Recent blog posts - Property Launches & Investments

Low interest rates tempt Asia's real estate investors

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 in Property News

With US tapering likely pushed back into next year, low interest rates will be around longer, tempting Asia's real estates investors to rack up even more debt.

SINGAPORE: In the past few years, Asia’s real estate market was flooded with investors banking on interest rates staying low for a long time.

With US tapering likely pushed back into next year, low interest rates will probably be around even longer, tempting investors to rack up even more debt.

Rock-bottom interest rates have made real estate an attractive investment. Home prices in Singapore have risen 33 per cent since 2009, while in Hong Kong home prices have more than doubled.

HDB builds more flats, records higher net deficit

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 in Property News

More HDB flats were being built and HDB’s overall net deficit before taking into account the government grant has also increased in the financial year of 2012 and 2013, according to the board's annual report.

SINGAPORE: More Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats were being built in the last financial year compared to the previous year.

This is according to HDB's annual report released on Wednesday.

A total of 72,737 flats were being constructed in the last financial year (FY2012/ 2013), up from 56,938 units in the year before (FY2011/2012) -- a close to 30 per cent jump.

Punggol likely to have more private homes than other areas

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 in Property News

THE fast-growing area of Punggol could end up with a greater proportion of private homes than in other parts of the country.

Private units average about 18 per cent of the housing mix across the country but one expert tips that it could go as high as 25 per cent in Punggol "as aspirations of people grow".

Punggol to have 7 new waterfront districts

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 in Property News

THE Housing Board has unveiled the next phase of development for Singapore's hottest new estate, Punggol, which is also known for being the first eco-town.

Estimated to be twice the size of Ang Mo Kio when it is complete, the eco-precinct is expected to boast seven new districts for waterfront housing, as well as abundant greenery to soften its projected high density.

Last night at the HDB Awards gala at Marina Bay Sands, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan painted the next phase of Punggol as part of the Government's plan to progressively raise the standard of HDB living while catering to a growing population.

$400m Serangoon Plaza sold en bloc

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 in Property News

The majority owner of Serangoon Plaza has bought the entire five-storey Little India complex for $400 million through a collective sale process. This makes it technically the largest collective sale of a commercial property on record, and the biggest en bloc deal since Westwood Apartments was sold for $435 million in November 2007.

The final sale price, equivalent to $1,946 per sq ft, is about 11% above the indicative price of $360 million to $368 million, or $1,751 to $1,790 psf. The building was put up for sale in September, and the tender closed on 31 Oct 2013.

Changi Airport's T4 to be used as test-bed for new concepts

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 in Property News

SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has said Changi Airport's Terminal 4 (T4) will be used as a test-bed for new concepts that can be deployed in the future Terminal 5.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of T4 on Tuesday, Mr Lui said concepts such as innovative terminal design and the use of technology will raise productivity levels and economise the use of space.

4 new neighbourhood centres planned for Punggol, Hougang and Sembawang

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 in Property News

SINGAPORE - Four new neighbourhood centres in Punggol, Hougang and Sembawang have been announced by the Housing Board in a move aimed at increasing residential access to facilities for new home owners in the next five years.

The Housing Development Board (HDB) said on Monday that it will increase the supply of HDB shops in these areas by building four new neighbourhood centres to ensure that residents have access to adequate facilities when they move into their new homes.

Changi T5 to land by mid 2020s, capacity to handle 50m passenger movements a year

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 in Property News

A new, mega Terminal 5 will be ready by the middle of next decade at Changi East and have the capacity to handle 50 million passenger movements a year - larger than T2 and T3 combined.

Tranquil homes in the north a draw

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 in Property News

Buyers are often attracted to homes in the north for the tranquillity and range of amenities.

There are golf courses in Sembawang, Orchid and Seletar country clubs, as well as nature reserves and reservoirs.

Residents can commute via the North-South MRT Line which takes them to Jurong East, the shopping belt at Orchard Road and the Central Business District.

Singapore has one of the highest household debts in Asia

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 in Property News

Ralatively higher than Asian peers.

According to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, it estimates Singapore's household debt at 77.2% of GDP in 1Q, relatively high compared to other Asian counterparts.

The government is taking steps to cool the secondary market for public housing and ensure that households do not over-leverage. In June, the Monetary Authority of Singapore introduced a total debt servicing ratio (TDSR) framework for property loans granted by financial institutions to individuals.

The MAS is mindful of the risks when Singapore interest rates begin normalizing (ie, rising), highlighting that an estimated 5-10% of borrowers have over-leveraged on property purchases.

Who will run the world’s deficits?

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 in Property News

These days, everyone seems to want to run a current-account surplus. China has long run large surpluses. The eurozone is now running even larger ones, with swings in southern Europe augmenting Germany’s long-standing surpluses. Indeed, countries from Singapore to Russia are running large surpluses.

Meanwhile, America’s external deficit — which for decades has helped to sustain surpluses elsewhere — is now smaller than it was before 2008, with many economists arguing that it should never revert to its previous levels (they argue that the shale-gas boom makes this unlikely, anyway). Financial markets have also made clear that the ability of other major deficit countries, like Brazil and India, to absorb capital flows is reaching its limit.

Since the world is a closed system, this raises the question: Who will run the world’s deficits?

HDB COVs continue to fall, demand for resale condos still soft

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 in Property News

SINGAPORE — Overall cash premiums for resale Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats continued to drop while demand for resale non-landed private homes remained weak in October, according to flash estimates from the Singapore Real Estate Exchange (SRX) released today (Nov 8).

Overall HDB cash-over-valuations (COVs) dropped another S$3,000 last month to reach a median of S$12,000, the lowest since July 2009 when the overall COV was S$10,000.

Analysts say Sentosa Cove property prices set to make rebound

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 in Property News

Demand for luxury homes in Sentosa Cove may be softening but it is not losing its shine just yet. Property experts said prices in Sentosa Cove are set to make a rebound, even hitting previous highs seen in 2008 before the global financial crisis.

SINGAPORE: Demand for luxury homes in Sentosa Cove may be softening but it is not losing its shine just yet.

Property experts said prices in Sentosa Cove are set to make a rebound, even hitting previous highs seen in 2008 before the global financial crisis.

The upbeat sentiment came following a report by Colliers International on Tuesday which said Sentosa Cove properties are now cheaper than mass market condominiums.

URA launches tender for food & beverage site at Punggol Point

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 in Property News

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched the food & beverage site at Punggol Point for sale by public tender today.

Punggol Point has been envisioned as a rustic coastal recreation destination with activities and attractions to enhance its unique waterfront location. With the opening of Punggol Promenade, Punggol Point Park and the North-Eastern Park Connector Network, Punggol Point today is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike.

Punggol waterfront development shaping up

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 in Property News

Punggol is rapidly developing into a major commercial and residential hub, underlined by strong interest for the new Watertown development.

Over at the upcoming retail mall Waterway Point (pictured), supermarket NTUC FairPrice Finest and Shaw Theatres have signed on as anchor tenants.

The FairPrice Finest outlet will occupy around 30,000 sq ft of retail space and provide a variety of quality products and value-added services. It will be the 10th of its kind in Singapore and the second 24-hour Finest outlet after Serangoon Gardens.

Interview with Mr Wong Heang Fine, CEO of CapitaLand Singapore (Residential)

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 in Property News

Sky Vue, which will be official launched this weekend, has generated much interest among homebuyers and investors over its chic, contemporary design, urban concept and layouts. Nestled in Bishan, Sky Vue seeks to provide a new and exciting lifestyle development for young urbanites.

Before you rush to the sales gallery this Saturday, read this interview and see what the project has to offer.

Freehold Vs Leasehold – Which Is Better?

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 in Property News

In Singapore, there are generally two types of tenure – freehold and 99-year leasehold. A 999-year lease is usually considered similar to freehold as its difference in value is negligible while banks are not expected to impose any loan limit even if the lease covers a few hundred years, revealed a report from OrangeTee Research.

Freehold property offers a few advantages to leasehold, such as a slower pace of depreciation, higher en bloc potential and no restrictions on using CPF for house purchases.

HDB To Stem Speculation On Commercial And Industrial Properties

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 in Property News

Starting from this Wednesday onwards, commercial and industrial properties will not be spared from “cooling measures”.

In a bid to curb speculation, the Housing Board (HDB) announced today that all new tenants will be required to tender for premises direct from HDB. Previously, outgoing tenants are allowed to transfer the property to an incoming tenant for a fee or cash premium that is negotiated between the two. With the new rule in place, extra costs that are being passed on to customers can be prevented.

Developers Likely To Hold Back On New Project Launches, Say Analysts

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 in Property News

With Home Prices In The City Centre Softening, Analysts Say Many Developers Are Likely To Hold Back On Launching New Projects For The Rest Of The Year.

SINGAPORE: With home prices in the city centre softening, analysts say many developers are likely to hold back on launching new projects for the rest of the year.

Real estate consultancy CBRE estimates that there are some 2,000 units of private homes yet to be launched for sale in the core central region — the highest compared to the city fringe and the suburban areas.

Waiting for Housing Crash? Don't Bet on it.

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 in Property News

Ong Chor Hao

Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013

SINGAPORE - Amid a sea of talk of a pending residential property-market crash, one prominent consultant here thinks otherwise, barring unforeseen systemic shocks.

Mr Alan Cheong, head of research and consultancy at Savills Singapore, made his case on Friday at an event at Carlton Hotel to mark Singapore Management University's (SMU's) homecoming celebrations for its Master of Science in Applied Finance programme.

"I think, barring external shocks, property prices - residential prices - will stay elevated," he said.

PROPERTY LAUNCHES & INVESTMENTS

Property Launches & Investments

With US tapering likely pushed back into next year, low interest rates will be around longer, tempting Asia's real estates investors to rack up even more debt.

More HDB flats were being built and HDB’s overall net deficit before taking into account the government grant has also increased in the financial year of 2012 and 2013, according to the board's annual report.

Demand for luxury homes in Sentosa Cove may be softening but it is not losing its shine just yet. Property experts said prices in Sentosa Cove are set to make a rebound, even hitting previous highs seen in 2008 before the global financial crisis.

With Home Prices In The City Centre Softening, Analysts Say Many Developers Are Likely To Hold Back On Launching New Projects For The Rest Of The Year.