Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Rental Scam Targets Potential Tenants

Source : The Business Times, August 18, 2009

(WASHINGTON) Michelle Jonasson-Jones, a Silver Spring, Maryland-based property agent, cautions potential tenants about a rental scheme making the rounds online that has caught the attention of the FBI.

Ms Jonasson-Jones said that she has had her listings for rental properties 'stolen' and relisted under a different name and a lower price, usually on Craigslist. The impostors send prospective tenants an 'application' and ask for their personal and financial information.

They tell prospective renters that the owner is working overseas and is unavailable to show the house.

'It used to be they were scamming the owner; now they're scamming the tenants,' she said.

Wendy Dufford, an intelligence analyst for the FBI in Columbia, South Carolina, wrote an article for the bureau's website after the South Carolina Association of Realtors called to report such a scam.

Tenants who had been scammed were showing up at people's houses, she said, believing they had rented from a missionary overseas.

A formal investigation won't be launched until a minimum threshold of losses is reported online, Ms Dufford said, but so far the FBI has discerned that the scam originated in Nigeria and is affecting cities nationwide.

'They're choosing victims because of the economy,' Ms Dufford said.

Many of the scam victims have been forced to rent, because they've lost their homes and are searching on Craigslist, she said.

'They try to rent these homes, and then they get their money stolen.' - WP

Sharpest Fall In UK Home Prices In 8 Months

Source : The Business Times, August 18, 2009

Average cost falls 2.2% in Aug as banks ration mortgages on lack of funds

(LONDON) UK home sellers lowered asking prices in August by the most in eight months as banks kept up the squeeze on credit, Rightmove plc said.

The average cost of a home fell 2.2 per cent to £222,762 (S$532,225) after gaining 0.6 per cent in July, the owner of the UK's biggest residential property website said yesterday in a statement. Prices in London dropped 3.8 per cent.

'In spite of pent-up demand, the market and pricing is boxed in by restrictive lending criteria put in place to ration mortgages given the lack of funds available to lenders,' Miles Shipside, Rightmove's commercial director, said in the statement.

Bank of England governor Mervyn King said last Wednesday that the world remains in 'deep recession' and that banks may need to raise more capital to rebuild their balance sheets. Policy makers this month voted to add £50 billion of newly printed money to its bond-buying programme to cement Britain's recovery from the worst recession in a generation.

The pound fell against the US dollar by the most in a week after the report. The UK currency dropped 1.1 per cent to US$1.6347 as of 9.50am yesterday in London.

The number of new homes on the market was 48 per cent below the level preceding the financial crisis, Rightmove said. The price demanded by sellers fell the most in the East Midlands, where it dropped 9 per cent.

In London, values in Haringey declined the most, falling 7.6 per cent, followed by a 6.4 per cent drop in Merton. Prices in the fashionable district of Islington fell 6.1 per cent.

Buyers' optimism improved, with three-quarters of people moving home, saying that property prices won't fall in the next 12 months, Rightmove said.

Bank of England policy maker Andrew Sentance wrote in an article for the Sunday Times that 'the housing market appears to be turning'. He predicted that Britain's economy will return to growth in the second half of this year.

While data this month have added to evidence that Britain's economy is heading for recovery, rising joblessness may continue to damp people's ability to buy homes. Unemployment climbed to the highest level in 14 years in the second quarter, the Office for National Statistics said last Wednesday.

Consumers, with record debts of £1.5 trillion, are also struggling with existing mortgage payments. Bradford & Bingley plc, the biggest lender to UK landlords before it was taken over by the government, said last week that the proportion of mortgages in arrears more than doubled in the first half.

Most recent reports, including Rightmove's, have suggested stabilisation in house prices. - Bloomberg

New Home Loan Deal From HSBC At Sibor Plus 1%

Source : The Business Times, August 18, 2009

HSBC has offered a new home loan that pegs interest rate to the three-month Singapore Interbank Offered Rate (Sibor), plus a spread of one percentage point.

The rate will be applied throughout the loan tenor and is valid for both completed and uncompleted properties with a loan size of at least $300,000.

There is no lock-in period, which is how long you would otherwise be tied to the bank and which allows it to penalise you if you decide to redeem your loan early.

HSBC's new loan offering comes as interbank rates are expected to remain tepid in the short term, especially as a speedy economic recovery is not on the horizon.

In comparison with the bank's current Sibor- pegged 'loyalty' home loan package - which charges spreads of 1.3 points for the first year, 1.2 points for the second year and 1.1 points subsequently - this new home loan could save about 7 per cent in interest payments for a loan size of $600,000 over 20 years.

The calculation assumes Sibor to be at 0.686 per cent as at Aug 3.

The new home loan is available to all existing HSBC customers who have an account, credit card or investment with the bank, and is part of the bank's 'relationship-based home loan' programme.

No minimum balance requirement is required for the offer. Current HSBC home loan customers can also apply for the new home loan package if they wish to review their loan.

Customers who have no account with HSBC can apply for this new home loan after they deposit at least $50,000 in deposits, investments or insurance with the bank.

HSBC's new home loan offer is available until the end of next month.

UK Commercial Property Recovery A False Dawn

Source : The Business Times, August 18, 2009

(LONDON) Hold the celebrations and put the champagne away. A sustained recovery in the UK commercial property market is likely more distant than it might seem, as lingering economic hazards threaten a long-awaited rebound.

Shallow foundations? Some analysts fear a burst of unjustified optimism has replaced the blind panic which floored annual investment turnover by more than 50% to £22b (S$52.1b) in 2008

Figures recently from the world's largest property broker CB Richard Ellis showed UK values rising for the first time since peaking in June 2007.

Coupled with a 75 per cent surge in property stocks since March, the positive signals have fired hopes of an imminent end to two years of turmoil in the market, where prices have almost halved since a summer 2007 peak.

But some analysts fear a burst of unjustified optimism has replaced the blind panic which floored annual investment turnover by more than 50 per cent to £22 billion (S$52.1 billion) in 2008.

'We had sleepless nights (in March) because we did not understand so much bearishness, those nights are unfortunately back. This time it is the violent bull run that wakes us up too early,' JPMorgan property analyst Harm Meijer said.

The weakening economy, a continued scarcity of debt and an expected withdrawal of government-engineered drivers such as low base rates mean a long-lasting recovery, with rising values supported by improving rents, could still be years away.

The FTSE 350 Real Estate Index, led by blue chips Land Securities and British Land, has nearly doubled since hitting a lifetime low on March 10. But analysts such as Nomura's Mike Prew say that the rally is built on shallow foundations.

'We are mindful that after the 1990s crash, real estate prices suffered a relapse with . . . soggy pricing until rental growth was comprehensively restored some two years later,' Mr Prew said, explaining Nomura's contrarian downgrade of the sector from 'bullish' to 'neutral' recently.

'Our concern is that real estate prices will become distorted by artificially supported economic activity. (The UK Reit sector) . . . no longer appears inexpensive to us,' he said.

Data from brokerage Cushman & Wakefield shows prime property yields dropped by 24 basis points to 7.17 per cent in the second quarter, raising concerns landlords are no longer receiving an adequate risk premium versus the 3.8 per cent for 10-year gilts.

This investment risk centres on rental security, which has fallen sharply as the recession forces weak tenants out of business and stronger tenants to dump space, analysts said.

Cushman's quarterly figures to end-June show an acceleration in rental falls, while the take-up of UK office space has plunged by around 50 to 60 per cent in the year to June 30, pushing peak-to-trough forecasts for prime rents down by a fifth.

'It looks like a W-shaped (property) recovery could be on the cards, caused by short spikes in demand and a subsequent realisation that the economic fundamentals remain weak,' said Mike Riordan, head of investment at brokerage Gerald Eve.

Moreover, UK buyers are still struggling to secure debt from traditional lenders such as Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, who continue to battle their own funding problems and costly exposure to UK commercial mortgages.

Other economic commentators suggest the surprise £50 billion expansion of the UK's quantitative easing programme recently is evidence the central bank sees a double-dip recession as inevitable, compounding risks of an early return to property. - Reuters

Dubai Housing Slump Nears Bottom: Jones Lang LaSalle

Source : The Business Times, August 18, 2009

(DUBAI) A downturn in Dubai's residential properties market appeared to be nearing a bottom in the second quarter as the rate of price declines eased and transaction volumes stabilised, a Jones Lang LaSalle researcher said.

Dubai's once-booming property sector has been hit hard by the global financial crisis, but the pick-up in more mature markets such as the US and Britain, is starting to boost investor confidence.

'The stabilisation is showing that the market is reaching the bottom and sales activity is starting to come back in,' Craig Plumb, head of research at Jones Lang LaSalle Middle East and North America told Reuters on Sunday.

'Prices are reaching a level where people think they are willing to buy,' said Mr Plumb, adding that sales activity was expected to increase in the next six months. Average asking sale prices fell by about 24 per cent in the second quarter from the first quarter, but the rate of decline slowed, he said in a report published on Sunday. This signalled the gap between asking price and selling price was narrowing, he added.

The decline in average housing prices has slowed down to 6 per cent in the second quarter compared to the previous three months, according to the report. Transaction volumes declines by 13 per cent compared to the first quarter and 58 per cent from their level in the second quarter of 2008. The gap between achieved and asked prices narrowed to 7 per cent in the second quarter of 2009, after achieved prices were 20 per cent lower than asking prices since the second quarter of 2008, it said.

The decline rate in rental prices also slowed, Jones Lang LaSalle said.

The average rent for two bedroom apartments fell by 15 per cent in the second quarter, compared with a 22 per cent decline in the first quarter of this year.

Additionally, new residential supply will continue to enter the market as 22,400 units are expected to be handed over this year, despite the cancellation or delay of more than US$24 billion worth of housing projects, it said. -- Reuters

大众化私宅带动楼市大热

Source : 《联合早报》August 18, 2009

上个月的楼市暴热是由郊外的大众化私宅领域带动的。市建局的数据显示,发展商在今年7月卖出了2767个新私宅单位,其中半数以上来自中央区以外(OCR)。

换句话说,人们在今年7月买下1502个位于中央区以外的私宅单位,这比6月份的432个单位暴增了248%。

仲量联行研究部主管蔡炎亮博士说,这主要是因为多个郊外的重头项目,包括丰隆集团的The Gale、华业集团的翠丰苑(Meadows @ Peirce),都安排在上个月登场。这带动发展商在今年7月,推出1856个位于中央区以外新私宅单位,比6月份暴增300%。

高档领域却没有太大的变动,发展商在今年7月卖出514个位于核心中央区(CCR)的单位,跟6月份相差不大。

较引人瞩目的是位于百慕乐路(Balmoral Road)的Volari。经过11个月的干旱期,终于有发展商愿意试探市场——城市发展将这个拥有85个单位的豪华项目推出,结果火速卖出93%单位,中位成交价格在每平方英尺2000元以上。

其他豪宅项目交易活动也开始增加,今年6月只有一个那森居(Nassim Park Residences)单位成交,尺价3813元,但7月份却有四个那森居单位成交,中位尺价3273元。

至于Hamilton Scotts的成交量也由两个增加至10个,中位尺价则由2525元上升至2792元。The Orange Grove的成交量由一个增加至九个,中位尺价由2225元上升至2334元。

不过,代表中档领域的其他中央区(RCR),需求量由867个单位减少至751,这相信是因为推出的单位不增反减。今年7月只有539个RCR单位推出,比6月份的780个单位减少了31%。

应尽快恢复售地?

楼市记录一破再破,过去七个月来狂卖了上万个私宅单位,不过受访的房地产分析员却对政府是否应该尽快恢复售地,持有很大的意见分歧。

卓登国际研究部主管陈瑞谨认为政府应该尽早恢复售地:“还在等什么?难道这个数字还不够令人震惊吗?”

他说,楼市的热度已经持续了六个月,再加上刚刚出炉的7月数字简直热爆表,“市场的声音难道还不够清楚吗?如果政府认为楼市仍相当脆弱,难道不应该在泡沫恶化之前先刺破它?如果政府觉得现在的楼市需求是真实的,那么这么殷切的需求,难道不应该尽快恢复正选名单?”

资深房地产顾问麦俊荣认为没有必要马上恢复正选名单,因为这不会对冷却楼市有太大的作用。

“我想,政府也不想朝令夕改,现在匆忙恢复售地,几个月后楼市冷却了又再冻结售地。”

他认为,政府不妨等到今年12月,国家发展部进行列常的年底评估时,才恢复正选名单。

他指出,其实最近已经有好几个备售地段被“勾”了出来,例如一幅位于达哥打弯的一幅住宅地段,以及一幅位于武吉班让住宅地段,将在未来一两个月招标截止,为市场增添上千个共管公寓单位。

楼市沸腾! 上月售出新私宅 2767单位创新高

Source : 《联合早报》August 18, 2009
 
在股市热潮的煽动下,今年7月的楼市热度几乎升至沸点,买家一口气向发展商买下2767个新私宅单位。这不但再次刷新纪录,而且比6月份才刚改写的旧纪录多出52%!

市区重建局昨天出炉的数字显示,发展商今年7月推出了2878个新私宅单位,这也刷新了纪录,而且比今年6月推出的1637个单位暴增76%。

市建局2007年6月开始每个月公布未竣工私宅销售数据,所以昨天出炉的数字只知道是过去两年多来最高的。不过,一般相信,这两个数字之高,应该是前几个楼市巅峰期都难以匹敌的。

一名房地产研究员说:“哇,太夸张了!我们知道这个月的楼市会很红火,不但示范单位出现排队人龙,房屋经纪也开始到处收空白支票……不过,我们只是猜测2100、2200个单位而已,没想到发展商竟然卖出了2767个单位。”

上个月热卖的项目,包括丰隆集团的The Gale(294个单位)、华业集团的翠丰苑(Meadows @ Peirce,286个单位)、水滨丽苑(Waterfront Key,191个单位)等。

高力国际研究部主管郑惠匀认为,7月楼市发烧,主要是因为买家担心价格上涨,所以赶紧进场。再加上农历七月将至,银行也开始放松借贷条件,所以为楼市提供了强劲的支持力量。

世邦魏理仕执行董事李晓和则表示:“经济开始出现复苏迹象,所以买家纷纷进场。一些投资者也因为对结构性金融产品失去信心,而宁愿将钱投资在房地产上。”

首七个月卖出新私宅1万零141单位

本地楼市自今年2月开始升温,已连续第六个月卖出超过1000个新私宅单位。这股买气不但没有衰竭,还越烧越旺,带动楼市今年首七个月消化了1万零141个新私宅单位,远远超越2008年全年卖出的4264个单位。

连跑了六个月的楼市,是不是还有足够的马力继续往前冲?

由于农历七月将在这个星期四开始,李晓和指出,‘鬼节’期间推出的私宅单位一般会稍微减少,所以8月推出和售出单位应该不可能再创新高。

现在,几乎所有分析员也看好,发展商今年全年卖出的新私宅单位,将超越2007年的创下的1万4811个新单位的纪录。卓登国际(Chesterton)研究部主管陈瑞谨和资深房地产顾问麦俊荣都猜测,发展商可能在今年卖出大约1万6000个新私宅单位。博纳集团(PropNex)总裁伊斯迈更乐观,他看好今年人们会向发展商买下至少1万8000个新私宅单位。