Strong demand from Singapore buyers for Nusajaya projects
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Singaporean buyers have shown keen interest for Nusajaya projects in Iskandar Malaysia, which is good news especially for developer UEM Land Holdings Bhd.Datuk Wan Abdullah Wan Ibrahim (pictured), Managing Director and Chief Executive of UEM Land, said that the recent...
Continue Reading • 12 Jun 2012
HK developer plans on selling more homes
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Hong Kong’s fourth largest developer Henderson Land will increase its sale of residential units, as home prices in the city-state have fallen this year. “Every developer is rushing to sell homes right now,” said Lee Shau-kee, the billionaire Chairman of...
Continue Reading • 12 Jun 2012
Caution reigns for Bangkok buyers
By Andrew Batt: Global events have caused many potential buyers and investors of Bangkok property to adopt a cautious approach pending further stability.Ulf Schaefer, Director of Residential Department – Premier Home, Knight Frank Chartered (Thailand), noted a number of factors impacting...
Continue Reading • 12 Jun 2012
Abramovich's mansion on the market
By Andrew Batt: Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich has put his Lowndes Square uber-project (pictured) up for sale for £70 million (S$140 million), despite it needing an estimated additional £15 million (S$30 million) to finish it off.He began the project in 1998 by buying...
Continue Reading • 12 Jun 2012
More UK properties for sale
By Andrew Batt: The number of new properties coming onto the U.K. market rose by more than 10 percent during May, according to data from the country’s largest independent estate agent haart. The data showed a 10.1 percent increase on April, and the volume of ‘for sale’...
Continue Reading • 12 Jun 2012
HK govt urged to restrict foreign buyers
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Hong Kong government should consider studying measures to restrict foreign home buyers, noted Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, Director of the Hong Kong Housing Authority. “According to the changing structure of the local property market, the government should...
Continue Reading • 8 Jun 2012
Foreign buying in Vietnam set to rise
By Andrew Batt: Vietnam has always been an attractive destination for many property buyers and investors from around the world, especially from Japan, India and Thailand. In recent years, an increasing number of foreigners have also been looking to settle in the country.According to data from the...
Continue Reading • 5 Jun 2012
China may likely loosen grip on property measures
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: China could loosen its grip on property tightening measures to encourage more home buying activity as the central government looks to support economic growth, according to Deutsche Bank AG.Jason Ching and Tony Tsang, Hong Kong-based analysts at Deutsche Bank, said more...
Continue Reading • 5 Jun 2012
Station removal to impact property buyers
By Andrew Batt: EXCLUSIVE: Bangkok property buyers and developers are likely to feel the impact from last week’s confirmation from the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) that the Saphan Taksin skytrain station is set to close.One recent buyer of a riverside unit in the Thai capital told...
Continue Reading • 4 Jun 2012
Amy Winehouse home for sale
By Andrew Batt: Fixed-fee U.K. real estate agency House Network is marketing Amy Winehouse’s former home (pictured) in Camden Square, London, with an asking price of £2,699,950 (S$5.36 million).It was hoped that the 2,500 sq ft semi-detached townhouse, which was besieged by thousands...
Continue Reading • 4 Jun 2012
‘Asians pay more' claim is ridiculed
By Andrew Batt: EXCLUSIVE: Claims that Asian buyers and investors are overpaying for their London property purchases have been ridiculed by agents and developers in Singapore.The Financial Times reported comments from a London property sourcing agent who claimed that property buyers from Asia who...
Continue Reading • 4 Jun 2012
Interest in Indonesian holiday homes rockets
By Andrew Batt: EXCLUSIVE: Indonesian villas and apartments are seeing a huge increase in interest from British holidaymakers, according to a new report from the U.K.’s leading holiday home rentals website.According to the Holiday Lettings Index published by holidaylettings.co.uk, the...
Continue Reading • 1 Jun 2012
Phuket first time buyers spoiled for choice
By Andrew Batt: Home buyers in Phuket will be spoiled for choice this weekend when presales open for two major developments by Bangkok developers.Sansiri is continuing its drive into the low-price end of the Phuket housing market with the launch of yet another project, dcondo Creek in Kathu,...
Continue Reading • 1 Jun 2012
Fewer sales but higher prices in prime London
By Andrew Batt: Fewer prime properties were sold in London in April compared to March, but at significantly higher prices, according to the Land Registry’s latest figures. The entry value to London’s prime top two percent of the property market rose by 34 percent to £2 million...
Continue Reading • 31 May 2012
The Lancasters in London close to 90% sold
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Lancasters development (pictured) in London has gained strong interest from international buyers who are drawn to its classical facade, luxury interiors and prime location overlooking Hyde Park.With around 90 percent of units sold, the high-end project by UK...
Continue Reading • 31 May 2012
UK tax changes to hit Singaporean buyers
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Recent changes in the UK tax scheme will see Singaporean investors in the UK paying higher stamp duties and other new taxes, according to a media report. While Singaporean investors are not worried, many experts noted that they have been seeing a significant increase in...
Continue Reading • 28 May 2012
Iskandar rising, say experts
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The second phase of development in Iskandar Malaysia (2011 - 2015) is expected to draw strong interest from Singaporean investors. While interest in the region has been low in the past, there’s been a dramatic reversal in this trend over the last few years,...
Continue Reading • 28 May 2012
Bangkok land plot to go under the hammer
By Andrew Batt: A significant plot of land in the heart of the commercial district of central Bangkok will be sold by auction in August.CBRE Thailand has been appointed to sell the rare prime freehold site which is located on Silom Road close to its junction with Narathiwas Ratchanakarin Road. It...
Continue Reading • 28 May 2012
Illegal workers nabbed in Thai condo raid
By Andrew Batt: Thai authorities rounded up 110 illegal workers during a raid on a Bangkok condominium construction site late last week.Immigration and special branch police officers joined officials from the Department of Labour during the crackdown at the site of the TC Green Condominium...
Continue Reading • 28 May 2012
Ronaldo's former home for sale
By Andrew Batt: The former home of football star Cristiano Ronaldo is for sale. The house (pictured), in the county of Cheshire in the UK, has been put up for sale by the Snapes real estate agency on the Rightmove website. The media reported that both Japp Stam and midfielder Jose Kleberson owned...
Continue Reading • 28 May 2012