Residential mortgage survey results for April 2019

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced the results of the residential mortgage survey for April 2019.
 
     The number of mortgage applications in April decreased month-on-month by 4.3 per cent to 15 026.  
 
     Mortgage loans approved in April 2019 increased by 7.9 per cent compared with March to HK$40.2 billion. Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions increased by 5.9 per cent to HK$8.4 billion and those financing secondary market transactions increased by 12.8 per cent to HK$21.2 billion. Mortgage loans for refinancing increased by 0.6 per cent to HK$10.6 billion. 
 
     Mortgage loans drawn down during April increased by 6.5 per cent compared with March to HK$21.3 billion. 
 
     The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR increased from 86.1 per cent in March to 89 per cent in April. The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to best lending rates decreased from 10.8 per cent in March to 8.1 per cent in April.
 
     The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.4 per cent to HK$1,337 billion at end-April. 
 
     The mortgage delinquency ratio remained unchanged at 0.02 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio remained unchanged at nearly 0 per cent.