Sub-sales market may stay active as punters sell units

Median sub-sale price fell 8% in Q1 2008, says DTZ study SPECULATIVE buying has eased, but the sub-sale market may continue to be active as speculators dispose of units in projects as they are physically completed, DTZ says in a recent report.  ‘Those who had purchased multiple units on deferred payment schemes are most likely … Read more

Prices of some new properties coming down

Move may signal end of months-long stand-off between buyers and sellers GOOD news for homebuyers: The prices of some new developments are finally starting to come down. At least two new projects have been tagged with prices below what they were expected to fetch just months ago. Shelford Suites (left) Sold in March for: $1,869 … Read more

JTC launches tender to develop hotel, retail shops

This will add vibrancy to Changi Business Park, offer business travellers options IN A Singapore first, the fast-growing Changi Business Park (CBP) is set to boast a hotel and retail outlets alongside the hubbub of enterprise. A move yesterday by industrial landlord JTC Corp to invite developers to inject vibrancy into CBP with the novel … Read more

Cost of living up for expats in S’pore

Republic up 17 places in global ranking due to higher inflation and stronger Singdollar SINGAPORE has become a more expensive place for expatriates to live, but it is still cheaper than Hong Kong, even though the gap is closing with its long-time rival. The Republic jumped 17 places to land at the 114th spot in … Read more

Inflation likely to peak at record 8.1% this month: Economist

IT MAY appear unstoppable, but inflation in Singapore is likely to peak this month – but at what could be a record 8.1 per cent – before moving down to about 3 per cent next year. The prediction – from Mr Cem Karacadag, the director for non-Japan Asian economics at Credit Suisse – was in … Read more

Man arrested for rental flat scam

WITHOUT viewing the flat to be rented, 11 people handed over hundreds of dollars each in cash deposits to the owner of a Commonwealth Drive HDB flat, in exchange for a set of keys. But when they turned up at the three-room flat, they found it locked. None of the keys worked and the landlord … Read more

Chinatown Complex: Make it accessible to all

I REFER to the reply, ‘NEA working to improve ventilation in hawker centre’ (June 2). I am heartened to learn that the National Environment Agency (NEA) is taking steps to improve the poor air quality in that section of the upgraded wet market in Chinatown Complex. I understand the NEA, the manager of this project, … Read more

En bloc blues? There’s hope, says support group

WE REFER to the report, ‘En bloc sales bring out the worst in Singaporeans’ (June 1) by Ms Jessica Cheam. We are a group of concerned friends who love Singapore and the estates in which we live. While we welcome progress, we also cherish the old and familiar. Our cityscape has improved enormously in the … Read more

HDB upgraders hold key to property market turnaround

Squeezed out of private home market for some years, they see their share rise again HDB upgraders could once again provide the base for a recovery in private home buying, just like they did in 1998, property consultancy group DTZ argues, based on its latest analysis of caveats data which show an increase in these … Read more

JTC launches hotel-in-biz park tender

A hotel within a business park? That may soon become reality, as JTC Corporation launched a concept and price tender yesterday for the development of an integrated business park facility with retail and hotel components in Changi Business Park (CBP). The 4.7-hectare Plot 61 is a ‘Business Park – White 40′ site. Forty per cent … Read more