Hot opportunities in an even hotter market
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: While many analysts see Singapore’s property market as being too hot to handle, some have highlighted its potential, especially for long-term equity investors. Over the last three years, the government has introduced measures to cool the market. The most recent of...
Continue Reading • 21 May 2012
What can you buy for less than S$1 million?
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: A number of private homes in Singapore are going for less than S$1 million, but their location and décor may not be on par with the pricier developments. However, these properties could end up being a good deal if they are located in an area that’s set to be...
Continue Reading • 21 May 2012
New homes on the rise in the CBD
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Singapore’s central business district (CBD) is evolving from a traditionally corporate location, with more buyers looking for prime residential properties in the area. According to Savills Singapore, more than 4,600 new homes will likely be completed in the...
Continue Reading • 21 May 2012
Property exhibitions galore in Singapore this weekend
By Romesh Navaratnarajah and Cheryl Tay: This weekend will see a hive of activity with regards to overseas and local property exhibitions taking place in Singapore. London, a perennial favourite among buyers and investors in the city state will be featured prominently. Streamlight Tower in...
Continue Reading • 18 May 2012
Asia Pac investment volumes slid 42%
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: With market sentiment dwindling down, investment volumes fell 42 percent quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2012, according to CBRE’s latest report. “Market sentiment remained subdued in Q1 2012 although concern over the impact of the Eurozone debt crisis on the global...
Continue Reading • 18 May 2012
Tampines EC site attracts muted interest
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: An executive condominium (EC) site (pictured) at Tampines Avenue 10 (Parcel A) has seen just three bids, with a consortium comprising F.E. Lakeside Ltd, FCL Topaz Ltd and Sekisui House Ltd offering the highest bid of S$252.78 million. “As the site’s...
Continue Reading • 18 May 2012
ABSD dented property demand, not prices
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The 10 percent additional buyer’s stamp duty (ABSD) imposed in December 2011 has affected the demand for Singapore property, but not prices, according to Nicholas Holt, Asia-Pacific Research Director at Knight Frank.“Prices not only held up but actually...
Continue Reading • 18 May 2012
Fancy a resort home in the Bahamas?
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Many investors in Singapore are looking at overseas properties as far away as Australia and the UK for their second home, but what about the Caribbean? Baha Mar (pictured), the largest single-phase resort development in the Caribbean is planning to launch its luxury...
Continue Reading • 17 May 2012
SC Global unveils Hermès apartment amid market slump
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Luxury property developer SC Global Developments has unveiled a private apartment at The Marq on Paterson Hill that’s been decked out by French brand Hermès - a world’s first. “We are extremely pleased this project with Hermès has...
Continue Reading • 17 May 2012
S'pore property market slowing down?
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: A report released by property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) has highlighted a notable decline in Singapore’s residential property market. Only 300 housing units were completed in Q1 2012, down 36.2 percent from last quarter. According to JLL, “Sales...
Continue Reading • 17 May 2012
Real estate sentiment improves in Q1
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: After dropping for four straight quarters, the REDAS-NUS Real Estate Sentiment Index (composite) for Singapore’s real estate market climbed in the first quarter of 2012 to reach 4.6, driven by strong demand of several mass market private condo launches. The scale...
Continue Reading • 16 May 2012
Sydney's The Mark set to launch this week
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:The Australian arm of Frasers Centrepoint will be launching The Mark (pictured), a 412-unit residential development in Sydney this week. The project offers a range of units comprising of one-bedroom (43-54 sq m); two-bedroom with two baths and a single car space (89 sq m)...
Continue Reading • 16 May 2012
What triggered the record high home sales in April?
By Romesh Navaratnarajah:Various factors caused April’s private home sales, excluding executive condos (ECs), to hit 2,487 units. This is the highest figure since the sales volume peaked at 2,772 units in July 2009. “Not only did demand chase supply, it in fact exceeded it because new...
Continue Reading • 16 May 2012
Govt releasing 5 residential sites this month
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will launch the tender for five residential sites this month, offering developers and home buyers more options for private housing. Released under the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme...
Continue Reading • 16 May 2012
Singapore luxury home prices slip, Asia Pac edges up
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: While eight key markets in the Asia Pacific recorded a decent one percent increase in high-end residential prices during the first quarter, Singapore saw a quarter-on-quarter drop in luxury home prices after remaining stable for six consecutive quarters on the back of...
Continue Reading • 15 May 2012
Private home sales highest since 2009
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: TOP NEWS: Excluding executive condos (ECs), private home sales in Singapore for the month of April 2012 reached 2,487 units, its highest level since July 2009 when 2,772 new homes were snapped up. But month-on-month, overall private home sales saw a notable decline,...
Continue Reading • 15 May 2012
Dramatic rise in property exhibition attendees
By Andrew Batt:There has been a dramatic rise in the number of attendees at international property exhibitions this year as more buyers look beyond their own borders for property investment opportunities.The news comes from property investment firm Knight Knox International, a regular visitor to...
Continue Reading • 15 May 2012
Property market cools, but worries remain: Khaw
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Despite the encouraging signs brought about by the government’s property cooling measures, concerns still remain with regards to soaring mass market home prices and shoebox units, said Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for National Development. As of Q1 2012, there are 2,500...
Continue Reading • 15 May 2012
EC site in Tampines awarded for S$233.5m
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has awarded a residential site (pictured) slated for an executive condominium (EC) development located next to The Tampines Trilliant to a consortium comprising Singxpress Property Development Pte Ltd, Creative Investments Pte Ltd...
Continue Reading • 15 May 2012
Chelsea Creek sees large sales in Singapore
By Andrew Batt: EXCLUSIVE: London property remains a hit with Singaporean property buyers and investors, as evidenced by strong sales at exhibitions over the course of last weekend (May 11-12).St George, the developer of Chelsea Creek (model pictured), a luxury waterfront development in the heart...
Continue Reading • 14 May 2012