Home prices in Seoul's Seongbuk and Nowon districts rose more than 1% in August, with jeonse (a lump-sum deposit lease) and monthly rents also recording gains above 1%. Seoul's home sale prices increased 0.97% in August, down from July's 1.09%, according to the Korea Real Estate Board's national housing price trends survey released on Sept. 15. The 14 districts north of the Han River rose 1.25%, compared with 0.71% in the 11 southern districts. Seongbuk led Seoul's 25 districts with a 1.83% increase, followed by Nowon's 1.77%, while Gangnam fell 0.18% and Seocho declined 0.01%. Rental markets showed the same regional pattern: Seoul's jeonse prices rose 0.83%, led by Nowon at 1.58% and Seongbuk at 1.38%, while the combined monthly rent price index gained 0.82%, with Seongbuk up 1.54% and Nowon 1.49%. The Korea Real Estate Board attributed jeonse demand to complexes near subway stations and large developments with favorable living conditions, while monthly-rental demand also remained concentrated in large and major complexes offering good living conditions.