China property sales up 26% in July
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: China’s property sector showed signs of recovery as revenue from sales grew 26.3 percent in July from a 6.9 percent rise in June, even as property investment declined for three months due to government restrictions. In the first seven months of 2012, property...
Continue Reading • 10 Aug 2012
Miami-area home fetches record S$59m
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:A waterfront home at Biscayne Bay, Miami was sold for a whopping US$47 million (S$59 million), setting a new record for the luxury market in Miami Beach (pictured). The 30,000 sq ft property on Indian Creek Island was sold by the builders and owners – Shlomi...
Continue Reading • 10 Aug 2012
Ascott to manage 7th property in the Philippines
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Ascott Limited, a wholly-owned unit of CapitaLand, has inked a deal to manage the 210-unit Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila (pictured), a new serviced residence development in Ortigas Center – one of the key business and financial districts of the Philippines....
Continue Reading • 8 Aug 2012
Beyonce and Jay-Z splash US$400k on holiday rental home
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: US pop superstar Beyonce Knowles and husband Jay-Z are renting out a 31,000 sq ft mansion (pictured) in the Hamptons near New York City for a staggering US$400,000 (S$499,160), just for the month of August. Dubbed the Sandcastle, the property will be the couple’s...
Continue Reading • 6 Aug 2012
Kensington Palace Gardens is world's most expensive address
By Andrew Batt: London’s Kensington Palace Gardens (pictured) remains the home of the most expensive address in the world according to a survey of record prices for residential real estate in ten ‘world class’ cities published by Savills.The top price of £8,500 psf...
Continue Reading • 6 Aug 2012
Property buyers out in force
By Andrew Batt:Thousands of property buyers and investors went shopping for condominiums and villas from across Thailand on the first day of the DDProperty Showcase event (pictured) at the Central Rama 9 shopping mall in Bangkok yesterday.The event, which runs until August 8, features leading...
Continue Reading • 3 Aug 2012
NY penthouse yours for US$100m
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The most expensive apartment in New York City, a penthouse (pictured) occupying the top three floors of CitySpire condominium in Manhattan, is on sale for a whopping US$100 million (S$124.58 million). Designed by internationally acclaimed interior designer Juan Pablo...
Continue Reading • 2 Aug 2012
Singapore property buyers attracted by Bangkok's The Mark condo
By Andrew Batt:EXCLUSIVE: The recent strong surge in interest for Thailand property from Singaporean buyers and investors was again in evidence last weekend at the launch of The Mark Condominium (pictured) in the city-state.More than 30 units in the Bangkok condo were sold according to William...
Continue Reading • 1 Aug 2012
Philippines Property Show a resounding success
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: PropertyGuru’s inaugural Philippines Property Show (PPS) in Singapore last month successfully sold around 66 units valued at PHP288 million (S$8.6 million).The event showcased over 15 luxury developments from the Philippines and was attended by about 900 property...
Continue Reading • 1 Aug 2012
Bangkok prime property prices growing fastest globally
By Andrew Batt: Prime property prices in Bangkok are growing faster than anywhere else in the world, according to a new report published by Knight Frank.In its Prime Global Cities Index report, the agency noted that prices for condominiums in prime central Bangkok have risen 29 percent...
Continue Reading • 31 Jul 2012
New KL landmark launching units in Singapore
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Banyan Tree Signatures (pictured), Kuala Lumpur’s new landmark, will launch premium units in its residential component – Banyan Tress Residences at the Fullerton Hotel Singapore this weekend (28 – 29 July). Set to become one of the tallest residential...
Continue Reading • 27 Jul 2012
World's smallest house is one sq m
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Berlin-based architect Van Bo Le-Mentzel has designed what could be the smallest house in the world at just one sq m (pictured). Called the One-Sqm-House, Le-Mentzel has described it as a place where “no one other than I, myself, can decide what happens with this...
Continue Reading • 25 Jul 2012
Pan Pacific sees potential in Myanmar serviced apartments
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Singapore-listed Pan Pacific Hotels Group feels that Myanmar’s serviced apartments have strong potential for growth. “Service suites have a unique position in Myanmar. As ADB (Asian Development Bank), as World Bank, as United Nations start sending in people,...
Continue Reading • 25 Jul 2012
Europe's discounted properties a hit with Asian investors
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: More Asian investors are showing renewed interest in European properties as the financial crisis there has encouraged developers to offer discounted prices. Analysts reckon that Asian investors are now eyeing properties that they would have avoided before while investors...
Continue Reading • 24 Jul 2012
Worries over China property curbs hit stocks
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The stocks and bonds rally for Chinese developers is expected to end lower as valuations become less attractive and hopes diminish for any loosening of property cooling measures, said analysts. “The best performance for the China property sector is behind us and...
Continue Reading • 23 Jul 2012
London calling, no signs of cooling
By Andrew Batt: EXCLUSIVE: The number private properties being bought in Singapore may have declined in recent months but the same cannot be said for the number of Singaporeans buying London property.Last weekend saw more than 60 deals done for units at Lincoln Plaza, a Galliard Homes project...
Continue Reading • 23 Jul 2012
Strong interest expected for Westminster property
By Andrew Batt: Berkeley Homes is launching its latest London development (pictured) in Singapore this weekend at a time when Singaporean property buyers and investors are buying London property in ever increasing numbers.The first phase of the Abell & Cleland project, one of very few new...
Continue Reading • 20 Jul 2012
Ascott clinches another China property deal
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Ascott Limited (Ascott), the wholly-owned serviced residence unit of CapitaLand, has inked a deal to manage Ascott Raffles City Chengdu (pictured). Scheduled to open in 2013, Ascott Raffles City Chengdu comprises 296 luxury apartments ranging from one- to three-bedroom...
Continue Reading • 20 Jul 2012
Canary Wharf lures Singaporeans
By Andrew Batt:The Canary Wharf area of London (pictured) has been attracting Singaporean property buyers and investors in every increasing numbers.This weekend the latest development from the area – Lincoln Plaza – is being exhibited at the Conrad Centennial Hotel. Yet even before...
Continue Reading • 20 Jul 2012
Luxury London apartments to launch in Singapore
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Leading UK developer Berkeley will launch its latest collection of luxury apartments at Westminster, London in Singapore starting tomorrow. Abell House (pictured), the first phase of the development, features 143 homes and will be showcased at the St Regis from 20 to 22...
Continue Reading • 19 Jul 2012