Guri Apartment Transactions Soar Fourfold Amid Seoul Regulations... Gyeonggi and Incheon Up 33% [Real Estate AtoZ]

Zigbang Analyzes Apartment Transactions from January to April

Transactions Increase in Dongtan, Giheung, and Manan, Anyang

Bundang and Gwacheon See Declines Due to Land Transaction Permission Zones

As transaction regulations have been tightened in certain popular areas of Seoul and the greater metropolitan area, buyers are shifting toward transportation hubs and mid- to low-priced areas in Gyeonggi and Incheon. In regions with good access to Seoul and relatively lower price burdens, apartment transaction volumes have more than doubled over the past year.

According to ZIGBANG on May 18, apartment transactions in Gyeonggi and Incheon totaled 66,294 cases from January to April this year, a 33% increase compared to the same period last year (50,013 cases). ZIGBANG explained, "Since all of Seoul was designated as a land transaction permit zone in October last year and transaction requirements became stricter, real demand has dispersed to the Gyeonggi and Incheon areas." The company added, "Sales transactions are increasing mainly in areas within Gyeonggi and Incheon that have strong transportation infrastructure and are more affordable."

In Gyeonggi Province, the number of transactions rose by 36% from 40,983 to 55,822 during the same period. The area with the highest increase in transaction volume was Guri City. The number of apartment transactions in Guri jumped by 265%, from 468 cases in January–April last year to 1,708 cases during the same period this year—an increase of 3.6 times in just one year. This rise is attributed to a combination of factors, including the planned extension of the GTX and Subway Line 6, as well as expectations for the redevelopment of aging complexes.

Within Guri, the surge in transactions was particularly evident in Inchang-dong. Apartment transactions in Inchang-dong rose about fourfold, from 186 cases to 778 cases. The area, which includes Guri Station and Donggureung Station, offers good access to Seoul and is home to large-scale apartment complexes near the stations. Specifically, Inchang Jugong Complex 2 and Inchang Jugong Complex 6 each saw 64 transactions, while Inchang Jugong Complex 1 recorded 62 transactions.

Southern Gyeonggi: Strong Performance in Transportation Hubs and Live-Work Proximity Complexes

Apartment views throughout the city center as seen from Namsan, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In the southern Gyeonggi region, Dongtan District of Hwaseong City and Giheung District of Yongin City led the increase in transactions. Dongtan District recorded 3,635 cases, up 136%, driven by new town demand bolstered by a wide-area transportation network. Giheung District posted 3,073 cases, up 115%.

ZIGBANG noted that in Dongtan District, "Demand for new towns continued based on wide-area transportation networks such as the GTX and SRT." For Giheung District, the company explained, "The improved accessibility to Seoul and expectations surrounding the local semiconductor industrial complex and the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster contributed to demand from those seeking proximity between home and work."

In Dongtan District, transactions were concentrated in complexes near Dongtan Station, including Dongtan 2 House D The Lake (80 cases), Dongtan Station Foreness (74 cases), and Dongtan Station Siheomhaehanwha Kumegreen Prestige (69 cases). In Giheung District, the highest transaction volumes were seen at Sinheungdeok Lotte Castle Leicity (66 cases), Sindongbaek Lotte Castle Eco Complex 1, and Blooming Guseong The Central (each 61 cases).

In Anyang City’s Manan District (up 92%) and Gunpo City (up 88%), transactions were also active, especially in large complexes near Subway Lines 1 and 4. In Manan District, a single complex, Raemian Anyang Megatria, with 4,250 units, saw 174 transactions. In Gunpo, many transactions took place in established large complexes near Sanbon Station, such as Sejong Jugong (86 cases), Raemian Highers (72 cases), and Ureuk (69 cases).

Incheon Sees Growth Centered Around Stations

Apartment sales transaction volume in Gyeonggi and Incheon areas this year. ZIGBANG

Incheon’s total transaction volume rose 16% from 9,030 to 10,472 cases. Three districts led the increase: Seo-gu (up 34%), where new supply continues in Geomdan New Town; Bupyeong-gu (up 34%), which saw activity centered around affordable complexes near transfer stations; and Yeonsu-gu (up 24%), home to Songdo International Business District. In contrast, Dong-gu (down 11%), Namdong-gu (down 6%), and Michuhol-gu (down 1%) saw declines.

In Seo-gu, buying interest was concentrated in new complexes in Cheongna International City and Geomdan New Town. The highest number of transactions was recorded in Cheongna-dong (489 cases), Dangha-dong (403 cases), and Wondang-dong (345 cases), with newly built complexes like Umi Lin The Signature (47 cases) and Geomdan New Town Hanshin The Hue Canal Park (37 cases) proving particularly popular.

Sharp Decline in Regulated Areas of Bundang and Gwacheon

In Bundang District of Seongnam City and Gwacheon City—both designated as land transaction permit zones within Gyeonggi Province—transaction volumes fell by 30% and 77%, respectively. Gwacheon City saw the sharpest drop in the province, from 374 to 86 cases. This is due to stricter requirements: purchases are only permitted for actual residence, and loan regulations further raise the entry barrier for buyers. However, in Bundang District there were signs of recovery, with transaction volume in April (406 cases) exceeding that of January (356 cases).

Kim Eunsun, Head of the Big Data Lab at ZIGBANG, commented, "Recently, instability in the rental housing market has prompted some demand for monthly or annual rents to shift toward the sales market. At the same time, stricter lending regulations have made financing more difficult, leading buyers to seek areas that are compatible with their financial circumstances and actual residency needs."

Kim added, "Transactions are concentrated in areas with strong wide-area transportation access and relatively lower price burdens. Since only purchases for actual residence are allowed in land transaction permit zones, buyers who cannot move in immediately are turning their attention to non-regulated or neighboring areas where the barriers to entry are lower."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.