The lower-than-expected earnings were attributed to lower margins, impacted by a higher interest cost, which rose 63.7% year-on-year to RM15.09 million in 9MFY16.

KUALA Lumpur city centre (KLCC) has been known as the country’s operational hub for oil and gas industry players since government-owned oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) established its headquarters at Petronas Twin Towers in 1998.

The majority of the property developers remain cautious about financial year 2016 (FY16) outlook with an average sales target growth of 5%. Matrix Concepts and Eco World Development Group Bhd are more upbeat about annual sales target growth, with 24% and 33% respectively.

Overall, capital values do not seem to have changed significantly. The low-to-mid-end segment appears to lead in terms of average price growth with the exception of Zehn Bukit Pantai. The luxury condominium registered the highest average price growth, gaining RM74 psf y-o-y to reach an average of RM731 psf in the 12 months to 1Q2015.

Prices within Kerinchi/Pantai range widely depending on the property; whether they are low-cost flats, mid-ranged condominiums, SoHo-like residences or modern luxury condominiums.

STARTING out as a civil structure contractor, Singapore-based Beverly Group Sdn Bhd — a subsidiary of Singapore-registered Qingdao Investments Pte Ltd — became a property developer when its founder and CEO Lim Seak Koon decided to experience property development “from the other side”.

Unlike its more established neighbours of Bangsar and Mid Valley, the Kerinchi/Pantai areas have yet to be fully gentrified. Here, one would find the whole gamut of residences from low-cost flats, to student housing, to luxury condominiums.

SET to look across the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok is the first Mandarin Oriental branded residences in Southeast Asia. It is part of the 20-acre THB50 billion (RM5.89 billion) Iconsiam integrated development by The Iconsiam Superlux Residence Corp Ltd, a joint venture between Thai property developer Magnolia Quality Development Corp Ltd, retail company Siam Piwat Co Ltd and conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group.

This week, the spotlight falls on the secondary market of non-landed residences in Kuala Lumpur’s Bangsar South, Pantai and Kerinchi areas.

Technology is posing quite a challenge to the conventional way of doing business, including real estate buying, selling and renting.