KUALA LUMPUR: Turkey continues to attract international retailers despite anticipation of lower visitor numbers and turnover rents for many shopping centres amidst the current gloomy economic environment.

The shuffling and reorganising of ministries, on its own, is not sufficient to raise their key performance indicators (KPIs) to the level demanded. What will yield results is political will, and this must be supported by the civil servants’ buy-in.Take the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

Asian cities dominate the list of the world’s top 10 costliest locations for expatriate rental property, according to a study by consulting, outsourcing and investment services provider Mercer on housing costs and practices for employees sent on overseas assignments.

In a market slowdown, astute businessmen will have to think out of the box and come up with innovative business strategies to persuade potential buyers to part with their cash.In the case of boutique developers, the challenge becomes more daunting as the hefty premium that their projects command may end up being a millstone around their necks as demand dries up.

With chronic traffic congestion, flash floods, lack of green living initiatives, and other inadequacies, Kuala Lumpur hardly fits the profile of a “world-class” city.

Orchard Road, Singapore’s main shopping destination, will soon see a “green” mall among its other offerings.

Situated a short distance from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang lies the laidback coastal area of Bagan Lalang where, on a fine day, the sea laps gently against the shore and beach-goers enjoy the quiet and slow pace of life.

If one must find the most appropriate word to describe haven/The Edge My Dream Home Contest 2008 gold winner for the condominium category, it would most probably be “bare” — just that. Owners Goh Han Shin and Ong Tien Ling prefer it that way, because it fits their lifestyle perfectly.

For Hamidon Abdullah, life after retirement is just as exciting. From producing automative systems, he's now building homes here and in Australia. After a successful career, one would usually prefer to sit back and reap the fruits of one’s labours.

KUALA LUMPUR: Up to 7 million sq metres of planned shopping centre development in Europe has been put on hold or cancelled as a result of the global credit crunch, said global real estate adviser Cushman & Wakefield.“The downturn in the development market is mainly due to the difficulty in securing finance for schemes.  This is exacerbated by many retailers being cautious in their expansion