UK set to close property tax avoidance loophole
Foreign property buyers who have been using offshore companies to sell homes in London are expected to be targeted in the United Kingdom’s annual Budget statement tomorrow.The UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister) George Osborne (pictured), speaking in an interview with...
Continue Reading • 20 Mar 2012
London rental rates are cooling: Savills
Falling corporate budgets and reduced international demand are cooling the top end of the prime central London property rentals market, while increased domestic demand is boosting values in southwest London, according to new data from Savills. Prime central London has shown the strongest...
Continue Reading • 20 Mar 2012
S$206.52m Little Japan township planned in Malaysia
Japanese investors plan to construct Malaysia’s first “Little Japan” township (pictured) in Taman Molek, Johor Baru for high net-worth Japanese keen on making the country their second home.Global Asia Assets (M) Sdn Bhd (GAAM), an asset-building consulting company for the...
Continue Reading • 19 Mar 2012
China's home prices at lowest level since 2011
Home prices in China recorded their worst performance in a year, with nearly half the cities tracked by the National Statistics Bureau witnessing a drop in prices from 2011, as the government maintained curbs on the property sector.The National Statistics Bureau revealed that prices of new homes...
Continue Reading • 19 Mar 2012
More American seniors using reverse mortgages
More seniors in the US are getting reverse mortgages on their properties at an earlier age, in order to survive.A study revealed that since 1999, the percentage of people aged between 62 and 64 applying for reverse mortgages climbed 15 percent. The reason for the significant upswing among...
Continue Reading • 19 Mar 2012
Buying trend shows many prefer old neighbourhoods
Most people think buying a new house generally means packing up and relocating to a new part of town. But a large percentage of those buying new houses prefer to stay in their old neighbourhoods and be close to the shops and people they know, according to developers. In the recently launched...
Continue Reading • 19 Mar 2012
Ascott launches green effort
The Ascott Ltd (Ascott) has embarked on a global sustainability drive with the launch of Go Green @ Ascott, as the company strives to become the world’s leading green serviced residence company.Beacon signage lights, biodegradable laundry bags, the use of recycling bins and the installation...
Continue Reading • 19 Mar 2012
Housing rents to increase around the world: Savills
Rental values in the global residential property market are climbing fast, as demand from local and international corporate tenants’ rises rapidly, noted Savills, a London-based consultancy. According to the Savills World Class Cities Index, the average rental increase in the second half of...
Continue Reading • 19 Mar 2012
CapitaLand still bullish on China investments
CapitaLand, one of Asia’s largest real estate companies, continues to be bullish on investments in China despite the dismissal of Bo Xilai, the charismatic but controversial Communist Party Chief of Chongqing.Liew Mun Leong, President and CEO of CapitaLand Group (pictured) believes there is...
Continue Reading • 17 Mar 2012
Qingjian Realty plans IPO in Singapore
Chinese developer Qingjian Realty plans to conduct its first initial public offering (IPO) in Singapore next year and raise up to S$500 million, according to The Straits Times.Possibly the first Chinese developer to list itself in the country, Qingjian Realty is eyeing Singapore as a springboard...
Continue Reading • 16 Mar 2012
Tony Koe appointed Executive Director of SLP International
Leading property firm SLP International Property Consultants Pte Ltd has announced the appointment of its new Executive Director, Tony Koe (pictured), in line with its goal of expanding the company’s residential ventures in Singapore, Indonesia and China. Koe previously served as General...
Continue Reading • 16 Mar 2012
Private property developers targeting Punggol
Property developers believe that Punggol (pictured) has the potential for private residential development after a new study revealed that around 30 percent of HDB households in the area have a monthly income of S$9,000 or above. Compared with the national average of the other HDB estates, this is...
Continue Reading • 16 Mar 2012
Samsung unveils new line of home appliances
Samsung Electronics recently showcased its latest products and innovations at the Samsung South East Asia, Oceania and Taiwan Forum 2012 held in Bangkok.The company’s product catalogue for 2012 includes TVs, mobile phones, Notebook PCs, cameras, tablets and home appliances.“The...
Continue Reading • 16 Mar 2012
UK home-buying cheaper than renting
The cost of mortgages in 42 out of the top 50 cities and towns in Great Britain are cheaper than renting, reported property website Zoopla.co.uk. However, this figure is slightly lower than three months ago when it was 47 out of 50 cities and towns.In spite of the slight fall, buying continues to...
Continue Reading • 16 Mar 2012
Tampines residential site a hot pick: consultants
Among the four residential sites released under the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme yesterday, the executive condo (EC) plot at Tampines Central 7 (pictured) next to The Tampines Trilliant development is the most appealing, according to consultants.The four sites which could yield up to...
Continue Reading • 16 Mar 2012
Capella's Colonial Manor open to long-term stay
From being available only for short term hotel stays, Capella Singapore has finally released one of its two Colonial Manors (pictured) as part of The Club at Capella Singapore’s long-term accommodation inventory.With monthly rates starting at S$42,000, the manor sits on a 436 sq m plot and...
Continue Reading • 16 Mar 2012
URA, HDB launch 4 residential sites
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has released two new executive condominium (EC) sites located at Tampines Central 7 and Woodlands Avenue 5 under the confirmed list for H1 2012.Together, the 99-year leasehold sites could yield 1,300 EC units. The Woodlands and Tampines plots are 25,800 sq...
Continue Reading • 16 Mar 2012
Private home sales hit new high
Despite the gloomy economic outlook and recent cooling measures, private home sales in February remained strong and set a new record with transactions hitting 3,138 units including executive condominiums (ECs).Data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) revealed that excluding ECs, the...
Continue Reading • 15 Mar 2012
US mortgages see record savings over rents
US households with mortgages have experienced higher cost savings relative to rents in at least two decades, according to analysis by Deutsche Bank AG.There is a significant difference between rents and after-tax mortgage payments in proportion to the disposable income, based on data compiled by...
Continue Reading • 15 Mar 2012
No relief for China's property sector
No relief is in sight for China’s slumping property market as Premier Wen Jiabao (pictured) said that the central government remains committed to continuing its cooling measures, according to The Business Times.“I can clearly tell everyone now, the housing prices are still far, far...
Continue Reading • 15 Mar 2012