UK sees house prices fall
Home prices in the UK dropped 1.2 percent in August 2011, one percent higher than in the preceding three months, according to the latest Halifax House Price Index.“As we have pointed out before, the current low volume of sales tends to make house prices volatile from month to month. The 1.2...
Continue Reading • 13 Sept 2011
280 more units released for sale at A Treasure Trove
Following the brisk take up of A Treasure Trove in Punggol Central, property developer Sim Lian Group has released an additional 280 units at the project for sale, bringing the total number of units released to 580.“The positive response to A Treasure Trove in Punggol reflects buyers’...
Continue Reading • 13 Sept 2011
Hong Kong home sales gain momentum
Local property transactions have gained momentum, despite developers launching more flats on the market.Midland Realty said transactions among 10 benchmark residential projects rose from 28 a week ago to 33 over the weekend. “Some developers are planning to introduce more new flats...
Continue Reading • 13 Sept 2011
Indonesians still one of the top home buyers in S'pore
Indonesians are one of the major home buyers in the Singapore property market, along with mainland Chinese and Malaysians.According to data released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), 1,706 Indonesians, including permanent residents (PRs), acquired private homes in Singapore last year....
Continue Reading • 13 Sept 2011
US mortgage rates hit a 60-year low
US mortgage rates hit their lowest level in six decades, making this the perfect time to buy or refinance a home. With today’s rate, those who qualify could end up saving thousands of dollars a year.“Low rates are great, but the real issue is that the pool of people who can get a loan...
Continue Reading • 13 Sept 2011
CEA to get tougher on rogue property agents
Nearly 100 “letters of advice” have been issued by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) to errant property companies and agents within the first year of its operations.Launched in October 2010, CEA was established by the government to raise the professionalism of the property agency...
Continue Reading • 13 Sept 2011
CapitaLand's Nassim condo priced at S$9 million for a 3-bedder
A 55-unit low-rise condo located on the former ANA Hotel site at Nassim Hill has been priced by CapitaLand at between S$9 million and S$33 million.Designed by Mok Wei Wei of W Architects, the project will be located amid lush greenery to give residents the feel of living in a landed...
Continue Reading • 12 Sept 2011
Australia's Commonwealth Bank starts home loan war
A large scale competition is unravelling, as Australia’s Commonwealth Bank has vowed to beat any rate advertised by its competitors until the end of the month.The bank has promised to offer new and existing customers opting for variable or fixed-interest loans valued at S$100,000 or more...
Continue Reading • 12 Sept 2011
REDAS calls for indepth review of property cooling measures
With fears that global economic woes could weaken the real estate market, several property developers in Singapore are calling for a review of the cooling measures.“We are just signalling that in the coming months, it may be a good time to look at what is happening in the world and what is...
Continue Reading • 12 Sept 2011
Foreigners snapping up posh apartments in S'pore
Foreigners are acquiring posh apartments in Singapore and contributing to the health of the luxury market, which had been weak since early 2007, according to an article in The Straits Times.Foreigners, including permanent residents (PRs), acquired 162 non-landed units with an average price of...
Continue Reading • 12 Sept 2011
Serangoon condo site awarded to highest bidder
A 99-year leasehold site at the junction of Upper Serangoon Crescent and Upper Serangoon Road has been awarded to Allgreen Properties Ltd, after it offered the highest bid of S$270.28 million in a public tender that closed on 7 September 2011.The winning bid works out to around S$291.39 psf of...
Continue Reading • 12 Sept 2011
UN highly impressed with Singapore's BCA Green Mark Scheme
The United Nations is impressed with Singapore’s BCA Green Mark Scheme and wants to work with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), which oversees the programme, according to The Straits Times.The report said the tie-up could involve an agreement that is expected to be signed on...
Continue Reading • 12 Sept 2011
Mixed-use projects getting more popular
Mixed-use developments are increasingly popular among property buyers in Singapore whose busy schedules have lead to the demand of facilities for leisure, work and living, all in one destination.Additionally, mixed-use concepts provide the developers a unique way to optimise and diversify land...
Continue Reading • 12 Sept 2011
Govt launches S$12m initiative to boost landscape industry
In line with the government’s desire to boost the productivity of the landscape industry, it has allocated S$12 million for initiatives under the Landscape Productivity Roadmap for the next five years.Announced at the Green Thumbs 2011 event, the Landscape Productivity Roadmap aims to...
Continue Reading • 12 Sept 2011
More S'pore investments now in Iskandar Malaysia, especially in education
In line with the RM75.96 billion committed investment in Iskandar Malaysia in the first half of 2011, two educational partners from Singapore are working with Iskandar Investment to develop projects in EduCity Iskandar Malaysia —Raffles University Iskandar (RUI) and MDIS Campus...
Continue Reading • 9 Sept 2011
The Arc at Tampines seen as most successful EC project in recent times
A Hoi Hup led-consortium sold 220 units at the Arc at Tampines executive condo (EC) project during balloting yesterday, at an average price of S$722 psf.“Arc is the first EC launch to benefit from the higher monthly household income ceiling of S$12,000 compared with S$10,000...
Continue Reading • 9 Sept 2011
Malaysian developer unveils luxurious new residential project in Singapore
Malaysian property developer Selangor Dredging Bhd (SDB) has unveiled the upcoming Hijauan on Cavenagh project.Aimed at captivating the public with its stunning designs, the six-storey residential block comprises 41 units on about 19,800 sq ft of land and has a gross plot ratio of 2.0.Featuring a...
Continue Reading • 9 Sept 2011
Condo units at A Treasure Trove selling at brisk pace
Property and construction company Sim Lian Group Limited has launched its newest condominium, A Treasure Trove in Punggol Central.The 99-year leasehold development features two-bedroom, two-plus-study, three-bedroom, three-plus-study and four-bedroom units, as well as high-end single-level...
Continue Reading • 9 Sept 2011
Singapore the most active hotel investment market in Asia Pac
Singapore has been ranked the most active hotel investment market in Asia Pacific, accounting for S$1.02 billion of the S$2.6 billion transaction volume in the region, according to Jones Lang LaSalle's (JLL) Hotel Investment Highlights 2011.JLL said in its report that Singapore’s sales...
Continue Reading • 9 Sept 2011
Keppel Land subsidiary declares fund closed at over S$556m
Alpha Investment Partners Limited (Alpha), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Land Ltd, has announced the first closing of the Alpha Asia Macro Trends Fund II (AAMTF II).The fund raised a commitment of over S$556 million (US$460 million) throughout June from eight institutional investors,...
Continue Reading • 9 Sept 2011