KUALA LUMPUR: In a move to further curb speculative activities in the property market, the government is in talks with property industry stakeholders to stop individuals from buying houses and properties in bulk.

Property sector
We expect property sales this year to decline by 5% to 10%, dragged down by slower volume, although prices will likely hold up due to cost push (as seen in the past during periods of sharp spikes in inflation).

GEORGE TOWN: Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) is urging financial institutions to subsidise the property loan interest rates to help low-income earners own their first house.

Its Penang chairman, Datuk Jerry Chan, said the current rates do not benefit the low-income earners as they are high.

LONDON: Total investment in UK’s student accommodation hit £2.1 billion (RM11.5 billion) in 2013, breaching £2 billion for the second consecutive year, according to the latest CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) Student Housing index. This was attributed to an increase in the number of international students in the UK in the 2013 and 2014 intake.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur office and condominium markets are expected to remain challenging in 2014 due to slow rentals amid new supply and various cooling measures, according to Rahim and Co Chartered Surveyors Sdn Bhd.

LONDON: Property investors should look into niche or non-traditional real estate in Asia-Pacific as there will be less pricing competition, says LaSalle Investment Management’s (LIM) “2014 Investment Strategy” annual report.However, the report said such niche properties are likely to have more risk.

KAJANG: Tropicana Corp Bhd is targeting younger buyers in Kajang for the first phase of its Tropicana Heights@Kajang development, Fairfield Residences, which will be launched tomorrow. Tropicana Heights@Kajang sits on 199 acres (80.53ha)of freehold land and commands a gross development value (GDV) of RM2.3 billion.