Growth in prime London property slows
By Andrew Batt: London's prime residential property values rose by an average of 0.9 percent in the second quarter of 2012, and the 6.0 percent annual price growth was at its lowest level since September 2009, according to new analysis from international real estate advisor Savills.Despite this,...
Continue Reading • 29 Jun 2012
Mumbai's tossed-out tenants become overnight millionaires
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Several tenants in Mumbai who are paying US$20 (S$26) or less for a month’s rent are becoming millionaires as developers tear down old colonial mansions (pictured) to construct luxury towers for the rich. Built as early as the 1900s, there are around 500 crumbling...
Continue Reading • 28 Jun 2012
London's York House to launch in Singapore
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: UK developer Berkeley Homes will showcase its York House development at a property exhibition taking place from 7 to 8 July at the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore. York House is the latest phase of One Tower Bridge (pictured), a luxury riverside project in London....
Continue Reading • 26 Jun 2012
Overseas exhibitions tempt Singapore buyers
By Andrew Batt: Singapore property buyers and investors will again have the world at their feet when a range of property investment opportunities are exhibited in Singapore this weekend.Developments from Malaysia, Australia, Thailand and the United Kingdom will be touting opportunities in various...
Continue Reading • 22 Jun 2012
China suffering from oversupply of luxury homes
By Tejaswi Chunduri: China’s luxury property market faces a large oversupply, with significant unsold inventory in the market, according to John R Carter, Managing Editor, Asia & Managing Director, China at Market News International (MNI). Speaking to PropertyGuru, he noted that...
Continue Reading • 21 Jun 2012
Why buy an island when you can buy an Atoll
By Andrew Batt: If you have the money and want your own private island, you’re spoiled for choice with options from around the world, but it’s rare that an entire private atoll is made available to private property buyers and investors.A complete island atoll in French Polynesia...
Continue Reading • 21 Jun 2012
Canada the new frontier for Singapore property investors
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: With many Singaporeans looking overseas for good property deals, Canada is slowly becoming an alternative investment destination for buyers and investors, backed by its stable economy and affordable properties. Gearing up to meet the expected demand, Canadian developer...
Continue Reading • 19 Jun 2012
Banyan Tree to unveil Vietnam resort
By Cheryl Tay: Banyan Tree Holdings will unveil its first project in Vietnam - the Laguna Lang Cô integrated resort (pictured), on 1 November.Located on a 280-ha site along the coast of central Vietnam, the resort includes Banyan Tree and Angsana hotels and spas, private villas and...
Continue Reading • 19 Jun 2012
Majority of China's cities see home prices decline
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: A record 54 of the 70 Chinese cities tracked by the government saw a drop in home values last month, as developers lowered prices to increase sales amid housing curbs. According to new data released by the statistics bureau, the eastern city of Wenzhou recorded the...
Continue Reading • 19 Jun 2012
Greek vote is good news for investors
By Andrew Batt: The Greek election results have come as a huge relief for property buyers and investors, although prices are expected to remain relatively inexpensive by global standards.The result gave everyone concerned with European economic stability cause for a collective sigh of relief. The...
Continue Reading • 19 Jun 2012
Real estate blamed for Spanish woes
By Andrew Batt: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has blamed the rising price of Spanish real estate as a key reason behind the country’s current financial troubles.She highlighted "… the Spanish property bubble of the last ten years …" as a trigger, rather than...
Continue Reading • 18 Jun 2012
Singapore buyers go back to school
By Andrew Batt: EXCLUSIVE: Sales of U.K. student accommodation property investments have been on the rise in Singapore, with possibly as many as 100 transactions involving this property asset class happening in the city state every month.Kevin Caldwell, property consultant with Singapore-based...
Continue Reading • 18 Jun 2012
China real estate the world's most important sector
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The performance of the world’s luxury housing markets in 2011 was highlighted by the flight of capital markets from emerging economies to new safe havens. In Asia, however, the media spotlight focused on a potential property crash in China. Knight Frank and Citi...
Continue Reading • 15 Jun 2012
Thai developers adopt cautious approach
By Andrew Batt:Thailand’s property market has seen developers slowing their acquisitions of low-rise housing development in areas which were submerged during last year’s floods.The Q1 2012 Thailand Investment Market View report, published by CBRE Thailand, noted that developers have...
Continue Reading • 15 Jun 2012
China property sales climb amid easing rumour
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Property transaction volumes have grown in major Chinese cities, including Shenzhen, Nanjing and Hangzhou, according to a media report.This comes after authorities tried to quell rumours that the central government is set to loosen its grip on property cooling measures...
Continue Reading • 14 Jun 2012
PropertyGuru to hold inaugural TIPS event this weekend
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: PropertyGuru, Asia’s leading property portal, will showcase a number of exciting overseas properties at its inaugural The International Property Showcase (TIPS) 2012. Taking place this weekend (16 and 17 June), from 10am to 7pm daily on Levels 2 & 3 of the...
Continue Reading • 14 Jun 2012
Thai buyers tempted by London property
By Andrew Batt: EXCLUSIVE: Thai property buyers and investors are being tempted by London properties in ever-increasing numbers. London property exhibitions, which take place almost every weekend in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, have so far been a relatively rare sight in Bangkok. But as...
Continue Reading • 14 Jun 2012
Treasure Island up for grabs
By Andrew BattFor the price of a top end mass market condominium in Singapore you could be the new owner of Isla de Coco, a 24.8 acre private island in the Pacific Ocean.The storybook island, part of the country of Panama, is surrounded by tropical waters and boasts fine sandy beaches, dense...
Continue Reading • 13 Jun 2012
UK house sales fall almost 40% in five years
By Andrew BattHouse sales per surveyor across the United Kingdom are almost 40 percent lower than five years ago at the peak of the boom, according to the latest RICS UK Housing Market survey.During May, the average number of completed sales per surveyor was 15.6. This represents almost a 40...
Continue Reading • 13 Jun 2012
More overseas buyers look to the U.S.
By Andrew BattInternational buyers accounted for 8.9 percent of all property purchases in the United States of America during the 12 months ending March 2012, according to new data from the National Association of Realtors.Total residential international sales during the period equalled US$82.5...
Continue Reading • 13 Jun 2012