The University of Adelaide plans to make its campus in Singapore its second largest within two years. By 2010, its student numbers will be doubled. The University made this announcement at a dinner on Friday. The event was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its educational partnership with Ngee Ann Kongsi. Professor John Taplin, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Adelaide, said: "The University...
But don't expect prices to fall, say analysts IN another sign of a lull in the private residential property market, developers managed to sell only 795 new homes in the first three months of this year — a hefty 46 per cent decline from the fourth quarter of last year. "This was the second lowest quarter of developer sales since the Sars-stricken quarter" in the first three months of 2003, said DTZ...
COMPLAINTS against real estate agents are rising. According to the latest statistics, more than 1,000 reports have been lodged with the Consumers Association of Singapore and the Inland Revenue Authority. I am puzzled why little has been done to eradicate the presence of unethical agents who offer wrong advice and short-change buyers and sellers in a booming sector. It is time the industry is...
OCBC Bank said it does not expect further impairments on its exposure to collaterised debt obligations (CDOs). Chief Executive David Connor made that comment at the bank's annual general meeting on Thursday. So far, 85 percent of the bank's CDOs have been marked-to-market, with provisions made for. OCBC said it does not expect any impairment losses from the remaining 15 percent. Concerns were raised...
THE Housing and Development Board (HDB) received 5,700 applications for 490 flats in its final bi-monthly sale of four-room and larger units that closed on Wednesday. Bi-monthly sale exercises attract more applicants and a higher take-up rate, as the flats on offer are either completed or nearing completion, said the HDB. But with the progressive clearance exercises of unsold flats, fewer units are left...
Investment sales level in the Singapore property market in the first quarter of 2008 was similar to that in the fourth quarter of 2007 despite deepening concerns regarding the US economy. A report by DTZ Debenham Tie Leung said a total of S$8.4 billion worth of transactions was concluded, a slight increase of one per cent quarter-on-quarter. The office sector was the best performer with S$3.4 billion in...
Construction and property developer KSH Holdings has secured a S$126.8 million contract to build a condominium development at Singapore's Sentosa Cove. The contract is the first of its kind to be awarded by Lippo Marina Collection for the construction of a luxury housing development at the site. This will be the group's fifth high-end luxury residential property project at Sentosa cove. The deal will bring...
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has responded positively to a suggestion by Johor's Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman to link up the urban rails of Singapore and Johor Bahru. The issue was discussed when visiting Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim called on Mr Lee at the Istana on Thursday morning, said Foreign Minister George Yeo at a joint news conference with his Malaysian counterpart later in the...
The Housing and Development Board's (HDB) April sale of four-room and bigger flats closed on Wednesday, with 5,700 applications for the 490 flats offered. These flats are located in various towns such as Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong East, Jurong West, Sembawang, Woodlands and Yishun. HDB said the take-up rates for its Bi-monthly Sales Exercise are high because the flats offered are...
A YEAR before Singapore's first Integrated Resort (IR) at Marina Bay is due to open, potential competition is already brewing to the immediate north and south. In Malaysia, the government yesterday confirmed it is in talks with not just Walt Disney, but also other theme park operators. The discussions are "preliminary", said spokesman for Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah Nasional, Mr Mohd Asuki...