Market Trends - Student dorms are the fastest growing real estate investment choice in Hong Kong [1] - Student dorm transactions reached $411 million in the first 9 months of the year, almost double the amount from a year ago [1] - The number of approved student visas more than doubled to over 70,000 in 2024 from 2020 [2] Supply and Demand - Property agency Collier's estimates a shortfall of 120,000 student beds by the 2027 academic year [3] - Strong demand for student dorms exists due to undersupply [2] Investment Perspective - Student housing offers stable cash flow as tenants tend to pay rent upfront for a full year [3] - Student housing is seen as a safe bet against the backdrop of Hong Kong's sluggish office market [3]

Market Trends - Increased interest from American students to study in Ireland [1] - Trinity College experienced a 40% increase in postgraduate offers accepted by US applicants this year compared to last year [1] - US students are attracted to Ireland due to English language, cheaper tuition, and political reasons [2] Challenges - Ireland faces a tough rental market, making accommodation difficult to find [1] - Strained on and off-campus accommodation leads to high prices [2] - Housing in Ireland stalled after the financial crash [3] Government Initiatives - The government is trying to increase housing starts by attracting private investors [3] - The impact on purpose-built student accommodation remains unclear [3]