LONDON: UK mortgage approvals climbed to their highest level for 18 months in September, adding to signs the housing market is recovering from a rout.

HONG KONG: Real estate developer Henderson Land said on Oct 29 it plans to pay a HK$9.6 billion (RM4.25 billion) land premium, in a bid to increase its residential land reserve through a change of the land usage, according to Reuters.

PETALING JAYA: Just days after the announcement of the imposition of the 5% real property gains tax (RPGT) from January 2010, the phones of real estate agents have been ringing non-stop with calls from homeowners who want to put up their properties for sale. 

KUALA LUMPUR: Sunrise Bhd will be launching at least two projects in the Klang Valley in its financial year ending June 30, 2010 (FY2010) after a quiet FY2009.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s central bank said it will wait until the second half of next year before raising interest rates because the economy needs further stimulus as it recovers from a recession.

KUALA LUMPUR: SunwayMas, the property arm of Sunway Holdings Bhd, is due to unveil its latest development, Sunway Rydgeway in Melawati Heights on Oct 31.

The development will span 13.8 acres and comprise 40 zero lot bungalows and 30 semi-detached homes. The gross development value (GDV) of the project will be RM160 million and is due to be completed in 2011.

OSLO: Norges Bank raised its key interest rate a quarter point from a record low and signalled steeper increases than it previously forecast over the next three years as inflation accelerates and unemployment remains low.

KUALA LUMPUR: WCT Bhd and Iskandar Investment Bhd will jointly develop and co-own 1Medini, the first residential development in Medini which has a gross development value of RM600 million.The companies said on Wednesday, Oct 28 1Medini, when completed by 2015, would comprise of 1,332 units of condominium, a 68,800 sq ft commercial area for local retail businesses.

KUALA LUMPUR: Wholly owned subsidiary of Iskandar Investment Bhd, Medini Land Sdn Bhd and WCT Bhd have signed a partnership to jointly develop and co-own 1Medini, the first residential development in Medini, which is in the Iskandar’s Islamic finance hub in Johor.

KUALA LUMPUR: Mah Sing Group Bhd announced the acquisition, via its wholly owned subsidiary Sierra Peninsular Development Sdn Bhd, of a plot of prime land in Petaling Jaya measuring 19.6 acres. The land was acquired from Panasonic HA Air-Conditioning (M) Sdn Bhd for RM89 million.