Singapore still best country for business
Singapore looks set to remain as the world’s most investor-friendly location from 2014 to 2018, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)’s latest Business Environment Rankings (BER). The city-state also ranked first from 2009 to 2013. Source: Economist...
Continue Reading • 17 Jun 2014
New benchmark for DBS mortgages
In order to provide borrowers with a more simple and easy-to-understand mortgage package, DBS Bank has established a new yardstick for calculating the interest rates of their housing loans according to media reports.Dubbed as the fixed deposit home rate (FHR), it is derived from the simple...
Continue Reading • 17 Jun 2014
New home sales shoot up in May
UPDATE: New private home sales in Singapore almost doubled month-on-month in May to record 1,470 units, according to latest data by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).Including executive condominiums (ECs), the number of units sold increased to 1,528 units last month from just 797 in April....
Continue Reading • 16 Jun 2014
Cushman & Wakefield expands into Malaysia
Cushman & Wakefield has opened its 35th Asia Pacific office in Malaysia today. “This move is in line with our five year strategic plan, which contains an aggressive expansion plan for our business in Asia Pacific,” Sanjay Verma, Cushman & Wakefield’s CEO for Asia Pacific...
Continue Reading • 16 Jun 2014
Barclays upholds negative view on private homes
Singapore’s residential sector is expected to witness an oversupply of private housing properties, with prices falling 20 percent by the end of 2015, on the back of an expected increase in interest rate along with peak supply, according to Barclays Research in media reports.The government...
Continue Reading • 16 Jun 2014
Second Hougang HUDC privatised
The Hougang Avenue 7 HUDC estate will be privatised as of today.In a statement, HDB said homeowners in the estate now own their respective units, as well as the common property.Each household will have to pay about $30,000 when the privatisation process is completed, to cover the cost of the...
Continue Reading • 16 Jun 2014
Two luxury projects compete for buyers
Situated right across each other, two luxury condominiums compete for luxury buyers amidst a tougher environment as the residential market slows, said media reports.Located along Leedon Heights in District 10, the two projects – Leedon Residences and d’Leedon – are only a...
Continue Reading • 13 Jun 2014
What's in store for H2 2014?
What are the predicted buyer and seller behaviours for the rest of the year?What strategy should real estate agents adopt to succeed during the next six months? Agents can get answers to these questions and more at the PropertyGuru Agent Summit tomorrow, which will provide insights from experts...
Continue Reading • 12 Jun 2014
IMF launches portal on global housing markets
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has launched Global Housing Watch, a webpage (pictured) featuring its analysis on housing markets across the world. The page will provide access to its Global House Price Index and other data on housing indicators. As a compilation of average housing prices...
Continue Reading • 12 Jun 2014
CDL beats Keppel Land's record for vertical garden
City Developments Ltd (CDL)’s Tree House condominium in Upper Bukit Timah is the world’s biggest vertical garden, according to the Guinness World Records.Completed last year, the 2,289 sq m vertical garden beats the 2013 record-holder, Keppel Land's Vertical Garden @ Ocean Financial...
Continue Reading • 12 Jun 2014
Court annuls loan to remove caveat on $2 million home
An unnamed woman can now take possession of a River Valley condominium, after the High Court invalidated a $5,000 loan with a 791.61 percent interest rate, along with its caveat.According to media reports, the $2 million condo unit was awarded to the 41-year-old senior executive in a 2012 divorce...
Continue Reading • 12 Jun 2014
Govt seeks married couples' opinions
The Ministry of National Development (MND) will hold a discussion session for married couples with young or no children on 14 June. They are invited to share their views to help shape housing policies. Conducted in a small group setting, the government would like to know how it can help families...
Continue Reading • 11 Jun 2014
Should condos be left empty?
The growing number of vacant condominiums in Singapore saw potential tenants viewing double the number of properties compared to two years ago.This is because “there are lots of choices from newly completed projects. And as long-term expats move to newer condos, older properties are also...
Continue Reading • 11 Jun 2014
10,200 new homes expected
The H2 2014 Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme will comprise nine Confirmed List sites and 14 sites on the Reserve List. These sites can yield up to 10,200 private home units, including 1,500 Executive Condominium (EC) units. The Confirmed List contains six private residential sites (including...
Continue Reading • 10 Jun 2014
JLL to boost Malaysian presence
JLL has acquired 49 percent ownership in YY Property Solutions Sdn Bhd today.Founded in 1995 by YY Lau, YY Property Solutions provides clients with real estate agency and investment services across all the office, retail, industrial and residential sectors in Malaysia. YY Property Solutions will...
Continue Reading • 9 Jun 2014
Punggol condo close to selling out
There are only two units left for sale out of 882 apartments at A Treasure Trove condominium in Punggol, said its developer Sim Lian Group. Both are single level penthouses of seven bedrooms. Responding to queries from PropertyGuru, the group added that construction work is progressing ahead of...
Continue Reading • 9 Jun 2014
City fringe homes drive rental growth
Leasing demand in the private residential market remains healthy, according to a new Savills report today.Rental volumes islandwide increased by 4 percent year-on-year, as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) showed there were 13,077 leases of private residential homes, excluding executive...
Continue Reading • 9 Jun 2014
Mounting fees pressuring developers to cut prices
A total of $55.1 million in extension fees were paid by developers due to remaining unsold units in private condo projects since 2012, revealed a study by OrangeTee Research.These companies could potentially shell out another $80.7 million to prolong the sales period by another year if they fail...
Continue Reading • 9 Jun 2014
Urban planning R&D centre to open in Singapore
Electricite de France (EDF) will set up its Asian Sustainable Cities Centre of Excellence in Singapore.The research and development (R&D) centre, devoted to urban planning, aims to develop and perform new partnerships with local agencies as well as other cities in the region.Last year, EDF...
Continue Reading • 9 Jun 2014
VIP preview for The Crest
Wing Tai will be showcasing its latest project – The Crest @ Prince Charles – at a VIP preview next weekend (June 14/15).The 99-year leasehold project in District 10 (pictured) is a joint venture between Wing Tai, Metro Australia Holdings Pte Ltd and Maxdin Pte Ltd. It will feature...
Continue Reading • 9 Jun 2014