Singapore Real Estate Sim Lian gunning for assets in Australia, London Sim Lian Group's diversification from building construction to property development some 16 years ago amid a global economic crisis has evidently paid off. It is now morphing into a more diversified company as it ploughs deeper into income-yielding property investments in overseas markets, in the face of a government-engineered slowdown in the Singapore property market. http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/sim-lian-gunning-for-assets-in-australia-london Sim Lian's Wandervale EC to be launched at S$750-770 psf on average Sim Lian Group's executive condominium (EC) project Wandervale in Choa Chu Kang is slated to be the first residential project to be launched this year, with sales booking starting in early March at an average pricing of S$750-770 per square foot (psf). Latest home rental upticks seen as blips Despite an uptick in rents for private non-landed homes and HDB flats in the last two months based on SRX Property flash estimates, some property consultants note that this does not necessarily signal a clean break from the downward trend in rents. Much of recent rental transactions have been driven by rental renewals rather than new demand, they argued. http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/latest-home-rental-upticks-seen-as-blips http://www.straitstimes.com/business/weak-rental-market-sees-hdb-flats-more-resilient?login=true Finding the right home loan http://www.todayonline.com/business/finding-right-home-loan?singlepage=true Furniture sector to build skills and prospects http://www.straitstimes.com/business/furniture-sector-to-build-skills-and-prospects Companies' Brief Pull together pieces from all over to build our Smart Nation Monday's report ("IT talent in short supply amid Smart Nation push") caught my attention. As a senior encouraging fellow seniors to embrace lifelong learning and acquire an active vocation in retirement, I thought there is a great opportunity for seniors to be deployed to help ease this labour crunch. Bukit Sembawang Estates Property developer Bukit Sembawang Estates posted a 24.9 per cent decline in its third-quarter net profit to $24.3 million, on lower revenue. The bottom line was also dragged down by the absence of a provision writeback for warranties during the quarter. http://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/company-briefs-bukit-sembawang-estates Global Economy & Global Real Estate London developers forced to cut prices to draw buyers http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/london-developers-forced-to-cut-prices-to-draw-buyers NY developer settles suit over accessibility of its homes Displaced by Manhattan blast, tenants reflect on landlord's arrest Turning public housing into a philanthropic cause http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/turning-public-housing-into-a-philanthropic-cause Swedish home prices up 14.5% in a year http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/swedish-home-prices-up-145-in-a-year Swedish bank seen to be retreating from mortgage market http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/swedish-bank-seen-to-be-retreating-from-mortgage-market Taiwan city inspects developer's buildings after collapse http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/taiwan-city-inspects-developers-buildings-after-collapse Tokyo Property Borrowers Play Negative Rates Game in Office Boon Hedge-Fund Losses Drive AIG to Commercial Mortgages, Bonds Central London Property Losing Haven Status as Bears Move In Amid Turmoil, Japan Housing Market May Get Boost From Lower Rate |