Hong Kong property market rebounds: celebrities seize the opportunity to sell, Mak Ming-sze's mother earns $229,000 from "Dragon Bed" in 7 years

1. "Longchuangpan" has appreciated by 12% in 7 years, and celebrities have accurately cashed in

The unit for sale this time is Room 30 on the lower floor of Tuen Mun Jingjun, with a usable area of only 141 square feet (approximately 13.1 square meters). It is a classic open-concept "nano-flat". Due to its extremely small size, the developer once used the slogan "the emperor sleeps on a dragon bed" for promotion, hence it is known as the "dragon bed flat". He Xiaojuan purchased it from her daughter, Mai Mingshi, in 2019 through an internal transfer, paying HK$2 million at that time. Tracing back to its origin, Mai Mingshi purchased it in 2019 for approximately HK$1.909 million, and the family has held the property for a total of seven years.

The transaction price per square foot was approximately HK$15,163, which was about 2% higher than the market valuation, indicating that the owner had the bargaining power in the recovering market. Over the past seven years, the book profit has been HK$229,000, with a growth rate of 12% and an average annual return of about 1.6%. Although it is not a huge profit, it has achieved stable value preservation in the fluctuation cycle of the Hong Kong property market and successfully avoided the depreciation risk of nano-buildings in recent years, reflecting the asset turnover wisdom of celebrity families.

II. The heating up of the property market catalyzes cash-out activities, leading to a rebound in nano-unit property transactions

The Hong Kong property market saw a significant rebound in the first quarter of 2026, with new home transactions hitting a record high for the same period in recent years. The secondary market also saw increased activity, with low-priced nano-flats becoming the preferred choice for first-time home buyers, driving up transaction volumes in areas such as Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. As the "grandfather of dragon bed flats", Jingjun has the smallest unit size of only 128 square feet, smaller even than a standard parking space. In the early years, it became a hot investment spot due to its low total price.

In the past few years, this property had experienced depreciation, with some units falling more than 40% from their peak. Since the beginning of this year, market confidence has been restored, coupled with the downward trend in interest rates and the talent entry plan driving rigid demand, the demand for nano-buildings has rebounded. In March, the transaction price per square foot of Jingjun increased by 3.23% month-on-month. He Xiaojuan chose to sell at this time, precisely hitting the market recovery point, which not only locks in a small profit but also avoids long-term holding risks.

III. Third, the family has a clear investment strategy, aiming to cash out in batches to secure profits

The Mak Ming-sze family has long had a strategic investment layout: in 2019, they invested HK$6.202 million to purchase three units. Apart from the unit sold by Ho Siu-kuen this time, the two units held by her brother Mak Ming-shan were sold in 2020 and 2021, respectively, yielding profits of HK$563,000 and HK$714,000, with increases of 26% and 33%, respectively.

When selling in the early years, a high amount of additional stamp duty was required, narrowing the actual profit margin. With the current recovery of the property market and the optimization of the stamp duty environment, the family chose to continue cashing out, adopting a prudent strategy of "entering the market in batches and exiting at profits in batches". They are not greedy for high prices and take profits when they see good opportunities, which is in line with the common asset preservation mindset of Hong Kong celebrity families.

IV. The market recovers with differentiated conditions: nanoscale properties retain value, while luxury properties fluctuate

The current Hong Kong property market is showing a clear differentiation: due to the support of first-time homebuyers' demand for nano-sized and small-to-medium-sized units, transactions and prices have steadily recovered; however, the luxury housing market has experienced significant fluctuations, with some celebrities selling at a loss (such as Guo Jiawen who sold his luxury home in Kowloon Tong at a loss).

For ordinary property owners, while the 12% return on the "Longchuangpan" over seven years may not be eye-catching, it is more meaningful as a reference for achieving value preservation and successful cash-out during the property market cycle. As the market continues to recover, it is expected that more property owners will follow the example of celebrities and seize the opportunity to sell non-core properties and optimize their asset structure.

This transaction serves as both an individual investment case and a signal indicating the recovery of the Hong Kong property market: nano-homes still retain their value for rigid demand, while accurately grasping the cycle and timely taking profits are the keys to navigating through fluctuations.