New high-end apartment supply up 120 pct

Mid-range supply rose 295 percent to 4,908 units, accounting for 49 percent of new supply, while no new affordable unit was launched, according to a report by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction.

This shows an imbalance in the HCMC real estate market where developers focus on the high-profit, high-end and luxury market while ignoring the affordable segment, boasting strong demand.

The HCMC Real Estate Association (HoREA) predicts the imbalance would cause negative consequences in housing security.

HCMC plans to increase its residential area per capita to 21.04 square meters by the end of the year, up nearly 2 percent from now. To do this, it needs an additional eight million square meters.