Prime Condo Prices Heading for Long, Gentle Decline

By KALPANA RASHIWALA
Source: Business Times, 14 Jun 2008
Cushman model shows subdued market until 2012 but firm argues it’s still a good time to buy.

(SINGAPORE) The prices of condos and private apartments in the Core Central Region (CCR) will inch downwards and are unlikely to touch their recent peaks for almost the next four years, [...]

Sub-sales Market May Stay Active as Punters Sell Units

By KALPANA RASHIWALA
Source: Business Times, 12 Jun 2008

Median sub-sale price fell 8% in Q1 2008, says DTZ study.
SPECULATIVE buying has eased, but the sub-sale market may continue to be active as speculators dispose of units in projects as they are physically completed, DTZ says in a recent report.
‘Those who had purchased multiple units on [...]

Suntec Tenants Seeking Lower Rents

By Joyce Teo
Source: The Straits Times, 8 May 2008
Tenants at the new Galleria see red over low traffic and sales that barely cover rent.
FED-UP tenants at the posh new Galleria area of Suntec City Mall say shopper traffic is so low that they can barely cover the rent. Yet, they say, the landlord has not [...]

New Master Plan Expected to See Selective Changes

By Kalpana Rashiwala
Source: Business Times, 6 May 2008
Key sectors seen benefiting include hotels, aerospace, healthcare, transport.
URBAN Redevelopment Authority’s Master Plan 2008 – which will be exhibited soon – will see changes in land use and increases in plot ratios, but these will be selective and focused on growth areas, rather than a widespread upgrade in [...]

Low Interest Rates not Likely to Help Housing

By Arthur Sim
Source: Business Times, 6 May 2008
Income growth a better driver of housing price trends: Citi.
LOW or negative real interest rates are often cited as one factor supporting housing prices. But Citi believes that in today’s market, negative real interest rates will at best be a ‘cushion’ in the near term.
In a report on [...]

HDB Rental Market Remains Strong

By Joyce Teo
Source: The Straits Times, 4 May 2008
Flats much sought after because of spillover demand from private homes market, but agents say rents are unlikely to rise much more.
The rental market for Housing Board flats remains hot, with rents up in the first quarter as more home owners apply for permission to rent out [...]

What if my Condo En Bloc Sale Fails?

Source: The Straits Times, 27 Apr 2008
By Joyce Teo
Defaulting parties stand to lose their deposits and can be sued for non-completion of the sale; it’s also risky to buy a new home before a collective deal is closed.
Some owners of condominium units may still be keen on selling en bloc, but developers’ interest in [...]

PropNex Takes Home Buyers to Court over Fee Dispute

By Tan Hui Yee
Source: The Straits Times, 29 Apr 2008
Case hangs on whether flat buyers who deal without agents should pay a commission, too.
A COUPLE who bought a home and refused to pay the seller’s agent the 1 per cent commission are being taken to court by a property company.
PropNex associate director Ricky Low Yong [...]

Asia – Some Bright Spots Amid Challenges

By Emilyn Yap
Source: Business Times, 29 Apr 2008
Asia expected to weather real estate downturn.
THE mood was generally subdued at a property conference held by Citi yesterday although a few positive assessments of the market provided some bright spots.
Opening the event, Citi country officer Piyush Gupta said that 2007 was a strong year for property across [...]

Property Market Looks Weak: Citi

By Joyce Teo
Source: The Straits Times, 29 Apr 2008
THE broader economic backdrop for the Singapore property market generally looks weak in the next 18 months, says Mr Don Hanna, Citi’s global head of emerging markets economic and market analysis.
‘The level of economic activity that we foresee in general continues to weaken this year and next,’ [...]