Recent blog posts - Property Launches & Investments

Too early to relax property cooling measures, says MND

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Thursday, 03 July 2014 in Property News

It is still too early to roll back property cooling measures, according to the Ministry of National Development (MND) yesterday.

It said that although home sales have decreased, prices have remained relatively stable.

The moves to rein in property prices included extra stamp duties to curb speculative buying and the total debt servicing ratio framework which was introduced a year ago.

MND noted that private home prices had surged 60 per cent during the most recent market upswing that began in mid-2009.

NUS price index for private homes up 0.8% in May

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Thursday, 03 July 2014 in Property News

National University of Singapore's (NUS) price indices for completed non-landed private homes rose month on month in May, after straight declines for several months. Its latest flash estimate shows that the Overall Singapore Residential Price Index (SRPI) rose 0.8 per cent in May from the revised value for April - after slipping one per cent in April over the previous month.

The increase marked the first gain for the index after nine consecutive months of declines between August 2013 and April this year. May's flash estimate is down 6.3 per cent from the recent peak in July 2013. Year on year, the May index value is down 6 per cent.

S'pore-JB rail to up Woodlands' appeal

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Monday, 30 June 2014 in Property News

Facility expected to increase home values in district

THE future construction of a rail terminal in Woodlands has put the estate on track for brighter property prospects.

A station for the Rapid Transit System (RTS), which will link Singapore to JB Sentral in Johor Baru, will be be built near Republic Polytechnic in Woodlands.

The RTS is targeted to be completed by 2018 and to begin operations by 2019. The resulting improvement in connectivity for the Woodlands district, formerly seen as a far-flung northern suburb, could boost its long-term appeal to buyers and tenants, consultants say.

How to Value Property: Singapore Value Edition

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Monday, 30 June 2014 in Property News

As fundamental investors, the art of valuation is our main weapon against the irrationality. In a land-scarce country like Singapore, property holdings are a common and significant source of value, even for companies not in the property business. Today, I would like to share my method of valuing properties. It may not be the most accurate, but as always, the objective here is to broaden perspectives.

Singapore Sports Hub gears up for busy weekend

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Sunday, 29 June 2014 in Property News

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Sports Hub will host a bumper crop of activities this weekend, and arrangements are in place to ensure a smooth experience for visitors.

Those hoping to park at the new National Stadium have had to pre-book tickets online, and nearly 70 per cent of available tickets have been sold since the scheme was launched on Monday.

The Singapore Chinese Orchestra is scheduled to perform at the National Stadium on Saturday while K-Pop group 2NE1 will be at the nearby Singapore Indoor Stadium.

There's also the Community Open House, which ends on Sunday.

Private home prices in city fringe could pick up soon: analysts

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Thursday, 26 June 2014 in Property News

SINGAPORE: Private residential property prices have been subdued, following cooling measures by the government last year.

Overall, they are expected to remain muted this year.

But some analysts have said prices of private homes in the city fringe could start picking up soon.

This is due to new project launches in attractive locations like Commonwealth Avenue, Kim Tian Road and Prince Charles Crescent.

Central Region share of GLS confirmed list on the rise

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 25 June 2014 in Property News

After creating jobs closer to homes in the suburbs in recent years, the government is increasingly bringing private homes closer to jobs in the city.

In the confirmed list of the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme for H2 this year, the proportion of private housing supply in the Central Region has risen to 33.2 per cent. This is up from 28.9 per cent in H1 2014 and 15.1 per cent in H2 2013. The recent low was 8.6 per cent in H1 2012.

Central Region comprises Core Central Region (CCR) and Rest of Central Region (RCR).

Mortgagee sales touch quarterly high in Q2

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 24 June 2014 in Property News

Trend seen gaining momentum due to rising supply of homes, weaker rental market

[SINGAPORE] The number of properties up for auction by mortgagees (or lenders) as well as their share of the number of properties going under the hammer has hit a quarterly high in Q2.

Auctioneers say this reflects the difficulty that financially stretched borrowers face in securing buyers for their properties since the implementation of the total debt servicing ratio (TDSR) framework a year ago. Because of this, financial institutions have had to repossess more properties and put them up for auction.

Upmarket condos set for launches

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Monday, 23 June 2014 in Property News

Slew of high-end projects expected in the coming months

SUBURBAN condos have been driving sales in recent weeks but upmarket homes are poised to take centre stage with a series of launches coming up.

Wing Tai's The Crest off Alexandra Road and near the exclusive area of Jervois Road is expected to be launched soon.

Keppel Land's 99-year leasehold The Highline Residences in Kim Tian Road on the fringes of the city is also poised to go and is tipped to be popular.

May sales of private condos double from preceding month's

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Friday, 20 June 2014 in Property News

[SINGAPORE] Developers' sales of private homes nearly doubled in May from a month ago as new launches were priced to target buyers who have become more price-sensitive as a result of loan curbs.

But such robust sales are unlikely to be repeated this month, a seasonally slow period because of the school holidays. Even the World Cup soccer competition could become a distraction for potential buyers in this tepid market, analysts say.

"It is premature to conclude that the market has revived from its slump," said Ong Teck Hui, national director of Research and Consultancy at JLL, pointing to the mixed showing at new launches last month.

Latest data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority showed that developers sold 1,470 private condos last month, the highest level since June 2013 and a 96 per cent jump from the 749 units sold in April. The top five projects made up 78 per cent of total sales in May.

ECB imposes negative interest rate

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Monday, 16 June 2014 in Property News

The European Central Bank has introduced a raft of measures aimed at stimulating the eurozone economy, including negative interest rates and cheap long-term loans to banks.

It cut its deposit rate for banks from zero to -0.1%, to encourage banks to lend to businesses rather than hold on to money.

The ECB also cut its benchmark interest rate to 0.15% from 0.25%.

The ECB is the first major central bank to introduce negative interest rates.

European Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate Below Zero

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Monday, 16 June 2014 in Property News

The European Central Bank (ECB) slashed one of its interest rates to negative territory and unveiled a €400bn loan package for Europe’s banks in response to the ongoing economic slump and the threat of deflation.

At its meeting in Frankfurt Thursday, the central bank cut its main lending rate to 0.15 percent from its current historic low of 0.25 percent, and its overnight deposit rate from zero to minus 0.10 percent, becoming the largest central bank to lower rates to below zero.

Singapore Retail market overview

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Sunday, 15 June 2014 in Property News

Economic Growth
Singapore recorded strong economic growth from 2000, with an average annual real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 5.3% over 2001-2012. This growth was achieved despite the effects of the global financial crisis (GFC), which caused growth to decrease to 1.7% in 2008 and -1.0% in 2009.

The Singapore economy is highly integrated, translating to growth being sensitive to fluctuations in the global economy, as evidenced by the significantly decreased growth rates recorded in 2008 and 2009. It also means that the Singapore economy is one of the first to recover from a downturn, exemplified by GDP growth increasing rapidly in 2010 to 14.8%. Economic activity moderated to normal historical levels in 2011.

International brands flock to Orchard Road, CBD amidst retail woes

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Saturday, 14 June 2014 in Property News

European labels fast-growing in Singapore.

According to Savills, Orchard Road maintained its status as one of the most desired locations for new brands to penetrate the Asian market. International fashion brands such as Cath Kidston, Ugg and Religion set up their first Singapore stores in the Orchard Road precinct.

Foreign brands flock to Singapore's shopping districts amidst tepid retail environment

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Saturday, 14 June 2014 in Property News

Manpower curbs to have a negative impact on demand.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle, occupancy rates remained firm in 4Q13, due to newly completed projects opening at full occupancy.

In the Primary submarket, Robinsons Orchard, formerly The Heeren, opened with six floors of retail and F&B space and 380 new brands, of which more than 280 are exclusive to Robinsons Orchard. Bedok Mall and Westgate Mall, two malls by CapitaMalls Asia, opened just in time for the Christmas holiday in the Suburban submarket, at full or near full occupancy, respectively.

Push to speed up development as new sites released

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Friday, 13 June 2014 in Property News

Cautious approach to private housing adopted in land sales programme

[SINGAPORE] New sites rolled out yesterday stirred excitement in the market, even as the government adopted a cautious approach to private housing in the latest land sales programme for H2 2014 to account for the twin factors of oversupply and weaker demand.

The new sites were rolled out under both confirmed and reserve lists in the residential and commercial property sectors.

Aon nears 70,000 sq ft lease at SGX Centre

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Thursday, 12 June 2014 in Property News

The buzz in the Singapore office leasing market continues, with a string of deals either sealed or in advanced stages of negotiations.

Vodafone has leased a 30,000 square foot floor at Asia Square Tower 2. Jardine Lloyd Thompson is said to be nearing an agreement to lease 40,000 sq ft at CapitaGreen, which will be completed on the former Market Street Car Park site by year-end.

At SGX Centre 1 along Shenton Way, insurance broker Willis (Singapore) has signed a lease for 20,000 sq ft, while discussions are in an advanced stage for Aon to occupy about 70,000 sq ft, BT understands.

Despite the wave of office leasing activity, industry observers caution landlords against getting carried away in jacking up asking rents, as not all occupiers are on the expansion trail.

Government releases 23 land sites for sale

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Thursday, 12 June 2014 in Property News

SINGAPORE: The Government on Tuesday (June 10) announced the launch of nine confirmed list and 14 reserve list sites under the second half of the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme.

These 23 sites can collectively yield up to 10,200 private residential units - including 1,500 Executive Condominium (EC) units - and 352,000 square metres (sq m) of gross floor area of commercial space, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said in a release.

Kovan draws interest from upgraders in nearby area

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Wednesday, 11 June 2014 in Property News

New commercial projects will likely change localised residential profile.

HOMEBUYERS eyeing the north- east have the upcoming launch of a Kovan condo to look forward to.

Consultants said buying interest in the estate has largely been from upgraders living in nearby mature Housing Board estates like Serangoon or Hougang.

Banyan Tree launches serviced apartment brand

Posted by Property Launch Invest on Tuesday, 10 June 2014 in Property News

It is developing 5 properties under the Cassia brand.

LUXURY hospitality firm Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has launched a new brand of serviced apartments, in its first foray into the extended-stay segment. The firm will develop five properties under the Cassia brand - in Phuket in Thailand, Bintan in Indonesia, Beruwala in Sri Lanka, the Gold Coast in Australia, and Lijiang in China - in conjunction with Banyan Tree Group's 20th anniversary.

PROPERTY LAUNCHES & INVESTMENTS

Property Launches & Investments

Facility expected to increase home values in district