Smaller residential properties are expected to become increasingly popular as the size of families decreases, Chyi Realty Co (群義房屋) said yesterday.
In addition, the relatively lower price tag of these properties could help sellers save on taxes, as the government prepares to reform legislation so that property sold is taxed based on the actual price paid, the real-estate agency said.
Chyi Realty Taipei branch manager Li Chih-wei (李智暐) referenced statistics compiled by the Ministry of the Interior, saying it would become a trend for home buyers to seek small to medium- sized homes.
According to statistics, the average size of a Taiwanese family has fallen to 2.8 this year from 3.33 in 2000.
However, the statistics show that the number of households in the country in the first nine months of this year rose 1.24 percent to about 8.37 million.
The data indicate that the number of households in New Taipei City — the largest among the nation’s 22 counties and cities — reached 1.49 million, accounting for 17.86 percent of the total number of households in the nation.
Greater Kaohsiung is second-highest with 1.06 million, making up 12.71 percent of the total, ahead of Taipei with 1.04 million, representing 12.38 percent.
Chyi Realty said that the increase in the number of households means that demand for residential housing is on the rise, in particular in major cities such as Taipei, New Taipei City and Greater Kaohsiung.
Li said that many families in Taiwan are composed of two parents and one child, who are looking for two-bedroom homes, meaning such homes are increasingly in demand.
Li said that smaller one bedroom-houses are also in strong demand, but supplies are limited.
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