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Some firms may expand as rents fall and the economy stabilises

Posted on 4 Aug 2009 | Comments Off

A plunge in Grade A office rents has raised Singapore’s competitive edge somewhat. According to Colliers International, office occupancy costs here were the fourth-highest among 26 Asia-Pacific cities in Q2 this year – down a notch from a quarter ago.

As rents stay weak while the economy stabilises, property consultants also expect some companies to take advantage of the situation to expand.

Colliers noted that monthly gross rents for Grade A offices in Singapore’s central business district (CBD) posted the sharpest fall in Q2, compared with other major cities in the region. Rents slid 26.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter, averaging at $6.73 psf per month in Q2.

As a result, Singapore fell from third to fourth place in a ranking of office occupancy costs. Tokyo remained the most expensive place in the Asia-Pacific to rent an office – average Grade A CBD office rents there were 2.2 times that of Singapore’s, up from 1.6 times in Q1. Continue reading →

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Posted in Office / Retail / Industrial

Tagged Market Report, Singapore Office / Retail, Singapore Property Market

Property fund snaps up 21 condo units for $65m

Posted on 4 Aug 2009 | Comments Off

Other big-ticket transactions could rev up investment sales in second half

IN one of the first bulk sales of apartments since the economic crisis unfolded last year, a property fund is understood to have purchased the remaining 21 units at Sui Generis condo at Balmoral Crescent for $65 million.

The price works out to about $1,260 per square foot on average. The units are said to be located throughout the freehold project, which is slated for completion around the second quarter of next year. The condo comprises three blocks – seven, nine and 12 storeys high. It is being developed by a joint venture involving United Engineers and Kajima.

CB Richard Ellis is understood to have brokered the latest sale, but it declined to comment on the transaction.

Market watchers commented, however, that $1,260 psf average price for the latest deal is about half the average price of about $2,460 psf achieved for the earlier 19 units in the 40-unit development that were sold in 2007 and 2008 at prices ranging from $1,991 psf to $2,717 psf. Continue reading →