Prime London home prices dip in June
Seven of London's eight priciest districts saw a decline in housing prices during the month of June as the number of homes bought with cash also fell, media reports said. Data from property consultancy Acadametrics revealed that the largest fall was seen in London's financial district at...
Continue Reading • 12 Aug 2013
Strong appetite for Malaysia property
Properties across the causeway continue to appeal to buyers and investors in Singapore, on the back of higher housing prices as well as market cooling measures in the city-state.At PropertyGuru’s Malaysia Property Show (MPS) held in Singapore on 13 and 14 July, over 2,000 prospective buyers...
Continue Reading • 12 Aug 2013
Tokyo's 'cheaper' properties make good investments
Efforts by Japan’s government to keep the yen weak have made property there more affordable than those in the neighbouring countries of Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.“Japan is cheap considering how much property prices have gained in Singapore and Hong Kong,” noted Akihiko...
Continue Reading • 6 Aug 2013
Call for Aussie election to focus on housing
Australia’s Housing Industry Association (HIA) has called on political parties to embrace election polices to promote a housing led recovery in the economy after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday called a General Election for 7 September.“Residential building is one of the few...
Continue Reading • 6 Aug 2013
London home prices may rise 4% in 2014
As concerns fade over new taxes for the wealthy and on foreign buyers, prices of central London homes are expected to rise by four percent next year, up from the previous forecast of two percent, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.Prices in neighbourhoods like Mayfair, Chelsea and Knightsbridge are...
Continue Reading • 6 Aug 2013
Singapore cooling measures a plus for Iskandar
Developers with a presence in Iskandar Malaysia are optimistic that the good performance of recent project launches will be sustained in the months to come until 2014.“The confidence level among developers in Iskandar is now at an all-time high,” said Wong Kuen Kong, Deputy Chairman...
Continue Reading • 5 Aug 2013
Majority of new London homes sold to foreigners
Close to 75 percent of all new residential purchases in central London last year were made by foreign buyers, with over 50 percent coming from Singapore, China, Malaysia and Hong Kong, according to property consultancy Knight Frank.Most of these homes were sold at overseas exhibitions before they...
Continue Reading • 5 Aug 2013
Beware 'drug pusher' tenants: Malaysian police
As a result of recent cases whereby condominium units were converted into drug labs, Kuala Lumpur Police Chief DCP Datuk Mohmad Salleh has urged landlords to monitor their tenants, while neighbours should keep watch over each other. “In Kuala Lumpur it has become a trend, especially for...
Continue Reading • 2 Aug 2013
UK Minister: No ban on foreign buyers
The United Kingdom’s Housing Minister Mark Prisk has – finally – rejected calls to curb foreign ownership of London new builds, after apparently being sympathetic to the idea. The Minister's spokesman confirmed the news in a message to asset management company London Central...
Continue Reading • 2 Aug 2013
Go ahead for Melbourne Docklands renewal
The Docklands area of Melbourne continues to cement its position as Australia's premier urban renewal precinct with Planning Minister Matthew Guy recently announcing planning approval for an AUD130 million (S$147.6 million) hotel and housing development.The 37-storey residential and hotel...
Continue Reading • 2 Aug 2013
Iskandar bungalow lots sold out
Ten pre-selected bungalow lots at Leisure Farm Resort in Iskandar Malaysia have been snapped up, with more than 30 bids received. “We are overwhelmed by the strong reception,” said Lee Seng Huang, Executive Chairman of Mulpha International, the parent company of the project's...
Continue Reading • 1 Aug 2013
French gay village gets the green light
The gay community are the latest group to fuel the booming retirement property market, which already offers developments catering to art enthusiasts, musicians, military veterans and university alumni. According to research by Stonewall, the U.K. lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, there are...
Continue Reading • 1 Aug 2013
Branded buyers look to Vietnam
Investing in Vietnamese property, especially along the country’s fabled Central Coast, has never been more popular with foreign investors, according to Vietnam Sotheby’s International Realty.The company noted that Asia-based investors from Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China are...
Continue Reading • 1 Aug 2013
Uncertainty raised over foreign property ownership in Indonesia
A bill currently being drafted by the Indonesian government is giving hope that foreign buyers, including Singaporean expatriates, could own properties in the country.The existing rules which allows foreigners to occupy a building or land for 25 years is now being revised and awaiting approval...
Continue Reading • 1 Aug 2013
China firm to invest US$1b in LA devt
China's state-owned Shanghai Greenland Group has invested US$1 billion (S$1.27 billion) into a Los Angeles project, making it the latest Chinese developer to venture abroad.“We are extending the China market abroad, and we prioritise our investment to countries where Chinese immigrants,...
Continue Reading • 31 Jul 2013
Prominent banker killed over bad property deals
An initial investigation into the murder of Hussain Ahmad Najadi (pictured), founder of the Arab-Malaysian Development Bank, revealed that it was due to property deals that have gone awry, noted Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh.But those who ordered the hitmen to kill the 75-year-old...
Continue Reading • 31 Jul 2013
Malaysia, Taiwan may tighten tax rules
Malaysia may increase its real property gains tax (RPGT) and tighten financing, after speculation in the property market caused prices to soar beyond the reach of the middle class, hinted Housing Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan.This comes amid ongoing media reports about the country's urban housing...
Continue Reading • 30 Jul 2013
Caution urged over buying overseas properties
Banking on Singaporeans' strong interest for property, foreign developers are actively promoting their projects here in the hopes of boosting sales, but analysts are reminding buyers to be cautious.At a recent property showcase at the Singapore Expo, several overseas projects and land sites in...
Continue Reading • 30 Jul 2013
Prime London home prices 60% above financial crisis levels
Contrary to previous forecasts of minimal growth, luxury residential values in central London are expected to move up by six percent in 2013, according to Knight Frank LLP.“Further weakening in sterling in the first half of the year helped to boost overseas interest and domestic demand has...
Continue Reading • 29 Jul 2013
Aussie home comes with helicopter hangar
A four-bedroom house in Queensland not only has a unique 'triangular' appearance, but it also comes with its own helicopter hangar (pictured).Designed by Sunshine Coast designer Chris Clout, the Airlie Beach house is ironically located in Aviation Estate, the site of an old airport, media reports...
Continue Reading • 29 Jul 2013