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.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Hong Kong property market is being pulled into two directions. On one hand, sales are rising but leases are on a downward trend. According to Colliers International Hong Kong 2Q 2009 property report, the general market mood is still conservative but investors are snapping up properties to ensure they are in good position to reap the benefits when the global economy recovers.

KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore's CapitaLand Ltd, posted losses of S$156.9 million in its second quarter due to the unprecedented global economic crisis and writedowns, and it expected the second half of this year to remain uncertain.In a statement posted on its website on July 30, it said that it achieved profit after tax and minority interests (PATMI) of S$124.0 million in 2Q2009 (excluding revaluati

KUALA LUMPUR: The retail market in the Klang Valley is expected to remain weak due to cautious consumer spending, even though there was a slight recovery in the previous quarter, according to DTZ Nawawi Tie Leung Property Consultants Sdn Bhd (DTZ Malaysia).In its quarterly property research report, DTZ Property Times 2Q2009, it said although the consumer sentiments index (CSI) in 1Q2009 showed