The government has once again sent a strong signal of its desire to promote Malaysia as an international real estate investment hub.

2Q home sales exceed entire 2008 figure The total number of new homes sold in 2Q2009 exceeded that in 2008, says Li Hiaw Ho, executive director of CBRE Research. URA data shows that 4,654 new homes were sold in 2Q, compared with 4,264 sold for the whole of 2008.

An estimated RM1 billion worth of Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) homes will be offered for sale this year. A series of home ownership campaigns introduced since February has shown encouraging sales.

Development charges cut again More than half (68 out of 118) the commercial use group will see development charges (DC) fall following the revision by the Ministry of National Development. Overall, the commercial group DC rate has dropped an average of 3.9% this round (Sept 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010) compared with the average decrease of 4.4% in March 2009.

Auction sales soar during Hungry Ghost festivalColliers International reports that 14 properties totalling S$25.92 million (RM63.78 million) were sold under the hammer during the Hungry Ghost festival (Aug 20 to Sept 18), the highest value in three years. This was a better performance than last year’s S$22.75 million over the same festival period.

Singapore Land Authority land sales down 41% Singapore Land Authority reported a 41% fall in land sale revenue to S$7.3 billion (RM17.6 billion) for the year ended March 31. The largest sale was for Atrium@Orchard, at S$840 million.

Lian Beng wins Th e Laurels deal worth S$95 mil Lian Beng has won its third contract in a month, bringing its total order book to S$915 million (about RM2.13 billion).

KUALA LUMPUR: Stockbroking and property development group TA Enterprise Bhd intends to continue its hotel-buying spree, expecting to acquire at least one hotel property a year over the next two to three yearsTA Enterprise managing director and chief executive officer Datin Alicia Tiah said on July 31 the group also plans to build two hotels in Kuala Lumpur.Having only completed the purchase of

KUALA LUMPUR: A study by AkzoNobel, the world's largest paint and coatings company, on colour trends during economic changes, showed a co-relation between the state of the economy with colour trends.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (Rehda) with Rehda Wilayah Persekutuan (KL) and Selangor is organizing its second Klang Valley Mapex 2009 (Mapex 2009) property exhibition with the theme, "Go Green" from July 31 to Aug 2, 2009.