Khaw looking into suggestions to lower flat prices
By Nikki De Guzman:In a bid to keep HDB flats within the reach of Singaporeans, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has cited some "reasonable suggestions" for the public housing market, reported The Straits Times.Speaking at a community event in Woodlands yesterday, Mr Khaw...
Continue Reading • 12 Mar 2013
S'pore is most innovative city in Asia
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Singapore has been named the most innovative city in Asia-Pacific, evidenced by the country’s dramatic evolution over the last 25 years, according to a survey by consultancy Solidiance.The report looked at six factors, like what a city has to offer and the amount...
Continue Reading • 12 Mar 2013
60000 public rental flats to be pushed out
By Shabnam Muzammil: The government will look to ramp up the number of rental flats available from 50,000 in 2012 to 60,000 this year, AsiaOne reported. During yesterday's Budget 2013 debate, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development, Dr Maliki Osman, said this figure is up from the...
Continue Reading • 12 Mar 2013
Two-year high for UK house sales
By Andrew Batt: The number of houses sold in the United Kingdom reached its highest level in over two-and-a-half years in the three months ending February, according to the latest Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Housing Market survey.During February, the increasing market stability...
Continue Reading • 12 Mar 2013
Bali hotspot a hit with rich foreign buyers
By Shabnam Muzammil:Wealthy foreigners have ignited a property frenzy in the once sleepy seaside village of Seminyak in Bali, Indonesia, transforming the town into a major market for luxury real estate, reported The Guardian. “Capital appreciation has been substantial (in Bali) in the past...
Continue Reading • 12 Mar 2013
Dubai home prices to surge in 2013: report
By Nikki De Guzman:Luxury properties in Dubai saw the second highest global increase in prices last year, according to the latest Knight Frank Wealth Report.The value of high-end properties in the emirate climbed 20 percent alongside the resort island of Bali, but were behind Indonesia's capital...
Continue Reading • 12 Mar 2013
Brother of ex-US President Bush to chair S'pore developer
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Neil Bush (pictured), the younger brother of former US President George W Bush is set to become a major investor in Singapore-based developer SingXpress Land, which plans to change its name to SingHaiyi Group. The move will take place following a rights issue and share...
Continue Reading • 12 Mar 2013
Survey: 75% feel Malaysian property too pricey
By Farah Wahida: The majority of Malaysians (75 percent) feel that properties in the country are expensive, according to results of PropertyGuru’s latest Property Affordability Sentiment Survey which polled over 900 Malaysians. Additionally, three in every four believe the government...
Continue Reading • 11 Mar 2013
China's property investments up almost 23%
By Shabnam Muzammil: Property investments in China increased 22.8 percent year-on-year to CNY667 billion (S$132.87 billion) in the first two months of 2013, said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This translates to a decline of five percentage points from the same period last...
Continue Reading • 11 Mar 2013
Govt announces new housing measures, inclusive of singles
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:After 50 years of public housing, it is good to revisit some key policies. That is what National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in his budget debate speech today in Parliament where he outlined a slew of new measures to make housing more affordable and...
Continue Reading • 11 Mar 2013
Aussies holding on to homes longer
By Shabnam Muzammil: Australian homeowners are adopting a wait-and-see approach to selling their homes in the hope that prices might rise, reported RP Data.Figures show that Australians are holding on to their largest investment for at least 25 percent longer compared to 10 years ago. The average...
Continue Reading • 8 Mar 2013
Is US ready for micro apartment living?
By Shabnam Muzammil: A 300 sq ft “micro apartment” can provide all the space needed by an individual, said Californian developer Smartspace. Providing all the basic necessities without taking up too much space, its small apartments (pictured) are going at US$1,600 (S$1,993.65)...
Continue Reading • 8 Mar 2013
Indonesia's luxury home prices surge
By Nikki De Guzman:Luxury residential properties in Jakarta and Bali saw the highest growth in prices last year, according to Knight Frank’s price growth index.The capital Jakarta took top spot as luxury home prices there rose 38 percent in 2012 compared to the previous year, followed by...
Continue Reading • 8 Mar 2013
Ascott opens first Citadines in Malaysia
By Nikki De Guzman:The Ascott Limited (Ascott), CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, has opened its first Citadines-branded property in Malaysia.Citadines Uplands Kuching (pictured) in Sarawak comprises 215 stylish apartments ranging from studios to two-bedroom units that...
Continue Reading • 8 Mar 2013
Leading property portal unveils version 3.0
By Shabnam Muzammil:Vietnam’s leading property portal and PropertyGuru’s regional partner Batdongsan.com.vn recently launched its latest version 3.0, featuring greater efficiency, reliability and better access speed. It enables users to easily track accounts, manage listings and...
Continue Reading • 8 Mar 2013
Developer cuts prices amid property curbs
By Shabnam Muzammil:Top Global has reduced prices for its latest condominium project by 10 to 15 percent following the latest round of cooling measures, reported TODAY. As a result, prices at the freehold residential developments R Maison and E Maison, known together as The Maisons, are expected...
Continue Reading • 7 Mar 2013
S'pore will be 2nd most important city to the world's wealthy: report
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Singapore is expected to become the second most important global city behind London for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in 2023, according to The Wealth Report Attitudes Survey 2012 by Knight Frank. The survey polled 400 private bankers and wealth advisors...
Continue Reading • 7 Mar 2013
Mayor launches London database
By Andrew Batt: The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson (pictured), has launched a new database detailing Greater London Authority (GLA) land assets as he continues to push for greater amounts of public land to be released for development, accelerating the number of homes being built in the capital...
Continue Reading • 7 Mar 2013
The Maisons launching soon
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Property developer Top Global Limited will launch two freehold five-storey residential developments in the coming weeks. Called R Maison and E Maison, or collectively known as The Maisons, both properties are targeted to be released around late March and...
Continue Reading • 7 Mar 2013
No pain in Spain as foreign property buyers return to the market
By Andrew Batt: Hot off the heels of, and in contrast to, last month's figures which revealed a three percent decline in the overall number of property transactions done in Spain in 2012, the latest data from the General Council of Notaries has revealed a substantial 28.4 percent jump in the...
Continue Reading • 7 Mar 2013