New Development: OSK goes high end in Damansara

Once upon a time, not too long ago, actually, the area in Selangor between the North Klang Valley Expressway's Sungai Buloh toll plaza and the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong intersection with the Middle Ring Road II was known as a place for mass affordable homes.Such was the stereotype because of townships such as Damansara Damai and Bandar Sri Damansara. How times have changed. With the arrival of the Sierramas and Valencia residential enclaves, the area has moved perceptibly upmarket and the latest project to reinforce this trend is Sutera Damansara. A joint venture between Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd and OSK Property Holdings Bhd, this guarded development with a landscaped recreational park and jogging trails will feature 431 units of double-storey terraces and three-storey corner lots in its first phase called Sutera Ria.Its standard unit with dimensions of 22ft by 75ft will have four-plus-one bedrooms and three baths in 2,305sq ft of space, while the three-storey version will have an extra bedroom and bath.Priced from RM433,350 to RM1,193,400 , the tropical-designed units will be specified with column-free porches to allow two cars to be parked side-by-side and high ceilings on the ground floor.The price range means the likely buyers will be those who can afford monthly repayments starting from RM2,300.The leasehold phase is slated for completion by January 2010 and is accessible from Jalan Sungai Buloh via Damansara Damai.

(New Straits Times 20-3-2008)

UM Land identifies three sites for projects

JOHOR BARU: United Malayan Land Bhd (UM Land) has identified three new locations in south Johor for future development projects. UM Land Johor region general manager Mohd Noor Abdul Salam said all three were within the Iskandar Development Region (IDR), including one in Nusajaya city. He declined to give details on the other two locations and how much the company would invest to acquire the land. “We can’t say much now but our headquarters in Kuala Lumpur will make the announcement soon,” he said. Noor said this on Sunday after Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Naim Nasir handed over house keys to buyers of the company’s Deanne Homes in Seri Austin. UM Land is currently undertaking two integrated township projects in Johor – Seri Alam in Masai and Seri Austin in Tebrau – both within the IDR that spans 2,216.3 sq km. Covering 1,497.33ha, Seri Alam was started in 1992 and is now 60% developed. Seri Austin was launched in 2005 and 20% of its 202.34ha has been developed. At the event, the company also launched 40 double-storey link houses – Arista II – with expected gross development value of RM35mil. Noor said the construction of new intersections, highways and road upgrading worth RM4.9bil for the IDR this year augured well for the property sector here. Read more

(The Star 18-3-2008)

MRCB Utama offers resort features in Laman Suria

MRCB Utama Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Malaysia Resources Corp Bhd, is trying to lure those working in the city of Kuala Lumpur to move to Kajang, Selangor, with its Balinese-themed Laman Suria apartments in Taman Kajang Utama.Describing them as “e-resort” apartments, MRCB Utama’s sales and marketing manager Chiang Hon Kit said the 4-acre freehold development has resort features with each unit equipped with an alarm system, an electric clothes dryer and entry via personal access cards.Comprising a total of 255 units, priced from RM88,000 to RM168,00, buyers have a choice of five designs with built-up sizes of 687 sq ft, 840 sq ft, 850 sq ft, 870 sq ft and 879 sq ft.Chiang told Property Plus that the response has been very encouraging. “We are banking on Laman Suria’s affordable pricing, easy accessibility and full-condo facilities to attract potential buyers,” he said.Block A of the 5-storey apartments were launched in the iddle of 2006, comprising 99 units that have been fully taken up, while 50% of Block B’s 87 units were sold within a couple of weeks, said Chiang. The units are currently under construction.“Block C, with 69 units, is scheduled for launch soon,” he added.

(The Sun 7-3-2008)

New Development : Bandar Kinrara

I&P’s other developments include Bandar Kinrara, Alam Damai in Cheras, Alam Impian in Shah Alam, and Kota Bayuemas in Klang. In early January, the developer launched Phase 4D5 of shop offices at the RM3.9 billion freehold township, Bandar Kinrara. Out of 30 units, only 20 were opened for sale while the remaining 10 units were retained as assets, said Jamaludin.Currently about 30% sold, the shop offices come in six designs with standard lots measuring 22ft by 80ft and builtups between 4,960 sq ft and 10,896 sq ft. Pegged between RM1.68 million and RM3.99 million, these units are targeted at business owners, banks, restaurant owners and investors. “The land is currently being cleared, and the project is targeted for completion within three years,” said Jamaludin.Meanwhile at the residential parcel of Bandar Kinrara, the developer launched Phase 9A9A also known as “Butik Bungalow”. According to Jamaludin, the 14 units of 2-storey bungalows have been 30% sold since it was opened for sale in November last year. Available in five types and five designs, the homes are priced between RM1,137,888 and RM1,459,888.There are also two bungalow lots for sale within this phase. “These are affordable and modulardesign bungalows with big land areas, which allows room for future expansion.The homes are targeted at the middle to higher-income group, and for those looking to upgrade,” said Jamaludin. The bungalows come in lot sizes of between 7,200 sq ft and 11,000 sq ft and built-ups of between 2,714 sq ft and 3,030 sq ft. “It is now at the foundation stage and will be completed in approximately two years,” he added.

(The Sun 7-3-2008)

New Development : Alam Sari Part II

Located within the heart of Bangi, about 3.5km south of Bandar Baru Bangi, Alam Sari has a gross development value (GDV) of RM1 billion and takes up 432.5 freehold acres. Set within the vicinity of higher learning institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the EPF Training Centre (ESSET) and the Petronas Management Training Centre, the “Neighbourhood of Academia” township will feature academically themed parks and precincts.Upon completion, the township is expected to have 3,435 units of residential properties including semidees, bungalows, orchard lots and apartments as well as shops, convenience centres and a supermarket or mall complemented by facilities and amenities such as schools, kindergarten, a community hall, police station, parks and gardens.With an expected population of 17,000 upon full occupation, the township would take between eight and 10 years to complete. “Construction for Phase 1P1 which commenced in November last year, is currently in progress and targeted for completion in the middle of 2009,” said Jamaludin.

(The Sun 7-3-2008)

New Development: Sri Alam, Bangi Part I

ISLAND & Peninsular Bhd (I&P) has planned four launches comprising terraced and semi-detached homes this year for its Alam Sari project located in the township of Bangi, Selangor. Having sold out Phase 1P1 of Ilmia during its sales launch in November last year, the developer will be launching Phases 1P2 and 1P3 before the end of this month.I&P group managing director Datuk Jamaludin Osman told PropertyPlus that most of the buyers of Phase 1P1 were from and within the Bangi locality. “Buyers in Bangi look for landed property with freehold titles. There are purchasers who upgrade from living in apartments to landed homes; there are also some who upgrade from terraced homes to semidees,” he shared.Phase 1P1 homes were priced between RM248,088 and RM512,760 and offered 90 units of 2-storey terraced homes sized at 22ft by 75ft with built-ups ranging from 2,099 sq ft to 2,271 sq ft. With Phase 1P2 and 1P3, I&P expects to put out 60 units of 2-storey terraced homes and 32 units of 2- storey cluster homes respectively.Homes in Phase 1P2 are sized at 22ft by 75ft with built-ups from 2,044 sq ft to 2,500 sq ft while Phase 1P3 homes are sized at 33ft by 85ft with builtups between 2,400 sq ft and 2,600 sq ft. The homes are tentatively priced at RM255,000 for Phase 1P2 and RM448,000 for Phase 1P3. According to Jamaludin, these homes are targeted at government servants, businessmen and a multiracial community.“Phase 1P3 offers cluster-style homes, which are planned in clusters and short rows. The homes are built according to the natural terrain and are functional, with a practical layout suitable for modern-day needs. These homes are also designed to be protected from the sun and rain,” explained Jamaludin.

(The Sun 7-3-2008)

Plenitude launches Tebrau City Residences project

(New Straits Times 3-3-2008)

Metro Kajang: Semenyih

He added that Metro Kajang’s latest commercial development, Wang Commerz@Pelangi Semenyih, has been more than 70% sold and the hypermarket Tesco is scheduled to move in at the end of 2008. The freehold project was launched last month and has a GDV of RM33 million.The group, which has a presence in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Kajang and Semenyih, currently has 400 acres of undeveloped land to occupy them for another five years. Property development, which constitutes its core business, contributes 70% to the group’s profit. For the financial year ended Sept 30, 2007, the Group recorded a 21% increase in profit after tax to RM60.82 million from RM50.40 million in the preceding year.

(The Sun 27-2-2008)

Metro Kajang : Kajang

“We will also be launching commercial shoplots in Kajang’s town centre. There will be 20 units of 3-storey and 6-storey shoplots located next to the existing wet market, close to Metro Point,” said Chong. He added that the approvals for the RM40-million project are already being processed.To be launched in two weeks’ time is Phase 1B of Sentosa Villas in Kajang, comprising terraced homes sized between 20ft by 65ft and 20ft by 80ft with an average price of RM340,000. “The show house has just been completed and we’re doing the interior designing now,” said Chong.The entire development, which includes Phase 1A of semidees and bungalows as well as shoplots named Serba Sentosa, is approximately 30% taken up.Meanwhile, its 700-acre ongoing township development, the freehold Bandar Teknologi Kajang, will see the launch of a new phase comprising bungalows and semidees in nine months’ time.“The bungalows would be 6,000 sq ft and above, while the semidees would be 3,200 sq ft and above,” Chong said. Prices have yet to be confirmed.

(The Sun 27-2-2008)

Metro Kajang plans two new projects for 2008

KAJANG: Metro Kajang Holdings Bhd (Metro Kajang) will launch two new projects by the end of 2008, one in Desa Melawati in Kuala Lumpur and the other in Kajang’s town centre.Chong Yong Han, group senior general manager of the Metro Kajang Group, told theSun that the Desa Melawati project would comprise 500 units of serviced apartments with a gross development value (GDV) of RM120 million. According to him, the medium high-end project would take up 2.6 freehold acres located opposite Tunku Abdul Rahman College.“The larger units would be approximately 1,000 sq ft while the smaller units would be 800 sq ft. There will also be studio units sized at 700 sq ft,” said Chong after the company’s AGM yesterday.Complete with full apartment facilities, the units are priced at RM250 psf and above. Due to its location, Chong expects the buyers to comprise investors as well as the people who work at the institutions nearby, which include an Islamic university located in the vicinity.

(The Sun 27-2-2008)

Melati Ehsan seeks to expand its property development

KUALA LUMPUR: Melati Ehsan Holdings Bhd, with construction as its core business and main revenue contributor, is expanding its earnings base to include more property development.“Melati Ehsan’s independent non-executive chairman Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail.Listed last March on the Main Board, Melati Ehsan is set to commence the development of its sole plot of land in Pandamaran, Klang in two months. The almost 100-acre tract was purchased for RM32 million, or approximately RM7.40 per sq ft.“Our project in Pandamaran is scheduled for completion in five years, with a gross development value of RM500 million. This will provide us with a continuous source of income,” Melati Ehsan’s managing director Datuk Yap Suan Chee told reporters after its AGM yesterday. He added it is the last plot of land left in Pandamaran.The gated development is adjacent to Bukit Tinggi and would consist of medium range residential and commercial units, with estimated selling prices from RM200,000 to RM350,000. The 2-storey link houses will have built-ups of 2,000 sq ft onwards while the commercial development will comprise 2- to 3-storey shop offices.The developer is also currently looking for a parcel of land to build a hypermarket on.

(The Sun 27-2-2008)

Taman Impiana Putra: Part II

Tan said the group has about 300 undeveloped acres in its landbank but is constantly on the lookout for potential tracts for development. “Being a small developer, we usually go for land the bigger players may forego. This way, we do not have too much competition in the market and can cash in and cash out quickly,” she said. Purcon has land in Sungai Petani, Kedah; Jasin, Melaka; Kuala Pilah and Gemas, Negri Sembilan; and Tangkak, Johor. She also said that having its own construction arm benefits the group, as they would be able to save on construction costs and price their properties lower by up to 10%. “We are be able to save on building time while offering better products and maintaining quality control,” she added.On the property outlook for this year, Tan said the demand for medium-end properties is still there but the high-end property market might be slightly slower due to economic uncertainty.“However, it also depends on the location of the project, as highend developments located in affluent areas do well because of steady demand,” she explained.

(The Sun 25-2-2008)

Taman Impian Putra :Part I

The group recently completed 53 units of 3 ½-storey shop offices in Serdang Raya and is currently developing Taman Impian Putra, its flagship project in Bangi, Selangor.The113-acre Taman Impian Putra has been receiving a good response since the leasehold township’s first phase, which consists of 1 ½- and 2-storey link houses, was first launched in 2005. Since then, the developer has also introduced 1-storey and 2-storey shop lots and recently launched 365 units of 2-storey terraces and 58 units of 2-storey semi-dees in its latest phase.Priced at RM178,988 onwards, the terraces have built-ups from 1,658 sq ft while the semi-dees with built-ups of between 2,653 sq ft and 2,690 sq ft are priced from RM358,888. About 60% of the units have been sold to date and the developer is planning to launch low- and medium-cost apartments in future phases. The township has a GDV of some RM200 million.

(The Sun 25-2-2008)

Purcon banks on its construction experience

PETALING JAYA: With more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry, Purcon Group is confident of doing well with its maiden highend project in Bukit Segambut, its general manager Angie Tan said.“Despite it being our first such project, we have already been involved in the construction of several high-end properties, including semi-dees and bungalows in Glomac Bhd’s Aman Suria and the show unit in Changkat Kiara by Plenitude Kiara Bhd,” she told theSun. The freehold development, known as Laman Damansari, will comprise 16 units of 3- storey semi-dees and two units of 3-storey bungalows, priced between RM1.6 million and RM3.8 million, with built-ups from 3,800 sq ft to 5,800 sq ft.Scheduled for launching by the end of this year, the project has a gross development value (GDV) of RM40 million.Tan said the properties would be built based on a zero-defect concept, where purchasers would require minimal renovations. “Although we aim to launch the project in November, we expect the show house to be ready for viewing in August,” she added.

(The Sun 25-2-2008)

E&O Finalising Concept For 2nd Phase of Seri Tanjung Pinang

E&O Property Development Bhd is finalizing the concept plan for the second phase of its Seri Tanjung Pinang (STP) project in Pinang. The first phase has a gross development value (GDV) of RM2.6 billion and some RM600 million worth of properties have been sold.

(2-02-2008 New Straits Times)