D' Carlton offers superb returns with a view to beat
The D’ Carlton Seaview Residences (pictured) by Goodwill Division Sdn Bhd is the first luxury high-rise condominium in Johor Bahru (JB) that offers panoramic views of the sea, along with unsurpassed amenities, facilities and convenience.Located near the upscale residential area of Senibong...
Continue Reading • 11 Jan 2013
Asia sales start for Battersea Power Station
By Andrew Batt and Farah Wahida:Sales started in the United Kingdom yesterday for the first phase of the much-anticipated Battersea Power Station project (pictured), with dozens of people reported to be queueing in advance of the 10am opening.The project will be officially launched for sales to...
Continue Reading • 11 Jan 2013
Tiny homes under scrutiny
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Many Singaporeans might think that shoebox units are small but there’s another type of micro home that has taken off in other parts of Asia, most notably in China and Japan. Called capsule homes, such units are much smaller than shoebox apartments. Some of...
Continue Reading • 11 Jan 2013
Top Properties in the UK Home Counties
By Andrew Batt: Record property prices in London combined with the last two years of falling house prices in the Home Counties are set to create a series of property hotspots around the capital in 2013.According to multi award-winning house builder Millgate, smart buyers will look to invest early...
Continue Reading • 11 Jan 2013
Shanghai's residential market driven by first-time buyers
By Cheryl Tay:The high sales momentum in Shanghai’s residential market in Q2 and Q3 2012 continued in Q4, with first-time home buyers as the main market drivers, according to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). Demand from first-time buyers also helped facilitate a sales recovery in Pudong.Sales of...
Continue Reading • 10 Jan 2013
Property prices still on the rise
By Cheryl Tay:Despite the government’s efforts to control property prices, Singapore home prices continue to climb. Hence, analysts expect to see more cooling measures from the government to avoid a property bubble.Driven by high demand and low interest rates, prices will likely rise by...
Continue Reading • 10 Jan 2013
UK mortgage to become cheaper: Fitch
By Cheryl Tay:Despite a credit squeeze, mortgage payments in the UK are expected to become more affordable in 2013, according to the Global Market Outlook for Housing and Mortgage Lending by ratings agency Fitch.The report stated that UK’s debt-to-income ratio has improved and is expected...
Continue Reading • 10 Jan 2013
Unique features give projects a boost
By Cheryl Tay:Aside from huge penthouses, developers have other unique ways to give their projects added edge to lure more buyers, reported The New Paper.Among these is the sky garage featured in the 30-storey Hamilton Scotts condo (pictured), which enables residents to park their cars right...
Continue Reading • 10 Jan 2013
Pasir Ris residents oppose plan to build school on forest grounds
By Cheryl Tay:The plan to build an international school near Pasir Ris Heights is facing great opposition from a group of residents who aim to protect the existing forest (pictured). They have called on the government to review its biodiversity and consider other alternative plots, reported The...
Continue Reading • 10 Jan 2013
Investors bullish on business prospects: survey
By Cheryl Tay:Singapore investors are now more upbeat about their investment outlook than they were six months to one year ago, a sign that the rally in the country’s bourse may continue in the coming months, revealed a survey by JP Morgan Asset Management.The JP Morgan confidence index,...
Continue Reading • 10 Jan 2013
Pinehill Investments awarded Ang Mo Kio residential site
By Cheryl Tay:A residential site located at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 2 has been awarded to Pinehill Investments Pte. Ltd, which lodged the top bid of S$550 million for the 99-year leasehold site, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).Launched for tender on 15 November, the site received...
Continue Reading • 10 Jan 2013
SC Global bids for sales extension at The Marq
By Cheryl Tay:SC Global Developments has revealed that it needs to fork out S$5.5 million to obtain a six-month extension to sell all units at The Marq on Paterson Hill (pictured).In a statement, the developer said it has received a letter from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) indicating that...
Continue Reading • 10 Jan 2013
Abolish ECs, suggests an expert
By Shabnam Muzammil: The recent debate over executive condominiums (ECs) has resulted in some experts calling for such housing to be scrapped altogether.Alan Cheong, Research Head at Savills Singapore, suggested that the abolishment of ECs or another option being for the government to take full...
Continue Reading • 9 Jan 2013
S'pore buyers expected to snap up KL penthouses
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Malaysian developer Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O) has launched 16 penthouse suites at St Mary Residences in Kuala Lumpur targeting Singaporean buyers who have shown strong interest in the luxury development.95 percent of the 457-unit condominium is now sold,...
Continue Reading • 9 Jan 2013
New cooling measures possibly looming: experts
By Shabnam Muzammil: Recent comments by National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan on the issue of expensive executive condominiums (ECs) could be a sign that the government is looking to implement another round of property cooling measures. At a DTZ seminar held yesterday, the consultancy...
Continue Reading • 9 Jan 2013
URA receives 12 bids for Ang Mo Kio site
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: A 99-year leasehold residential site located at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 2 received a total of 12 bids when the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) closed its public tender yesterday. Pinehill Investments submitted the highest offer of S$550 million for the 18,482.2 sq m site...
Continue Reading • 9 Jan 2013
US mortgages still near record lows
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The average rate of fixed loans in the US hovered near historical lows this week, a trend that has made homes more affordable and contributed to a housing recovery, reported the Associated Press.According to mortgage giant Freddie Mac, average 30-year fixed loans dipped...
Continue Reading • 8 Jan 2013
Dubai world's strongest housing market
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Dubai has been named the world’s strongest housing market, with its residential property index climbing 13.46 percent in 2012 compared with a 1.8 percent decline in the previous year, according to Global Property Guide.The report also revealed that Singapore fell...
Continue Reading • 8 Jan 2013
Bumper month for UK property exhibitions
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Highlighting the popularity of London homes among buyers and investors in Singapore, a number of new developments in the UK capital will be launched at property exhibitions in the city-state this month. It was earlier reported that London tops the list of property havens...
Continue Reading • 8 Jan 2013
Echelon now more than 75% sold
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Over 75 percent or 390 units at the 508-unit Echelon condominium have been sold as of Saturday, indicating a strong start for the property market in 2013.It was earlier reported that 200 units were sold when the project was previewed on 28 December and this strong...
Continue Reading • 8 Jan 2013