This year, the average subscription competition rate for apartments in Seoul was the highest in four years. In particular, demand clustered heavily around the Han River belt.
According to Real Estate R114 on Dec. 15, the nationwide average apartment subscription competition rate from January to October this year was 7.20 to 1, marking a single digit for the first time in three years since 2022 (7.37 to 1). By region, the greater Seoul area was 10.07 to 1 and non-capital regions were 4.53 to 1, a gap of more than double.
In particular, Seoul's January–October subscription competition rate was 146.6 to 1, the highest in four years since 2021 (164.1 to 1). Even within Seoul, demand strongly concentrated on securing new apartments mainly in areas adjacent to the Han River belt, where upward pressure on home prices was high. Seongdong District Seongsu-dong 1-ga "Otiere Foret" and Songpa District Sincheon-dong "Jamsil Le El" saw fierce competition exceeding 600 to 1. Dongjak District Sadang-dong "Hillstate Isu Station Central," Seocho District Banpo-dong "Banpo Raemian Trini One," Yeongdeungpo District Yeongdeungpo-dong 5-ga "Rivercent Prugio Weave," and Seocho District Bangbae-dong "RAEMIAN One Perla" also posted triple-digit competition rates.
Real Estate R114 said, "After the Oct. 15 housing market stabilization measures were announced and all of Seoul was designated as a regulated area, the 2026 Seoul subscription market will rapidly reorganize around end users without homes who have cash on hand." It also noted, "As loan limits are reduced and subscription requirements are tightened, the total number of applicants may decrease, but traditional strongholds with abundant pent-up demand, such as Gangnam and the urban core, will continue to see favorable subscription momentum as the scarcity of new apartments stands out."
In the provincial presales market, complexes within the Cheongju Technopolis urban development zone in Heungdeok District, Cheongju, North Chungcheong—considered an emerging residential area—and new apartments in areas with a high density of aging dwellings in Suseong District, Daegu, showed strength.
Major complexes included "Cheongju Technopolis Atera Phase 2" in Munam-dong, Heungdeok District, Cheongju, North Chungcheong, with a competition rate of 109.66 to 1; "Cheongju Technopolis Heartrium The Metro" (46.26 to 1) in Songjeol-dong, Heungdeok District; and "Daegu Beomeo Phase 2 IPARK" (75.19 to 1) in Beomeo-dong, Suseong District, Daegu, all recording subscription competition rates above their regional averages.