Meridians: In July, the number and amount of newly approved mortgage insurance were 1,126 and HKD 6.276 billion, respectively.

mReferral Mortgage Brokerage Services' referral research department and Hong Kong Mortgage Securities Limited have reported that in July 2026, the number and amount of newly approved mortgage insurance plan loans were 1,126 cases and HKD 6.276 billion, representing a decrease of 319 cases (22.1%) and HKD 2.108 billion (25.1%) compared to June, which had 1,445 cases and HKD 8.384 billion. In July 2026, the number and amount of newly drawn mortgage insurance plan loans were 510 cases and HKD 2.805 billion, down by 18 cases (3.4%) from June's 528 cases and HKD 2.796 billion, with a slight increase of HKD 90 million (0.3%), marking a three-month high. The average loan amount drawn under the mortgage insurance plan in July was HKD 5.5 million, an increase of HKD 200,000 (3.9%) month-on-month, reaching a 15-month high. Additionally, among the new mortgage insurance cases, the share of first-hand properties was 18%, a 32-month low, while the share of second-hand properties was 82%. Comparing the first seven months of this year, the number and amount of newly approved mortgage insurance loans were 8,207 cases and HKD 45.156 billion, down by 1,657 cases (16.8%) and HKD 3.929 billion (8%) from 9,864 cases and HKD 49.085 billion in the same period last year, marking the lowest levels for the first seven months in nearly a decade and seven years, respectively. In the first seven months, the number and amount of new mortgage insurance loans drawn were 3,468 cases and HKD 18.333 billion, compared to 4,112 cases and HKD 20.496 billion in the same period last year, a decrease of 644 cases (15.7%) and HKD 2.163 billion (10.6%), both hitting the lowest levels for the first seven months in nearly a decade. Cao Deming, Chief Vice President of mReferral Mortgage Brokerage Services, stated that currently, the maximum mortgage percentage banks can offer for all residential properties is 70%. Property buyers do not need to apply for mortgage insurance and can afford a maximum of 70% mortgages, leading to a continuous decline in the demand for mortgage insurance. In July, among the cases referred by mReferral Mortgage Brokerage Services for private residential mortgages, about forty-five percent of clients borrowed the full 70% mortgage. With the significant reduction in demand for mortgage insurance, it is expected that these figures will continue to remain low throughout the year.