Core Insights - In January 2026, the number of existing property mortgage applications in Hong Kong reached 8,022, a significant increase of 2,940 applications (57.9%) compared to December 2025, marking a 31-month high [1] - The number of pre-sale property mortgage applications was 381, up by 78 applications (25.7%) from December 2025, also reaching a three-month high [1] - Compared to the same period last year, existing property mortgage applications increased by 3,821 applications (91%), while pre-sale property mortgage applications decreased by 15 applications (3.8%) [1] Group 1: Existing Property Mortgages - The existing property mortgage applications in January 2026 showed a notable rise, attributed to new buyers from projects like Anli Court and Anhua Court [1] - The current interest rates are maintained at reasonable levels, and property prices in Hong Kong have stabilized significantly, leading to a reduction of over 30% in negative equity cases, the lowest in nearly nine quarters [1] - Positive factors are expected to enhance market confidence among users and investors, with projections indicating a steady increase in transaction volumes and continued growth in existing and pre-sale mortgage applications [1] Group 2: Market Share of Mortgage Banks - Bank of China Hong Kong (02388) maintained the top position in existing property mortgage market share with 30.4%, followed by HSBC at 22.2%, Hang Seng Bank at 13.7%, Standard Chartered at 8%, and Bank of East Asia at 4.8% [2] - In the pre-sale property mortgage market, HSBC ranked first with a market share of 26.8%, while Bank of China Hong Kong dropped to second with 23.9% [2] - The market share of the four major banks in existing property mortgages increased from 67.8% to 74.3% in January 2026, indicating a rebound in property prices and consumer confidence [2]