The nationwide top-priority subscription competition rate last month fell to 6.33 to 1, the lowest in 30 months.
Analyzing Cheongyak Home data on the 23rd, Realhouse, a company specializing in pre-sale evaluations, said the nationwide average top-priority competition rate in January (12-month moving average) was compiled at 6.33 to 1, down 0.60 percentage point from the previous month's 6.93 to 1. Compared with the same month a year earlier (13.17 to 1), it plunged to about half, the lowest since July 2023 (5.56 to 1).
The nationwide average rate peaked at 14.80 to 1 in May last year and then turned downward. Since then, it has gradually declined to ▲7.08 in July ▲9.12 in August ▲7.78 in September ▲7.42 in October ▲6.80 in November ▲6.93 in December ▲6.33 in January, continuing to fluctuate within the single-digit range for seven straight months.
Seoul's average rate also fell from the previous month. The January top-priority rate in Seoul (12-month moving average) was 147.37 to 1, down 8.61 percentage points from December's 155.98 to 1. Still, compared with the nationwide average (6.33 to 1), it remains about 23 times higher, maintaining an overwhelming gap.
Rates in regions outside Seoul remained relatively low. With most areas around 3 to 1, Gyeonggi (3.16 to 1), North Jeolla (3.28 to 1), Busan (4.16 to 1), and Daejeon (9.79 to 1) fell from the previous month. Gwangju (0.24 to 1) and Jeju (0.33 to 1) were below 1 to 1, showing a widening gap between regions.
Looking at the subscription competition rates for individual pre-sale complexes, "DE'FINE Yeonhui" in Seodaemun District, Seoul, posted 44.07 to 1. Although it recorded a double-digit rate, it was lower than "Yeoksam Central Xi," "Banpo Raemian Trinity One," and "Hillstate Isu Station Central," which showed triple-digit rates late last year.
In Gyeonggi Province, "Bukosan Xi Riverble City" in Osan drew 687 applicants for 980 units, posting 0.70 to 1, "Anyang Station Central IPARK Sujain" in Anyang recorded 10.29 to 1, and "Sau Station GNHeim" in Gimpo came in at 0.24 to 1.
In the provinces, under-subscription cases continued. "Daejeon Haneulchae Ruciere (2nd round)" in Daejeon recorded 0.09 to 1, and "South Ulsan Norwegian Forest (canceled allotments from union members)" in Ulsan posted 0.17 to 1.
Meanwhile, as of December last year, there were 66,510 unsold apartment units nationwide, down 2,284 from the previous month. By region, Daegu saw the largest drop, down 1,256 from the previous month, and unsold units decreased in a total of 12 cities and provinces, including North Chungcheong (-515), Gyeonggi (-474), Ulsan (-322), and Daejeon (-205).
Kim Seon-a, head of pre-sale analysis at Realhouse, said, "Delays in supplying large complexes in preferred locations where demand is concentrated acted as a factor lowering the overall average rate," adding, "With fewer new pre-sale offerings slowing additional unsold accumulation and some existing inventory clearing, the overall volume of unsold homes appears to have decreased."