A fresh start in 2018 – look back to move forward

Happy New Year!

It’s amazing how fast time flies – 2018 already! Sorry it’s been a while since I last blogged here; my team and I had a busy end of 2017.

I find the time between “New Year” and the Lunar New Year is always a good time for me to reflect on what’s past…and plan ahead! So here are a few things I’ve been mulling over…

Looking back

We helped some wonderful families find awesome apartments and happy homes last year – that’s something I’m definitely thankful for. But you know me, second only to my love of residential leasing is my passion for all things Diversity.

That’s why JLL’s Diversity & Inclusion Week was one of my highlights of 2017. We did everything from a multi-cultural pot-luck lunch, to diverse panel debates, a trivia night and cocktail making! It was a great success, and reminded me that diversity is quite simple; it is about acceptance and respect. Understanding, accepting and embracing differences is the key. Embracing diversity within a team is powerful, whether it is gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status or other ideologies. Look out more of our activities on social media by following #PoweredbyDiversity!

Looking forward

But, back to the day job! What does 2018 have in store for the residential leasing market?

Well, if the closing months of 2017 are anything to go by, luxury rentals will continue to stabilise. The banking industry was the source of most demand last year, and we’re also seeing more interest from the legal sector coming through.

Traditional leasing hotspots also had a bit of a renaissance. Mid-levels was our most popular neighbourhood in 4Q17 – and no wonder: it is home to big complexes with loads of amenities, high-specification flats, and you can’t beat the location just an escalator away from the Central Business District. The Southside was a close second with our clients, proving that life by the beach never loses its appeal!

According to our quarterly Residential Leasing Snapshot, our ‘lease-o-meter’ is showing a “lukewarm” reading. We’re expecting leasing activity to pick up after the Lunar New Year holiday – so if you want a good deal and don’t want to compete with a lot of other tenants, now is the time to get in touch!

Are you looking to move in 2018? Let us know your favourite neighbourhoods in Hong Kong!