IT was barely a year ago that property prices were plummeting. Since then, the world’s central banks have flooded the markets with an unprecedented liquidity tsunami that has lifted prices of assets like stocks and property. Liquidity comes in many forms, the most evident and tangible is lower interest rates, which immediately lower mortgage costs and allow potential borrowers to borrow more with the same level of disposable income.

This is despite the recent policy changes to liberalise Malaysia’s property sector. PETALING JAYA: Following the recent positive policy changes to liberalise the Malaysian property sector and news that Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd acquired a 50% stake in Menara Citibank, analysts have mixed views on the local property market outlook and the performance of commercial properties.

WITH the dust of the global financial crisis settling at least for now, barring further surprises, the new liberalised environment for the country’s business and property sectors is a good platform for local property players to leverage on. If the relaxed measures are able to attract more foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the country’s business and property sectors, there should be greater demand for commercial and residential property from these foreign investors.

LAST Saturday’s launch of double-storey linked houses in Glenmarie, Shah Alam had buyers queuing up several days before selling began. The 133 freehold units, located from across a Perodua service centre, were sold in two hours. At RM750,000 for an intermediate unit, the offerings from Island & Peninsular Bhd (I&P), known as Temasya Suria, were by no means cheap.

WHEN Diane See decided to move to Ara Damansara, after her daughter Jona, 5, got a place at the neighbourhood kindergarten last year, she found the home of her dreams nearby. It was attached, with five bedrooms – but, sadly, at RM700,000, it was beyond her price range. See, who was renting in the interim, finally bought the property this year for just RM525,000. She completed renovations three weeks ago and intends to move in once the new patio is ready and the decorators have left.

PETALING JAYA: The slew of property launches and speedy take-up rates lately are signs that the local (property) sector is on a quick rebound from the global economic downturn. In its latest report, HwangDBS Vickers Research said the local high-end property sector had been on an uptrend, with developers raking in quick profits from project launches.