Singapore Economy Economists again cut forecast for Singapore's 2016 GDP growth Pencilling in a deeper-than-thought manufacturing contraction and a slowdown in finance and insurance, Singapore's private-sector economists have again pared their growth expectations for 2016. They now expect the economy to expand 1.9 per cent this year - down from their projection of 2.2 per cent a quarter ago, a quarterly poll of professional forecasters by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has found. Singapore Real Estate Economy hotels likely to be worst hit in 2016: HVS poll A projected decline in Singapore hotel market performance this year is expected to be most pronounced for hotels in the economy segment, due to the significant increase in supply and intensifying competition - shows a survey of Singapore hotel industry professionals conducted by hotel advisory group HVS. http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/economy-hotels-likely-to-be-worst-hit-in-2016-hvs-poll Some privatised ECs in high demand Some privatised executive condominiums (ECs) are still in high demand and notching up huge gains despite the cool property market. Just ask OrangeTee associate director Alan Yap, who gets calls every week for units he is marketing at Bishan Loft. "Newer and pricey condos in the area - Sky Vue and Sky Habitat - have helped Bishan Loft prices appreciate," said Mr Yap. http://www.straitstimes.com/business/property/some-privatised-ecs-in-high-demand Property firms tapping bond market to raise funds at attractive rates More property companies are leveraging the bond market to raise funds, with Ascott Reit and City Developments (CDL) both issuing bonds on Wednesday. Ascott Reit issued S$120 million in eight-year bonds with a 4 per cent coupon rate, while CDL raised some S$115 million - upsized from S$80 million - in five-year bonds at a coupon rate of 2.93 per cent. Companies' Brief Singapore property sector February remained another quiet month with a 23 per cent year-on-year drop in new private residential units sold to 301 transactions. Given the lack of new property launches, developers focused on marketing unsold stock. Sales volume in OCR (Outside Central Region) grew 5% y-o-y while central region fell 41% y-o-y largely due to RCR (Rest of Central Region). However, month-on-month, sales volume in OCR fell 13% (or 49 units) while volumes in the CCR (Core Central Region) and RCR regions remained relatively stable. http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/brokers-take-243 Hiap Hoe unit to sell second Melbourne property Local developer Hiap Hoe, through its subsidiary Meteorite Property, has entered into an agreement to sell a second property in Melbourne to an Australian developer. It will go for A$60 million (S$61.7 million) before taxes. The two parties also announced that plans for a joint venture that was to manage the development of the said property will be annulled. http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/hiap-hoe-unit-to-sell-second-melbourne-property Global Economy & Global Real Estate New York's high-end residential market slows down http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/new-yorks-high-end-residential-market-slows-down HK luxury land plot prices below expectations http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/hk-luxury-land-plot-prices-below-expectations Vancouver property price hike pushes up country average http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/vancouver-property-price-hike-pushes-up-country-average Mah Sing says it's time to shop for more land http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/mah-sing-says-its-time-to-shop-for-more-land China clamps down on shadow banking for home downpayments Dublin rents rise above peaks hit a decade ago http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/dublin-rents-rise-above-peaks-hit-a-decade-ago 'Sleep box' developer eyes Suvarnabhumi as next target http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/sleep-box-developer-eyes-suvarnabhumi-as-next-target Loans get scarcer for US developers trying to finish jobs First-time US house hunters lose out in busy homebuying season Newhouse Family Said to Give $200 Million to Media Venture Group U.K. Apartment-Building Buyers to Pay Higher Stamp-Duty Tax This $200 Billion Manager Says He's Seeing Value in Bonds Again First-Time House Hunters Lose in Busy U.S. Homebuying Season China's P2P Property Lending Growth Six Times Faster Than Banks |