REITs’ status quo on payout ratio
It’s officially announced that authorities will not lower the smallest amount of payment ratio that Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) should meet in order to qualify for the transparency treatment of tax.Lim Hwee Hua, the Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport at a REITs...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
Large investor but thrifty spender
Regardless of becoming a wealthy man, entrepreneur-cum-motivational lecturer, Adam Khoo hesitates before he spends on products like iPhone.However, in terms of investments, the founder of the Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group will not even have a second thought when investing, supposing,...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
The seventh wonder of Sentosa
Capella Singapore, the latest luxurious hotel of Sentosa, will be opening next month. It will be the seventh hotel to be built in the island.Designed by Norman Foster, a British architect, this $400-million hotel is expected to be Sentosa’s main attraction, with its unique eight-shape...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
Phoenix reels from housing collapse results
For several years, Phoenix city has been an arid region in the south-western part of the United States and has benefited from a remarkable growth because of the well-known business saying, “Retail follows rooftops”.The idea was very simple: roads, schools, and malls – a mini...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
Getting tenants not anymore a problem
The Dempsey’s retail segment, associated with antiques and furniture, will remain, says Country City Investment, which is now the manager of Tanglin Village’s part including Dempsey Hill Green and Dempsey Hill.“We will keep the furniture outlets as most of the tenants - about 65...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
Eastern Europe crisis goes western
The Eastern Europe’s crisis, which begun since the worldwide credit crunch, is now raging. The sirens are also sounding for Western Europe’s governments and banks. The most evident sign of the crisis is the downfall of the east European currencies as the capital of the western beats a...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
Capella Singapore’s Impressing factor
The doors of Capella Singapore were finally opened to its first paying clients on 30 March. This marks the beginning of what the hotel owners hope in the industry of local hospitality – a business that seamlessly and successfully combines the colonial past of Singapore with the most recent...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
Prospective Cairnhill Heights buyer backs out
A plotted acquisition of an enbloc site worth $44 million in the Cairnhill area was withdrawn by a developer, infuriating a few home owners.Jewel 1, the firm involved, attributed “difficult, uncertain and deteriorating market conditions” for it to decide to back away from Cairnhill...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
US housing construction sector slows down in October
The US housing construction sector experienced a decline in October as the economy struggled to rise from the recent recession sparked off by the home mortgage meltdown, according to government data released this week.The US Commerce Department said the construction of privately-owned...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
DBS Group optimistic about the high-end market
DBS group research has upgraded its calls on developers in the high-end segment of the market, including Wheelock (TP: $1.98), Ho Bee (TP: $1.64) and SC Global (TP: $1.69).The positive outlook on the high-end segment is buoyed by various factors, including the likelihood of having higher...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
Rising consumer price index not linked to inflation
Singaporean officials said today that the rising trend in the forecast for the 2010 consumer price index was not because of any increase in the underlying inflation, but on the pending rise of the property tax.Singapore revised its 2010 inflation forecast from an earlier projection of 1...
Continue Reading • 19 Nov 2009
Office rents could fall 30-40% this year
Based on research made by property firm Savills, Grade A office rents in Singapore are likely to be trimmed down by 30-40 percent in this year, and another 20-25 percent in the following year is also viable.In 2008, rents in Singapore fell 1.9%. The property firm’s research, which...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2009
Controversial dorm to open by August
The projected foreign worker dormitory in Serangoon Gardens was delayed due to a commotion among residents prior to the announcement of the said dorm. However, the trouble has already been fixed and its operation is likely to commence in August.Lim Hwee Hua, Aljunied GRC member of Parliament,...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2009
Plummeting prices of luxury condo in KL
Luxury condo prices in the area of Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) have plunged 15 to 20 percent as the economic downturn occurs and foreigners attempt to cash out the best they can have, says a consultant of real estates.In 2004, during the recovery process after the Asian financial crisis in...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2009
Recurring income saves Metro Holdings
Property investments’ recurring income may prove to be the saving grave of Metro Holdings.The first quarterly net loss of Metro for nine years was recorded in Q2, but it regained its loss in Q3, despite the plunge of retail revenue to $43 million – an eight percent decrease on a...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2009
Ethical estate agents must be rewarded
Doctor Sim Tiong Peng empathised with the troubles of clients who were victims of deceitful estate agents, in an article entitled, “Licence all agents, say experts”. During the middle of the previous year, Dr. Peng purchased a private flat and employed the same agent, who dealt with...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2009
A good time to install security alarm
Investing in a dream house is something that several people will do, but not many of them will consider investing in the security of their property.Since the deteriorating economic atmosphere may promote more crimes, it may perhaps be a good timing to give this issue some consideration.The...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2009
F&N’s profits fall due to property losses
Conglomerate Fraser and Neave (F&N) has reported an 18% fall in its net profits in the first quarter, resulting to $89 million, primarily due to several losses incurred in its property business. However, its operations on foods and beverages, including numerous high-profile soft drinks, have...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2009
Alexandra Road condo nearly sold-out
Alexis @ Alexandra proved to resist the downturn as it successfully attracted buyers at the project’s preview.Almost 90 percent of the project with 293 units, which is situated at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Alexandra Road, has been sold. The sales were done on Thursday and...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2009
Negative start of industrial space
It was a tough fourth quarter for Landlord JTC Corp after experiencing a sharp fall in the start of its industrial space. In ready-built factory space, 21,200 square metres lease terminations have exceeded the 20,000 square metres of new space leased, leaving a negative start of 1,200 square...
Continue Reading • 18 Nov 2009