WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 20): Builder confidence in the US market for newly built, single-family homes continued to climb for a fourth consecutive month in January, rising four points to 25 on the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released on Wednesday. This is the highest level the index has attained since June of 2007.

LONDON (Jan 20): Strong demand and undersupply will see student accommodation remain one of the UK's best property investments, according to global property consultancy Knight Frank LLP.

Returns on student housing have nearly doubled year-on-year in London jumping to 15.1% in September 2011 from 8.4% in September 2010, according to Knight Frank's annual student accommodation index.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association of Malaysia (Rehda) believes that the Greater KL and Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project will have a positive impact on the property market and economy in general.

KUALA LUMPUR: The first half of 2012 (1H12) is expected to see more new property development launches despite concerns of a market slowdown, according to a survey conducted by the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association of Malaysia (Rehda).The survey showed 63% of respondents, made up of developers, have plans to launch projects in 1H12, up from the 45% obtained in a similar survey in 2

KUALA LUMPUR: Land & General Bhd’s (L&G) latest condominium project Damansara Foresta in the Kuala Lumpur township development Bandar Sri Damansara has got off to a good start with its first two towers (out of four) almost fully sold after a preview for loyal customers and registrants in early January.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19): Property Group Hua Yang Bhd continued their good streak with a robust financial performance posted in Bursa Malaysia earlier on Wednesday, concluding the third quarter (3Q) with revenue of RM84.25 million and a net profit of RM14.58 million.

ALOR SETAR (Jan 19): The Kedah government is to go ahead with the RM500 million Aman Central mall project regardless of a court decision pertaining to an adjacent madrasah, the proposed demolition of which to make way for the complex has elicited opposition.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19): A section of the old Istana Negara here will be converted into a meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) centre, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

She said the proposal was approved at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.

WASHINGTON (Jan 19): The number of homeless people in the United States declined 1% from 2009 to 2011, but the sluggish economy left more poor Americans struggling to pay for housing and just a step away from shelters, an advocacy group said on Wednesday.

HONG KONG (Jan 19): Private equity investment house Blackstone Group LP said on Thursday that it is actively pursuing further property investments in China, after a fund it controls turned a profit on the sale of its stake in a real-estate joint venture with Evergrande Real Estate Group Ltd.