A blog about homes, trends, tips & life | Bproperty
Archive

2014

Browsing
Trends

Infographic: the world’s super-rich property tycoons

Reading Time: < 1 minute Property values are increasing around the globe – and with a buck to be made, the number of global real estate billionaires is also rising. Nowhere is this trend more pronounced than in the emerging markets. We released an infographic showing the spread of billionaire property tycoons worldwide. With statistics from Forbes’ Magazine’s Billionaire List 2014, the graphic reveals that three top real estate billionaires now hail from emerging markets: Malik Riaz, worth $1.1 USD billion, is a Pakistani real estate investor Andrew Gotianun, a Filipino entrepreneur, is worth $1 billion Wang Jianlin, listed as the wealthiest person in China by Bloomberg, worth more than $15 billion The infographic reveals some further surprising figures about real estates super-wealthy. Of the 1645 billionaires around the globe, just 46 made their fortune in real estate. And of the world’s billionaires, nearly 500 are native to the United States. But countries like China…

Keep Reading
Pulse

Infographic: comparing home buyers around the world

Reading Time: 2 minutes Women in emerging countries including the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Mexico are dispelling the myth that men drive the house-hunting process in these regions. We have released new research that shows the majority of homebuyers in these countries are women. The figures are based on an analysis of search behavior on leading real estate website. The analysis reveals that more than 60 percent of homebuyers in Mexico are female, while the majority of house-hunters in the Philippines are women. In Bangladesh, couples search for property together, but the final decision is most often made by the female. The research also shed light on the average age of homebuyers in countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. While the average buyer is aged up to 50 years in Sri Lanka and up to 60 in Colombia, those purchasing property elsewhere can be much younger. In Jordan, the typical buyer…

Keep Reading
Pulse

INVESTORS TAKE NOTE: THESE ARE THE PROPERTY HOTSPOTS IN EMERGING MARKETS 24 April 2014 Property News

Reading Time: 2 minutes Markets in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are experiencing booming real estate sectors, fuelled by a growing middle class and strong economic performance. But which emerging markets are most worthy of investors’ attention? Today we name the top emerging global cities for investment potential in each region. Manila, Philippines In Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2014, a joint report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC, Manila was ranked in the top five cities in the region for its investment potential. With a strong economy and improvement in areas like transparency and governance, more investors have turned their attention to the Philippines’ capital. Manila has a young demographic, receives a significant amount of capital from Filipinos working overseas and a similar workforce culture to the west. Its residential, retail and office sectors all have strong investment prospects. Jakarta, Indonesia The same report ranked Jakarta for…

Keep Reading
Trends

A Look Inside the World’s Most Expensive Penthouse

Reading Time: < 1 minute With luxury features including a gigantic infinity pool and its own water slide, the five-storey Tour Odéon penthouse will surely be one of the world’s most expensive homes when it hits the market next year. This luxury apartment in Monaco comes with a considerable price tag – it will set you back a cool $387 million USD. Rising above the shimmering waters of the Mediterranean, this high-end apartment will be located on the top of a 170-meter tower called Tour Odéon when completed at the end of 2014. This tower is set to be the second tallest building on the Mediterranean coastline. Consisting of 70 super large apartments, the building will offer many features, ranging from a private chauffeur to a health center and spa. The first 20 storeys are planned to be office space. With 360-degree views over the sea, the penthouse comes with spacious rooms, floor-to-ceiling windows, excellent…

Keep Reading
Pulse

SYLHET: A CITY ON THE RISE

Reading Time: 2 minutes A major city in the northeast of Bangladesh, Sylhet is surrounded by tea estates, river valleys, and hills. While it is less popular in comparison to other hotspots, its historical and cultural landmarks are enticing, and the landscapes are a sight to behold. This city came into existence during the late 1800s and has since risen to become a focal point, as a result of the production of Bangladesh’s tea yield and natural gas. Popular also for cane, citrus, timber, and agarwood, it really is a major contributor to the country’s GDP. Infrastructure Despite being a small city, Sylhet’s transformation has been drastic. It is evident when you look at the residential properties, built to the highest luxury, as well as improved water and power supply network, roadwork and communications. The potential resources available in Sylhet led to a rapid increase in both foreign and local investment, a consequence of…

Keep Reading
Pulse

THE SIX TRENDIEST PLACES TO LIVE IN ASIA

Reading Time: 2 minutes If you are looking to settle down, or to visit somewhere new and exciting on the continent, why not add Obhur, Galle, and Medan to your list of possibilities. From relaxing cafe cultures and world-class cuisines to water sports and beautiful architecture, these locations have a lot to offer. We have compiled a list of the six coolest places to live in Asia. Medan, Indonesia The biggest metropolis in Sumatera has captured true Indonesian character; historical influences still exist, side by side with the best that the modern world can offer – strong infrastructure in a metropolitan city. It is home to a number of eye-catching buildings with Dutch-colonial architecture, including the Medan City Hall and the Great Mosque of Medan. Obhur, Saudi Arabia Located around 30 kilometers north of Jeddah, Obhur is an up-and-coming attraction in Saudi Arabia. The area is increasingly popular for locals and foreigners, and domestic…

Keep Reading
Tips

MOVING TO THE COUNTRY FOR EXPATS

Reading Time: 3 minutes Nearly all of us have relatives abroad, people we’d love to see coming back home. These are people known as emigrants. A more technical term is Expats, which essentially differentiates from emigrants is that they are people who specialize in particular fields of work and have been living in a different country from their home country because they moved there for better work/living or that they were posted there from work. Moving to a new place is a huge step in one’s life and his/her family. What people don’t seem to realize is that moving back to one’s original place of residence having lived abroad for a long time is equally difficult to adjust to. Where to live? There are countless things to plan and take care of and foremost of these concerns is, of course, the issue housing. For some people, the natural decision is to live with one’s…

Keep Reading
Tips

Property handover checklist

Reading Time: 2 minutes Handover for a Rental Property Handing over is the last stage of the letting go process for landlords. It is when the tenancy agreement has been created and the landlords are ready to rent their property. The entire handing over process is supposed to be short and sweet, given that the landlords have done their homework. Following is a checklist the landlords should follow in order to make the process effective: Tenancy Agreements: Landlords need to have two tenancy agreements, one for themselves and one for the tenant. Then they should fill in the following details: Date Name of Landlord & Tenant Property Address The term of the tenancy The rent payable Security Deposit Having done so, the landlord and tenant are ready to sign the agreement. Upfront Payment: The Landlord should specify the upfront payment that they require, which can be up to a 3 months’ rent and also…

Keep Reading
My Home

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR HOME

Reading Time: < 1 minute It is not just your exercise regime that needs overhauling for the new year. Our five property-themed resolutions will help you turn your house into a dream home. So make 2014 the year you resolve to… Get organized It’s time to declutter so you can start the year with a clean slate. Throw out the stacks of old magazines that are taking up valuable shelf space and donate any clothes you never wear to charity. After a major clean up, think of creative storage solutions to help you maintain your new, clutter-free state. Try DIY Need a new fence but money is tight? Always wanted a feature wall in your bedroom? Then it’s the perfect time to work on those do-it-yourself skills. Start small with some DIY decorating – such as setting up a picture wall or giving the living room a new coat of paint – and work your…

Keep Reading
Tips

DOWNLOAD: SAMPLE LETTER FOR BREAKING A LEASE

Reading Time: < 1 minute Looking to cancel your lease agreement but don’t know where to start? To help point you in the right direction, we’ve prepared a sample agreement for canceling a lease. Download a copy below. If your lease has expired The common practice is to let your landlord know in writing that you will not be renewing your lease agreement. In this letter, you would need to include the address to which your deposit may be returned, as well as details about what date you will be vacating the property. Make sure you give the landlord enough notice about your intention to leave. You may also want to make certain requests, such as being present for the home inspection before you move out. If you want to break your lease early Often tenants may decide to leave the rented property before the lease expires. In most cases, you will be expected to…

Keep Reading