Hong Kong homeowner quits after selling flat in a year
SingTao · 1 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
A Hong Kong man has drawn wide online attention after saying he finally bought a flat after 20 years of effort, but sold it after living there for just one year. He wrote on Threads on October 24 that he had thought he was buying a home, only to realise he had bought “a shackle” instead, and said he chose “freedom” after the sale. The post also said he resigned from his company immediately after selling the property. Online discussion then turned to whether he made or lost money on the deal, and whether buying a small flat in Hong Kong still makes sense for owner-occupiers
Key Points
- The man posted on Threads on October 24 under the theme of “quitting without another job lined up”, saying he had spent 20 years getting onto the property ladder
- He said he sold the flat after only one year of living there, describing the purchase as a burden rather than the home he had imagined
- After completing the sale, he said he immediately handed in his resignation and wrote that he had chosen freedom, saying goodbye to his company
- Many commenters asked whether he had sold at a profit or a loss, while others speculated the unit may have been a nano flat or studio
- The poster rejected the idea of becoming a landlord, saying net rental returns would be under 3% after deductions and that bonds were a better option
Why It Matters
The discussion captures a familiar Hong Kong dilemma: buying a home can be seen as security, but also as a long-term financial and psychological burden. It also shows how weak rental yields, high housing costs and job pressure are feeding doubts among some residents who have already saved for years to buy