In last year's nationwide subscription market, the competition rate for general supply was about twice as high as for special supply.
On Feb. 18, RealToday, a real estate research firm, said its analysis of Korea Real Estate Board (REB) Cheongyak Home data found that last year's nationwide average competition rate for first-priority general supply subscriptions (excluding remaining and canceled union-member quantities below) was 7.1 to 1. In contrast, the competition rate for special supply subscriptions (including institution-recommended preliminary candidates) was 3.6 to 1, about half that of general supply.
In 2024 as well, the competition rate for special supply subscriptions (5.7 to 1) was more than half lower than the first-priority general supply competition rate (12.3 to 1). In 2023, the special supply competition rate (2.6 to 1) was nearly four times lower than the first-priority general supply competition rate (10.3 to 1).
Even for popular complexes that recorded triple-digit competition rates in general supply last year, the competition rate for special supply was relatively low. In Seongsu-dong 1-ga, Seongdong-gu, "HAUTERRE Foret," and in Sincheon-dong, Songpa-gu, "Jamsil LE | EL," the average first-priority general supply competition rates were 688.1 to 1 and 631.6 to 1, respectively, while the special supply competition rates were 233.2 to 1 and 346.2 to 1, respectively.
To apply for special supply, applicants must be members of a household without a home, and only one lifetime winning chance is allowed, so there tend to be fewer applicants than for general supply. Also, because there are eligibility requirements by type, competition is less intense than for general sales.
Last year's share of special supply applications by type was, in order, first-time homebuyers (46.8%), newlyweds (38.2%), multi-child households (12.4%), elderly parent support (1.1%), institution recommendation (1.0%), and transfer institutions (0.6%). In 2024 and last year, about 85% of all special supply applicants were concentrated in the first-time homebuyer and newlywed categories.
Koo Jamin, a researcher at RealToday, said, "Special supply, with a competition rate at about half that of general supply, is serving as a practical game changer in the subscription market," and added, "Checking the qualifications for the special supply type that fits one's situation and actively targeting it can be the most efficient strategy to shorten the time to secure a home."