Bangkok developers target Phuket
By Andrew Batt: The rise of low-end condos built in Phuket by major Bangkok developers has continued with the recent launch of Supalai Park (pictured) in Phuket Town.The 15-floor complex on just over six rai (9,600 sqm) on Nakorn Road will have 504 starter-size condos ranging in size from...
Continue Reading • 28 May 2012
China disperses more money for affordable housing
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: China’s central government has given out 66 billion yuan (S$13.3 billion) in subsidies to help build 2.3 million public homes for rent this year, said the Ministry of Finance. The homes are just one of five categories of state-subsidised public housing in the...
Continue Reading • 25 May 2012
UK remains top choice for wealthy expats
By Andrew Batt: According to recent data obtained by leading commercial law firm Pinsent Masons, the UK remains one of the most sought after expat destinations. The number of high net worth investors being issued investor visas to stay in the UK rocked over seven-fold - from 43 in 2008 to...
Continue Reading • 24 May 2012
Star City development in Myanmar selling well
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:More than 50 percent of units at the third block of the Star City residential project (pictured) in Myanmar have been snapped up, according to Serge Pun & Associates Group (SPA Group), a joint development partner of Yoma Strategic Holdings, a Singaporean firm. It said...
Continue Reading • 24 May 2012
Hong Kong to impose new rules on property agents
By Cheryl Tay:The Estate Agents Authority (EAA) of Hong Kong will start implementing a new policy that requires property agents to provide accurate measurements of the net saleable area as well as the gross floor area (GFA) of secondary homes, starting 1 January.Failure to comply could lead to...
Continue Reading • 23 May 2012
Hong Kong mulls new cooling measures
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Should home prices in Hong Kong continue to surge after breaching the 1997 peak, the city’s de facto central bank may implement news measures to cool the property market. According to Norman Chan Tak-lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority...
Continue Reading • 22 May 2012
Asian buyers warned about UK properties
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: With many buyers in the UK struggling to get home loans, a growing number of developers are targeting the Far East, especially Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. However, many of these overseas nationals are purchasing the properties without even viewing them, making the...
Continue Reading • 21 May 2012
Home prices drop in China
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: More than 60 percent of major cities in China saw new home prices drop last month from March, according to latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.Of the 70 cities monitored by the government, 43 reported a decline in home prices for April, lower than the...
Continue Reading • 21 May 2012
Significant rebound for Bangkok property
By Andrew Batt: Bangkok’s property market has rebounded significantly following last year’s floods according to a new report published by CBRE Thailand.Even the worst hit areas, such as low rise housing, retail and industrial areas that were inundated with water, have seen resumed...
Continue Reading • 18 May 2012
Chao Tian Men project progressing as planned: CapitaLand
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: CapitaLand, Southeast Asia’s largest developer, has announced that its S$4.3 billion Chao Tian Men mixed-use development (pictured) in China is “progressing as planned”. Developed by a CapitaLand-led consortium, the mega project is located on a prime...
Continue Reading • 18 May 2012
Golf tourism to boost home sales
By Andrew Batt:According to the latest Golf Travel Insights report from KPMG, more than 60 percent of golf tour operators experienced an increase in the number of golf holidays booked in 2011, compared to just 38 percent in the previous year, highlighting a welcomed boost to the golf tourism...
Continue Reading • 17 May 2012
Malaysia: Property prices on the up
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Rising costs of labour and building materials along with the scarcity of land are expected to push Malaysian property prices up despite the softening in demand. Taking into consideration the all-house price index, prospective home buyers will likely spend more for their...
Continue Reading • 15 May 2012
Phuket lures Singaporean buyers
By Andrew Batt: Singaporean property buyers were snapping up holiday homes in Phuket, Thailand, during the first quarter of the year according to newly released research from Knight Frank Thailand.Singaporeans, alongside Russians, were noted to be increasing their property buying activities on...
Continue Reading • 15 May 2012
Dorsett Place, exquisiteness in the heart of Subang Jaya
By Widya Sharkawi:Launched in February 2012, Dorsett Place Waterfront Serviced Suites (pictured) in Subang Jaya, Selangor, is a freehold development spanning 9.33 acres and caters to buyers looking for an urban contemporary style of living. Located in the same premises as the current Grand...
Continue Reading • 14 May 2012
Summer rental season hits Cannes
By Andrew Batt:The Cannes Film Festival marks the beginning of the summer property rental season in the South of France, with wealthy private individuals and corporate groups busy booking top class accommodation so they can enjoy all that this prestigious area has to offer.Jonathan Gray, Director...
Continue Reading • 14 May 2012
The Estates to launch in Bangkok
By Andrew Batt:Presales will begin next week (May 19-20) at The Estates @ Thapra (pictured), a new eight-storey low-rise condominium development in Bangkok.The 185-unit project is located on the Thonburi side of the city and is close to a planned MRT station on Charansanitwong Road. Prices, which...
Continue Reading • 11 May 2012
Sydney's rental hotspots revealed
By Andrew Batt:The property rental market in Sydney (pictured) is heating up, with prices of one- and two-bedroom rentals on the rise in many locations. New research from PRDnationwide research revealed rents for two-bedroom apartments in Campbelltown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Maitland and...
Continue Reading • 11 May 2012
West beckons affluent Asian buyers
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Prime property prices in the West are rising as more buyers from emerging countries shift their attention to more attractive destinations. In London, real estate values now stand at around £3,000 psf (S$6,058 psf), which is similar to what was seen before the...
Continue Reading • 11 May 2012
An eye on Malaysia
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Singapore, which has been focusing on investments in Malaysia’s southern state of Johor, is also eyeing opportunities in other parts of the country, according to a report by Bernama. Mr Masagos Zulkifli Masagos Mohamad, Minister of State for Malaysia’s...
Continue Reading • 11 May 2012
One third of Aussie homeowners look to rent
By Andrew Batt: Almost one in three Australian homeowners would consider renting their spare room to help pay the mortgage.A PRDnationwide poll, released yesterday, revealed 14 percent of respondents already had someone renting a room. A further 11 percent said they would if they had...
Continue Reading • 10 May 2012