URA: More regional centres in the works
In a bid to improve the work-life balance of Singaporeans, the government plans to grow more regional employment centres and industrial parks near homes under the URA Draft Master Plan 2013. “Integrating more commercial clusters and industrial parks in different regions of the island will...
Continue Reading • 21 Nov 2013
URA: Marina South, Kampong Bugis next property hotspots
The URA Draft Master Plan 2013 seeks to build townships that are strong in community interaction.As such, the new housing concepts at Marina South and Kampong Bugis are envisioned to be “non-gated”, featuring green housing developments that will encourage greater interaction between...
Continue Reading • 21 Nov 2013
URA: Plan excites analysts
The government’s announcement this morning of the URA Draft Master Plan 2013, which provides detailed information on the future physical development of Singapore in the next five years, has been well-received by property analysts.In a nutshell, the plan will see more townships built for...
Continue Reading • 20 Nov 2013
Chinese grabbing Portugal property-for-residency visas
Official figures show that 78 percent of property-for-residency visas in Portugal have gone to Chinese nationals, but current interest may be even higher according to one top agent.A total of 318 visas have been issued under the Golden Residence Permit since it began in October 2012, and 248 of...
Continue Reading • 20 Nov 2013
Sembawang EC over 50% sold
The SkyPark Residences EC (pictured) attracted healthy interest over the launch weekend with more than 50 percent of its 506 units sold.The project, the first-of-its-kind in Sembawang, was three times oversubscribed during its e-application exercise with 1,600 applications, making it the most...
Continue Reading • 20 Nov 2013
URA: Preserving Singapore's past
Protecting Singapore’s culture and heritage is clearly an important part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Draft Master Plan.More than 70 buildings will be added to the 7,100 in the city-state that are currently protected as part of the latest Draft Plan.A total of 15 places of...
Continue Reading • 20 Nov 2013
URA: Draft Master Plan revealed
Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has revealed details of its Draft Master Plan 2013, titled ‘Our Future, Our Home’ with the aim of building townships for all ages that are green, healthy, connected, strong in community interaction and spirit, and to bring quality...
Continue Reading • 20 Nov 2013
Industry veteran Shaun Poh joins Cushman & Wakefield
Property consultancy Cushman & Wakefield recently appointed Shaun Poh (pictured) as Executive Director, where he will be responsible for managing its national capital markets and investment team in Singapore.An industry veteran, Poh spent 22 years in DTZ where he served as Head of Investment...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2013
New Code for Buyers' Agents
The Property Ombudsman in the United Kingdom has revealed plans to launch a new Code of Practice to cater to the growing number of Buying Agents acting for consumers buying property in the country.The Ombudsman, an official who is appointed to investigate complaints against a company or...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2013
More tax for Asian UK buyers
Asian property buyers and investors now appear to be firmly in the sights of the British government following a statement from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in the British Parliament on Monday.In a news conference, Clegg said: "We certainly need to make sure that people who invest very...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2013
New sites to yield 2350 homes
In a bid to provide more private housing options for developers and buyers, the HDB and URA released four residential sites for sale this month that are expected to generate 2,350 units.Launched under the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme for 2H2013, the 99-year leasehold sites include a land...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2013
Asians buying two-thirds of London new-build homes
Some 66 percent of new-build homes in London are being sold to buyers from Southeast Asia, according to information from the U.K.’s largest real estate investment trust.Land Securities Group revealed the figures at a press conference in Singapore yesterday, and noted that Singapore and Hong...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2013
Tender for Havelock Road site awarded
The tender for a hotel site at Havelock Road which attracted nine valid bids was awarded to I Hotel Pte. Ltd., revealed the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).The developer submitted the highest bid of S$30.09 million or S$1,303 psf ppr for the site.Launched for sale on 18 September and offered...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2013
Singapore economy grows: survey
Singapore’s economy is expected to grow by up to 3.7 percent in 2013, revealed the latest Business Times-UniSim Business Climate Survey which was reported in the media. This figure, which is more than double last year’s growth of 1.3 percent, beats the government’s official...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2013
New Marina Downtown to house more skyscrapers
A new undersea road will create a new precinct that will complement the existing central business district while offering boundless possibilities, according to a media report quoting consultants. Property and planning consultants noted that the 70ha Marina Downtown will be developed once a...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2013
China's offshore real estate investment up 25%
Chinese offshore property investment surged 25 percent year-on-year at the end of Q3 2013, according to Jones Lang LaSalle. For the year, volumes exceeded US$5 billion (S$6.2 billion) beating the previous record of US$4 billion (S$5 billion) set in 2012.Offshore investment growth in China is in...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2013
SingHaiyi goes shopping stateside
Singapore property developer SingHaiyi Group has acquired Vietnam Town (pictured), a partially completed commercial condominium development project in San Jose, California, which was placed under receivership, for US$33.05 million.Acquired via a trustee’s auction conducted on November 14,...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2013
Foreign buying boost for Myanmar
Overseas property buyers in Myanmar are now able to own apartments on the 6th floor or higher, according to an official draft of the Condominium Law which was published in the country last week.The law also stipulates that foreign buyers can purchase up to 40 percent of apartments above the sixth...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2013
Curbs push down luxury home prices
Luxury residential prices in Singapore moderated slightly in Q3 2013 as government measures continue to limit overseas buyer demand and curb speculative acquisitions, a report from CBRE Research revealed. The report noted that capital values of new luxury homes “softened by -5.7 percent...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2013
Strong response to DUO Residences preview
The residential component of the integrated development DUO located in Bugis has received overwhelming response during preview sales which started on Wednesday. According to the developer M+S Pte Ltd, more than 2,000 prospective buyers expressed early interest in the 660-unit DUO Residences and...
Continue Reading • 15 Nov 2013