Uncertainty over the national housing policy in the wake of the recent  Singapore General Election and buyers’ increasingly discerning attitude have caused both volume and prices of new private home sales in May to drop, compared with the preceding month.

June 1 marked the debut of boutique developer Global Orion Properties’ maiden condominium project, The Viridian at Balestier, in Singapore.

KUALA LUMPUR: I&P Group Sdn Bhd will launch its double-storey terraced homes PENTAS at its Alam Impian township in Shah Alam in conjunction with the launch of its Mad About Homes 2011 campaign in Shah Alam this weekend, July 23 and 24.

KUALA LUMPUR: UDA Holdings Bhd will probably have to resort to bank borrowings to come up with the outstanding RM104 million premium for the 8ha Pudu Jail land it is due to pay the government in September.

According to an industry observer, the government rejected UDA's request for a waiver on the premium.

KUALA LUMPUR: St John Woods Residence, an upcoming luxury condominium development in Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle, is receiving good response as 22 out of its 48 units have been reserved by interested buyers since its preview launch on July 16. “The response has been very encouraging as we exceeded our sales target.

ABU DHABI: Recent initiatives taken by the United Arab Emirates government can create momentum in Abu Dhabi’s real estate industry, according to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Overview 2Q11 report by Jones Lang LaSalle. The report covers Abu Dhabi’s office, residential, retail and hospitality sectors.

DENPASAR (Bali): The allure of enjoying one's holiday within a luxurious villa — complete with personalised service — has proved too strong for tourists to resist. As a result, the tropical island has seen a surge in the number of private villas built especially to cater to the affluent market who are not shy about their demands and are willing to fork out large amounts for the extra perks.

WASHINGTON: Sales of previously owned US homes hit a seven-month low in June as demand for condominiums fell and contract cancellations surged, dampening hopes the distressed housing market was starting to improve.

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday, July 20 it remains concerned with the potential for a property price bubble in China even though the country's elevated inflation rate may peak within the next month or two.

LONDON: British landlord Great Portland Estates posted a first-quarter rise in portfolio valuation, driven by an uptick in the worth of its West End assets and near-term development schemes, and said it expected investor demand to continue.