Number of Japanese living in condos increase

February 04, 2010 - Japan

Families and single occupants living in condos accounted for 11.42 per cent of all households in Japan at the end of 2009, up 0.27 percentage point from a year earlier, data from Tokyo Kantei Co. shows.

But given declines in condo offerings, the percentage may start falling, going forward, the company predicts.

Condo rental rates in Bangkok expected to face continued pressure.

January 18, 2010 - Bangkok

Rental rates in Bangkok´s condominium market are expected to face continued pressure during 2010 as more new units come onto the market.

Research from DTZ showed that during the final quarter of 2009, six projects with 1,408 units were launched within the Central Business District of the Thai capital.

The total number of launches in 2009 stood at 5,726 – a 196 per cent increase on the 1,938 units the debuted during 2008. Most new launches during the quarter were in the mid-tier range.

AIG Office to Be Converted to Luxury Condos

October 13, 2009 - United States

The New York headquarters of insurer American International Group (AIG) is being converted into luxury condominiums.

In a research note released Thursday, Fox-Pitt Kelton real estate analyst Robert Stevenson calculates the profitability of the transaction for the real-estate developer who bought AIG’s headquarters.

The developer, Young Woo, is planning to turn the top 40 floors of AIG’s 66-story headquarters near Wall Street into pricey condominiums.

Imperial Axis, the Ultimate Residence for High-end Buyers in the Heart of Beijing

September 30, 2009 - Beijing

As China booms, Beijing's real estate market has followed and high-end real estate development projects are emerging.

Imperial Axis is a luxury project planned for the downtown area.

Quietly located by the moat on North Second Ring Road, this mysterious project is a brand new benchmark for top-class housing inBeijing, overlooking Jing Mountain.

Free Audi A4 with a $2 million condo

September 15, 2009 - New York

Worried that prospective buyers might overlook the free parking spaces being offered at their luxury condo building, one Brooklyn developer is drawing attention to the space by putting a shiny new car in it.

At One Brooklyn Bridge Park, the 14-story complex in Brooklyn Heights, developers are trying to lure buyers by throwing in a free car with an apartment purchase.

The first 10 people to drop $2 million or more on a condo in the $550 million waterfront project before Sept. 30 will get a free 2010 Audi A4 - with parking

Royal Phuket Marina's Unique Aquaminium Penthouses

August 11, 2009 - Phuket

Thailand’s first world-class luxury marina community Royal Phuket Marina has completed its latest development phase, bucking the property trend with 12 of the 15 luxury properties already sold.

Residents are moving into the first-of-a-kind triplex ‘Aquaminium’ condominiums, distinguished by their private drive-in boat berths.

Introducing a new concept in marina living, the Aquaminiums have been snapped up by investors since being launched in 2007, setting a record price for condominium sales in Phuket.

Penthouse in Manhattan's Time Warner Center sells for $37.5M

July 17, 2009 - New York

According to the New York Observer, a five-bedroom, 8,300-square-foot penthouse at the Time Warner Center, which was the single most expensive apartment on the market in New York City when it came on in 2008 for $65 million, has sold for just over half that asking price.

Austrian-born, Princeton-educated investor Gerhard Andlinger got $37.5 million for his apartment, the biggest New York City residential deal in nearly one year.