SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S.-based Russell Investments, which manages over $211 billion in assets, wants to boost its exposure to Asian real estate as it sees growing markets in China and India withstanding a global downturn.

The company, which raises money from institutions such as pension funds and invests it with other fund managers, said it expects to more than double its investments in Asia properties over the next three years, from about $300 million currently.

"Our clients tell us they want to be in Asia property, and we go where our clients want to go," said Martin Lamb, newly appointed Asia Pacific head of property for Russell, the funds and indices unit of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance.

"Regardless of the downturn in the U.S. and Europe, there is a strong domestic need particularly in India and China that continues to fuel demand for housing and retail," said Lamb, who is Russell's first property chief to be based within the region.

"There's no question that it's going to be a bumpy road if the United States plunges into a severe recession, but whereas before there was very little domestic demand in China and India, a lot of that demand can now be picked up internally," he said.

An increasing number of financial and property firms have set up funds to invest in Asia property in the past year, seeking better returns elsewhere as property markets in the U.S. and Europe face a steep downturn. more...

SINGAPORE — Viet Nam has made some improvement in its level of real estate transparency, according to a biennial report by a global property services firm.

The Global Real Estate Transparency Index from Jones Lang LaSalle, which provides a rigorous framework for comparing the level of real estate transparency in 82 countries, assesses five key attributes.

These are performance measurement, market fundamentals, listed vehicles, legal and regulatory environment, and the transaction process. On a scale of one to five, one is the highest level of transparency.

Countries were classified into five groups: high tier, transparent tier, semi-transparent tier, low-transparent tier, and opaque transparent tier. more...

Link: http://www.starproject.com.sg/singapore-real-estate.htm

Dubai-based real estate and construction companies are expanding their business interests to regional markets to channel their profits from the boom in the international markets including Saudi Arabia, Oman and China. Nakheel, Dubai's leading master real estate developer is focusing in China in particular as the Chinese market is growing due to upcoming global sporting event.

Chris O'Donnell, CEO, Nakheel, said, "Two areas that we are looking at entering are Eastern Europe and China. We are doing the preliminary investigation work on those two areas. We think they will be the growing economies over the next 10 or 15 years, so now is the time to get a foothold in those places".

Over the past year, Nakheel has accelerated its international expansion, gaining a presence in the UK, US, Australia and Singapore. This broadening on a global scale will help Dubai real estate developers protect their interest in case of recession in the regional construction market.

Source: www.gowealthy.com

These days, it seems easier to sell the idea to Malaysians about buying properties overseas, especially in hot traditional markets such as Australia, US, Britain and Singapore. Why the sudden surge of interest?

INTERESTING indeed - while Malaysian realtors aggressively showcase the country's properties overseas to encourage foreigners to make the country their second home (there has been meaningful impact from these road shows), there is also rising interest among Malaysians to scour properties overseas.

The reasons for the surge of interest, as evinced by the marketing efforts by local realtors that appear to have been stepped up for overseas properties, are aplenty.

Generally though, they revolve around a few key factors - the interest to grow capital, to have a holiday/retirement home or family-related considerations such as children studying abroad.

The diverse reasons for Malaysians who opt to make that significant step underscore the changing trends in overseas property purchases.

Henry Butcher Malaysia chief operating officer Tang Chee Meng says the reasons why Malaysians buy overseas properties, the type of properties they go for and buyer’s profile have changed compared to a decade or so ago.

He said children’s education overseas used to feature prominently before. Today, while that still is a predominant reason, a larger proportion of those under this category also do so to reap higher returns for their investment.

“They want the capital appreciation, not so much the yield. It’s 50% education and 50% investment today, unlike the previous ratio of 80:20 or 70:30, with the majority buying to house their children,” says Tang.

Because the objective of the purchase has changed, the type of developments they opt for has also changed. Today, investors are buying landed units and going into the suburbs, a trend seldom seen a decade or so ago unless they were immigrating.

“They are prepared to go 25 km away from the central business district area. Before they would buy apartments closer to the universities,” Tang says.

For example Sanctuary Lakes Resort is one of the most striking assets in Melbourne, Australia. The properties range from A$390,000-A$765,000 (home and land packages) and is 29 km or 20 minutes via freeway from Melbourne CBD.

The unique feature of this resort-style development is that it is set around an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed championship golf course and features 168 acres of lake as well as next door to a bird sanctuary, nature reserve and Port Philip Bay.

Such traits are big carrots to draw in affluent Malaysian homebuyers who most often than not, have preferences for the unique and not-so-common.

While Australia and Singapore continue to lead the stakes in global listed property trusts, the surprise star in a new survey is Vietnam, jumping from the sixth spot to third in predicted property market growth.

The findings came from the Asia Pacific REIT survey conducted by Latham Consulting and commissioned by local financial services provider Trust and law firm Allens Arthur Robinson. The study canvassed the views of senior property professionals, fund managers, merchant bankers, property owners, lawyers and accountants in 12 countries.

It found that over the next year or two, companies will increase the size of their existing REITs rather than launch new ones, but that this trend will be reversed in three to five years.

The theme of local LPT managers going overseas will continue.  “We expect many Australian REIT managers to continue to focus on unlisted REITS in the Australian market and to look off-shore for investment opportunities,” said Susan Burns, partner at Allens Arthur Robinson.

She suggested that flexible regulation is key to staying ahead. “The relative flexibility of Singaporean regulators continues to encourage listings on the Singapore Exchange…and its success is also encouraging a number of Asian countries, including India and China, to explore creating their own domestic REIT regulations and markets.”

Meanwhile, Vietnam is the country to watch after it kicked Japan off the third spot. Early this month, a 75-member business delegation from Vietnam came to Sydney to attend an investment forum hosted by Austrade.

Source: Financial Standard

SINGAPORE, Dec 11, 2007 (Thomson Financial via COMTEX) -- | charts | news | PowerRating -- Shares of Allgreen Properties were higher Tuesday as investors welcomed the Singapore property developer's expansion in China.

Allgreen Properties said last week it will invest up to 1.4 billion Singapore dollars in residential and mixed-used development projects in Hangzhou, Chengdu, Qinhuangdao and Shenyang, with Hong Kong partner Kerry group.

The projects will boost the share of China in Allgreen's portfolio to 39 percent from 6 percent, JP Morgan said in a client note. The brokerage said the projects have a positive impact on Allgreen's valuation but the full benefits are unlikely to be priced into the stock.

"We fear that if the proposed acquisitions are completed the group would not offset the loss of its proxy status as a play on Singapore's mass- and mid-residential property sector with an improved rating for an enlarged China exposure," JP Morgan said.

Source: Trading Markets

Real estate investment trusts have taken a drubbing this year as some investors have grown concerned the real estate portfolios these companies hold are overvalued. But a drop in share prices of REITs could signal an opportunity for investors willing to look under the hood at what a company owns.

The adage about the importance of location in real estate is easily forgotten when times are good but can prove prescient when times are difficult. REITs, which generally pay out most of the income they generate through their investment properties through dividends, can invest in a variety of holdings from office buildings to malls to apartment buildings to self-storage facilities.

Given the variety, investors should remember that some investments will hold up better and even thrive while others wither.

"We are very selective in the markets that we're invested in," said David Siopack, co-portfolio manager of the Charles Schwab Global Real Estate Fund, which invests in REITs and other real estate investment vehicles. He sees strength in commercial property markets in many big cities, particularly those in Asia, and looks for investments in those areas.

The fund uses metrics that scored big cities in Asia such as Singapore as most likely to show the best rental rate growth in the next 18 to 24 months, followed by Europe and then North America. He said the stronger locations generally show employment growth at or above the national average and have a finite amount of land for development, keeping prices high.

Read more on PhillyBurbs.com...

THE Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has launched another site for short-term office use, a move aimed at relieving the supply crunch.
The property is the former Upper Aljunied Technical School on Upper Aljunied Road. It has a land area of 19,704 sq m and a gross floor area of 7,722 sq m.

It comes with a guide rental of $74,100 a month or $9.60 per sq m, with the tenancy renewable up to 2012.

The SLA says property and leasing companies have already expressed interest.

It has put out various state properties as interim sites this year, including former childcare centres, and more are being identified in suburban areas or away from the Central Business District.

This was a response to the tight office market and soaring rents in prime areas, which are driving some tenants to seek cheaper locations further from town.

In the residential market, two more collective sale sites have been put on the market.

The bigger plot is Cavenagh Gardens on Cavenagh Road, near the Istana. Owners at the estate, a 130,000 sq ft freehold site, want $619 million, or $2,308 per sq ft of potential gross floor area.

PropNex, which is marketing the site, has applied for permission to amalgamate a piece of state land.

If this is allowed, the combined site will cost $770 million, excluding about $72.8 million for the state land. The cost will be higher in this case because whoever buys the combined site will be able to build a bigger project.

 read more...

Since buying or selling a home involves very important financial and lifestyle decisions, the expertise of a professional real estate agent is invaluable. Yet, when it comes to choosing an agent, the choice is often whimsical! Too often the decision is based on a desire to appease a golfing buddy or a relative who dabbles in real estate part-time. Here are a few guidelines that will help you select the right real estate professional.

If you're selling your home, ask more than one real estate professional to prepare a comparative marketing analysis (CMA) for your property. Ask how each one plans to market your home--beyond a yard sign and the multiple listing service (MLS). Ask for an estimate of all your closing costs and your net proceeds.

If you're buying a home, look for a real estate professional with computerized access to all MLS listings who will inform you of new listings on a daily basis. Review all the options for agency representation. Will the agent or an assistant be showing properties to you? You'll be spending a lot of time together, so choose someone with whom you feel comfortable.

Whether you're buying or selling, look for an agent who is an experienced, full-time professional. Look for someone with educational and professional designations who is knowledgeable about current market conditions and various financing options. Choose an agent who will write a solid contract, negotiate effectively on your behalf, and keep you updated on a regular basis. Review references from past clients. Then relax. You'll be in good hands!

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