HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Construction (MoC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) have requested provinces and cities review State management on land prices amid 'land fever' in some localities.

The MONRE said land prices in some localities and areas have increased dramatically, which could affect socio-economic development and investment projects.

The ministry assigned the General Department of Land Administration to inspect the planning, leasing and transferral of land in 26 localities. In Hà Nội and HCM City, the department will inspect the land registration, the issuance of land-use rights certificates, changes of land-use purposes and land-use management in a number of projects which have been slow to put land into use.

The MoC also requested localities to publish information relating to planning, the progress of infrastructure development projects and real estate projects, especially big ones and their merger, establishment and upgrading of administrative units.

Earlier, Hà Nội was asked to prevent land speculation when implementing the Red River urban planning after property prices in some areas of the city surged after reports on draft planning for the area were released in June.

Hạ Long City in the northeastern province of Quảng Ninh has reviewed the authentication of transactions relating to land-use rights, while Bắc Giang Province asked communal People’s Committees to pay attention to surging land prices.

Local authorities were also told to control virtual transactions while actively regulating land funds through the creation of a clean land fund for the auction of land-use rights.

Nguyễn Văn Đính, general secretary of Việt Nam Association of Realtors (VARs), said localities should inspect all land-use activities as well as transactions.

Đính said localities need to manage those participating in listing and offering land for sale, as well as provide sufficient information on economic development policies and land-use planning to handle news reports that can impact land prices.

He added that the State should adjust the law towards digitising land and urban planning to help people conveniently look up real estate product information. At the same time, it is necessary to manage the property exchange floors and brokerage more closely and effectively.

In many localities, fake news about project planning and development has been spread. There were even cases of taking advantage of the directions of State leaders and creating fake documents to spread news. This has a very negative impact on the interests of investors who lack knowledge and experience, he said.

In addition, there were also cases offering land for sale not suitable with the law such as forest land, fields and gardens. Many brokers regularly gather in these areas, causing excitement, spreading unwarranted information, pushing prices up to entice investors.

He said part of the reason is low interest rates. The cash flow tends to invest in the real estate market, creating 'land fever' in many areas, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In some localities, the land price frame was increased by 15 to 20 per cent. The limited supply of housing projects, especially social housing, also contributed to make land demand higher. In addition, the demand for investment into land has surged as other sectors have not seen effectiveness due to the pandemic.

Land fever would reduce development resources in many sectors. It would prevent the call for investment into localities due to surging land prices, causing a hike in other costs.

At a Government press conference, State Bank of Việt Nam’s Deputy Governor Đào Minh Tú said as of March 15, real estate loans of the banking sector increased by 2.13 per cent, higher than credit growth of 2.04 per cent for the economy in general.

For people and organisations that speculate on real estate, or invest in projects with low solvency or investment efficiency, the SBV always strictly controls and takes limited measures, according to the Deputy Governor.

Before the real estate situation showed hot signs, the central bank warned credit institutions. However, the increase of 2.13 per cent was not in all credit institutions, but only a few. — VNS