UOA Holdings Sdn Bhd’s urban renewal initiatives of the Kerinchi squatter colony into an integrated mixed development called Bangsar South has taken off well with about a third of the commercial precinct currently under construction and two residential blocks completed to-date. The 60-acre development, located off the Federal Highway, kicked off in 2007 and will take around 10 years to complete.

UOA Holdings Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Australian Stock Exchange-listed UOA Ltd, aims to bring more positive changes to the local property market by focusing on niche projects that will add value to the living and working environment. Built on small parcels of land, its residential and commercial projects combine modern and contemporary elements with focus on good landscaping, natural lighting and spacious designs.

WHERE can you find furniture pieces that simply wow you and look terrific? Gudang Studio, that’s where! Most people keen on furnishing their home enjoy visiting several furniture outlets to get great ideas and pieces. Gudang Studio has to be on your list because the items here are truly outstanding and very captivating to the eye.

Sunway City Bhd’s (SunCity) wholly-owned subsidiary Sunway Platinum Success Sdn Bhd has secured a RM132mil Musharakah Mutanaqisah term financing-i facility from Maybank Islamic Bhd. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, SunCity said loan was to refinance the existing term loans granted by HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd and OCBC Bank (M) Bhd, which were obtained to part-finance the construction of Monash University Sunway campus. Sunway Platinum, a property investment company, has an authorised and paid-up share capital of RM100,000 and RM2 respectively.

Properties from a feng shui perspective: Part 99. This week, we are still looking at Parliament House, or rather Malaysia’s history from the perspective of the I Ching and feng shui. Thus far, our observations are based on the hexagram that corresponds to its facing direction and date of its official opening in November 1963.

Sime Darby Property Bhd wants to change the concept of developing properties by putting safety and security as the top criteria to gain buyers’ confidence. President and group chief executive Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid said the group had so far invested about RM15mil to enhance the security and safety at its existing townships and would extend the concept to its other new township developments.

The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) and Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) are appealing against the Government’s recent decision to apply ad valorem stamp duty of 0.5% for second-tier private as well as Government contracts from RM10 previously. In a statement, Rehda urged the Government to abolish this imposition as it was burdening members of the building fraternity, including contractors, consultants and developers.

MD says it was done to better meet needs of retailers at Setia City Mall in Setia Alam. SP Setia Bhd’s maiden retail venture, Setia City Mall in Setia Alam, Shah Alam, will have a potential net lettable area of more than 1.5 million sq ft upon completion of the project.Explaining the rationale for the decision to scale down Phase 1 of the project from 1.23 million sq ft of gross lettable area to one million sq ft, president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin said this was to accommodate a more efficient design and to best meet the needs of retailers.

This is due to the relaxation of the FIC rules, says foreign brokerage. Bank earnings and loans growth are likely to improve towards the end of the year, bolstered by the recent deregulation of the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) guidelines on properties as well as easing conditions for new listings and fund-raising activities.

The Housing and Local Government Ministry is looking at further tightening the laws and punishing errant developers that do not complete their housing projects.THERE is a great deal of excitement that comes with booking one’s first home – you finally own a property which you can call your own (well, technically it belongs to the bank until the loan is repaid, but you are close), the stark relief when you have secured the financing for it and later, the mounting anticipation as you wait to occupy the property.