Group 1: Real Estate Market Outlook - UBS's head of Asia-Pacific real estate research, Lin Zhenhong, predicts that the mainland real estate market will bottom out in the second half of 2026, emphasizing that rental trends are key indicators of market recovery [1] - Lin notes that many potential homebuyers have postponed their purchasing plans in favor of renting due to declining property prices and rents over the past three to four years, leading to a vibrant rental market in first-tier cities [1] - The current mainland real estate market shows structural differentiation, with strong sales in high-end residential properties due to previous price control policies limiting developers' willingness to build such projects [1] Group 2: Hong Kong Real Estate Market - Despite current pressures from rising unemployment and short-term oversupply, Lin is optimistic about the Hong Kong residential market's future performance, expecting a supply-demand imbalance in the next three to four years [1] - UBS Greater China real estate analyst Liang Zhanjia forecasts that the Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate (HIBOR) will decrease from approximately 3% to 2.2% by the end of the year, further dropping to 1.6% next year, which will support the Hong Kong property market [2] - Liang also indicates that the supply of office space in Hong Kong will significantly decrease by 2026, leading to a gradual increase in office rental rates by 2027-2028, although rents are expected to continue declining until the end of 2026 [2] Group 3: Office Market Dynamics - A recent major transaction involving Alibaba and Ant Group purchasing a commercial office building for $925 million (approximately HKD 7 billion) has sparked discussions about a potential recovery in Hong Kong's office market [2] - Lin highlights that the current buyer composition in the office market consists mainly of investors and owner-occupiers, with investors making up only 20% of buyers, significantly lower than the historical average of 50% [3] - The cautious attitude of banks towards office mortgage loans and the high interest rate environment are contributing factors to the low rental yield of office properties in Hong Kong, although Grade A office rents are showing signs of bottoming out [3]