CapitaLand’s wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has opened its eighth property in Bangkok, Thailand. The 262-unit Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor is the largest serviced residence in Bangkok’s prime Soi Thonglor district which is well-known amongst expatriates and travellers for the convenience and vibrant international lifestyle it offers.

Mr Alfred Ong, Managing Director for Southeast Asia and Australia, said: “Ascott has built a strong presence in Thailand over the last decade with our three distinct brands – Ascott, Somerset and Citadines – which cater to travellers’ different lifestyles.

Our properties in Thailand have been performing well with an average occupancy of above 80%. Ascott’s latest serviced residence, Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor, will offer travellers another international-class accommodation which they can call home. It also reinforces Ascott’s position as the market leader in Thailand with over 1,700 apartments in nine properties.” Continue Reading »

Even though prices at the end of 2009 will increase by 2 percent than that of the start of the year, the price will decrease by 3 percent in 2010.

In spite of the fact that the house prices will decrease on 2010, the price of farm lands will continue to increase.

The price of farm land have doubled in the last four years.

According to real estate forecast, By 2015 real estate prices will be expected to double again.

Moving out and moving in is not a simple process. It takes a lot of time and can be expensive as well if you don’t have a budget to follow. Here are the things that you need to include in your budgeting:

1. Removal Packing and Storage Fees
You need to know how many boxes you will need. You’ll also need bubble wrap for your fragile stuff. You’ll be needing packaging tape as well.

2. Cleaning cost
You might need to buy some stuff to be able to clean the house you’re moving out and the one you’re moving in to. But if you will hire someone, you should also include that in your budget.

3. Redecorating cost
Identify the rough estimate you need in redecorating your new home.

4. Professional Moving Service
If you cannot do the moving alone, you could hire a professional moving service. Get a quotation and include it in your budget.

Are you selling your home? If yes, read this article to help you.

1. First impression lasts
First impression would usually take within 30 seconds. Before selling your home, it is best to invest on trimming bushes and weeds, repainting the front door, your gate and the wall near the gates, and replacing worn out house numbers as well.

2. Spick and Span
Make sure your house is really clean before inviting a prospect buyer to look at it.

3. Fix what needs to be fixed
Be it a fixture or worn-out wallpapers or cracked tiles, be sure to have them fixed.

4. De-clutter
As much as possible, remove clutter from the house.

5. Usage of neutral colors
As much as possible, make sure that you use neutral colors. If you have a home that has rooms that are too bright, have it repainted.

6. Remove posters and other iconic stuff
You have to de-personalize your home prior to selling it.

7. Confine your pets to one area
You must have your pets occupy one area. Try to remove their lingering odors inside if there are.

8. Define what the room is for
With this in mind, you are also actually selling the lifestyle that the future-homeowner will experience.

9. Lighting
Check that all bulbs work. Make sure to use mood lighting only when needed.

10. Accessorize
Use the right accessories that will enhance your rooms.

Lend America, an FHA lender, just launched the FHA concentrated correspondent residential mortgage lending platform. The said platform will purchase closed loans from selected FHA direct endorsed lenders. The purchasing of closed loans will be done by Lend America Mini Ginnie Correspondent.

The two loan acquisition strategies that will be used are: Flow and a unique Bulk Acquisition Program that is complete with an online bulk pricing simulator. This will give correspondent lending partners the needed new quality outlet.

It has been estimated that the first batch of loans will be acquired by the 15th of October.

Take note that Lend America Mini Ginnie Correspondent is not related to GNMA.

The Environmental Impact Authority (EIA) in Thailand granted permission of 37 new Phuket property developments. Amongst the 37 properties include: Kata Rocks, in Kata and The Lofts at Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas, Bangtao.

These 37 projects include hotels and apartments that are distributed across Phuket island. Majority of these developments are in Phuket City and areas surrounding Patong.

Secretary Donovan, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, awarded a $14,540,363 grant to 11 grantees in Georgia. Muscogee County and Columbus received $740,907. The money will be used to re-house families who fall into homelessness and to prevent them from becoming homeless.

This program is intended to help those families that need finacnial assistance on a short term basis. For those families who have encountered problems that have caused them to live in the streets or that have caused them to live in a shelter, they may now receive rental assistance for up to 18 months.

Vice President Noli de Castro, also the Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Home Development Mutual Fund, announced additional relief assistance for Pag-IBIG members with housing loans and whose houses have been damaged by typhoon Ondoy.

The said moratorium and the home rehabilitation program will apply to affected Pag-IBIG members from Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B and V as well as the National Capital and the Cordillera Autonomous Regions.

This moratorium has already started last September 26, 2009 and will expire on December 31, 2009.

Due to the recent typhoons, “Ondoy” and “Pepeng”, this loan program from Pag-will be able to provide assistance to those members who are victims of these natural calamities.

If you would like to avail the calamity loan program, make sure you have completed the following requirements:

- made at least 24 monthly contributions
- actively paying contributions at the time of the loan application
- resident of the area which is declared as calamity-stricken

The member is entitled to borrow up to 80% of the Total Accumulated Value (TAV) of his savings. If ever the member has an existing MPL, the outstanding loan balance shall be deducted from the proceeds of the calamity loan.

The interest rate is at 0.75% per annum and shall be amortized over a period of 24 months with a grace period of 5 months. The calamity loan may only be availed within 90 days from the occurrence of the calamity.

A Collective Syndicated Ownership Symposium will be held on October 29 at the Nicosia Hilton hotel. The said symposium is expected to be able to help in reviving the real estate market in Cyprus.

Collective Syndicated Ownership, also known as Fractional Ownership, has proven the alternatives they have offered to vacation home buyers by combining the collective power of a several investors to buy, own and use a luxury property as a second home through syndication.

A lot of major organizations worldwide have used Collective Syndicated Ownership successfully.