Month: February 2025

Colliers adds to leadership bench with appointments in Greater China

Colliers, a leading commercial real estate company, recently announced the expansion of its occupier services team in Asia Pacific through the appointment of two new directors – Leanne Chin and Ali Porter.

According to a press release dated February 25, the company has appointed Leanne Chin as the regional tenant representation director for Asia Pacific. She will be based in Colliers’ Singapore office and will be responsible for developing and managing relationships with occupiers across the region.

When it comes to investing in real estate, location is a key factor to consider, and this is especially true in Singapore. Condos located in prime areas or near important amenities, such as schools, shopping centers, and transportation hubs, tend to appreciate in value. Prime locations in Singapore, such as Orchard Road, Marina Bay, and the CBD, have a track record of consistent …

JLL, the sole marketing agent, has announced the collective sale of Ching Shine Industrial Building with a minimum price of $113 million. The freehold building includes 52 strata units and boasts a 100m frontage along Shaw Road. It has a total land area of 49,308 sq ft and a gross floor area of approximately 137,341 sq ft.

The building, which was built in the early 1980s, is zoned as “Business 1” and has a gross plot ratio of 2.5 under the URA Master Plan 2019. More than 80% of the owners have given their consent for the collective sale at the minimum price of $113 million. This translates to a unit land rate of around $823 psf per plot ratio at the existing gross plot ratio of 2.79.

According to JLL, the site could potentially be converted into a food factory, subject to URA approval. The National Environment Agency has …

City Developments Limited (CDL) has responded to its trading halt with a statement explaining that it was due to a disagreement within the board regarding the board’s composition and structure. Despite the temporary suspension, CDL assures that its business operations remain unaffected and fully operational.

Sherman Kwek will continue as the group CEO until there is a board resolution to change company leadership. The company will make further announcements in accordance with Singapore Exchange (SGX) listing rules as the matter is currently under review.

Investors looking to purchase a condo should also take into consideration the property’s maintenance and management. Condominiums often require maintenance fees to be paid, which go towards the upkeep of shared spaces and amenities. Although these fees may increase the cost of ownership, they play a crucial role in maintaining the property’s value and condition. To further streamline the investment process, hiring a property management company …

PropNex, Singapore’s largest real estate agency, recorded a net profit of $21.9 million for the second half of its financial year ended December 31, 2024, a 14.9% decline from the previous year. This brings its full-year earnings to $40.9 million, a 14.4% decrease from the preceding financial year.

The company attributes the dip in revenue, which fell by 6.6% compared to FY2023, to the “relatively subdued property market”. However, in celebration of its 25th anniversary, PropNex plans to distribute a special dividend of 2.5 cents per share, in addition to the final dividend of 3 cents per share. This sets a record dividend payout of 7.75 cents for FY2024, with a payout ratio of 140.1% and a yield of 8.2%.

Despite the decline in earnings, PropNex has observed an increase in activity in the final quarter of 2024, driven by a surge in sales of new private homes, which the …

Investing in a condominium in Singapore has emerged as a popular trend among both local and international investors, thanks to the country’s thriving economy, political stability, and exceptional quality of life. With the Singapore real estate market offering a plethora of opportunities, condos have emerged as a top choice for investors, given their convenience, facilities, and potential for attractive returns. In this piece, we will delve into the advantages, factors to consider, and essential steps to take when investing in a condo in Singapore, including exploring exciting options such as new condo launches.

A prime corner two-storey shophouse with an attic is currently available for purchase at 209 Jalan Besar, as reported by Gracelynn Zhu, from PropNex Shophouse Elites. The 999-year leasehold shophouse has been listed for sale at a price below $20 million.

The property boasts a generous floor area of approximately 5,502 square feet and is zoned …

Investment sentiment for the Asia Pacific (Apac) hotel sector is predicted to remain robust in 2025, according to a study by CBRE. The 2025 Asia Pacific Hotel Investor Intentions Survey, conducted in November and December last year, revealed that over 72% of investors surveyed are planning to increase their hotel asset acquisitions this year.

Out of the respondents, 45% are looking to raise their purchase volume by more than 10%. “Following a strong performance in the past 18 months, investors are expecting optimistic pricing expectations for hotel and living assets in Apac in 2025,” shares Steve Carroll, head of hotels, capital markets, Asia Pacific, CBRE.

The survey found that this healthy investment sentiment is driven by the rebound in tourist arrivals, particularly in countries like Japan, Singapore, and Australia. “The increase in international arrivals from key markets has led to the rise in hotel room rates, ensuring a continuation of …

Two real estate giants, ETC (formerly known as Edmund Tie) and OrangeTee Group, have announced their plans to merge and form a new holding company. The name of the new entity has not been revealed yet, but according to Desmond Sim, CEO of ETC, it is not an acquisition, but a coming together of two like-minded companies.

Under the merger, Sim will continue to serve as the CEO of ETC, as well as the group CEO of the merged entity. Meanwhile, Justin Quek, the current CEO of OrangeTee & Tie, will take on the role of deputy group CEO of the new holding company.

Following the merger, ETC will primarily focus on consultancy and advisory services, while OrangeTee will concentrate on proptech and its real estate agency business. OrangeTee currently has a network of 2,803 salespersons registered with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) as of Feb 24, and the …

On the weekend of Feb. 23, developers UOL Group and CapitaLand Development (CLD) jointly announced that they sold 1,041 units at their ParkTown Residence project in Tampines North, which represents over 87% of the total 1,193 units available. According to UOL’s general manager of residential marketing, Anson Lim, the project was able to achieve an average price of $2,360 psf, with most of the buyers being Singaporean homebuyers or investors. The project’s two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments made up the majority of the units, accounting for 994 out of the 1,193 units. These unit types were also the most popular, with 92% being sold over the weekend.

The spokesperson for UOL and CLD explained that buyers were attracted to ParkTown Residence’s unique concept as a fully integrated residential and lifestyle development, offering direct access to a retail mall, the future Tampines North MRT station, a bus interchange, a green boulevard, a …

MCL Land and CSC Land Group have reported that 326 out of the 501 units at their joint venture project on Clementi Avenue 1, Elta, were sold on Feb 22. This represents a sales rate of 65%, with an average price of $2,537 psf.

The project attracted mostly Singaporean buyers, who made up 90% of the purchasers. The remaining 10% were permanent residents. The majority of the buyers came from districts 19, 5, and 23, which cover areas such as Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang, Buona Vista, Clementi, Bukit Batok, and Bukit Panjang.

Among the units sold, the most popular were the two-bedroom units, with 98% of the 179 units taken up at prices starting from $1.388 million ($2,261 psf). The three-bedroom units were also in high demand, with 81% of the 108 units sold at prices starting from $2.198 million. The one-bedroom plus study units were also snapped up, with 78% …

CapitaLand India Trust (CLINT) has announced its plans to acquire an office project in Nagawara, Outer Ring Road, Bangalore for a total of $233.6 million. This acquisition will be carried out through a forward purchase agreement with Maia Estates Offices.

When considering investing in condos in Singapore, it is essential to take into account the country’s property cooling measures implemented by the government. In order to maintain a stable real estate market and prevent speculative buying, the Singaporean government has implemented several measures over the years. One of these measures is the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), which imposes higher taxes on foreign buyers and those purchasing multiple properties. While these measures may have a short-term impact on the profitability of condo investments, they ultimately contribute to the long-term stability of the market, making it a secure investment environment. This is why Singapore Projects are highly sought after by investors, …