Combined index declines to 125.0
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism released its May 2026 Existing Home Sales Volume Index on August 31. The seasonally adjusted combined index for detached homes and condominiums fell 3.5% from April to 125.0. Excluding homes below 30 square meters, the index was 114.3, down 2.9%. The series uses ownership-transfer registrations involving homes acquired by individuals and is indexed to an average of 100 in 2010, making it a useful measure of transaction activity rather than seller asking prices.
Condominium volume falls 4.4%
The detached-house index fell 3.4% month on month to 124.6, while the condominium index declined 4.4% to 124.2. Excluding condominium units smaller than 30 square meters, the index fell 4.1% to 100.2. In urban markets where resale asking prices remain elevated, transaction volumes need not move in the same direction as advertised prices. Owners considering a sale should therefore examine actual buyer activity and comparable transactions rather than relying only on headline appreciation.
Pricing and liquidity are different issues
A property market can experience rising prices while assets take longer to sell. For overseas owners, the time required for identification, registration-document checks, tax procedures and settlement preparation can also affect execution. The May decline alone does not establish a long-term downturn, but it highlights why sellers and investors should monitor transaction volume alongside sale prices. Subsequent monthly figures will show whether the slowdown was temporary or part of a broader change in resale-market liquidity.