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The Leading Professional and Representative Body for the Real Estate Industry

DAILY NEWS

 

Daily News 18 February 2025 (Tue)

Singapore Real Estate

 

Strong start to 2025 new private home sales as new launches hit market

New home sales, excluding executive condominiums (ECs), jumped more than fivefold to 1,083 units from just 203 units in December 2024, according to data released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority on Feb 17.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/strong-start-to-2025-new-private-home-sales-as-new-launches-hit-market

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/new-home-sales-surge-256-year-january-buoyed-new-project-launches

 

Is S$2.5 million an affordable price tag for a new leasehold 3-bedroom condo?

Judging by the frenzied buying at recent major new condo launches here, buyers are undeterred by stiff prices. Possibly, many people fear missing out as they believe that prices will rise further.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/s2-5-million-affordable-price-tag-new-leasehold-3-bedroom-condo

 

Kallang/Whampoa, Queenstown BTO projects most popular in Feb launch, but overall demand muted

Four-room flats in city-fringe estates Kallang/Whampoa and Queenstown were the most popular among first-timer families in the latest Build-To-Order (BTO) sales exercise.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/kallangwhampoa-queenstown-bto-projects-most-popular-feb-launch-overall-demand-muted

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/kallangwhampoa-queenstown-bto-projects-most-popular-in-feb-launch-but-overall-demand-muted

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/hdb-february-2025-bto-sales-exercise-tanjong-rhu-queenstown-4943201

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20250217-5890796

 

 

Singapore News

 

Budget 2025: Get live updates on PM Lawrence Wong’s speech on Feb 18

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also Finance Minister, will deliver Singapore’s Budget 2025 statement at 3.30pm on Feb 18 in Parliament. Titled Onward Together For A Better Tomorrow, this year’s Budget will be one that involves all Singaporeans, said PM Wong in a Facebook post on Feb 17.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2025-get-live-updates-on-pm-lawrence-wongs-speech-on-feb-18

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20250217-5889442

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3299006/singapore-budget-be-defining-test-lawrence-wongs-leadership-analysts

 

Singapore’s 2035 climate targets feasible, but govt support and geopolitical stability key: Experts

Energy experts and companies said Singapore’s 2035 climate targets are feasible to achieve, but substantially slashing planet-warming emissions will not be easy given the geopolitical uncertainties.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapores-2035-climate-targets-feasible-but-govt-support-and-geopolitical-stability-key-experts

 

 

Business News

 

Books Kinokuniya flagship store in Takashimaya to downsize, space to be partly taken over by new cafe

Books Kinokuniya’s flagship store in Takashimaya Shopping Centre in Orchard Road will have its size reduced, with the vacated space taken over by, among others, a new cafe. The downsizing comes after rental negotiations with Ngee Ann City owner Toshin Development.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/books-kinokuniya-flagship-store-takashimaya-downsize-space-be-partly-taken-over-new-cafe

 

MBS gets record S$12 billion loan; DBS, OCBC, UOB, Maybank coordinating facility

Marina Bay Sands has obtained a S$12 billion multi-tranche loan to fund a planned expansion of its casino resort in Singapore, according to a source familiar with the matter, marking the largest such financing in the city state ever.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/mbs-gets-record-s12-billion-loan-dbs-ocbc-uob-maybank-coordinating-facility

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/marina-bay-sands-gets-record-12-billion-loan-amid-tourism-boom-source

 

PropertyGuru lays off 174 employees, closes 3 units

Property technology firm PropertyGuru on Feb 13 cut 174 jobs and shut three business units as it trims operations to focus on its online marketplace business. The three units are Sendhelper, data and software solutions and PropertyGuru Finance.

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/propertyguru-lays-off-12-of-staff-closes-3-units

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/propertyguru-layoffs-174-workforce-close-3-business-units-4942666

 

 

Views, Reviews, Forum and Others

 

Singaporean’s home address illegally changed by scammers via ICA service, triggering banking nightmare

A rude shock followed by worries and frustration – 2025 has so far been an emotional rollercoaster for Mr Raymond Tan after he discovered that his home address registered with the authorities was changed without his knowledge.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ica-home-address-changed-singpass-scammers-4938131

 

More than $230,000 lost to PDPC officer impersonation scam; at least 4 cases reported

At least $231,000 has been lost to fraudsters impersonating officers from the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) since January, with at least four cases reported.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-than-230000-lost-to-pdpc-officer-impersonation-scam-at-least-4-cases-reported

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/scam-calls-pdpc-officers-victims-transfer-money-malaysia-4943196

 

 

Global Economy & Real Estate

 

Beijing steps up financial ‘master plan’ with major asset reshuffle

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3298952/beijing-steps-financial-master-plan-major-asset-reshuffle

 

China’s middle class feels the squeeze as property slump hits pocketbooks

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3298995/chinas-middle-class-feels-squeeze-property-slump-hits-pocketbooks

 

Dubai developers score red-hot profits from global homebuyers

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/dubai-developers-score-red-hot-profits-global-homebuyers

 

ECB watchers are now forecasting even lower rates for 2026

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/ecb-watchers-are-now-forecasting-even-lower-rates-2026

 

Hong Kong to become Muslim-friendly city for Asean businesses, tourists: John Lee

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3299020/hong-kong-become-muslim-friendly-city-asean-businesses-tourists-john-lee

 

Task force to look into cutting construction costs for Hong Kong public flats

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3299052/task-force-look-cutting-construction-costs-hong-kong-public-flats

 

Hong Kong to open applications for 5,060 temporary public flats next week

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3299030/hong-kong-open-applications-5060-light-public-flats-next-week

 

Hong Kong developer NWD to launch second State Pavilia offering after weekend sell-out

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3299023/hong-kong-developer-nwd-launch-second-state-pavilia-offering-after-weekend-sell-out

 

Indonesia’s trade surplus hits US$3.5 billion in January, but trade tensions threaten outlook

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/indonesias-trade-surplus-hits-us3-5-billion-january-trade-tensions-threaten-outlook

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/indonesia-books-345-billion-trade-surplus-january-after-weak-imports-4942511

 

Japan braces for BOJ to lift rates sooner and higher

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/japan-braces-boj-lift-rates-sooner-and-higher-4942676

 

RBNZ set to deliver third half-point rate cut to revive economy

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/banking-finance/rbnz-set-deliver-third-half-point-rate-cut-revive-economy

 

New Zealand sees record number of departures amid weak economy

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/new-zealand-sees-record-number-departures-amid-weak-economy

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/new-zealand-sees-record-number-of-departures-amid-weak-economy

 

Thai economic growth in 2024 disappoints as trade risks loom

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/thai-economic-growth-2024-disappoints-trade-risks-loom

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/thai-economic-growth-in-2024-disappoints-as-trade-risks-loom

 

 

 

Disclaimer & Note:

Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the information and expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions therein. The content, accuracy, and opinions expressed are not investigated, verified, monitored, nor endorsed by REDAS. Every effort is taken to ensure that all information extracted is correct at the time of dissemination.

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