New private home sales plunge 19%
Sales of new private homes in October reached 1,009 units excluding executive condominiums (ECs), revealed data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). This is a 19 percent decline from the 1,246 units sold in September. The drop was partly attributed to fewer launches of 1,124 units in...
Continue Reading • 15 Nov 2013
Celebrity home feature: Hugh Jackman
It seems that the life of an X-Man has served Hugh Jackman very well. Ubiquitously known as The Wolverine, Jackman has starred as the titular character in seven iterations, two of which were movies about his character. One of those movies was a reboot of the other. Suffice to say, not many other...
Continue Reading • 15 Nov 2013
Sales of shoebox units most active in suburbs
With its lower price quantum and higher rental yields, shoebox units or units that are 50 sq m and below are gaining popularity particularly in the Outside Central Region (OCR), according to a Knight Frank report.During the first nine months of 2013, the OCR accounted for 53.3 percent of new sale...
Continue Reading • 15 Nov 2013
Overwhelming demand seen for Alex Residences
The 429-unit Alex Residences condominium near Redhill MRT station attracted keen interest during its preview sales on Wednesday, with all 150 units initially released sold.Given the strong demand, its developer SingLand released another 50 units under phase one with average prices at S$1,650 psf....
Continue Reading • 15 Nov 2013
Johor to impose 2% levy on foreigners
The Johor government plans to impose a two percent levy on foreign buyers across all property segments including the secondary market starting from May next year, media reports said. This is in addition to the recent cooling measures announced in the country's 2014 Budget.Although this is lower...
Continue Reading • 14 Nov 2013
Balestier, Upper East Coast sites up for sale
A row of six shophouses as well as a redevelopment site in Balestier have been launched for sale by expression of interest (EOI), with the owner expecting offers of more than S$33 million for both properties collectively, revealed marketing agent Knight Frank. The seller is also giving...
Continue Reading • 14 Nov 2013
Orchard Rd is 16th most expensive retail location
With rents at US$354 (S$441) psf per year, Singapore’s Orchard Road has retained its position as the 16th most expensive retail location in the world, according to a new report from Cushman & Wakefield.Topping the list is Hong Kong, where luxury brands and jewellery retailers remain the...
Continue Reading • 14 Nov 2013
Free Saturday seminar on popularity of ECs
Real estate portal PropertyGuru is expanding its series of consumer seminars, once again partnering with Hao Yuan Development to hold one this Saturday (16 November) at the Sea Horizon Sales Gallery along Pasir Ris Drive 3.The seminar is open to the public for free and starts at 12:30pm. This...
Continue Reading • 14 Nov 2013
Marina Coastal Expressway to open next month
The much-anticipated Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) will open on 29 December four years after construction work started, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) revealed today. The 5km-long MCE is Singapore’s tenth and most expensive expressway, built at a cost of S$4.3 billion or S$860 million...
Continue Reading • 13 Nov 2013
Khaw gives update on infrastructure development
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan revealed that the government is on track to deliver 13,600 new flats this year, with around 200,000 new units to be ready by 2016, or equal to four Ang Mo Kio towns. This was in response to MP Christopher de Souza’s parliamentary query on whether...
Continue Reading • 13 Nov 2013
Havelock Rd site attracts 9 bids
A prime hotel site at Havelock Road received nine valid bids when its tender closed on Tuesday, according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Launched for sale on 18 September, the 1,536.2 sq m site has a maximum gross floor area of 2,145 sq m and comes with a 60-year lease. I...
Continue Reading • 13 Nov 2013
Property measures limited foreign buying, speculation: Khaw
The number of foreigners buying property in Singapore fell to 330 or seven percent of overall private property transactions in Q3 this year, following tough cooling measures introduced by the government, revealed National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan in Parliament on Tuesday and reported in...
Continue Reading • 13 Nov 2013
Chinese top S'poreans as top new-build buyers
Chinese property buyers and investors have eclipsed those from Singapore as the world's foremost buyers of prime new-build homes globally.According to the latest Global Development Insight Q3 2013 report from Knight Frank, since the global financial crisis took hold five years ago, private...
Continue Reading • 13 Nov 2013
EcoHouse frustrations start to surface
EXCLUSIVE: Several Singaporean investors in EcoHouse, the developer of Brazilian social housing projects in northeast Brazil, have handed their cases to law firms as a result of increasing frustrations with delays to promised payouts from the company.Last week the developer, under pressure from...
Continue Reading • 13 Nov 2013
MARQUE to tempt S'pore buyers
The growing trend that has seen some of Thailand’s leading condominium developments showcase to Singapore property buyers and investors is set to continue this weekend when ‘super luxury’ condominium MARQUE Sukhumvit (pictured) is exhibited in the city-state for the first...
Continue Reading • 13 Nov 2013
CapitaLand, Ascendas among most transparent
The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) or SIAS has recognised CapitaLand for its excellence in transparency and corporate governance at the recent SIAS Investors' Choice Awards 2013.SIAS is Asia's largest organised investor lobby group that actively promotes investor education,...
Continue Reading • 12 Nov 2013
Asia Pacific cross-border activity up
Cross-border transactions involving properties in Asia Pacific increased in Q3 2013, both intra-regionally and from investors purchasing from outside the region, revealed a CBRE report.The trend includes Asia-based private institutions and investors looking for opportunities to park...
Continue Reading • 12 Nov 2013
Indian developers roll out incentives to draw buyers
The festive season in India saw property developers dangle several incentives such as free holidays to Bali and cars to attract home buyers amid a market slowdown.Given the country’s slowing economy, high interest rates and unsold housing stock in key cities, property prices in India have...
Continue Reading • 12 Nov 2013
Rowsley Group names new CFO
Property developer Rowsley, a major player in Iskandar Malaysia and owner of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers in Singapore, has appointed Tan Wee Tuck (pictured) as its Group Chief Financial Officer.With effect from 18 November, Tan, who will report to Group Chief Executive Officer Lock...
Continue Reading • 12 Nov 2013
Viewing property from a public perspective
Property seekers share their thoughts on what impacts them. The results are out: Singapore is a nation obsessed with property.With more than 70 percent of Singaporeans owning their own home, and many more watching and speculating as to what the latest market trends will be like, the topic...
Continue Reading • 12 Nov 2013