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Montazure Phuket Launches at Singapore Yacht Show 2016

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MontAzure is a joint venture of three of the most prestigious property and hotel investment groups in Asia.

MontAzure is a joint venture of three of the most prestigious property and hotel investment groups in Asia.

MontAzure, an exclusive mixed-use community project in Kamala, Phuket, was launched at the Singapore Yacht Show 2016, unveiling an elite project occupying one of the last truly sizable plots of land on the island that stretches from the mountainside to an extensive beachfront site.

MontAzure is a joint venture of three of the most prestigious property and hotel investment groups in Asia – ARCH Capital Management (Hong Kong & Shanghai), The Narai Group (Thailand), and Philean Capital (Singapore) part of Pontiac Land Group – which have teamed up to launch Asia’s most exceptional resort residential development.

The development, which covers 73 hectares (180 acres, 454 rai) and is valued at over S$500 million (THB15 billion), includes Twinpalms, one of Thailand’s most celebrated independent luxury resort brands, and the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) who will open the InterContinental Phuket Resort in 2019.

The first phase is the Twinpalms Residences MontAzure that occupies 100 metres of absolute beach frontage. It will be operated and managed by Twinpalms when it is completed offering one and two-bedroom units with penthouses having access to a private roof top and pool with prices ranging from SGD400,000 to SGD3.6 million.

Twinpalms Residences MontAzure consists of 75 upscale branded beachfront condominiums designed by Martin Palleros of Tierra Design which will be completed in 2018. Pre-sales have been brisk with over 37% of the units sold supported by the recent opening of the Sales Gallery and Show Suite.

Twinpalms Residences MontAzure consists of 75 upscale branded beachfront condominiums.

Twinpalms Residences MontAzure consists of 75 upscale branded beachfront condominiums.

Investors are invited to join in the management pool and benefits of a well-managed hospitality operation with attractive yields and owner usage up to 45 nights per year. Facilities include a residents’ lobby, beach front restaurant and bar, gym/yoga studio, pool bar, spa pavilions, library and lounge, outdoor event spaces and on-site management office.

Other key components of a project located in Phuket’s most upscale quarter, which boasts Andara and Amanpuri amongst its neighbours, includes 13 ultra-luxury private hillside estate villas called The Estates at MontAzure, with interiors designed by the legendary Jaya Ibrahim and architecture by Lek Bunnag. A future hillside development, an international beach club, a wellness centre, retail space and a 32 hectare (40 acres, 200 rai) nature reserve of primary rainforest completes the project.

MontAzure’s Managing Director, Roland Bleszynski, said: “We are very pleased to launch MontAzure at the Singapore Yacht Show. The participants here understand the quality of our partners and the reassurance that brings and appreciate that Phuket offers sophisticated marine support infrastructure and the most stunning cruising grounds in Asia.”

Prices range from SGD400,000 to SGD3.6 million.

Prices range from SGD400,000 to SGD3.6 million.

“Phuket has very strong fundamentals. The tourism industry will continue to boom, the infrastructure is well-planned with a new international aviation terminal opening in June and we have secured a prime beachfront site on Phuket’s sought after mid-west coast with superb potential for property and hospitality development.”

About The Twinpalms Residences MontAzure

Number of units:
75

Unit Types:
56 one-bedroom units, 19 two-bedroom units, with options for buyers to request three or four-bedroom units.

Ownership:
Foreign freehold available based on Thai Condominium Act

Prices:
S$400,000 to S$3.6 million

Site Area:
3.7 acres (15,000 sqm/161,000 sq.ft./9.38 rai)

Architect:
Tierra Design

Facilities:
Residents’ Lobby, Beach Signature Restaurant and Room Service, Pool Bar, Gym/Yoga Studio, Spa Pavilions, Library and Lounge, Outdoor event spaces, On-site Management office

Management:
To be operated Twinpalms Management

Developer:
MontAzure is a joint venture of three of the most prestigious property and hotel investment groups in Asia – ARCH Capital Management (Hong Kong & Shanghai), The Narai Group (Thailand), and Philean Capital (Singapore) part of Pontiac Land Group – which have teamed up to launch Asia’s most exceptional resort residential development.

Banyan Tree Group Expands Into Australia With $150-million Venture

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The view at dusk.

The view at dusk.

The Banyan Tree Group (BTG) recently announced plans for its first branded residences in Australia. The AUD150-million project and its 76 luxury freehold private residences will set a new precedent for the Brisbane property market.

Initial interest from buyers has been strong, thanks to the 2200-square-metre Kangaroo Point site’s views of the CBD, river and botanic gardens – in addition to its convenient location, proximity to amenities and the strong reputation of the Banyan Tree brand.

Taking its cues from the iconic location, the landmark building will feature a striking exterior, with three undulating wave structures. Each Banyan Tree Residence property is unique in its design, with the vision for Banyan Tree Residences Brisbane the result of a collaboration by the group’s in-house design team and Woods Bagot, an international design practice with offices in Australia.

Commenting on the development, Executive Chairman Ho Kwon Ping said, “The city was a natural choice given its 2.2 million residents and $135-billion-dollar economy. As the leader in the country’s infrastructure boom, there are strong growth projections for Brisbane as it continues to transform and evolve. Construction is slated to commence in the second half of 2016, with completion expected in late 2018. We are looking forward to bringing the Banyan Tree brand of international luxury lifestyle to our Brisbane development.”

Unit interiors at the new Residence.

Unit interiors at the new Residence.

Banyan Tree Residences Brisbane will include 76 freehold private residences over 10 levels: four penthouses (three with rooftop infinity pool and private garden terrace), 27 three-bedroom apartments and 45 two-bedroom apartments.

Owners will enjoy a secure lobby with 24-hour Banyan Tree concierge service, onsite Banyan Tree Spa and retail Gallery, premium dining venues and an exclusive rooftop garden with private function space, barbeque facilities, daybeds and an expansive infinity pool. The property will also feature additional private function spaces, gymnasium, and a secure underground car park. Residents will also enjoy proximity to some of the city’s best dining and cultural precincts, as well as schools, universities, hospitals and transportation.

Lobby View 160129

A view of the lobby.

Banyan Tree Residences Brisbane owners will receive access to the range of premium Banyan Tree services such as membership to the Banyan Tree Sanctuary Club, which entitles them to exclusive discounts and privileges through the group’s global network of resorts and spas and access to the Banyan Tree Private Collection, an exclusive destination club with a portfolio of villas in stunning locations like Tuscany and Provence.

Australia, UK and Japan are Top of Mind for Property Investors

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When asked where they would consider investing in property abroad, Australia was top of the list with 32 percent.

When asked where they would consider investing in property abroad, Australia was top of the list with 32 percent. Image courtesy of IP Global.

Australia, UK and Japan are the top three destinations for Singaporeans looking to invest in property overseas, according to a survey commissioned by IP Global, a leading full-service property investment company.

When asked where they would consider investing in property abroad, Australia was top of the list with 32 percent*. The UK with 16 percent and Japan with 13 percent are the second and third most popular choices respectively. Singapore was one of the five countries where the survey was conducted, as part of IP Global’s research to identify investment trends in real estate across key markets. Hong Kong, the United Kingdom,

United Arab Emirates and South Africa were the other four countries. The results across the five markets highlighted the following trends:

  • Australia is amongst the top three investment markets for real estate in all five countries.
  • Japan is in the top three choices for investors in both Singapore and Hong Kong.
  • The US is among the top investment destinations for respondents outside of Asia.

“Real estate has traditionally been the favoured investment choice among Singaporeans making them well-versed with spotting trends and opportunities in the sector. The rising value of the Singaporean currency, which has strengthened against the Australian Dollar, British Pound and the Japanese Yen over the past 12 months, has opened up new opportunities for Singaporean investors in these countries,” said Alex Bellingham, Director of IP Global.

“Property prices in these countries have also been rising, making them an attractive destination for investors looking at medium to long-term capital gains,” he adds.

The Singaporean dollar has strengthened almost 30 percent against the Australian Dollar and more than 14% against the Japanese Yen since the start of 2013. It has also started rising steadily against the British Pound, gaining 8% in just the past five months. The strength of the Singaporean Dollar, which makes overseas investment more affordable, has been a key factor behind investors looking at overseas assets.

In Australia, Melbourne and Canberra record highest annual house price growth since 2009, in the last quarter of 2015. In the UK, the average house price rose 7.7 percent over the year to November 2015, with prices in London up by 9.8 percent, according to the Office of National Statistics.

In Japan, prices of condominiums have risen by more 20 percent since 2013, according to data published by Japan Macro Advisors. Political stability, strong rule of law and ease of access are among the other key factors that have made these countries a preferred destination for Singaporean investors.

“All of the top three destinations have a developed real estate market and well-defined rules and regulations governing the sector. This adds to their attractiveness for Singaporean investors who are wary of investing in countries where they lack understanding of local regulations in the sector,” he adds.

This was backed by the finding of the survey, with 54 percent of respondents stating that a lack of understanding of the laws in the country where the property is located would put them off investing in it.

 

*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 6,160 adults, of whom 1,041 were in Singapore. Fieldwork was undertaken between 12th and 20th January 2016. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults (aged 18+) in each country.

MIPIM Asia announces top winners of 9th annual awards

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MIPIM Asia, the property leaders’ summit in Asia Pacific, recently announced the final ranking of the 36 finalists in the 9th edition of the annual MIPIM Asia Awards.

The winners of the MIPIM Asia Awards, which recognise excellence and innovation in real estate development in the Asia Pacific Region, were announced during a gala dinner on December 1 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hong Kong with Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government as the Guest of Honour. The final Gold, Silver and Bronze rankings were awarded to the 36 projects previously announced, which had been selected by an international jury of 16 industry experts.

JTC's Fusionopolis 2 won an award in the "Best Mixed-Use Development” category.

JTC’s Fusionopolis 2 won an award in the “Best Mixed-Use Development” category.

 

The jury can, in total independence, base its selection upon various and unlimited criteria such as infrastructure and transport access, integration into the environment, originality of the concept, technical and architectural quality, and services offered. Nicholas J. Loup, President of the Jury said, “It was a very competitive process this year with a number of high-quality and interesting projects among the finalists. I am delighted to announce the final rankings of the 9th edition of the MIPIM Asia Awards and we are excited to see how several of these projects are changing the urban landscape in Asia Pacific.”

The winners spanned across 12 distinct categories such as Best Mixed Use Development, Best Innovative Green Building, Best Refurbished Building and more and a complete list of the 2015 winners can be found at www.mipim-asia.com/en/the-programme/awards/

ULI, PwC survey ranks Singapore as fair for investment, development prospects

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Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2016, a real estate forecast is jointly published by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC.

Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2016, a real estate forecast is jointly published by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC.

Real estate activity in Asia next year will reflect a continuation of trends seen in 2015 – an abundance of capital flowing to core space, as well as a flight to safe havens in the region’s most developed and liquid markets, according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2016, a real estate forecast jointly published by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC. Japan and Australia remain the favorite countries for investment and development, with Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne and Osaka taking four of the top five spots for promising markets in the Asia Pacific region. Ho Chi Minh City, rated fifth, rounds out the list of most favored markets.

“Asia’s real estate markets are the product of almost eight years of easy money from the world’s central banks. Although easing in the U.S. may be ending, both Japan and the European Union continue to provide liquidity, while interest rates in many Asian countries are lower than one year ago,” said ULI North Asia Chairman Raymond Chow, Executive Director, Hongkong Land Limited in Hong Kong. “

Emerging Trends, released during ULI Singapore’s 2015 Annual Meeting, provides an outlook on Asia Pacific real estate investment and development trends, real estate finance and capital markets, and trends by property sector and metropolitan area. It is based on the opinions of 343 internationally renowned real estate professionals, including investors, developers, property company representatives, lenders, brokers and consultants.

Survey respondents ranked Singapore eleventh for investment prospects and ninth for development, placing the city in the middle of the list of the 22 markets covered by the report. It attributes Singapore’s rating to the market’s loss of traction in 2015 following a surge in commercial rents in 2014. The report notes that businesses in the city are having problems expanding due to a tight labour market and ongoing restrictions on hiring foreign staff.

In addition, it points to a slow residential market, mainly due to government actions in 2013 to stem soaring home prices. Still, despite the tepid enthusiasm, “Singapore is always a market where institutions are looking to buy,” says Emerging Trends, adding that a number of major property purchases are expected to be complete before the end of 2015.

Click HERE to read more about the top five markets for 2016 plus other findings.

AN Developments Brings Street Art to Jalan Bahasa

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theartling_logo

Singapore’s Newest Development Launches with Exclusive Art Exhibition “The Language of the Street: A Street Art Exhibition on Jalan Bahasa”

Innovative Singapore-based property development company AN Developments has partnered with art consultant The Artling to introduce an aspirational collection of private homes to the Singapore market through the medium of art. AN Development’s latest project will be the location for an exclusive art exhibition, bringing one of the seven architecturally designed homes to life.

Located in one of Singapore’s most tranquil and discreetly exclusive neighbourhoods, between the Botanic Gardens and Macritchie Reservoir, AN Developments latest project is located on Jalan Bahasa. Encompassing seven houses, AN Developments has worked with some of Singapore’s leading and visionary architecture firms – K2LD Architects and Aamer Architects and boutique architecture firm Ta Ke – each designing a number of the properties to ensure an extraordinary range of individuality.

On 1st April 2015 one of the stunning new houses will be opened to guests for the first time, for an exclusive viewing of privately owned contemporary, graffiti and street art. The Language of the Street, named to reflect the literal translation of the development’s location, will showcase probably one of Asia’s most significant collections of street art by a roster of artists whose work is intricately linked to the urban environment.

The Language of the Street is curated by Tolla Sloane and will feature world-renowned artists including Banksy, Blek Le Rat, Faile and Jose Parla as well as Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Takashi Murakami.

AN Developments have chosen to use art to introduce this new development to the scene in a move to step beyond the normal boundaries of property marketing. With an innate understanding of creating impact through design, the unusual collection of street art is the perfect partner for AN Developments. The striking space at Jalan Bahasa will showcase International Urban Art rarely seen before in Singapore, on loan from a Singapore based private collection managed by The Artling.

CIT to acquire 160A Gul Circle for S$16.2 million

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Cambridge Industrial Trust Management Limited (“CITM”), the Manager of Cambridge Industrial Trust (“CIT” or “the Trust”), announced today that the proposed acquisition of 160A Gul Circle (the “Property”) in Singapore for a
purchase consideration of S$16.2 million. The acquisition will be funded by existing debt facilities and cash  is expected to be completed by 2Q2015.

Mr. Philip Levinson, CEO of CITM, said, “We are pleased to have acquired 160A Gul Circle. This is a strong-yielding and quality asset that will provide a steady income stream and enhance our overall portfolio. The acquisition is in line with CIT’s strategy to acquire yield-accretive assets that support オンライン スロット our objective of creating sustainable growth and value.”

About the Property

The Property comprises an existing single-storey factory and a newly completed four-storey factory with a gross floor area (“GFA”) of approximately 86,075 square feet.

Situated within the mature and established Jurong Industrial Estate, the Property has remaining land tenure of approximately 26 years. Upon completion of the acquisition, the Property will be leased to Unicable Pte Ltd (the Vendor) for five years, ensuring stability of income.

The Property is accessible via the Pan Island Expressway, Ayer Rajah Expressway, Joo Koon MRT station, and the upcoming Tuas West Extension MRT line which is scheduled to complete in 2016.

The total GFA – Approximately 86,075 sq ft

Purchase price – S$16.2 million

Remaining Land Tenure – Approximately 26 years

Tenant – Unicable Pte Ltd

Lease Tenure – Five years.