Punggol waterfront development shaping up
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Punggol is rapidly developing into a major commercial and residential hub, underlined by strong interest for the new Watertown development. Over at the upcoming retail mall Waterway Point (pictured), supermarket NTUC FairPrice Finest and Shaw Theatres have signed on as...
Continue Reading • 8 Oct 2012
The Hillier units 96% taken up
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Hillier (pictured), a 528-unit development in Upper Bukit Timah by Far East SOHO has seen brisk sales, with 96 percent of units already sold.Launched in January, The Hillier comprises two towers of SOHO apartments and an adjoining two-storey retail podium called...
Continue Reading • 8 Oct 2012
Developers finding novel ways to promote new projects
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Property developers are finding more unique ways to promote their projects. For instance, the developers behind the Heron Bay executive condominium (EC) in Upper Serangoon View (pictured) are offering prospective buyers a brochure that could easily pass for a coffee...
Continue Reading • 5 Oct 2012
Exec condo oversupply looming
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Following the government’s increased supply of new executive condominium (EC) sites, the market could see an oversupply situation, reported The Business Times.Between the first half of 2010 and second half of 2012, 25 EC sites were released under the confirmed and...
Continue Reading • 5 Oct 2012
US mortgage rates sink to record lows
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Average rates for fixed mortgages in the US dropped to new record lows for the second consecutive week, resulting in a rise in the number of homeowners looking to refinance, media reports said. According to Freddie Mac, the average rate for 30-year fixed-rate loans fell...
Continue Reading • 5 Oct 2012
Aussie firm eyeing wealthy Singapore investors
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: In a bid to target high-net-worth investors in Singapore and other parts of Asia looking for Australian homes, one of the leading non-bank mortgage providers down under recently opened a branch office in Singapore – the first in Asia. With its headquarters in...
Continue Reading • 5 Oct 2012
Dual-key homes gaining in popularity
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: In a bid to support the growing demand for dual-key homes, property developer Frasers Centrepoint has launched Trio by Frasers, a new brand of dual-key units with three major uses – as a home office, for multi-generational living and leasing out. The units offer...
Continue Reading • 4 Oct 2012
Banks in Singapore halting home loan subsidies
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: It appears that banks in Singapore can no longer subsidise legal and valuation fees for a home loan package, meaning that consumers will have to pay from their own pocket, or they could receive a lower loan amount after costs are deducted. The New Paper had earlier...
Continue Reading • 4 Oct 2012
Singapore home prices may shoot up further
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Singapore’s residential market remains busy, despite a less than rosy economic forecast with GDP growth trimmed to 2.4 percent this year, according to the latest report from Savills. Savills noted that the US government’s fresh round of quantitative easing...
Continue Reading • 4 Oct 2012
The Russians are coming
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: With major markets around the world facing economic challenges, the Russians have emerged as major players in the overseas property investment sector. China is now experiencing a slowdown while investors in the US are focusing on the upcoming elections. At the same time,...
Continue Reading • 4 Oct 2012
CapitaLand clinches top awards
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Property giant CapitaLand bagged the prestigious Golden Circle Award and Most Transparent Company Award (Real Estate) for the 12th consecutive year at last night’s Securities Investors Association Singapore (SIAS) Investors’ Choice Awards. The Golden Circle...
Continue Reading • 4 Oct 2012
Aussie banks refuse to pass on interest rate cut
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) yesterday delivered an early Christmas present to homeowners, slashing the official cash rate by 25 percentage points to 3.25 percent, the lowest level in three years. However, major lenders have refused to pass the rate cut, reported...
Continue Reading • 3 Oct 2012
CDL thinks green
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Singapore-based developer City Developments Limited (CDL) is leading the way in sustainable property development, with its newly-launched 240-room W Singapore – Sentosa Cove (pictured) considered the most eco-friendly hotel in the country.Approximately 3.5 percent...
Continue Reading • 3 Oct 2012
Geylang is red hot with property investors
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Geylang is becoming an attractive haven for property investors looking for high rental yields and capital gain, despite having a seedy reputation for prostitution and sleazy budget hotels. Median prices of newly launched properties soared to S$1,255 psf in Q2 2012 from...
Continue Reading • 3 Oct 2012
Four Seasons Place, Shanghai set for Singapore launch
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Four Seasons Place (pictured), a luxury branded residence and hotel development in Pudong, Shanghai, will launch in Singapore this weekend, according to marketing agent Savills Singapore. Developed by Shui On Group, Four Seasons Place is located in the heart of the...
Continue Reading • 3 Oct 2012
More expats buying up homes in Johor
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: A growing number of expatriates from Singapore are snapping up homes in Johor, Malaysia, especially properties in Nusajaya which are generally more spacious and affordably priced, according to recent media reports. Several property agents and developers noted that expats...
Continue Reading • 3 Oct 2012
Bangkok show cancelled after Singapore sell-out success
By Andrew Batt: EXCLUSIVE: Popular London property developer Ballymore has postponed a planned property showcase in Bangkok because of better-than-expected sales in Singapore.A total of 28 units at the Embassy Gardens project (pictured) were snapped up by property buyers and investors in the...
Continue Reading • 3 Oct 2012
UK lending scheme fails to take off
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The volume of new loans granted to households and businesses in the UK has not improved significantly and the cost of mortgages is rising despite the launch of the Bank of England’s Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) in July, reported the Financial Times.Data...
Continue Reading • 2 Oct 2012
Villa Des Flores up for en bloc sale again
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The freehold Villa Des Flores (pictured) has been re-launched for collective sale with a price tag of S$165 million, according to marketing agent DTZ. Located on a 104,370 sq ft site along Whitley Road, the development was first launched for sale in June at the same...
Continue Reading • 2 Oct 2012
Residential deals dominate auctions market
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The residential market accounted for a healthy 75 percent, or S$12.4 million of the total S$16.7 million for auction sales in Q3 2012, according to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). The improvement was mainly attributed to strong market fundamentals, including low interest rate...
Continue Reading • 2 Oct 2012