Purchasing a condo in Singapore has emerged as a favored option for both local and foreign investors, thanks to the country’s thriving economy, stable political environment, and exceptional quality of life. The real estate market in Singapore is ripe with possibilities, and condos are particularly desirable for their convenience, amenities, and potential for lucrative returns. This piece will delve into the advantages, points to ponder, and necessary measures to take when investing in a Singapore condo.
CapitaLand Investment’s investor day on Nov 22 saw the company announce plans for expansion in Australia. The company has appointed two senior hires for newly created roles to boost its talent pool and lead growth in its focus market. Angelo Scasserra will serve as the CEO of CLI Australia, and Rahul Bharara will be its chief investment officer. Both will join the company in 1H2025. CLI is also looking to invest up to A$1 billion ($876.7 million) in growing its funds under management (FUM) in Australia. This follows the recent closure of its Australian Credit Programme (ACP), a credit fund valued at A$265 million which was backed by Asian investors. The company’s CEO Lee Chee Koon mentioned during the event that they have formed a partnership with Wingate, an Australian firm, to originate and underwrite deals in the Asia-Pacific region. On Nov 25, the Australian Financial Review reported on CLI’s plans to acquire Wingate. In 2014, CapitaLand divested its stake in Australand Property Group, which was then bought by Frasers Property and has since been renamed Frasers Property Australia. During the investor day, chairman Miguel Ko was asked about the decision to sell Australand and invest more in China, to which he replied that the decision was made before his time and that he did not want to comment on his predecessors’ actions. He pointed out that the company did not have the ability to predict the current situation in China and that it was not his place to judge the decisions of his predecessors. At the time, China was experiencing significant growth and CapitaLand had an advantage in the market. However, the outcome could have been different, and Ko refrained from commenting on whether the decision was the right one. The company’s then-president and group CEO Lim Ming Yan had stated that the divestment was made during a favorable market climate, and Australand’s share price had been performing well in the months leading up to the divestment. The move allowed CapitaLand to allocate more capital to its core businesses in Singapore and China. The remaining 39.1% stake held by CapitaLand was sold in March 2014, following a partial divestment in November 2013 that aimed to improve trading liquidity. The CLI transaction has increased the company’s FUM to $113 billion, heating up the race for AUMs.