London's One The Elephant to launch here
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: A new landmark residential development in London’s prime zone 1 neighbourhood will be launched in Singapore on 12 to 13 January, said developer Lend Lease. Called One The Elephant (pictured), the project will comprise 284 studio to three-bedroom units within a...
Continue Reading • 2 Jan 2013
SeaSuites the first launch in 2013
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:2013 will kick off with the launch of the five-storey SeaSuites luxury apartment tower (pictured) in Pasir Panjang, announced marketing agent HSR International Realtors.Set to launch this Saturday (5 January), SeaSuites will be developed by Link (THM) Greenleaf and...
Continue Reading • 2 Jan 2013
New condo proving a hit with buyers
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:The 508-unit Echelon condominium development (pictured) at Alexandra View received strong interest from home buyers, with 80 percent or 200 of the 250 units released sold on the first day of preview last Friday. Developed by a joint venture led by City Developments...
Continue Reading • 31 Dec 2012
Forestville's developer was told not to sell units, says URA
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Hao Yuan Investment, the developer behind the 653-unit Forestville executive condominium (EC), has instructed property agents to return cheques to buyers after it did not secure approval from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to sell units, reported The Straits...
Continue Reading • 31 Dec 2012
The lure of ECs
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Demand for executive condominiums (ECs) has been red hot this year due to their potential price gains and features that rival those of private condominiums, reported The Straits Times. The launch of the S$2.05 million “presidential penthouse suite” at CityLife...
Continue Reading • 31 Dec 2012
$2m EC unit sold
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:The highly-debated presidential suite at CityLife@Tampines executive condominium (EC) was sold for S$2.05 million just two hours after bookings began on Saturday morning, The Straits Times reported. The 4,349 sq ft penthouse was bought by Ms C. Koh on behalf of her...
Continue Reading • 31 Dec 2012
Keppel Land China acquires 5th site in Wuxi
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Keppel Land China has secured a 6.6 ha prime site in Wuxi, China for RMB417.6 million (about S$82 million), further expanding its presence in the city. The company’s fifth project in the area, the site will be developed into 1,135 high-rise apartments with...
Continue Reading • 31 Dec 2012
Govt policies could dampen Asia Pacific property
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:As government measures dent demand for home buying activity, prime property markets across the Asia Pacific region are unlikely to outperform the other regions of the world in 2013, according to Knight Frank.Cooling measures that aim to regulate housing prices and prevent...
Continue Reading • 28 Dec 2012
Aussie mansion to be auctioned
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:A lavish mansion (pictured) nestled on a 17 ha estate in Gold Coast, Australia will be auctioned next month, according to media reports.Dubbed Bellagio La Villa, the 2,547 sq m estate is owned by property developers Paul and Viki Sweeney, founders of developer Coral...
Continue Reading • 28 Dec 2012
GCB prices up, despite weaker sales
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Although fewer good class bungalows (GCBs) were sold in 2012 compared to the previous year, their average selling prices were higher, said analysts.Deals involving GCBs fell due to poor market sentiment caused by the city-state’s property cooling measures and weak...
Continue Reading • 28 Dec 2012
EC unit to eclipse S$2m mark
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:CityLife@Tampines (pictured) could set a new record as its presidential suite will be priced at around S$2.05 million, or S$470 psf on its 4,349 sq ft area. If successfully sold at the launch this weekend, the penthouse will become the first executive condominium (EC)...
Continue Reading • 28 Dec 2012
Improvements to elderly housing schemes
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: In response to public feedback and suggestions, the Ministry of National Development (MND) has enhanced the Silver Housing Bonus (SHB) and Enhanced Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) for the elderly.“We need to strike a balance between improving retirement adequacy by...
Continue Reading • 28 Dec 2012
Major upgrades planned for 8 private estates
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: More than 7,000 households from eight private estates will undergo S$29 million worth of upgrading under the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) by the Ministry of National Development (MND).Over the next two years, the estates of Goldhill, Cashew and Hazel Park Terrace,...
Continue Reading • 27 Dec 2012
Housing demand from singles, seniors to rise: report
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:As the population of Singapore grows in size and complexity, some minority demographic groups are expected to play an important part in the country’s housing market in the near future, namely singles and senior citizens.According to The Minority Report by Colliers...
Continue Reading • 27 Dec 2012
Strong interest in Forestville EC
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:The 653-unit Forestville executive condominium (EC) has attracted strong interest, receiving nearly 800 E-Applications since it opened for bookings last Friday, The Business Times reported.Located at Woodlands Ave 5/Woodlands Drive 16, Forestville (pictured) is managed by...
Continue Reading • 26 Dec 2012
Echelon to commence sales this week
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:The much-anticipated Echelon condominium project (pictured) by City Developments Limited (CDL) will commence sales later this week, reported The Business Times.Located along Alexandra Road, the 43-storey 99-year leasehold development will reportedly sell units at an...
Continue Reading • 26 Dec 2012
Housing a bright spot for US economy
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The value of existing homes in the US climbed, while sales of new properties rose to its highest level in over two years in November, a clear sign that the property market is rebounding, reported Bloomberg.According to the median forecast of 60 economists, sales of new...
Continue Reading • 26 Dec 2012
Laos woos Chinese investment
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: China developer Shanghai Wanfeng Group has commenced works on a US$1.6 billion (S$1.95 billion) integrated development in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. According to Bloomberg, construction works for the complex began last Saturday. Known for developing shopping malls...
Continue Reading • 26 Dec 2012
Sysma marks foray into property development
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Catalist-listed Sysma Holdings Limited has signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent interest in De Paradiso Development, a private investment holding company that owns two land parcels in Serangoon.Following the acquisition, Sysma will obtain ownership of both plots. De...
Continue Reading • 26 Dec 2012
Agent prosecuted for moneylender referrals
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) has charged the first agent involved in money lender referrals. Six charges were filed against 38-year old Ghazali Bin Mohamed Rasul, a registered agent with PropNex Realty who allegedly referred clients to a moneylender and received...
Continue Reading • 24 Dec 2012