Analysts said developers could start looking at building more smaller units because buyers have become more price-sensitive, pushing up demand for smaller homes. Caveats lodged with the Urban Redevelopment Authority showed that the number of new units under 800 square feet accounted for about 48 per cent of total sales in 2013. Over a month into its launch, some 40 per cent of units at UOL's 555-unit...
General
Sales of new private homes may remain in the doldrums, but bargain hunters hoping that developers will slash prices to breathe life into the market are likely to be disappointed, analysts told TODAY. Despite the slow market, several recent launches have sold well, showing that underlying demand can be realised into sales with the right marketing and pricing strategy. So, as long as holding costs remain...
Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) has sold new units to investors at a discounted price of S$1.605 a unit, raising net proceeds of about S$341 million to pay down its debt. The private placement of just over 218 million new Suntec units was priced near the top of the indicative range of S$1.575 to S$1.615. The placement price, however, represented a discount of about 4.7 per cent to the...
The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) earlier this week issued new guidelines for property agents and salespersons marketing foreign properties. Industry players generally welcome the move, but some said the guidelines could pose challenges. In the last couple of years, more Singaporeans have been buying properties overseas, in countries such as Malaysia and the United Kingdom. To help consumers...
Office rents in Singapore's central business district rose 3.2 per cent in the first three months of 2014 from the fourth quarter of last year, helped by an improvement in global business sentiments. Property consultants Colliers International said on Wednesday that the average monthly gross rents for Premium and Grade A office space in Singapore's CBD increased to S$8.99 per square foot in the first...
CapitaLand has sold its remaining 39.1 per cent stake in Australia's Australand Property Group, raising around S$970.1 million. Singapore's largest developer said in a statement on Wednesday it placed out its remaining 226.2 million stapled securities of Australand at an average price of A$3.75 per stapled security. The price was a discount of 3.6 per cent to Australand's closing price on...
New private-home sales stirred in February after two months of near slumber, but analysts said activity remained muted as developers and prospective buyers continued to hold back in the current cautious environment. Developers sold 724 non-landed private homes last month, a 28 per cent rise from 565 in January, after they launched 671 units or 22 per cent more than January’s 549 units, figures...
Shares of Catalist-listed St James Holdings closed 19 per cent higher on Monday, boosted by news the firm would be transformed into a property developer via a reverse takeover deal. The nightspot operator's shares ended trading at 6.4 cents each, up from 5.4 cents before the stock was suspended on Friday. The shares rose as high as 7.7 cents earlier in the session. St James said on Friday it would...
Foreign investment in Australia's housing market will be examined by a national parliamentary committee, its chair said Monday, following a study that said Chinese investors are squeezing out local buyers. Kelly O'Dwyer said the House Standing Committee on Economics inquiry into affordable housing would probe the foreign investment framework to see whether it helps increase housing stock, and whether it...
With the government confirming that it is too early to start relaxing property cooling measures, analysts said this will lend more clarity and certainty to both developers and home buyers. One developer has decided to go ahead with plans to launch a new project at the end of March. The Santorini showflat is being built in preparation for its launch later this month. The development comprises 597...