A report from CBC in Canada. "Since the spring, sentiment around real estate has improved. Interest rates have been dropping and prices have adjusted downwards. Those buying in the luxury market in 2017 were often foreign buyers and that market has completely dried up. Many have suggested that foreign buyers used our real estate market as a bank account. Well, instead of making deposits, they are now making withdrawals."

"For the first time in decades, the Chinese have become net sellers of global assets, which includes Vancouver real estate. As a result of this behavioural change, the areas of our market that were popular with foreign investors are now struggling. The luxury market has been the hardest hit with price drops, in some areas, of 40 per cent."

From Forbes on the UK. "A new report by online real estate platform Zoopla confirmed the street in Kensington as the priciest in the country despite a slump in house prices due to the political and economic uncertainty. Prices in the half mile strip fell 7.24% over the past year–a £2.8 million price cut."

From Dublin Live in Ireland. "House prices in Dublin city have been falling by thousands of euro over the last three months, a new Real Estate Alliance report has found. The price of a three-bedroom, semi detached house in Dublin's postal zones fell by an average of €1,500 a month since June."

"A spokesman for REA, Barry McDonald said: 'It is now taking nine weeks to reach sale agreed in Dublin city compared to six a year ago, and these increases are reflected around the country as agents report a quarter heavily influenced by Brexit indecision. We are also seeing greater numbers of small investors leaving the rental market nationally, which is increasing supply but will have a further upward pressure on rents in some areas. This, combined with new homes coming on stream, is increasing choice, but we still have a limited amount of buyers due to the Central Bank rules.'"

The Daily Trust in Nigeria. "Many completed estates in Abuja remain half or totally unoccupied despite improvements in the real estate sector and Nigeria’s economy in general, Daily Trust reports. As more estates are being built, some of the ones that have been completed are either yet to be occupied many years after their completion or are mostly half-empty."

"Our reporter visited Mikasa Residences at KM 10 along Airport Road and saw a large signboard announcing the African University of Science and Technology as its owner. Seven blocks of completed duplexes were counted and basic residential facilities like street lights and access roads have been completed. However, the estate looked deserted, thick grasses compete with the fence and have begun to sprout on the interlocks, while reptiles like lizards roam freely within the compound."

"Speaking on reasons some estates in Abuja are empty, the President of Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Festus Adebayo, said most of the houses are not within the affordability of those that need them. Adebayo said, 'Some of those houses are for money laundering. The owners have only put the prices that will prevent buyers from coming.'"

The South China Morning Post. "Hong Kong's home prices have fallen at the fastest rate this year, as the world's least affordable housing market finds itself under increasing pressure from social unrest and the effects of the US-China trade war."

"Derek Chan, head of research at Ricacorp Properties said the disappointing sale on Friday at Upper Riverbank in Kai Tak, where fewer than half of 218 new flats priced higher than neighbouring secondary-market units found buyers, signalled pressure on developers to keep prices down. That could translate to even lower prices in the secondary market."

"'Secondary market homeowners need to adjust prices down when new flats are cheaper,' Chan said."

From The Guardian on Australia. "The future of a $550m apartment and hotel project on one of Sydney’s most coveted plots of land is under a cloud after the Australian Taxation Office hit the developer’s founder, the controversial businessman and political donor Huang Xiangmo, with a mammoth tax bill."

"Adding to the uncertainty, no one answered the telephone at the project developer Yuhu Group’s Sydney office on Thursday and calls to One Circular Quay’s apartment sales line went to a message bank, which was full. The project is also encumbered by a mortgage to a mysterious company in the tax haven the British Virgin Islands that has previously told Australian authorities it has no assets. It is among more than $1bn in assets linked to Huang and his family that he has left behind in Australia after leaving the country in December."

"According to the ATO, Huang’s wife, Huang Jiefang, and his son, Yuhu’s current chairman Jimmy Huang, have also left Australia, flying from Sydney to Hong Kong this month. In federal court proceedings last week the ATO froze Huang’s assets after hitting him with a $140m tax bill and accused the billionaire, who has close links with both sides of politics, of intentionally setting up complicated business structures in Australia to frustrate efforts to recover money from him."

"Speaking from Tokyo, the development’s selling agent, Justin Brown, of CBRE, said some would-be buyers have put down deposits on apartments but all the money was held in a trust account run by the real estate agency. He declined to say how many buyers there were or how much money CBRE was holding."

"'Reservation deposits have been put down over a period of time but there has been no settlement of contracts,' he said. He said Yuhu could restart selling apartments now but was instead rejigging the project and 'taking their time to get the right product.'"

The Cora Courier in New Zealand. "Stanley Group director Kevin Stanley said he takes full responsibility for what‘s happened. Six Stanley construction group companies were put into liquidation earlier this month, alongside four associated Tallwood companies. Creditors and liquidators met for the first time in Matamata yesterday in a four hour quest for answers. Up to 100 of them gathered at the town‘s racing club where a visibly emotional Kevin Stanley, whose grandfather started Stanley Group more than 90 years ago, read a short statement alongside fellow director Craig Davison."

"'As a director, a CEO, and barer of the Stanley name, I take full responsibility for what‘s happened and has drawn us all here today,' he said. 'The harm has been far reaching and we‘ve let down over 100 staff, our local and national supply network, our subcontracted partners, the community of Matamata, the New Zealand construction industry, and our families. May I extend on behalf of Craig and I my sincere apologies to you all.'"

"After just over two minutes there were no angry outbursts, only a probing shout of 'what did you hope to achieve by saying that?' which was quickly shut down by liquidator Damien Grant as the two directors left the room."

"As Mr Grant went through his report into the companies finances the audience became more vocal. A group sat at the front interrupted him frequently, questioning his decisions, how he would hold the directors to account, and some fought for the meeting to be adjourned. The companies owe creditors about $10 million, many of whom are subcontractors who were not paid in August and have more long-term debts."