Non-UK buyers driving up London's property prices
Prices of prime central homes in London now stand at an average £800,000 (S$1.62 million), up nearly 40 percent since the credit crunch low in March 2009, attributed to non-UK buyers who see London as a safe haven.With Singapore’s latest round of cooling measures, many overseas...
Continue Reading • 15 Dec 2011
Developers may dangle incentives to lure buyers
Property developers may start offering incentives to lure buyers, to mitigate the impact of the latest round of cooling measures, as well as to boost their sales, according to analysts in a report by TODAY.“They may have to even align their prices to move sales or look at incentives,”...
Continue Reading • 15 Dec 2011
US mortgage applications edge up
The number of mortgage applications in the US edged up last week, attributed to an increase in refinance applications, according to the latest Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).It noted that the Market Composite Index of US mortgage...
Continue Reading • 15 Dec 2011
Sing Holdings to acquire Robin Rd site for S$52m
Sing Holdings will be acquiring another freehold residential site along Robin Road, after entering into a sale and purchase agreement (SPA) to purchase a 16-unit apartment site at 2 to 8 Robin Road for S$52 million.“More than 80 percent of the owners at 2 to 8 Robin Road have consented to...
Continue Reading • 15 Dec 2011
Condo sizes shrink again
The average condo size used to estimate the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme’s housing supply has shrunk again, as Singapore keeps up with market trends.A Business Times analysis revealed that in the 1H2012 GLS Programme, the average size in terms of gross floor area (GFA) for private...
Continue Reading • 15 Dec 2011
Malaysia, Indonesia highlighted for 2012
Senior executives from the global travel industry have identified Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Argentina (SLIMMA) as tourism’s most important emerging economies for 2012, and rivals to the BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.More than 1,000 people were polled...
Continue Reading • 15 Dec 2011
New measures may strike developers' ROEs
The additional stamp duty implemented by the government to rein in the residential property market is expected to weaken developers’ stock prices and return on equity (ROE), according to Craig Irvine, Chief Regional Strategist at DMG & Partners Research.“We believe sentiment is...
Continue Reading • 14 Dec 2011
URA, Esplanade jointly present countdown event
The Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, which is now in its seventh year, is inviting the public to write down their hopes for the New Year on wishing spheres.Jointly presented by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, the event will feature some 20,000...
Continue Reading • 14 Dec 2011
UK mortgage lending goes up
New mortgage lending in the UK climbed in the third quarter for the first time in three years, said a report.However, the number of foreclosed homes increased slightly, up to 7,316 new cases in Q3, from 7,058 in Q2 2011 and 6,583 in Q3 2010.According to the quarterly Mortgage Lending Report...
Continue Reading • 14 Dec 2011
More investors shifting to commercial properties
The number of property investors switching to commercial properties is expected to increase, after the government’s latest measures to cool the residential property market, according to some bankers.They believe that interest in commercial property has been rising for several months, driven...
Continue Reading • 14 Dec 2011
Minor International wins seven property awards
Minor International has won seven prestigious awards at the Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards 2011 for its luxury residential properties in Thailand. One of Thailand’s largest leisure and hospitality companies, Minor International has set a new standard for luxury development in the...
Continue Reading • 14 Dec 2011
Home sales trickle in despite curbs
Although property buying may have slowed after the implementation of heavier stamp duties last week, sales are still trickling in.As of Sunday, developer SingXpress Land had sold 17 of the 21 units at the cluster housing development Charlton Residences, located near Kovan MRT station.According to...
Continue Reading • 14 Dec 2011
China property cooling measures will stay
China has no plans of easing its grip on property cooling measures, underscoring Beijing's determination to lower prices further, according to an official.“Our short-term target is on prices, but in the long run, we should focus on the whole property-related system,” said Xia Bin, an...
Continue Reading • 14 Dec 2011
UK mortgages at their most affordable since 2004
Mortgages in the UK were at the most affordable level in October since 2004, according to official figures.However, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), noted that the number of available mortgages dropped eight percent in September to 44,500 during the month. This figure was also down five...
Continue Reading • 13 Dec 2011
Straits Trading shifting focus to property
Straits Trading is diversifying its portfolio from industrial metals towards property and hospitality services, according to Channel NewsAsia (CNA).Chew Gek Khim, Executive Chairman of Straits Trading, said that by 2015, she hopes the company will be Asia’s answer to Berkshire Hathaway, a...
Continue Reading • 13 Dec 2011
Singapore may lose status as major investment destination
Singapore's reputation as a major property investment destination could be damaged by the implementation of heavier stamp duties, according to The Straits Times.The report noted that the new rules could boost the status of rivals such as Britain and Hong Kong, which do not have such...
Continue Reading • 13 Dec 2011
S'pore property investment sales up 42%
Property investment sales have reached S$6.8 billion so far this quarter, up 42 percent from S$4.8 billion in the previous quarter, according to the latest figures from Savills Singapore.Savills added that about S$28.5 billion of such transactions have been closed since the start of 2011.The...
Continue Reading • 13 Dec 2011
CEA launches new consumer guide
The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) yesterday launched its first educational consumer guide on estate agency services.Entitled “Consumer Tips for Engaging a Real Estate Salesperson”, the brochure features helpful references for consumers who wish to employ the services of property...
Continue Reading • 13 Dec 2011
Charlton Residences sees brisk sales
SingXpress Land has sold around 80 percent of its units at Charlton Residences, a 21-unit freehold luxury development in the Kovan area, at an average price of S$2.8 million each (around S$500 psf).“We are very pleased with the strong sales of Charlton Residences. It demonstrates the demand...
Continue Reading • 13 Dec 2011
New home sales drop 15%: Savills
Singapore’s property market has become increasingly cautious, as sales of new homes dropped 15 percent month-on-month in October, according to Savills Research.Due to strong home sales from January to October 2011, about 13,688 new home sales were registered over that period, representing a...
Continue Reading • 12 Dec 2011