1.58%. Kaohsiung's probable sale price fell 5.64% quarter on quarter, the largest drop among the major cities.

On sales volume, the nationwide sales volume index was 31.18, up 17.42% quarter on quarter. Tainan rose 195.39%, Taipei rose 160.72%, Kaohsiung rose 82.53%, and Taoyuan rose 46.49%. New Taipei, Hsinchu County and City, and Taichung all recorded quarterly declines.

New Taipei's 30-day sales rate this quarter was only 3.72%, with sales volume 25% lower than the same quarter last year and the value of newly launched projects nearly 40% higher than the same quarter last year. Compared with the previous quarter, both prices and volume fell in New Taipei; compared with the same quarter last year, prices held steady while volume shrank. The nationwide overall sales rate was 5.62%, still at a low for the past year.

On the supply side, 160 new projects were launched nationwide this quarter, totaling 15,949 units, with a total launch value of NT$382.9 billion and a main total price of NT$25.27 million; high-rise buildings accounted for 88%. In September, the Central Bank raised the loan-to-value ratio for second-home purchase loans, while interest rates were left unchanged. Cathay Financial Holdings said the looser loan-to-value ratio for second homes could help revive demand from home upgraders and transaction volume; however, credit controls and supply pressure remain, so home prices will keep consolidating in the short term, with performance varying by district.

What it means for you

People looking to buy presale homes should note that trends differ across cities: probable sale prices fell quarter on quarter in Kaohsiung, New Taipei, and Tainan, while Taoyuan and Taichung rose by more than 5%. For those planning to upgrade or buy a second home, the Central Bank raised the loan-to-value ratio for second-home purchase loans in September, and they can ask their banks about the conditions that apply to them. For those who already have a mortgage, the Central Bank decided this time to leave interest rates unchanged.

Loan-to-value calculator

Home priceNT$10KTerm (years)Mortgage rate (%)

Loan amount: 1,400 × NT$10K
Down payment: 600 × NT$10K
Monthly payment: NT$54,023
Total interest: 545 × NT$10K

The default rate of 2.321% is the central bank’s published August average rate on new mortgages at the five major banks. Equal monthly payments, no grace period; the bank’s approval is final.

Quick quiz

2 questions; pick an answer to see the explanation

In Q3 2026, which city had the largest quarterly decline in the probable sale price of presale homes?
In Q3 2026, what was New Taipei's 30-day sales rate?

Image cards

6 cards. Tap to enlarge; save and share with friends

Q3 housing market explainer. The Cathay index shows prices steady and volume up nationwide,
but price changes and sales volume are not uniform across cities.
Four cards walk you through the highlights. — Card 1

Nationwide: prices steady and volume up. The Cathay Real Estate Index for Q3 2026 has been released; the nationwide probable sale price is NT$0.5817 million per ping; up 0.65% from the previous quarter; the sales volume index is 31.18, up 17.42% from the previous quarter — Card 2

Prices by city: some up, some down, with Kaohsiung falling the most. Taoyuan NT$0.4872 million per ping, up 5.15% quarter on quarter; Taichung NT$0.5232 million per ping, up 5.13%; Kaohsiung NT$0.3782 million per ping, down 5.64%; New Taipei down 2.01%, Tainan down 1.58% — Card 3

Change in sales volume: volume up in four cities, down in three areas. Tainan up 195.39%, Taipei up 160.72%; Kaohsiung up 82.53%, Taoyuan up 46.49%; New Taipei down 41.51%, Taichung down 35.19%; Hsinchu County and City down 49.99% — Card 4

Who is affected?: the loan-to-value ratio for second homes has been raised. The Central Bank raised the loan-to-value ratio for second-home purchase loans in September; the Central Bank decided this time to leave interest rates unchanged; Cathay Financial Holdings believes this is expected to boost demand from home upgraders; confirm the conditions that apply to you with your bank — Card 5

Questions you can ask: 1. Bank: If I buy a second home, what loan-to-value ratio applies to me? 2. Bank: I already have a mortgage; have my interest rate terms changed? 3. Agent: In the area I am looking at, what have recent actual sold prices and sales volume been? The index reflects overall regional figures; for an individual property, please rely on actual sales data. — Card 6

Original：鉅亨網 · We only post summaries and key points. Read the original for the full story.

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