Judging from the feedback I have received, it appears that many did not quite know what to make of a property report released mid-week. After being told consistently by the authorities - and by some others as well - that there is no reason to "panic buy" as there is more than ample supply in the private housing market, these people are surprised by this latest market report that says there is no...
General
Since the listing of the first real estate investment trust (REIT) in Singapore in July 2002, the sector has grown by leaps and bounds. The Singapore Exchange now lists 23 REITs with underlying properties varying from retail, offices and industrial to hospitality and healthcare. This has made Singapore's REIT sector the second-largest in Asia, after Japan's. REITs are popular because of the many...
The head of CapitaLand's residential unit said government cooling measures will not slow underlying demand for residential property in Singapore. Wong Heang Fine, CEO of CapitaLand Residential Singapore, said prices are likely to keep rising this year, although the pace of increase may moderate. He said continuing low interest rates and high liquidity will support demand. Chong Lit Cheong, CEO of...
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) yesterday raised s$650 million by selling a 10-year bond, after increasing the size of its planned issue from s$400 million to meet demand, according to a term sheet seen by Dow Jones Newswires. The yield of the bond was at 1.95 per cent, the term sheet said. DBS was the sole bookrunner for the unrated senior unsecured bond, according to the document. The HDB is a...
Frasers Centrepoint Trust, which owns shopping malls in Singapore, said on Thursday it has raised a gross amount of S$66.7 million from the placement of 48 million new units. The trust fixed the issue price at S$1.39 each, at the top of the S$1.35-S$1.39 range. The placement was about 4.1 times subscribed and saw strong participation from more than 30 institutional investors from Asia and Europe, the...
Retrofitting commercial buildings can lead to an increase in their property value, said a joint study by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Department of Real Estate at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Six real estate consultancy firms also collaborated in the study. Retrofitting results in an average 10 per cent savings in operating costs and an increase of about 2 per cent...
The upcoming condominium in Bishan Central, which will launched early next year, shares something in common with Marina Bay Sands. The condo will be designed by renowned international architect Moshe Safdie who also designed Marina Bay Sands. Residents will enjoy a full suite of recreational facilities, including a 50-metre lap pool, leisure pools, children's pool, play areas, a tennis court, barbeque...
Forty-five HDB blocks in Punggol will be fitted with solar panels by the middle of next year, in Singapore's first solar leasing project. The solar power generated panels will be used to power services in common areas such as lift operations, corridor and staircase lightings, and water pumps. This makes up 10 per cent of total block usuage. Private company Sunseap Enterprises will finance the design,...
The National Parks Board (NParks) said it has received more than 200 suggestions on how to co-create a "City in a Garden" since it launched a public engagement exercise three weeks ago. And more ideas are welcomed as it is a year-long exercise. Kong Yit San, assistant chief executive at NParks, said: "We hope to have this much longer so that we can have more ideas coming in. At this stage, we are not...
Private home sales in Singapore dipped 3.6 per cent in August. This follows the 17 per cent rebound in July. The dip comes after the government increased the income ceiling for public flats and executive condominiums (ECs) in August. Some 1,348 units were sold in August, excluding ECs. That's 50 units fewer than the 1,398 units sold in the previous month. More than eight in ten units - 1,114 of the...