Mainland banks in Shanghai's red-hot housing market lent 99.58 billion yuan (RM48.67 billion) in new mortgages last year, up dramatically from 5.8 billion yuan in 2008, as home seekers rushed to buy and prices hit new highs.The banks lent 38.93 billion yuan to buyers of new residential properties and 60.65 billion yuan to buyers of second-hand homes, the Shanghai office of the People's Bank of

SEOUL: South Korea's capital Seoul appears vulnerable to possible earthquake threats as less than nine percent of the buildings in the city, are designed to be earthquake-resistant, the city government said Tuesday.

LONDON: Land Securities is banking on development to spearhead its 2010 expansion plans as the UK's elite property firms moot the most efficient ways to grow profits as the market romps towards another pricing bubble.

SYDNEY: Australia's unlisted property funds posted positive returns in the fourth quarter -- their first since August 2008 -- on fewer property valuation write-downs, property research firm IPD said on Jan 19.

PARIS: A French court on Jan 18 ordered a group of young squatters to quit a 17th century mansion they are occupying in one of Paris's most picturesque squares.

KUALA LUMPUR: An exclusive gated and guarded luxury project in Damansara Heights in Kuala Lumpur, Zephyr Point on Basong (pictured), will be completed and launched end April by Urban Hallmark Properties Sdn Bhd (UHP).

KUALA LUMPUR: Am ARA REIT Managers Sdn Bhd (Am ARA), the Manager of AmFIRST Real Estate Investment Trust, saw its gross revenue for the third quarter ended Dec 31, 2009 (3QFY2010) grow by 5% to RM24.69 million from RM23.51 million the previous year on improved performance. This was mainly attributable to income from new lettings and positive tenancy renewals.

KUALA LUMPUR: Triplc Bhd, a company under the local bourse property index, saw its net profit for the second quarter ended Nov 30, 2009 (2QFY2010) plunge 80.6% to RM250,000 from RM1.3 million a year earlier.

GEORGE TOWN: E & O Property Development Bhd's Quayside Seafront Resort Condominium (pictured) project is on course to be launched next month.