Tag Archives: Singapore

Govt may be taking steps to calm down the property market, say analysts

The government could re-introduce land sales through the confirmed list and analysts said this could mean the government is taking steps to cool down the property market.

Last October, recession woes saw the government suspending land sales through the confirmed list.

But now the government said it will consider re-introducing it for the first half of next year.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, said: “Now that the market is coming back, demand is coming back and the take-up is strong. There is every likelihood that we will resume the confirmed list.”

This means land parcels will be tendered according to scheduled dates and this will translate to more residential property launches.

But one analyst said while these changes will ease the market, they will take time to make any impact.

Nicholas Mak, property consultant, said: “This may be the first of actions by the government if they see that the property market shows signs of overheating especially if there is a lot of speculative buying. I think that could prompt the government to take further action.”

Public housing prices have gone up by almost 35 per cent over the last two years and the government said they’re expecting it to increase even further. Continue reading

Start-ups feel at home in Stamford House

STAMFORD House might as well bill itself as The Entrepreneur Mall now.

About half of the 51 units in the historic three-storey building are rented to first-time business owners, drawn there by the low rents and short-term leases.

Last month, a company importing organic cosmetics set up its first retail store in the block; this weekend, a 20-year-old entrepreneur will debut her concept store, where members have the right to pick from a range of free product samples.

The block made its name as a ‘go to’ place for furniture in the late 1990s, with big tenants like Picket & Rail and Pennsylvania House. Continue reading