Legoland Malaysia set for weekend opening
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The much-awaited RM750 million (S$300 million) Legoland Malaysia (pictured) is now undergoing final touches before its grand opening on Saturday, 15 September.The 31-ha theme park boasts about 15,000 Lego models built from 40 million Lego bricks, as well as 40 different...
Continue Reading • 11 Sept 2012
Royal star power in Singapore
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Britain’s Prince William and his wife Catherine (pictured) arrive in Singapore today as part of a nine-day Asia Pacific tour to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. The royal couple will first visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where an orchid...
Continue Reading • 11 Sept 2012
Shop around for a mortgage broker
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Borrowers usually engage a mortgage broker as they can recommend mortgages from up to 30 lenders, but many brokers only suggest loans from one or two of their favourite banks, according to Sydney broker Tony Harris. Speaking at a recent Property Observer webinar, Harris...
Continue Reading • 10 Sept 2012
British buyers take a look at SE Asia
By Andrew Batt: Properties from Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Cambodia will be flying the flag for Southeast Asia at a major British overseas property exhibition later this month.A Place in the Sun Live is the largest overseas property exhibition in the U.K. It takes place in the...
Continue Reading • 10 Sept 2012
APREA Singapore names new chairman
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Asia Pacific Real Estate Association (APREA) Singapore Chapter has named Andy Tan Chye Guan (pictured) as its new Chairman. Aside from being the current Executive Vice President of MEAG Pacific Star Asset Management, he is also a member of the Board and Governing...
Continue Reading • 10 Sept 2012
Khaw: Singles are being heard
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: In light of the debate on whether to allow singles to buy new HDB flats, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan assured Singaporeans that he’s looking into such concerns, but asked for more patience as the government needs to focus on other flat applicants. In...
Continue Reading • 10 Sept 2012
Sage at Nassim gets highest CONQUAS rating
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Hong Leong Holding’s Sage at Nassim project (pictured) has received the Highest Construction Quality Assessment System (CONQUAS) score to date across the private housing category. Betsy Chng, Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “Hong Leong Holdings has always...
Continue Reading • 10 Sept 2012
Mount Elizabeth apartment sold en bloc for S$92.2m
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Chateau Eliza (pictured), a 37-unit freehold residential development located at Mount Elizabeth, has been sold en bloc to Newfort Realty for S$92.2 million.The project was sold on its third attempt and is Singapore’s 20th successful collective sale deal this year....
Continue Reading • 10 Sept 2012
URA awards tender for Yishun, Tai Thong sites
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has awarded the tenders for an industrial site at Yishun Avenue 9 (Parcel 5) and a residential with 1st storey commercial site (pictured) at Tai Thong Crescent (Parcel C) to Soon Hock Tuas Development and Verwood Holdings /...
Continue Reading • 10 Sept 2012
The Garden Residences - The icon of Skudai's horizon
Residential property developer Scientex Skudai introduces another flagship development with The Garden Residences (pictured), an addition to the group's green and nature living concept.The developer's The Garden Residences project comprises 259 units in each tower that are ideal for newlyweds,...
Continue Reading • 7 Sept 2012
UK mortgage fees hit record highs
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Home loan fees in the UK have jumped 70 percent over the last four years, reaching the highest recorded level of £1,514 (S$3,002), according to consumer portal Moneyfacts. Lenders are now being accused of profiteering as this signifies a huge increase from...
Continue Reading • 7 Sept 2012
Plush toy-bags signal pandamonium in Singapore
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:As part of celebrations to welcome the giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia to Singapore, property developer CapitaLand has designed a unique set of plush toy-bags (pictured) in an effort to spread the message of protecting critically endangered species.Committed to promoting...
Continue Reading • 7 Sept 2012
Thomson View sale rakes in whopping S$590m
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: After two unsuccessful attempts to go en bloc, Thomson View Condominium (pictured) was finally sold for S$590 million on its third attempt to a consortium led by Wee Hur Development and Lucrum Capital. The sale includes an estimated S$107 million premium to enhance the...
Continue Reading • 7 Sept 2012
MND seeks ways to make Singapore more liveable
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:The Ministry of National Development (MND) is seeking new and innovative research and development (R&D) proposals to boost land capacity and create a more liveable environment in Singapore. “Over the past decades, despite land constraints, we have worked towards...
Continue Reading • 7 Sept 2012
Punggol EC site sold amid dull demand
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Qingjian Realty (South Pacific) Group was awarded the tender for a residential site (pictured) at Punggol Way/Punggol Walk after submitting the top bid of S$189.87 million, according to the Housing and Development Board (HDB).Slated for executive condominium (EC)...
Continue Reading • 7 Sept 2012
Tai Thong Crescent site fetches top bid of S$245m
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) closed the tender for a residential with 1st storey commercial site (pictured) at Tai Thong Crescent (Parcel C) yesterday, with a total of eight bids received. The highest offer of S$245 million came from Verwood Holdings and...
Continue Reading • 7 Sept 2012
US mortgage applications down last week
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Home loan applications in the US dipped 2.5 percent during the week ended 31 August compared to the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey. MBA’s benchmark for mortgage applications, the Market...
Continue Reading • 6 Sept 2012
A unique approach to property marketing
By Andrew Batt:One real estate company has come up with a unique way to overcome the enormous challenges all agents face in grabbing the attentions of prospective property purchasers.SpotBlue, a U.K. agent that specialises in Turkish real estate, has commissioned a poem to promote one of its...
Continue Reading • 6 Sept 2012
CapitaLand units boost share capital
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: CapitaLand’s two wholly-owned subsidiaries – CH Residential Pte Ltd (CHR) and CH Commercial Pte Ltd (CHC) – have both raised their issued and paid-up share capital to S$1 million from S$2. Both CHR and CHC allotted an additional 999,998 ordinary shares...
Continue Reading • 6 Sept 2012
UOB in hot soup over property ads
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Following reports of property listings appearing on United Overseas Bank’s (UOB) website, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has reminded banks to secure an approval on any business other than banking or finance. “A bank which seeks to enter into an...
Continue Reading • 6 Sept 2012