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News

Cooling measures likely as Singapore house prices continue to rise

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), on 1 April, had released the data on rates of private homes in Singapore. It highlighted that the prices increased by 2.9% in the first quarter of 2021 when compared to Q4 of 2020. Before the real estate curbs were laid in July 2018, the property prices increased by 3.4% in the second quarter of that year. This year’s rise is said to be the sharpest quarterly surge since then. This estimate has been compiled by analysts based on the stamp duty payment transaction prices given in contracts. It also factors the data obtained from

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News

Highgate, East Sheen, and Belvedere top choices for UK homebuyers

The desire for greener spaces has ignited a significant uptick in home purchases within leafy neighborhoods. Highgate stands out as the top choice, experiencing a remarkable 97% surge in popularity compared to the previous year, as reported by Rightmove. Additionally, both East Sheen and Belvedere have secured positions among the top five preferences for first-time buyers, families, and buy-to-let investors alike. Apart from these coveted locales, Ealing in London Zone 3 and Preston in Lancashire have garnered notable attention from prospective homebuyers. Residing in London Zone 3 offers close proximity to the city’s major attractions while providing a greener environment

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News

What office spaces will look like post-pandemic

Analysts predict prevailing patterns in work and shopping to continue, though rumblings of the “death of the office” likely overstated Results of the recent quarterly commercial property survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) show a shift in demand towards industrial space and away from traditional office spaces and retail. This trend is buoyed by a boom in online shopping accelerated by the pandemic. Although the British government is ramping up the COVID-19 vaccination programme, restrictions are expected to stay put for the coming months. This means the prevailing patterns in work and shopping will likely remain for

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News

UK commercial properties attract Singapore investors anew

Singaporean property investors pivot to UK commercial properties amid rising house prices UK landlords have suffered major blows during the pandemic due to the government-imposed rent holiday implemented to protect tenants. One in seven tenants is currently behind on rent which leaves landlords in limbo. And with the new lockdown, the tenant eviction ban has been extended until spring. The rent holiday is not the only stressor for residential landlords. Rental prices in London have also declined as people move out of the city in favour of bigger, greener spaces in the suburbs. Factoring in the current rising house prices in the

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Hong Kong News

Asian buyers show strong investor appetite for London properties despite Brexit

With the latest reports suggesting that one in every 30 Londoners is COVID-19 positive, the situation seems to be getting dire. Mayor Sadiq Khan has even gone on record to say that the virus’s spread is “out of control” at a time when Britain has moved to the top of the European charts in the number of deaths category. Another problem weighing on London is the impact of Brexit on the city’s real estate markets. Despite Boris Johnson inking an 11th-hour agreement to avoid what seemed to be an imminent no-deal Brexit, many companies in the capital have already picked up their

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Finance

UK banks all set for an endurance test in real estate lending business

Property markets and banks find themselves navigating through uncertain waters, reminiscent of the financial crash of 2008 and the ongoing crisis. Unlike previous crises, there’s a sense of caution prevalent among banks and property owners, yet the impact remains undeniable. The real estate lending market, estimated at £238 billion, faced dismal rent collection rates of just 67% at its nadir in the past year. Among the worst-hit entities are the prominent banking giants known as the ‘big four’ – Lloyds Banking Group PLC, Barclays PLC, NatWest Group PLC, and HSBC. Their extensive exposure to the real estate sector has left

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News

Light at the end of the tunnel for UK’s commercial real estate dealers

British commercial property dealers are confronting the enduring repercussions of the pandemic and the resultant economic slowdown gripping the country. With economic activity subdued and uncertainty prevailing, these dealers are gearing up for a challenging period ahead. The landscape of commercial real estate is being reshaped by these circumstances, prompting stakeholders to adopt strategic measures to weather the storm. Among the measures being taken, many major players in the industry are focusing on reducing their debts to fortify their financial positions. Recognizing the volatility of the current economic climate, they are taking proactive steps to minimize risks and enhance their

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News

2021’s changing scenarios leave aspiring UK homebuyers in a fix

Recent trends in Britain’s property market suggest a departure from the anticipated V-shaped recovery predicted by experts. The looming end of the stamp duty holiday coupled with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has cast a shadow of uncertainty over investors’ sentiments. This cautious approach is evident in the latest data from The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which reports a seven-month low in new buyer inquiries. Despite this, house prices across the country continue to soar, with London being the notable exception, experiencing robust growth. The initial rebound observed in the market was largely attributed to the newfound demand for larger

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News

Investors scoop up luxury properties amid boom in branded real estate in Southeast Asia

Branded residential schemes are propping up the real estate sector across Southeast Asia as brand association boosts buyer confidence in construction quality and amenity offers Luxury hotel chains like Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton promise five-star living for investors with capital to spare. There are currently 500 branded residential property schemes worldwide and Savills research shows this residential sector boasts a 170 per cent growth over 10 years. With 100 new schemes in the horizon, property gurus share an optimistic outlook despite the current recession brought on by the pandemic. Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines account for the majority of branded

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News

Experts predict a good year for UK rental market

It might seem that the writing on the wall spells doom for the UK real estate market after a tough 2020, but many experts are offering reasons to rejoice. If all those tiny storms are weathered, the next few months could be really promising for the entire sector.  David Alexander, the managing director of the property platform Apropos, says that the market has started reaping the benefits of the fact that tenants want to live in the countryside instead of urban dwellings. Consequently, the demand for properties in popular non-city limits is high, and so are the rents in such

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