Seoul housing sales sentiment declines for the first time in 8 months... Local areas continue to rise

A notice regarding sales is posted at a real estate agency in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. (Yonhap News)

The housing sales sentiment in Seoul has shifted to a downward trend for the first time in eight months.

According to the "August Real Estate Market Consumer Sentiment Index" report published by the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements on the 13th, the housing sales consumer sentiment index in Seoul was 140.5, down 0.1 points compared to the previous month.

Although this is the first decline since December last year, it still maintains an 'upward phase.'

Meanwhile, Incheon's housing sales sentiment index saw a significant drop from 124.5 in July to 116.8 in August, while Gyeonggi Province slightly increased from 126.8 to 127.8.

While the overall housing sales sentiment in the metropolitan area has stalled, the local housing sales market is still on an upward trend.

The housing sales consumer sentiment index in non-metropolitan areas has risen for six consecutive months, increasing from 109.1 in July to 112.2 in August. However, compared to the metropolitan area, the upward trend was somewhat weaker, remaining in a 'stable phase.'

In regions such as Gwangju, Sejong, and Daejeon, housing sales sentiment has risen sharply, with Sejong particularly climbing from 115.8 to 125.6.

On the other hand, Gyeongbuk and Jeju fell from 109.4 to 103.9 and 101.7 to 97.3, respectively.

Nationally, the housing sales consumer sentiment index rose by 1.2 points from the previous month to 122.1, and the housing rental market sentiment index also increased by the same margin to 104.3.

Additionally, the nationwide real estate consumer sentiment index, which combines housing and land, recorded 110.6, continuing a five-month upward trend.