Real estate billionaire Kwek Leng Beng has disclosed that he has filed a lawsuit in Singapore against his son, Sherman, for control of the family’s crown jewel, property giant City Developments Ltd. (CDL). “We have filed court papers today to set things right,” Kwek Leng Beng, 84, executive chairman of Singapore-listed CDL, said in a statement. “This is necessary to deal with this attempted coup at the board level and restore corporate integrity.” Sherman Kwek, 49, is group CEO of CDL, a position he’s held since 2018. Sherman allegedly colluded with some board members to wrest control by making changes…

New York City recorded over $28 billion in investment sales in 2024, marking a 26% increase from 2023 and outpacing the national market. Office, development and multifamily asset classes led the way, comprising 70% of the total investment sales volume, Ariel Property Advisors’ research shows. Office Market Rebounds With $5.4 Billion In Sales The New York City office market saw a 63% surge in sales to $5.4 billion. Of the City’s total office sales, $5.1 billion were in Manhattan spread across five Class A and 50 Class B and C office buildings. Manhattan’s Class A office towers performed exceptionally well…

UOL Group—controlled by the family of late banking and real estate billionaire Wee Cho Yaw—said about 87% of its Parktown Residence residential condominium project in the eastern Singapore suburb of Tampines was sold over the weekend, adding to signs of resurgence in housing demand in the city-state. Prices for the 1,193-unit condo project—which UOL is jointly developing with its subsidiary Singapore Land and CapitaLand Development—start at S$1.07 million ($801,378) for a one-bedroom unit measuring 463 square feet (43 square meters) to as much as S$3.78 million for a five-bedroom apartment measuring 1,679 square feet. Parktown Residence sits on a 50,679-square-meter…

Maryland isn’t known for its similarity to the Italian countryside. But amidst 10 acres of rolling countryside near the southern edge of the state, an imposing palazzo commands a hilltop view, creating a highly convincing version of Tuscany on the Potomac River. It is ancient with towers, turrets, campanile and a cascade of red-pantiled outbuildings added sporadically in the traditional manner of generational continuity, from what looks like the 17th century on. Except it was built just 17 years ago. In fact, scratch that 400-year-old “origin story”. Not old enough. In a hidden corner of the garden, you’ll find what…

Two trends are converging across the country, including in my own San Diego market. These include a softening in the office sector and a dramatic shortage of housing. What we’re seeing is developers looking at ways to repurpose office parks into residential buildings and communities. That’s how you get headlines like this one from the San Diego Union-Tribune: “Developer to revamp offices into housing.” I have five recommendations to attract and retain residents for this firm, as well as for any other developer that wants to build housing in employment centers. Why should they concern themselves with the suggestions of…

SM Prime Holdings—controlled by the family of the late retail billionaire Henry Sy Sr.—will spend 100 billion pesos ($1.7 billion) this year to expand its property footprint across the Philippines. “These planned investments position us to meet evolving customer needs while driving SM Prime toward its next phase of growth,” Jeffrey Lim, president of SM Prime, said in a statement. “Our robust project pipeline will enhance the expansion of strategic initiatives across our diversified portfolio.” SM Prime will spend 67 billion pesos of the capital expenditures, or about two thirds of the total, on residential projects and master planned communities…

Housing in general — and affordable housing in particular — continues to be a major problem for many Americans. Depending on the source, there are between 4 million and 7 million fewer homes than needed, and this shortage contributes to the high prices of homes and apartments. A recent Zillow report reveals that as a result of the Singles Tax, single renters pay over $7,500 more per year compared to renters with a roommate. Also, some homebuyers (and renters) are also considering the move to smaller towns as a more affordable option. House hacking has also emerged as a solution…

They say you can’t do it all, but Francesca Grace might just be the exception to the rule. After launching a successful interior design firm in her early 20s, she became one of Los Angeles’ preeminent real estate stagers, showcased her talent on HGTV and started a furniture line. Now she’s done it again—opening a brick-and-mortar store in Silver Lake called Somme and an online shop of the same name. Located at 3902 W Sunset Blvd in the in Sunset Junction, the boutique features both Grace’s line and a selection of curated decor. Here’s a look inside the chic shop.…

On our trek of going state by state, analyzing and identifying the most expensive ZIP codes in each state, we have yet to consider a Pacific state — until now. Hawaii has always been expensive, which should come as no surprise when you consider just how much it must cost to transport life’s necessities to the islands. We wanted to zero-in on the most expensive parts of Hawaii. Read on to find out the most expensive ZIP codes in Hawaii in 2025, based on the latest data from Zillow’s home value index. The Most Expensive ZIP Codes in Hawaii We…

“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan / A stately pleasure dome decree.” So wrote Samuel Taylor Coleridge from a dingy, cramped, mouse-infested cottage in south-west England in 1797. His verses evoke sacred rivers, fertile grounds and gardens bright with sinuous rills—a lyrical world beyond the inauspicious reality of its start-point. Such is the power of the imagination. So much so in fact, that echoes of that mythical landscape unexpectedly exist today outside a town three hours due north of Melbourne, Australia. Swap Kubla Khan for a Melbourne businessman. Xanadu for 260 rural acres on the border of Victoria and New South…