SINGAPORE: The city state’s private home sales slowed for a third straight month after a rebound in property prices and the introduction of government measures to prevent excessive price swings.

LONDON: Savills Research says prices in the UK residential market will see an extended W-shaped recovery following a fall of -6.6% in mainstream markets in 2010 given soft prices, followed by “a slow 2011” where interest rates are expected to remain at low levels.

MEXICO CITY: Spanish hotelier Sol Melia SA will benefit over US rivals like Marriott International Inc if a bill before US lawmakers this week to end a 46-year travel ban to Cuba is enacted while a broader embargo is kept in place.

LONDON: A falling development pipeline and resurgence of occupier interest is driving a fast-changing market sentiment, reported Drivers Jonas’ 3Q2009 Central London Crane Survey.

The survey noted cautious optimism, as business confidence improves amid a stabilising economy, resulting in increased occupier demand.

WELLINGTON: Confidence in New Zealand's housing market eased in the three months to October, but prices and interest rates are expected to rise as the economy shows cautious signs of emerging from recession, an ASB Bank survey showed on Nov 16.

PETALING JAYA: The site of the former headquarters of Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd in Section 13, where Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) Petaling Jaya campus is located, may soon be redeveloped from industrial to commercial usage.

Every great journey starts with one small step — this aptly describes the journey undertaken by developer Hua Yang Bhd.

The word spa immediately conjures up visions of luxury and relaxation, and one may have noticed some recent developments incorporating some spa elements in homes.Jumping on the bandwagon is Country Heights Holdings Bhd (CHHB), which has set aside 80 bungalow lots for its Lotus Spa Villas.

As expected, there was no lack of interest in the five commercial buildings put up for sale by tender by real estate investment trust (REIT) Amanah Harta Tanah PNB2 (AHP2), which is managed by Pelaburan Hartanah Nasional Bhd.The tender submission closed on Nov 5 for the sole property  located in Penang and on Nov 6 for the other four properties — three in Kuala Lumpur and one in Ipoh.

Third-quarter Manhattan market reports recently released by the city’s top brokerage firms showed a slowing rate of price decline while the transaction volume increased. The question everyone is asking is when Manhattan would hit bottom. Nobody knows because when we find out about it, the bottom would be over.