Commercial property trends and outlook
The Singapore office rental market was stable in Q2 2013, since Grade A office rents only fell by an average of 0.4 percent quarter-on-quarter. This was the smallest quarterly decline since it fell consecutive quarters from Q4 2011.Thus, there are hints that office rents are on the way to...
Continue Reading • 1 Nov 2013
Revisiting the importance of proper valuation
Why you should invest as much time valuing your property as you spend looking for one.Regardless of whether searching to buy a new unit, striving to sell an existing residence or simply doing anything property-related, the issue of valuation needs to be taken seriously to ensure that you are...
Continue Reading • 31 Oct 2013
UK student returns remain stable
Yields from United Kingdom student accommodation investments will remain stable during 2014 and rise, and returns will continue to outperform other sectors according to a new research report.Southeast Asia has seen a substantial increase in the number of student investment opportunities being...
Continue Reading • 31 Oct 2013
District Watch: District 13
As the debate over city versus east coast living rages, District 13 sits nestled within easy access of both areas, a haven for those who strive to balance a busy work life with quality time outdoors.Comprising MacPherson, Potong Pasir and parts of Braddell, the District is well-serviced by public...
Continue Reading • 31 Oct 2013
Malaysian tax will dampen demand
The recent announcement of a doubling of the Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) in Malaysia - from 15 percent to 30 percent for properties sold within the first three years - will certainly put a damper on Singaporean property investors who look to Malaysia to make quick cash gains.Speaking to the...
Continue Reading • 31 Oct 2013
Remaining HDB blocks in Joo Chiat to be demolished
The neighbourhood of Joo Chiat is set to become Singapore’s first all-private-property constituency in view of the upcoming demolition of four remaining HDB blocks under the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), media reports said. Its MP Charles Chong (pictured) said:...
Continue Reading • 31 Oct 2013
CapitaLand's revenue soars to $1.05 billion
Property developer CapitaLand saw its group revenue increase 52.5 percent year-on-year to S$1.05 billion during the quarter ended 30 September 2013, on the back of higher revenue contribution from CapitaLand Singapore, CapitaLand China and CapitaMalls Asia, as well as higher sales from...
Continue Reading • 31 Oct 2013
Haunted houses: Amityville Horror
As far as haunted houses go, the one at Ocean Avenue 112, Long Island, famously known as the Amityville Horror house, sets the bar really high. Like all good haunted houses, this one starts with a very real tragedy. Before the HauntingRonald DeFeo Jr. was a regular guy until the night of November...
Continue Reading • 30 Oct 2013
CapitaMalls Asia records Q3 PATMI of $64.8m
CapitaMalls Asia saw its profit after tax and minority interests (PATMI) rise four percent in Q3 2013 to S$64.8 million from S$62.4 million over the same period last year. Operating PATMI for the quarter stood at S$65.1 million, up 4.4 percent from last year’s S$62.4 million.Notably, PATMI...
Continue Reading • 30 Oct 2013
Singapore still the best place to do business: report
Singapore is once again the best place in the world to do business, a ranking it has held for eight consecutive years, revealed the annual Ease of Doing Business report from the World Bank. Rival Hong Kong came in second, followed by New Zealand, the US and Denmark. Some of the city-state’s...
Continue Reading • 30 Oct 2013
Singapore's best battle for top awards
The third annual South East Asia Property Awards will see Singapore’s leading real estate players battle it out for top honours. To be held this Thursday (31 October) at Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, the event recognises individuals and companies across the region who have displayed...
Continue Reading • 30 Oct 2013
Foreign investors flock to Italy
Italy is becoming an increasingly attractive destination to foreign real estate investors, according to latest figures released by Real Capital Analytics Inc. The data shows that foreign investment in Italian commercial real estate totalled €2.75 billion between January and early October...
Continue Reading • 30 Oct 2013
Far East acquires two properties in Australia
Far East Organization has secured conditional contracts to purchase two commercial properties in Australia – the Clocktower Square complex and Harbour Town Centre – with Jones Lang LaSalle as the marketing agent. The move is part of Far East’s expansion and diversification...
Continue Reading • 29 Oct 2013
Bangkok sees strong demand from S'pore
Singapore is set to be the second largest foreign market for Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard, one of the best-selling and most sought-after condominium developments in Bangkok.The appetite for premium overseas properties from property buyers and investors in the city-state, together with...
Continue Reading • 29 Oct 2013
Resale private home prices down 0.7% in Sept
Prices of resale private homes continued to fall in September, this time by 0.7 percent month-on-month following August’s 0.4 percent decline, revealed flash estimates of the NUS Singapore Residential Price Index (SRPI) and reported in the media. Notably, three out of four categories...
Continue Reading • 29 Oct 2013
More hospitals to serve the north by 2020
To serve the needs of a fast-growing population and support new developments in the area, more public hospitals will be built in Singapore's northern region by 2020, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said.Speaking at yesterday's ground-breaking ceremony for Sengkang General and Community Hospitals...
Continue Reading • 28 Oct 2013
Property down under attracting Chinese buyers
A new report from Colliers International has revealed that Chinese interest for commercial property in Australia is rising, due mainly to strong trade ties, new laws that stimulate overseas investment and restrictions which limit real estate purchases in China.“In 2012, Chinese outbound...
Continue Reading • 28 Oct 2013
More than 200,000 new homes by 2016
With more private homes and executive condominiums (ECs) expected to be built over the next three years, the total number of units due by 2016 has increased to 204,461 from the previous forecast of 197,559, revealed National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan. “We are making good progress...
Continue Reading • 28 Oct 2013
Fewer private homes sold to foreigners
Several nationalities, namely the Chinese, Malaysians, Indonesians and Indians bought fewer private homes in the third quarter this year compared to the previous quarter, according to data from DTZ and reported in the media. Specifically, the number of units purchased by Chinese, Malaysians and...
Continue Reading • 28 Oct 2013
Foreign buyers hit by Malaysia budget
The Malaysia 2014 Budget announced on Friday by the country's Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pictured) saw significant changes made to property purchases, especially among overseas buyers. With effect from 1 January next year, the government will raise the...
Continue Reading • 28 Oct 2013