China's housing markets among world's most expensive
Seven of the world’s top ten least affordable housing markets are in China, according to calculations by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Based on the IMF house price to wage ratio — which measures average housing prices in a particular city against average disposable...
Continue Reading • 2 Jul 2013
F&N to spin off its property arm
Singapore-listed conglomerate Fraser & Neave (F&N) is looking to spin off its property arm from its other divisions to further unlock shareholder value, according to media reports. The spin-off “may involve a segregation of its property-related businesses from its non-property...
Continue Reading • 2 Jul 2013
Asian Tigers spur building boom
Construction activity around the world will soar by US$6.3 trillion (S$7.97 trillion) in 2025, with the growth explosion boosted by the new Asian Tigers comprising Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, according to the Global Construction 2025 report.Sponsored by 24 major companies, the report...
Continue Reading • 2 Jul 2013
Impact of new housing loan measures to be limited
The impact of the government’s latest home loan measures is expected to be small as the average Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) of banks here ranges from 40 to 50 percent, according to Maybank Kim Eng. “As such, we do not think that there will be a significant impact to...
Continue Reading • 2 Jul 2013
Singapore home prices rise
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Housing and Development Board (HDB) yesterday released flash estimates for private home and resale flat prices for the second quarter of 2013.URA estimates that the overall private residential property index climbed 1.7 points quarter-on-quarter to...
Continue Reading • 2 Jul 2013
S'pore the 8th most innovative country in the world
Singapore has fallen five spots to eighth place, trailing behind Hong Kong in sixth spot on the Global Innovation Index 2013. Both countries are the only places from Asia that made it to the top 10.In the survey of 142 global economies conducted by business school Insead, Switzerland emerged top...
Continue Reading • 2 Jul 2013
Weekend launches draw big crowds
New private residential projects launched over the weekend received healthy interest from potential buyers, according to media reports.J Gateway in Jurong which is being developed by MCL Land received 1,400 blank cheques as of Saturday, while 1,500 people showed up for the balloting. Overall, 736...
Continue Reading • 2 Jul 2013
Punggol EC oversubscribed 1.2 times
The newly-launched Ecopolitan executive condominium (EC) in Punggol has been 1.2 times oversubscribed, with 650 e-applications received since Friday, 5 June.Developed by Qingjian Realty (South Pacific) Group, the project comprises 512 units spread across eight blocks. Units range from three- to...
Continue Reading • 2 Jul 2013
Property auction market performs poorly in Q2
Singapore’s property auction market saw only four properties sold in Q2 2013 at a combined sales value of S$7.05 million, down 91.6 percent from S$83.44 million in the previous quarter.“The subdued property auction market in the second quarter is a clearer reflection of the impact of...
Continue Reading • 1 Jul 2013
Non-landed home prices down in May
Prices of completed private apartments and condominiums fell 0.2 percent in May compared to the 1.9 percent month-on-month increase recorded in April, according to flash estimates of the NUS home price index. The index monitors prices of completed non-landed private homes, excluding executive...
Continue Reading • 1 Jul 2013
CapitaLand acquires China fund
Property developer CapitaLand through its wholly-owned unit CVH China Investment (CVHCI) has purchased a remaining 41.4 percent stake in CapitaLand China Value Housing Fund (CCVHF) from three external investors for US$73.83 million (S$93 million).The price was agreed based on a willing-buyer and...
Continue Reading • 1 Jul 2013
New cooling measures hit property market
Singapore’s central bank last Friday announced a new round of measures targeted at housing loans to maintain a stable and sustainable property market.The latest MAS rules affect all types of properties that require a loan from banks. Essentially, the total debt servicing ratio (TDSR) will...
Continue Reading • 1 Jul 2013
Savills expands further into Indochina
Savills has grown its Southeast Asia operations, following the establishment of a new Indochina and Myanmar consulting practice to be led by Savills Vietnam.“As part of our vision to penetrate into one of the largest emerging markets in Asia, we have established a research and consulting...
Continue Reading • 1 Jul 2013
Northern region has big investment potential: SLP
The northern region of Singapore offers good potential to industrialists looking to relocate or divert investment portfolio. According to property consultancy SLP International, there are many reasons why Woodlands is an investment hotspot. These include upcoming developments like Woodlands...
Continue Reading • 1 Jul 2013
Tender for Tampines site pushed back
The closing date for a residential site tender (pictured) at Tampines Avenue 10 (Parcel B) has been pushed back to 16 July from 2 July, according to the Urban Development Authority (URA). This is in light of the new housing loan measures announced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) last...
Continue Reading • 1 Jul 2013
Rare HDB house sold for $1.02m
A 2,863 sq ft HDB corner house (pictured) in Whampoa was sold for S$1.02 million or about S$360 per sq ft back in April this year, according to media reports.The rare terrace property with a garden is one of just 285 HDB landed properties in the country and the fourth such type to be sold for...
Continue Reading • 1 Jul 2013
Household debt soars due to high home prices
The rapid rise in Singapore’s household debt, coupled with high residential prices, could make the city-state vulnerable to asset deflation, a reduction in income and a rise in unemployment if there is a slowdown in global economic markets, according to UBS Wealth...
Continue Reading • 27 Jun 2013
Book on Iskandar launched
A new book has been published which reveals the secrets of investing in Iskandar, Malaysia, from a Singaporean perspective. The book, Get It Right Iskandar, is co-authored by Getty Goh and Khalil Adis. It’s aimed at the average investor and provides easy-to-read information to help...
Continue Reading • 27 Jun 2013
Singapore project finalist in 35th ULI Global Awards
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has selected local development, The Quayside Collection (pictured), as one of the 27 projects as finalists in the 35th annual ULI Global Awards for Excellence, which recognizes the best real estate projects across the globe.Developed by Cityview Place Holding and...
Continue Reading • 27 Jun 2013
Hillview House up for sale
Hillview House (pictured), a freehold industrial building on a residential site at 1 Jalan Remaja, was launched for sale by tender, by sole marketing agent DTZ Debenham Tie Leung (SEA).The elevated plot spans an area of 43,557 sq ft with a gross plot ratio of 1.92. It can be developed into a...
Continue Reading • 27 Jun 2013