Location, location, location — this is the mantra that the real estate world lives and breathes. It is not very different for business owners when it comes to selecting a premise for their endeavours which can range from corporate enterprises to food and beverage establishments.

THE debut project of a Malaysian developer has been a hit with international travellers. The Koharu Resort Hotel & Suites has been awarded the coveted Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor.

Koharu Resort Hotel & Suites in Hakuba, Japan is Bukit Kiara Properties Sdn Bhd’s (BKP) first foray overseas. This ¥1.8 billion (RM66.8 million) development lies in the popular Japanese ski hub of Hakuba in Nagano, one of the host venues of the 1998 Winter Olympics.

We opine that a 25bps rate cut would not impact underlying demand significantly, given the muted impact on affordability. However, we view the rate cut positively for the near-term sentiment, given low expectations for the property sector.

Moving forward, we expect the potential downside for M-REITs from external factors to be limited, with no immediate risk of a narrowing yield spread given the monetary easing bias and their relative attractiveness amid a low-yield environment and uncertainties in the global market.

AuctionGuru.com executive director Gary Chia also tells TheEdgeProperty.com that the number of high-end residential properties put up for auction has increased slightly.

The group is seeking a refund totalling RM5.4 million from Ireka Engineering & Construction.

For a lot of investors, the first thing that comes to mind when one mentions Penang is the state’s thriving island and its capital city of George Town. With its strong industries and heritage, Penang island has long established itself as one of the country’s most loved and successful cities. However, due to limited land and a saturated market there, developers have begun crossing over to Seberang Perai, lured by the undeveloped space, cheaper land price and strong growth potential.

We opine that it is now an opportune time for Tiong Nam to go warehouse real estate investment trust (REIT) listing given the renewed interest in high dividend stocks.

Kuala Lumpur’s Melawati area has been a property hot spot for the last decade, with prices soaring and new developments from major developers such as Sime Darby Property Bhd, Sunway Bhd and Nadayu Properties Bhd.