WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 25): Pending sales of existing US homes fell more than expected in December, industry data showed on Wednesday, pointing to a moderation in home sales after recent hefty gains.

The National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in December, dropped 3.5% to 96.6 after surging to a 1½ year high the prior month.

KUALA TERENGGANU (Jan 25): The Terengganu government is now using Google services to detect illegal occupation of government-owned land in the state.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said said this was the state government's latest approach to overcome the problem.

IPOH (Jan 25): The Perak state government has urged the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to review its ban on construction of tall buildings in Ipoh as it would affect development, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

He said the regulation enforced since the 1950s obstructed the state government's efforts to develop Ipoh into a modern city.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 25): Fifty of the more than 1,200 buyers of abandoned housing projects in Pulau Indah, Port Klang, Selangor on Wednesday filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) here for alleged corruption.

However, only two were allowed to enter the office to lodge reports on behalf of the other victims.

Time to buy or sell?

Consumer confidence remains the key

Bridges have existed from the time mankind found the need to travel and transport goods from one place to another. But we have come a long way since the days early humans fell trees and built perilous rope bridges to cross rivers or ravines.

Riding on positive sentiment and confidence in the economy, the local property market kicked off 2011 on a high note.

After almost 24 months of unrelenting spikes, all signs suggest that the end of the Hong Kong property market’s bull run is near.

WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 19): Nationwide production of new single-family homes in the US rose 4.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 470,000 units in December, according to data released by the US Commerce Department.