Southeast Asia and Australia Property Rules — 2026-10-24
Vietnam’s National Assembly is actively debating sweeping amendments to land and housing laws, with proposals to restrict foreign ownership to apartments and shift state control over land pricing. Meanwhile, Singapore’s HDB resale prices dipped for a third consecutive quarter as transaction volumes hit a two-year high, and Australia’s housing market saw its sharpest monthly decline in Brisbane since the downturn began.
Southeast Asia and Australia Property Rules — 2026-10-24
Top developments
Vietnam Proposes Barring Foreign House Purchases
Vietnam’s Communist Party has proposed a significant shift in land policy that would bar foreigners from purchasing houses, limiting their ownership strictly to apartments. This move aims to curb speculation in a market where home prices have exceeded 19 times the median income. The proposal is part of a broader package of draft law amendments currently under discussion in the National Assembly.
Singapore HDB Resales Dip as Volumes Surge
In Q3 2026, Singapore’s HDB resale prices fell by 0.1%, marking the third consecutive quarterly decline. Despite the price drop, transaction volumes hit a two-year high with 7,645 flats sold, a 19.5% increase from the previous quarter. This surge in activity is partly attributed to the lifting of the 15-month wait-out period for private homeowners buying resale flats, which has unlocked pent-up demand.
Australia’s Housing Downturn Spreads to Brisbane
The Australian housing market continues to cool, with the Cotality Home Value Index falling 1.1% month-on-month in September. Brisbane recorded the sharpest decline among capital cities at 1.5%, overtaking Sydney’s 1.4% drop. This marks a significant shift for Brisbane, which was a national growth story for two years, as higher interest rates and affordability constraints dampen buyer demand across the country.
Local view
In Vietnam, local media and legal experts are closely analyzing the draft amendments to the Land Law, Housing Law, and Real Estate Business Law. BBC Vietnamese highlights concerns that increased state power in land recovery may destabilize citizens' rights to their ancestral land.
Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng stated that the new housing policies will focus on developing rental housing, while commercial housing will continue to be regulated by market mechanisms.
In Thailand, authorities are cracking down on nominee arrangements used by foreign investors to hold property. A recent case involved Chinese nationals using nominees to hold luxury homes and condos worth over 185 million baht, linked to illegal cryptocurrency mining operations.
Context & numbers
- Vietnam: Home prices in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have reached 19 times the median income, driving the push for foreign ownership restrictions.
- Singapore: Private residential property prices rose 1.4% in Q3 2026, reaching a new record of 222.5, diverging from the HDB resale trend.
- Australia: The national home value index is now 5.2% below its March 2026 record high.
On the radar
- Thailand’s ฿50 Billion Home Loan Scheme: Launched in October 2026, this scheme offers loans up to ฿3 million at rates starting from 2.6% with terms up to 40 years, aimed at stimulating the domestic property market.
- Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Land Price Framework: HCMC is preparing to issue new land price tables and regulations on sales timelines and occupancy rates for different property types to align with the upcoming Land Law amendments.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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