In the first half of this year (January–June), more than 40,000 people bought a Seoul apartment for the first time in their lives, up more than 40% from the same period last year. More than half of all buyers were in their 30s. They mainly bought apartments in districts such as Nowon and Gangseo.
An analysis by real estate information company Jippoom of the Supreme Court Registry Plaza's data on the "status of buyers applying for ownership transfer registration (sale)" found that in the first half of this year, the number of first-time buyers of collective buildings in Seoul was 40,066, up 12,310 (44.4%) from the same period a year earlier (27,756).
By age group, buyers ages 30–39 totaled 22,394, up 9,171 (69.4%) from the same period a year earlier (13,223). Their share of all buyers also rose 8.3 percentage points, from 47.6% to 55.9%. Those ages 40–49 numbered 7,856, followed by those ages 19–29 at 4,203.
Looking at where buyers ages 30–39 purchased apartments, Nowon District had the most at 1,808. It was followed by Gangseo District (1,710), Seongbuk District (1,416), Yeongdeungpo District (1,332), and Guro District (1,322). Among all buyers, the share in their 30s was highest in Yeongdeungpo District (66.3%), Seongdong District (64.7%), and Seongbuk District (63.6%).
Among buyers ages 19–29, 334 purchased their first apartment in Nowon District. They were followed by Gangseo District (302) and Songpa District (250), with Seongbuk District and Yeongdeungpo District tied for fourth at 226 each. For those ages 40–49, the order was Eunpyeong District (572), Gangseo District (558), Songpa District (513), Nowon District (496), and Jungnang District (443). The increase among people in their 40s was largest in Eunpyeong District at 344, while the increase among those in their 30s was counted as Nowon District (1,013), Gangseo District (894), and Seongbuk District (745).
Looking at the distribution of all buyers by district, Gangseo District had the most at 3,003. It was followed by Nowon District (2,913), Eunpyeong District (2,532), Songpa District (2,374), and Seongbuk District (2,225). The largest increases were in Eunpyeong District (1,433), Gangseo District (1,371), and Seongbuk District (1,024). Of Seoul's 25 districts, 21 saw increases, while Dongdaemun District, Seongdong District, Gangnam District, and Gwangjin District saw decreases.
A Jippoom official said, "Buyers ages 30–39 totaled 22,394, accounting for 55.9% of the total, with the most in Nowon and Gangseo," and noted, "The top districts and the scale of the increase differed for those in their 20s and 40s, confirming trends by age and region."