PETALING JAYA (Dec 19): Owners of leasehold residential properties in Selangor have reason to rejoice — they will no longer have to worry about hefty land renewal premiums when their leases expire.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): S P Setia Bhd is targeting 1Q12 for the launch of the fourth and final tower of its Setia Sky Residences project in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

The first phase is in an advanced stage of development and will be completed in the second half of 2012. The first phase comprises Alia Tower and Boheme Tower.

PETALING JAYA (Dec 19): The high premium has deterred many residents of Selangor from applying for their land titles or renewing their leasehold. This has prompted the state government to introduce the Private Residential Ownership Scheme as part of the Selangor People's Agenda to increase the quality of life for those living in Selangor.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): In a clear sign of rapidly rising property values and rentals for Klang Valley malls, the listing of Pavilion REIT earlier this month has set a new valuation benchmark in the industry. The value of its Pavilion KL Mall exceeds by a wide margin those of other malls injected into Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT), and yet offers decent yields.

PETALING JAYA (Dec 19): The inclusion of UEM Land Holdings Bhd in the 30-stock benchmark index FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) from Monday could provide a catalyst for the stock. It will be the only pure property developer listed among the index's constituents, analysts said.

UEM Land Holdings Bhd (Dec 16, RM2.26)

My family and I used to go to Port Dickson (PD) quite often over the weekends or school holidays. The beaches were lovely back then and the narrow single-lane roads and town with old shops offered an ideal small, old town charm,” recalls Josie Lim, a Petaling Jaya-born accountant.

Pushing the boundaries

The Singapore Dream of the 5C’s in the 1980s to 1990s — cash, car, credit card, condominium and country club membership —has now been streamlined to just three absolute must-haves: cash, car and condo (although the government would like to tag on “children” as one of the C’s).

DUBLIN (Dec 16): After the Celtic Tiger died, Anthony Slattery quit his job as an accountant and bought some cows.

With food and drinks exports rising by close to a billion euros a year and food firms among the best performers on Ireland's bruised stock market, agriculture beckoned as one of the few sectors to survive a devastating property collapse.