HONG KONG: The CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, proposes change to the management of Asia-Pacific REITs to protect investors' interest in its Asia-Pacific REITs: Building Trust Though Better REIT Governance report release from its Hong Kong office on Friday Feb 18.

CHENNAI: Malaysia has proposed a low cost housing model to the Andhra Pradesh state government, a concept to help eradicate slum dwellers, and provide affordable housing for the local population.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project is expect to spark more joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) by property developers to secure strategic land banks near rail lines, says HwangDBS Vickers Research associate director Yee Mei Hui.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are good investing alternatives for the more risk averse investors, particularly during periods of increased market volatility, with their higher than market average yields and defensive profiles.

GEORGE TOWN: Hunza Properties Bhd is targeting the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), consisting of north Peninsular Malaysia, southern Thailand and Sumatra with a combined population of over 40 million, for its new integrated township development in Bayan Baru on the south western end of Penang island.Hunza, which bought the 42-acre site for RM82 million last year at RM45 pe

KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore-based CapitaLand’s wholly owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott) is growing its presence in Malaysia. It recently opened a new 207-unit serviced residence known as Somerset Ampang Kuala Lumpur in the Embassy Row area of Kuala Lumpur. It has also secured a contract to manage the Citadines D’Pulze Cyberjaya, a 232-unit property in Cyberjaya.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) plans to develop a premium high-rise residential project with a gross development value of RM300 million at Jalan Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur.The group acquired the one-acre leasehold land parcel in the city centre on Jan 7, it said.

SINGAPORE: Ranked average overall in the recently released Asian Green City Index, Kuala Lumpur also earned an average score for its environmental governance. The index — a study commissioned by Siemens AG and performed by the independent Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) — analysed the environmental sustainability of 22 major cities in Asia.

by James Saft

THE reform of US housing finance proposed by President Obama will drive the price of mortgages higher and be a disaster for house prices, construction and the real estate industry.

In other words, in helping to kill the illusion that a whole nation can grow rich by living in ever more expensive houses, it will be a very good thing.

KUALA LUMPUR: Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) achieved an 11.6% net profit increase to RM11.341 million from RM9.571 million last year for its fourth quarter (4Q) financial statements ended Dec 31, 2010, it announced on Thursday Feb 17.

Revenue collected for the quarter under review went up 18.4% to RM24.036 million up from RM21.53 million a year ago.