Do you know how much will a developer has to pump into a showflat for its launch? Depending on the size of the showflat, the cost will run up to few millions including the steel structure and interior fit out works. After all, the success of the launch relies very much on the Wow effect of the showflat that it is able to stir up the purchaser’s desire to put down the downpayment and sign the S&P. Therefore all developer are not stingy in spending on showflat in order to …

As reported in the earlier posting on the potential enbloc for several apartments in Balestier, Diamond Tower has managed to ink the first residential deal for the area.
The existing Diamond Tower is just sitting next to the up and upcoming Zhong Shan Park, which houses 2 hotels and a public park. The deal has not been finalized since the proposed collective sale of Diamond Tower will be subject to approval from Strata Titles Board as its owners have not unanimously consented to the sale.

EL Development has inked a deal to buy …

With the successful precedent transaction of the 3 storey industrial terrace factory building at No. 6 Jalan Ampas on February this year, there is another industrial site in Balestier put up for sale.

It is a freehold industrial site at No. 21 Kim Keat Road at an asking price of $42 million. Within the same Balestier area, this site is potentially to be re-zoned under the Urban Redevelopment Authority planning to residential use of a gross plot ratio of 2.8
The asking price of 42 million works out to S$734 per square foot …

We seldom witness private players stepping out questioning the efficiency of the Government policies. Mr. Simon Cheong, as the president of the Real estate Developers’ Association, questioned the need for Government’s measures towards the property. He further suggested that would lead to mismatch of supply and demand.
Simon Cheong raised the two recent government land-sale tenders to highlight ‘the dilemma’ that developers face when bidding for such sites. A bid for a Tampines site was rejected in June 2008 but the tender was awarded this month at $421 per square foot per plot ratio …

The Centro Residences development by Far East Organization, which is located strategically next to AMK hub and opposite AMK MRT, has been awarded to homegrown developer Lian Beng Group at S$78 million construction deal. It is a construction of a 34-storey residential tower with a multi-storey carpark, clubhouse, swimming pool and playground. The work on the development is expected to start in March and will be completed by January 2013.

Remember that the Centro Residences was the first development in suburban to be launched at  over $1000 psf, moreover it is …

Source : Business Times – 17 Mar 2010
Latest home-loan skirmish also sees banks speeding up their approvals
A skirmish of sorts has broken out on the home loans front with banks pushing down their interest rates a notch or two over the past week or so. The first volley was fired by DBS Bank and the others have responded.
This is welcome news for home owners and investors who are looking to re-price or refinance their home loans. The rates also provide a positive backdrop to the upturn in the property market. …

In my earlier posting on What to do if your new house giving your headache of problems? , we were discussing the headache that one will face in takeover of a new unit if it is not delivered in good workmanship and full of defective issues. Definitely it will be very frustrating to most unit owners as they could be very troublesome in terms of coordination with the developers and contractors in fixing up the issues, and monitoring the problems, and worst case if the issues are recurring.
Most defects could …

The flashy colorful advertisement in newspapers are for the masses. If you are a sincere quality buyer, try to get yourself to be a Very Very important Person to be invited for the preview in order to get your choice of unit at a before inflated price before the actual launch.
Interesting way for an agent to book their sales even before the launch day! I would just say the world for agents is just so competitive that it is good to be innovative! I must start to squeeze for more …

Golden Wall Flatted Factory is an 8 storey industrial building situated off the Balestier Road. From the look of it, the building is in need for a fresh layer of paint coat. Most of the factories in Balestier are pretty run down and lack of maintenance. This is one of the potential problems that en-bloc or collective sales could bring. With URA’s plan on re-zoning of industial plots to residential zoning, I believe many owners of the industrial buildings in Balestier are looking into  getting the new right owner with the right pricing. …

I have been away relaxing myself in the Chinese New Year season. Sorry if you have been checking out my blog yet have not been seeing my “presence”!!
Here I am continuing my study on Cube 8 from my previous article:

Cube 8 is a freehold condominium development located at 376 Thomson Road, Singapore 298130, in District 11, minutes’ walk to Novena MRT Station. With an expected completion in 2017, it comprises of 177 units in a 36 storey tower. Cube 8 is close to MacRitchie Reservoir Park and Novena Square Shopping …