Group 1 - The core finding of the survey indicates that 45% of respondents without property are considering purchasing a home in the coming year, while another 45% are adopting a wait-and-see approach, and 10% plan to continue renting [1] - Among those considering first-time home purchases, over 86.2% intend to buy for self-use [1] Group 2 - The company anticipates that the risk of weakening employment in the U.S. outweighs the risk of rising inflation, predicting a potential preventive interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in the first half of next year [1] - For Hong Kong, a rate cut cycle is expected from 2024 to 2025, with banks likely to reduce rates five times, totaling 0.875%, bringing the best lending rate back to pre-rate hike levels [1] - The one-month HIBOR in Hong Kong is projected to fluctuate between 2% and 3% in the first half of next year, with the effective interest rate for new mortgages expected to remain at 3.25% [1] - HIBOR trends will depend on U.S. interest rates and capital flows; if more funds flow into Hong Kong, HIBOR may challenge levels below 2%, potentially allowing homeowners to secure loans at rates lower than the capped interest rate [1]

Core Viewpoint - The introduction of a new H+1% mortgage plan by a bank is seen as a promotional strategy that increases low-interest mortgage options in the market, but it is unlikely to lead to similar offerings from other banks due to its inherent limitations [1] Group 1: Mortgage Plan Analysis - The new mortgage interest rate is 0.3% lower than the mainstream market plans, but the capped interest rate is 2% higher than the market average [1] - The plan is sensitive to fluctuations in the interbank offered rate (HIBOR), which could result in interest rates exceeding the capped rate, making it less attractive for consumers [1] - If the one-month HIBOR rises above 2.5%, the effective interest rate of this plan would surpass the market's capped rate of 3.5%, limiting its usage [1] Group 2: Market Implications - The prevailing mainstream mortgage plans are expected to remain at H+1.3% with a capped interest rate as low as 3.5% (P-2%; with P currently at 5.5%), which offers higher security for consumers [1] - Due to the limitations of the H+1% plan, it is believed that other banks will not be incentivized to introduce similar mortgage plans in the near future [1]