Seoul to Release Monthly Land Transaction Applications and Actual Price Index... December Permit Application Prices Up 1.58% [Real Estate AtoZ]

Land Transaction Permit Applications, Processing Volume, and Price Trends Released
7,777 Out of 9,935 Land Transaction Permit Applications Processed in December
Seoul Apartment Actual Transaction Prices Rise 1.28% in November

In order to address the information gap in the real estate market following the expansion of designated land transaction permit zones, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will release monthly data on land transaction applications based on actual transactions, actual transaction price indices, and market analysis reports. Last month, the number of land transaction permit applications increased by approximately 900 compared to the previous month, and the application prices rose by 1.58%.

Yonhap News Agency

Actual Transaction Reporting Takes Up to 50 Days... Land Transaction Permit Application Status and Price Change Trends Provided

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on January 18, a total of 9,935 apartment land transaction permit applications were received as of the end of December 2025, following the implementation of the land transaction permit system. Of these, 7,777 cases (78.3%) were processed. The monthly number of applications was as follows: 1,066 in October 2025, 3,981 in November, and 4,888 in December. The number of processed cases was 78 in October, 3,048 in November, and 4,651 in December. In December, the number of land transaction permit applications increased by 907 compared to the previous month, and the number of processed cases rose by 1,603.

Monthly analysis of land transaction permit application prices shows that from October 20 to November 2025, application prices increased by 1.49% compared to the actual transaction prices in October. In December, the application prices rose by 1.58% compared to the previous month, indicating a widening increase.

Previously, it took up to 30 days to report an actual transaction after signing a sales contract. However, due to the October 15 policy measures, the process of obtaining a land transaction permit before contract signing was added, extending the reporting period to a maximum of 50 days. In land transaction permit zones, it takes up to 19 days from signing a preliminary sales agreement to submitting and processing the land transaction permit application, an average of 4.5 days from permit approval to signing the final sales contract, and up to 30 days from contract signing to reporting the actual transaction. This information gap and the sharp decline in transaction volume are causing a "distortion effect," further increasing market confusion.

To address this, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will analyze and provide monthly updates on the status of land transaction permit applications and processing, as well as trends in application price changes. Land transaction permit applications must be submitted to the district office before a sales contract is signed, and once the permit is granted, the contract must be executed at the permitted price. This allows for the proactive identification of potential transaction volumes and price trends before actual transaction reporting.

Seoul Apartment Data Extracted from Korea Real Estate Board Actual Transaction Price Index to Be Released

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to extract and organize relevant data on Seoul apartments from the price trends in the Korea Real Estate Board's nationally approved "Apartment Actual Transaction Price Index" and provide it monthly through press releases. Experts have pointed out that the "National Housing Price Trend Survey," which is calculated based on sample price surveys, may reflect asking prices or market prices of certain areas or complexes, resulting in discrepancies from actual transaction prices.

The November actual transaction price index was calculated by analyzing all transaction data for contracts signed between November 1 and 30, where the actual transaction was reported within 30 days of contract signing. The actual transaction price index is based on reported transaction prices, providing a more accurate reflection of real market trends than indices based on surveyor evaluations or asking prices. During periods of price fluctuation, contract changes are quickly reflected in the index.

The actual transaction prices for Seoul apartment sales released this month for November 2025 showed a 1.28% increase compared to the previous month (October 2025), and a significant 12.95% increase compared to the same month of the previous year (November 2024).

Seoul apartment actual transaction prices peaked in October 2021, declined until December 2022, but have generally been on an upward trend since then. As of November 2025, the actual transaction prices have risen by 1.3% compared to the October 2021 peak, slightly surpassing the previous record high.

Seoul Apartment Actual Transaction Prices and Rate of Change Over 5 Years. (Source: Korea Real Estate Board Apartment Actual Transaction Price Index, Apartment Sales Price Index). Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government

By region, three residential zones-Central (3.46%), Southeast (1.82%), and Southwest (0.35%)-recorded increases compared to the previous month, with the Central zone leading the overall rise in Seoul's index. By size, large apartments (over 135 square meters of exclusive area) saw the highest increase at 2.07%, followed by small apartments (40-60 square meters or less) at 1.86%, and medium-small apartments (over 60 square meters up to 85 square meters) at 1.16%.

In November, actual transaction prices for apartment leases (jeonse) rose across all five residential zones in Seoul, with the citywide average up by 0.94%. The Southwest zone showed the highest increase at 1.09% compared to the previous month. By size, medium-small apartments recorded the highest increase at 1.16%.

The city plans to analyze market trends by residential zone, size, and building age based on actual transaction prices and will release this information on the "Seoul Housing Information Plaza" at the end of each month. Choi Jinseok, Director of Housing, stated, "We will continue to provide accurate market information based on actual transactions to alleviate excessive anxiety or unfounded expectations in the real estate market and help citizens make rational decisions."