- After the June 27 Policy, Seoul Apartment Sales Market Contracts... Demand Shifts to Outlying Price Ceiling Complexes
- "Geomdan Centreville Edu City" Gains Attention as a Large-Scale Complex of 1,534 Units with Reasonable Pre-Sale Prices and Specialized Design
Following the government's June 27 real estate policy announcement, the "balloon effect" in the Seoul metropolitan area’s pre-sale market is intensifying, particularly in complexes subject to the price ceiling system. As regulations have been tightened for Seoul and high-priced apartments, accessibility for buyers has significantly decreased. In contrast, demand is shifting to complexes in outlying areas where the price ceiling system applies, making prices relatively more affordable.
According to KB Kookmin Bank, as of July 2025, the Seoul apartment sales index dropped by 0.12 points compared to the previous month, indicating a clear contraction in transactions in major high-priced areas such as Gangnam and Seocho.
On the other hand, in outlying areas of the metropolitan region that are less affected by regulations, there is a noticeable influx of genuine homebuyer demand for public housing complexes subject to the price ceiling system. A representative example is Geomdan New Town, where many of the public housing complexes are subject to the price ceiling system, giving the area a significant price advantage.
The recently launched "Geomdan Hosu Park Station Junghung S-Class" in Incheon Geomdan New Town, a complex subject to the price ceiling system, attracted 6,831 applications for 522 available units, resulting in an average competition rate of 13.08 to 1. The highest competition rate was 23.35 to 1 for the 84㎡A unit type.
An industry official stated, "Complexes within public housing sites that are subject to the price ceiling system are more than 10% cheaper than neighboring market prices, which is clearly attracting not only genuine homebuyers but also investment demand." The official added, "Geomdan New Town has a high proportion of public housing complexes subject to the price ceiling system, and its future value is enhanced by expanding transportation and living infrastructure, so demand for pre-sale applications is expected to remain steady."
Meanwhile, a large-scale branded apartment complex subject to the price ceiling system is set to be launched next month in the Ara Station living area of Geomdan New Town. This is "Geomdan Centreville Edu City," developed by Dongbu Construction at 693 Dangha-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon (Geomdan District AB8BL apartment construction site).
Geomdan Centreville Edu City will be a large-scale complex with a total of 1,534 units, consisting of 17 buildings ranging from two basement levels to 25 above-ground floors. There are eight types of units with exclusive areas from 74㎡ to 120㎡. Dongbu Construction’s flagship brand "Centreville" will be exclusively applied, and the project features customized residential designs catering to a wide range of demand, from newlyweds to multi-child families and seniors.
In particular, the south-facing building layout and the four-bay cross-ventilation structure applied to most units maximize sunlight and ventilation efficiency. For units of 84㎡ or larger, wide layouts and optional alpha rooms have been introduced to further enhance the flexibility and usability of the interior space.
Within the complex, there will be childcare and education-focused spaces such as the "Kids & Moms Cafe" and "Book Garden," as well as senior community facilities like the "Honors Club" and "Relax Room." Various health and leisure amenities are also planned, including an indoor gymnasium, fitness center, sauna, and golf lounge. At the center, a plaza called "Grand 365," approximately 365 meters long, will be surrounded by about 20 landscaped areas such as waterfront spaces and themed gardens. There are also plans for a 5-kilometer walking trail connected to nearby parks, promising a pleasant and healing lifestyle in the city.
The location is also excellent. The complex is within walking distance of Ara Station on Incheon Subway Line 1, which opened in June, providing easy access to downtown Seoul and Incheon. Transferring at Gyeyang Station on the Airport Railroad allows travel to Seoul Station in about 40 minutes. Additional transportation benefits are anticipated, including the planned GTX-D line, the proposed extension of Seoul Subway Line 5, and the planned extension of Incheon Line 2.
With the development of Geomdan New Town, a legal district including the planned sites for Incheon District Court Northern Branch and Prosecutors' Office Northern Branch, as well as business facilities such as Smart With Up, will be established nearby, providing favorable conditions for living close to workplaces.
The living infrastructure is also abundant. The complex is near Incheon Ara Elementary School (under discussion), Ara Middle and High Schools, and Ara Dream Kindergarten, creating an educational environment. Various retail and cultural facilities, such as Emart, Lotte Mart, and Wondang Culture and Sports Center, are also nearby. There is ample green space, including Ara Noeul Park and Geomdan District Neighborhood Parks 4 and 5, providing a nature-friendly residential environment.
A Dongbu Construction representative explained, "'Geomdan Centreville Edu City' is a complex within a public housing site subject to the price ceiling system, offering a reasonable pre-sale price compared to the surrounding market, which has significantly reduced the burden on genuine homebuyers." The representative added, "The complex itself is evaluated as a well-balanced development, with specialized design, community facilities, landscaping, and location conditions all befitting a large-scale complex of 1,500 units, offering both competitive pricing and product quality."
The Geomdan Centreville Edu City model home will be located in Dangha-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon.
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