SINGAPORE - The supply of car certificates of entitlement (COEs) for the May-July period will dip by 9.5 per cent to 5,875 per month - a much smaller drop than the 20 per cent shrinkage some motor industry players were expecting.
Announcing the quota on Thursday (April 18), the Land Transport Authority said there would be an average of 8,448 COEs per month for all vehicles - 3.5 per cent down from the current quota.
There will be 2,848 COEs per month for cars up to 1,600cc, 13.7 per cent less than currently. The supply for cars above 1,600cc or 130bhp will be 5 per cent lower at 2,278 per month.
The open category, which can be used for any vehicle type except motorcycles but which ends up mostly for bigger cars, will see a 5.7 per cent drop in supply to 749 COEs per month.
Commercial vehicle COE bidders will have 28.1 per cent more certificates at 779 per month.
For motorcycles, the COE supply will rise by 8.7 per cent to 1,794 per month.
The fact that the supply shrinkage is far smaller than feared should ease upward pressure on premiums, according to observers.
Car COEs have shot up by 22 per cent to 28 per cent in the last month.
Others, however, maintain that premiums will only ease if aggressive competition between private-hire operators cools.
Mr Ron Lim, general manager of Nissan agent Tan Chong Motor, said: “Whether the current prices are sustainable will depend on how consumers react to the new quota.”
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Monday, April 1, 2019
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe Review
Having arrived on the market in 2015 as the replacement for the GLK-Class, the Mercedes-Benz GLC has quickly become one of the most successful models in the carmaker’s SUV lineup.
In early 2019, the first generation GLC received its first facelift for the regular SUV body-style. With this new model still not available on the market, the Germans introduced in March 2019 the facelift for the coupe variant of the GLC as well.
Described as “a vehicle for individualists who attach maximum importance to extraordinary looks, the greatest possible freedom and pioneering technology,” the GLC coupe brings a revised exterior and interior, new driving assistance technologies and new engines.
1 Exterior design & Features
The exterior changes made to the model are subtle, yet noticeable. At the front, the air intakes have been modified, and the standard-fit LED High Performance headlamps and contoured diamond radiator grille reshaped.
At the rear, the main changes are the new look of the rear diffuser with underride guard and tailpipe trims and the redesigned full-LED tail lamps.
Look at from the side, the GLC coupe retained the same distinctive shape, with a dropping roofline leading into the rounded rear window. What looks a bit different are the A-pillars, which have a more pronounced slope making the roof of the car look a bit lower.
2 Interior design, features and passenger space
The interior of the GLC coupe sports, as per Mercedes-Benz, “flawless luxury and user-friendly controls.”
The design chosen features clear lines, with flowing surfaces linking the various elements together. In the center of the car, a large, one-piece console panel extends from the center air vents to the armrest.
The single piece of the interior that was significantly overhauled is the multifunction steering wheel, which will be made available in two new versions.
Also, a brand new interior color has been created for the GLC, magma grey.
3 Gadgets
The GLC coupe carries over all of the gadgets deployed in the regular version, including the deployment of the MBUX infotainment system.
The free-standing screen of the infotainment system will be available in two sizes, 7 or 10.25 inches, while the instrument cluster relies on a 12.3-inch screen. Both screens of the infotainment can be tailored in one of three modes, Classic, Sport and Progressive.
MBUX features in the GLC an Augmented Video feature that shows images captured by a camera located in front of the rear-view mirror. The information sent back to the driver directly on the multimedia display includes traffic signs information about where to make a turn, house numbers or names.
4 Performance
When it launches later this year, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe will be available with five engines, two gasoline and three diesel. More units will be added at later dates.
All the engines to be deployed in the beginning are four-cylinder. The gasoline ones are enhanced by Mercedes’ EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. Regardless of fuel, all units work in conjunction with the 4MATIC system.
The gasoline lineup comprises the GLC 200 that develops 197 hp and the GLC 300 good for 258 hp. Diesel fans are treated with the GLC 200 d, GLC 220 d and GLC 300 d with respective outputs of 163, 194 and 245 horsepower.
Fuel consumption ranges from 5.8 l/100 km (40.5 mpg) on the GLC 300 d to 7.4-7.1 l/100 km (31.7 – 33 mpg) on the gasoline engines.
5 Safety
Most of the safety features deployed on the current generation GLC coupe made it into the facelift as well, enhanced by the deployment of additional systems.
These new features include an exit-warning function, emergency-corridor function, and tail-end-of-traffic-jam function, among others. Also new is Trailer Manoeuvring Assist.
For the first time, the SUV is equipped with the Dynamic Body Control suspension with infinitely adjustable dampers for the front and rear axle.
6 Conclusion
Presently, the Mercedes-Benz lineup of SUV comprises seven models: the GLA, GLC, GLC Coupé, GLE, GLE Coupé, GLS, G-Class. Since the introduction of the first Mercedes car for this segment, the carmaker sold around five million SUVs.
The rather young GLC nameplate had, of course, an important contribution to reaching that number, and the launch the facelifted and upgraded variants for both the regular SUV and the coupe can do nothing but help future sales.
In early 2019, the first generation GLC received its first facelift for the regular SUV body-style. With this new model still not available on the market, the Germans introduced in March 2019 the facelift for the coupe variant of the GLC as well.
Described as “a vehicle for individualists who attach maximum importance to extraordinary looks, the greatest possible freedom and pioneering technology,” the GLC coupe brings a revised exterior and interior, new driving assistance technologies and new engines.
1 Exterior design & Features
The exterior changes made to the model are subtle, yet noticeable. At the front, the air intakes have been modified, and the standard-fit LED High Performance headlamps and contoured diamond radiator grille reshaped.
At the rear, the main changes are the new look of the rear diffuser with underride guard and tailpipe trims and the redesigned full-LED tail lamps.
Look at from the side, the GLC coupe retained the same distinctive shape, with a dropping roofline leading into the rounded rear window. What looks a bit different are the A-pillars, which have a more pronounced slope making the roof of the car look a bit lower.
2 Interior design, features and passenger space
The interior of the GLC coupe sports, as per Mercedes-Benz, “flawless luxury and user-friendly controls.”
The design chosen features clear lines, with flowing surfaces linking the various elements together. In the center of the car, a large, one-piece console panel extends from the center air vents to the armrest.
The single piece of the interior that was significantly overhauled is the multifunction steering wheel, which will be made available in two new versions.
Also, a brand new interior color has been created for the GLC, magma grey.
3 Gadgets
The GLC coupe carries over all of the gadgets deployed in the regular version, including the deployment of the MBUX infotainment system.
The free-standing screen of the infotainment system will be available in two sizes, 7 or 10.25 inches, while the instrument cluster relies on a 12.3-inch screen. Both screens of the infotainment can be tailored in one of three modes, Classic, Sport and Progressive.
MBUX features in the GLC an Augmented Video feature that shows images captured by a camera located in front of the rear-view mirror. The information sent back to the driver directly on the multimedia display includes traffic signs information about where to make a turn, house numbers or names.
4 Performance
When it launches later this year, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe will be available with five engines, two gasoline and three diesel. More units will be added at later dates.
All the engines to be deployed in the beginning are four-cylinder. The gasoline ones are enhanced by Mercedes’ EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. Regardless of fuel, all units work in conjunction with the 4MATIC system.
The gasoline lineup comprises the GLC 200 that develops 197 hp and the GLC 300 good for 258 hp. Diesel fans are treated with the GLC 200 d, GLC 220 d and GLC 300 d with respective outputs of 163, 194 and 245 horsepower.
Fuel consumption ranges from 5.8 l/100 km (40.5 mpg) on the GLC 300 d to 7.4-7.1 l/100 km (31.7 – 33 mpg) on the gasoline engines.
5 Safety
Most of the safety features deployed on the current generation GLC coupe made it into the facelift as well, enhanced by the deployment of additional systems.
These new features include an exit-warning function, emergency-corridor function, and tail-end-of-traffic-jam function, among others. Also new is Trailer Manoeuvring Assist.
For the first time, the SUV is equipped with the Dynamic Body Control suspension with infinitely adjustable dampers for the front and rear axle.
6 Conclusion
Presently, the Mercedes-Benz lineup of SUV comprises seven models: the GLA, GLC, GLC Coupé, GLE, GLE Coupé, GLS, G-Class. Since the introduction of the first Mercedes car for this segment, the carmaker sold around five million SUVs.
The rather young GLC nameplate had, of course, an important contribution to reaching that number, and the launch the facelifted and upgraded variants for both the regular SUV and the coupe can do nothing but help future sales.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Home and Deco
was at HDB premium flat today. just saw an empty flat with some contractors doing planning inside. saw a yellow pipe for gas. but does anyone know how its being connected to the shower head and water mixers. does power gas fixed it or the contractor?
Storage heater are in the market for a long time. It is usually use for bathtub. The price depends on the brand and where you buy it. Be sure to ask whether it includes the installation cost. Currently the famous brand are Rheem and ariston. Rheem is bulky looking but Ariston is more nicer looking. Also remember to ask your contractor to install 2 heater switches in both bathrooms for you or else it is quite tedious to switch on from common toilet and then run to another toilet to bathe. Lastly the disadvantage for storage heater is you need to wait 5-10 mins for the water to heat up b4 you bathe.
My contractor also recommend 707 but some salesman I talked to doesn't seems to have high opinion of them. I wonder why. They told me that 707 is manufacture in M'sia, that the quality of the coil etc is not as good as it used to be. So its quite difficult to decide who to believe.aeki, which model did you buy? Which shop did you buy it from? I came across this shop in Jalan Berseh that is selling both th Protek and Compact models for only $215. But I decide not to buy from them coz they were questioning my intent on buying the brand. That cheese me off
Storage heater are in the market for a long time. It is usually use for bathtub. The price depends on the brand and where you buy it. Be sure to ask whether it includes the installation cost. Currently the famous brand are Rheem and ariston. Rheem is bulky looking but Ariston is more nicer looking. Also remember to ask your contractor to install 2 heater switches in both bathrooms for you or else it is quite tedious to switch on from common toilet and then run to another toilet to bathe. Lastly the disadvantage for storage heater is you need to wait 5-10 mins for the water to heat up b4 you bathe.
My contractor also recommend 707 but some salesman I talked to doesn't seems to have high opinion of them. I wonder why. They told me that 707 is manufacture in M'sia, that the quality of the coil etc is not as good as it used to be. So its quite difficult to decide who to believe.aeki, which model did you buy? Which shop did you buy it from? I came across this shop in Jalan Berseh that is selling both th Protek and Compact models for only $215. But I decide not to buy from them coz they were questioning my intent on buying the brand. That cheese me off
Sunday, March 17, 2019
BMW, Mercedes-Benz lower prices in China after VAT drop
SHANGHAI: BMW AG and Mercedes-Benz said on Saturday they will lower their prices in China, after the government announced it will reduce the country's value-added tax (VAT) starting on April 1.
The German automobile companies each published posts on Chinese social media announcing immediate price cuts for several models. The discounts come as China endures a shrinking market for automobiles as the economy slows.
BMW said it would reduce prices for both domestically produced and imported models, including the locally-made BMW 3 series and BMW 5 series, along with the BMW X5 and BMW 7 import models. The BMW 320Li M model will sell for a suggested retail price of 339,800 yuan (US$50,620), a drop of 10,000 yuan from its original price.
The reductions mark the company's "active response to the national VAT adjustment notice," BMW said in a post on WeChat, China's popular messaging app.
Daimler AG-owned Mercedes-Benz announced similar price cuts on a range of its cars, also effective immediately, in advance of the upcoming VAT drop. The cuts shown on its social media page range from 10,000 yuan to 40,000 yuan on select models.
On March 5, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced that China will cut VAT across a range of industries, with the tax set to drop in the manufacturing sector from 16 percent to 13 percent and in the transport sector from 10 percent to 9 percent.
The carmakers' cuts come as China's automobile industry faces a major slowdown. In 2018, China's car market shrank 5.8 percent, marking its first contraction in over two decades.
Policymakers have introduced a range of policies to stimulate demand for cars. In January, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said it would loosen restrictions on the second-hand car market and provide subsidies to boost purchases in rural areas.
The German automobile companies each published posts on Chinese social media announcing immediate price cuts for several models. The discounts come as China endures a shrinking market for automobiles as the economy slows.
BMW said it would reduce prices for both domestically produced and imported models, including the locally-made BMW 3 series and BMW 5 series, along with the BMW X5 and BMW 7 import models. The BMW 320Li M model will sell for a suggested retail price of 339,800 yuan (US$50,620), a drop of 10,000 yuan from its original price.
The reductions mark the company's "active response to the national VAT adjustment notice," BMW said in a post on WeChat, China's popular messaging app.
Daimler AG-owned Mercedes-Benz announced similar price cuts on a range of its cars, also effective immediately, in advance of the upcoming VAT drop. The cuts shown on its social media page range from 10,000 yuan to 40,000 yuan on select models.
On March 5, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced that China will cut VAT across a range of industries, with the tax set to drop in the manufacturing sector from 16 percent to 13 percent and in the transport sector from 10 percent to 9 percent.
The carmakers' cuts come as China's automobile industry faces a major slowdown. In 2018, China's car market shrank 5.8 percent, marking its first contraction in over two decades.
Policymakers have introduced a range of policies to stimulate demand for cars. In January, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said it would loosen restrictions on the second-hand car market and provide subsidies to boost purchases in rural areas.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Creative ZEN Stone 1GB
Rumors had been rife in the online community of a new digital audio player (DAP) from Creative and that this mysterious product will be locking horns with Apple’s iPod shuffle. True enough, what you are looking at now is Creative's response to Apple's effort and what a tiny player it is.
Solid as Stone?
The feather light (18.5g) and compact ZEN Stone is clearly inspired by small smooth pebbles often found in ZEN gardens (how poetic), but despite its name, the ZEN Stone is not built as what its name suggests. Because of its glossy exterior, there is always a concern of scratching the ZEN Stone with sharp items such as keys and coins in your pocket and what not. However, as we found, its glossy surface is tough enough to take on the rigors of everyday use. Size wise, the ZEN Stone is delightfully small and light, so much so it's easy to forget that it's sitting in your pocket – not to forget it can also be quite easily misplaced.
Follow the Path
The ZEN Stone has a simple interface: forward, rewind, play/pause and volume controls are all clustered together right smack in the middle of the player. Along its side profile is a handy switch that scrolls through folders alphabetically, randomizes your songs and sets the player to repeat every music file it supports. Since folders are supported, songs can be sorted in a pseudo genre/playlist fashion, giving you some form of control over the songs you want.
Loading the ZEN Stone up is a simple Plug and Play process (through a Mini USB port), exactly in the same way as you would with a flash drive. In fact, there is not a single trace of driver or software in the box. The only software that Creative thought you might need is the Creative Media Lite CD ripping software, and guess what, it's available as a free download on Creative's website - sweet.
True to its simple styling and interface, the ZEN Stone is a joy to use. If you know how to copy files into a flash drive, you'll know how to operate the ZEN Stone. There is however, a short but noticeable playback lag from the time the player is unplugged till it starts playing, but that's just us nitpicking, really. The ZEN Stone supports MP3 and WMA formats.
Being a Creative product, the ZEN Stone sure did not disappoint where its bread and butter (audio quality) was concerned. Some of you might find the audio output to carry a bit too much bass, although that being said, we could find no distortions or hissing whatsoever. When it came down to battery life, the ZEN Stone easily clocked 10hrs of playback time.
Solid Accessories
Creative has always furnished their new DAPs with accompanying accessories at launch and it isn't any different this time around. To that end, Creative offers no less then three kinds of protective skins, each serving its own purpose. Upon closer inspection of these protective silicon skins (and armbands), we were impressed that they were all very well made with no excess silicon or rough edges in sight.
Our Thoughts
Although nothing revolutionary, the ZEN Stone pretty much satisfies users in ways the iPod shuffle would. Compared to the latter however, it does carry a slight edge by having a universally compatible mini-USB port, unlike the iPod shuffle which requires an external dock running via a propriety jack. Looks and performance aside, the one big point that really allows the ZEN Stone to take the cake is its incredible retail price of just US$45 (~S$69). You could skip a ZEN Stone on water and still afford a replacement all for the price of one Apple iPod shuffle - not bad for a reply wouldn't you say?
Solid as Stone?
The feather light (18.5g) and compact ZEN Stone is clearly inspired by small smooth pebbles often found in ZEN gardens (how poetic), but despite its name, the ZEN Stone is not built as what its name suggests. Because of its glossy exterior, there is always a concern of scratching the ZEN Stone with sharp items such as keys and coins in your pocket and what not. However, as we found, its glossy surface is tough enough to take on the rigors of everyday use. Size wise, the ZEN Stone is delightfully small and light, so much so it's easy to forget that it's sitting in your pocket – not to forget it can also be quite easily misplaced.
Follow the Path
The ZEN Stone has a simple interface: forward, rewind, play/pause and volume controls are all clustered together right smack in the middle of the player. Along its side profile is a handy switch that scrolls through folders alphabetically, randomizes your songs and sets the player to repeat every music file it supports. Since folders are supported, songs can be sorted in a pseudo genre/playlist fashion, giving you some form of control over the songs you want.
Loading the ZEN Stone up is a simple Plug and Play process (through a Mini USB port), exactly in the same way as you would with a flash drive. In fact, there is not a single trace of driver or software in the box. The only software that Creative thought you might need is the Creative Media Lite CD ripping software, and guess what, it's available as a free download on Creative's website - sweet.
True to its simple styling and interface, the ZEN Stone is a joy to use. If you know how to copy files into a flash drive, you'll know how to operate the ZEN Stone. There is however, a short but noticeable playback lag from the time the player is unplugged till it starts playing, but that's just us nitpicking, really. The ZEN Stone supports MP3 and WMA formats.
Being a Creative product, the ZEN Stone sure did not disappoint where its bread and butter (audio quality) was concerned. Some of you might find the audio output to carry a bit too much bass, although that being said, we could find no distortions or hissing whatsoever. When it came down to battery life, the ZEN Stone easily clocked 10hrs of playback time.
Solid Accessories
Creative has always furnished their new DAPs with accompanying accessories at launch and it isn't any different this time around. To that end, Creative offers no less then three kinds of protective skins, each serving its own purpose. Upon closer inspection of these protective silicon skins (and armbands), we were impressed that they were all very well made with no excess silicon or rough edges in sight.
Our Thoughts
Although nothing revolutionary, the ZEN Stone pretty much satisfies users in ways the iPod shuffle would. Compared to the latter however, it does carry a slight edge by having a universally compatible mini-USB port, unlike the iPod shuffle which requires an external dock running via a propriety jack. Looks and performance aside, the one big point that really allows the ZEN Stone to take the cake is its incredible retail price of just US$45 (~S$69). You could skip a ZEN Stone on water and still afford a replacement all for the price of one Apple iPod shuffle - not bad for a reply wouldn't you say?
Sunday, March 3, 2019
2020 Mercedes GLC shows subtle facelift in official videos
After the AMG GLE 53, the other SUV revealed this week by Mercedes was the facelifted GLC. The mid-cycle refresh comes three and a half years after the launch of the GLK successor, and builds upon the already attractive design. There are subtle styling tweaks here and there to keep the GLC fresh and competitive in a hugely challenging segment of the market.
Even the base version of the posh SUV now comes with LED headlights, with optional full-LED with Multibeam tech available at an additional cost. Those full LED taillights represent another update over the pre-facelift GLC and contribute to the model’s discreet revisions. Also at the back, the AMG Line variant comes with slightly different angular exhaust tips nicely integrated into the bumper to enable a cleaner look. Wheels up to 20 inches in size are available, and so is a new colour called graphite gray.
The most obvious changes have occurred inside the cabin where the 2020 GLC gets the MBUX infotainment system with a free-standing touchscreen available in either 7- or 10.25-inch sizes. The tablet-style display is accompanied by an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as seen already in the GLC F-Cell.
Should you not want to get fingerprints on that central screen, you can use gestures to control some of the functions of Mercedes’ Comand-replacing MBUX infotainment system. Alternatively, there’s also a nifty multifunction touchpad that you’ll also find in the C-Class facelift.
Mercedes in Geneva:
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class revealed with new engine and more tech
Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 debuts with 429 bhp of electrified thrills
Mercedes-AMG teases Panamericana grille on mystery vehicle
Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, GLC-Class confirmed for Geneva debut
Even the base model now gets keyless go functionality, while the optional Off-Road Engineering Package adds the Off-Road and Off-Road modes joining the existing Comfort, Eco, Sport, Sport+, and Individual.
If you want to check out the GLC facelift in the metal, it will be on display at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show beginning next week where aside from the GLE 53, Mercedes will also exhibit the CLA Shooting Brake, S65 Final Edition, SLC Final Edition, and the SL Grand Edition. No word just yet about the A45, though.
Even the base version of the posh SUV now comes with LED headlights, with optional full-LED with Multibeam tech available at an additional cost. Those full LED taillights represent another update over the pre-facelift GLC and contribute to the model’s discreet revisions. Also at the back, the AMG Line variant comes with slightly different angular exhaust tips nicely integrated into the bumper to enable a cleaner look. Wheels up to 20 inches in size are available, and so is a new colour called graphite gray.
The most obvious changes have occurred inside the cabin where the 2020 GLC gets the MBUX infotainment system with a free-standing touchscreen available in either 7- or 10.25-inch sizes. The tablet-style display is accompanied by an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as seen already in the GLC F-Cell.
Should you not want to get fingerprints on that central screen, you can use gestures to control some of the functions of Mercedes’ Comand-replacing MBUX infotainment system. Alternatively, there’s also a nifty multifunction touchpad that you’ll also find in the C-Class facelift.
Mercedes in Geneva:
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class revealed with new engine and more tech
Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 debuts with 429 bhp of electrified thrills
Mercedes-AMG teases Panamericana grille on mystery vehicle
Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, GLC-Class confirmed for Geneva debut
Even the base model now gets keyless go functionality, while the optional Off-Road Engineering Package adds the Off-Road and Off-Road modes joining the existing Comfort, Eco, Sport, Sport+, and Individual.
If you want to check out the GLC facelift in the metal, it will be on display at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show beginning next week where aside from the GLE 53, Mercedes will also exhibit the CLA Shooting Brake, S65 Final Edition, SLC Final Edition, and the SL Grand Edition. No word just yet about the A45, though.
Sunday, February 24, 2019
The Line Bangkok
The Line Bangkok
Sukhumvit Soi 71 Bangkok Chak Phra Khanong, Bangkok, Ardmore, Bukit Timah, Holland Road, Tanglin, Bangkok, Thailand
The Line Bangkok at Sukhumvit 71 by Sansiri. Leverage on 1st Mover Advantage to Book Your Unit Now at New Launch Price from just SGD$2xxk. Highly Affordable.
Exclusive One, Two, Three Bedroom apartments situated close proximity to Bangkok’s BTS Station Phra Kanong. Centrally located at Sukhumvit Soi 71.
Where : Sukhumvit Soi 71 Bangkok Chak Phra Khanong
Developer : Sansiri Public Limited Company & BTS Group
Tube/MRT Connectivity : BTS Phra Khanong
Number of units : Total 291 units comprising:
1 bedroom apartments (29.5 sqm to 34.0 sqm)
1 bedroom-L apartments (40.0 sqm to 44.75 sqm)
2 bedroom apartments (57.25 sqm to 62.75 sqm)
Expected Completion / TOP : November 2016
The Line Bangkok Sansiri is located at Sukhumvit, which connects to Bangkok’s key locations within minutes
Location is equivalent of District 9 and 11 in Singapore
Centrally located at Sukhumvit Soi 71
5 mins walk or 400m to BTS Phra Kanong
1 stop to BTS Ekamai Station
2 stops to BTS Thong Lor Station
3 stops to BTS Phrom Phong
4 stops to BTS Sukhumvit / MRT Asoke Exchange
2 mins walk to W District
12 Reasons to Invest in The Line Bangkok Sansiri Now
Excellent location and highly sought address in Bangkok Sukhumvit area
Easy connectivity to BTS stations and interchanges
291 exclusive units of 1, 2 & 3-bedroom apartments
Reputable developer, Sansiri & BTS Group Pte Ltd, with track record of award winning luxurious premium apartments in Bangkok; 30 years of experience known for highest quality with reputation
Within proximity of vibrant areas with shopping centres, and eateries
Quality finishings with kitchen appliances
Appeals to large pool of potential buyers; locally and internationally
Appeals to large pool of potential tenants; close proximity to Asoke Central Business District area
High Capital Protection; limited newly completed units available in downtown Bangkok
Average per sqm THB 180,000 lower than Sukhumvit average of THB 184,129
Deferred payment (only 20% till completion)
Very attractive Price from only GBP422K*! (before discounts) Priced to Sell
5 star Lobby Lounge
Garden with Recreation Area
Panoramic Roof Top Garden
Infinity Swimming Pool & Jazuzzi
Shallow Pool
State of the Art Gym
Club House & Library
Self Laundry Facilities
Covered Parking Area
24 Hours Security
Wireless Access on Facilities Area
Sukhumvit Soi 71 Bangkok Chak Phra Khanong, Bangkok, Ardmore, Bukit Timah, Holland Road, Tanglin, Bangkok, Thailand
The Line Bangkok at Sukhumvit 71 by Sansiri. Leverage on 1st Mover Advantage to Book Your Unit Now at New Launch Price from just SGD$2xxk. Highly Affordable.
Exclusive One, Two, Three Bedroom apartments situated close proximity to Bangkok’s BTS Station Phra Kanong. Centrally located at Sukhumvit Soi 71.
Where : Sukhumvit Soi 71 Bangkok Chak Phra Khanong
Developer : Sansiri Public Limited Company & BTS Group
Tube/MRT Connectivity : BTS Phra Khanong
Number of units : Total 291 units comprising:
1 bedroom apartments (29.5 sqm to 34.0 sqm)
1 bedroom-L apartments (40.0 sqm to 44.75 sqm)
2 bedroom apartments (57.25 sqm to 62.75 sqm)
Expected Completion / TOP : November 2016
The Line Bangkok Sansiri is located at Sukhumvit, which connects to Bangkok’s key locations within minutes
Location is equivalent of District 9 and 11 in Singapore
Centrally located at Sukhumvit Soi 71
5 mins walk or 400m to BTS Phra Kanong
1 stop to BTS Ekamai Station
2 stops to BTS Thong Lor Station
3 stops to BTS Phrom Phong
4 stops to BTS Sukhumvit / MRT Asoke Exchange
2 mins walk to W District
12 Reasons to Invest in The Line Bangkok Sansiri Now
Excellent location and highly sought address in Bangkok Sukhumvit area
Easy connectivity to BTS stations and interchanges
291 exclusive units of 1, 2 & 3-bedroom apartments
Reputable developer, Sansiri & BTS Group Pte Ltd, with track record of award winning luxurious premium apartments in Bangkok; 30 years of experience known for highest quality with reputation
Within proximity of vibrant areas with shopping centres, and eateries
Quality finishings with kitchen appliances
Appeals to large pool of potential buyers; locally and internationally
Appeals to large pool of potential tenants; close proximity to Asoke Central Business District area
High Capital Protection; limited newly completed units available in downtown Bangkok
Average per sqm THB 180,000 lower than Sukhumvit average of THB 184,129
Deferred payment (only 20% till completion)
Very attractive Price from only GBP422K*! (before discounts) Priced to Sell
5 star Lobby Lounge
Garden with Recreation Area
Panoramic Roof Top Garden
Infinity Swimming Pool & Jazuzzi
Shallow Pool
State of the Art Gym
Club House & Library
Self Laundry Facilities
Covered Parking Area
24 Hours Security
Wireless Access on Facilities Area
Saturday, February 16, 2019
“Biggest Drop In More Than Nine Years”: America’s Retail Apocalypse Is Greatly Accelerating In The Early Stages Of 2019
All over America retailers are going bankrupt and closing stores. Of course this has been happening for years, but as you will see below the numbers have dramatically escalated during the early portion of 2019. Our landscape is already littered with countless numbers of hollowed out stores and abandoned malls, and it is about to get a whole lot worse. Retailers were hoping that a strong holiday season would turn things around, but that didn’t happen. In fact, we just learned that retail sales in the United States suffered “their biggest drop in more than nine years” during the month of December…
U.S. retail sales recorded their biggest drop in more than nine years in December as receipts fell across the board, suggesting a sharp slowdown in economic activity at the end of 2018.
The Commerce Department said on Thursday retail sales tumbled 1.2 percent, the largest decline since September 2009 when the economy was emerging from recession.
Every time I write an article like this, a few commenters chime in and blame this entire trend on the rise of online retailing. And without a doubt online retailing has been growing in recent years, but it still accounts for less than 10 percent of the entire industry.
If online retail sales were to blame for this latest drop, you would expect to see that reflected in the numbers. But instead, when we look at the numbers what we find is that online retailers experienced “the biggest drop ever” during the month of December…
December online internet sales (non-store retailers) tumbled 3.9% MoM – the biggest drop ever
So brick and mortar retail sales are going down and online retail sales are going down.
It is starting to smell a lot like a recession, and many in the industry are starting to panic.
And when I say panic, I mean that they are closing stores at a pace that is far faster than last year. In fact, so far retail store closings are 23 percent ahead of the pace set last year…
Coresight Research released an outlook of 2019 store closures Wednesday, saying there’s “no light at the end of the tunnel.”
According to the global market research firm’s report, six weeks into 2019, U.S. retailers have announced 2,187 closings, up 23 percent compared to last year. Those closings include 749 Gymboree stores, 251 Shopko stores and 94 Charlotte Russe locations.
Unfortunately, the number of store closings is about to double because Payless ShoeSource plans to declare bankruptcy and shut down 2,300 stores…
U.S. discount retailer Payless ShoeSource Inc plans to close all of its approximately 2,300 stores when it files for bankruptcy later this month for the second time in as many years, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
And Payless is far from alone. If you can believe it, the number of retail bankruptcies in 2019 is “already at one-third of last year’s total”…
Bankruptcies also are continuing at a rapid pace “with the number of filings in the first six weeks of 2019 already at one-third of last year’s total,” the report states.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is what a retail apocalypse looks like, and we are still in the early chapters.
It is going to take some time for this drama to fully play out. Just look at Sears – it is a money bleeding zombie of a company, but Eddie Lampert has convinced investors to give things one more try. But they are going to zero, and so is JC Penney, and so are a whole host of other major retailers.
In the end, millions upon millions of square feet of retail space is going to be sitting vacant. Some of the more economically depressed areas of the country are going to closely resemble ghost towns, and we are going to see a commercial real estate crisis that is off the charts.
Switching gears, we also just learned that the number of Americans that are at least 90 days behind on their auto loans is already “more than 1 million higher” than it was during the peak of the last recession…
More than 7 million Americans are 90 days or more behind on their vehicle loans as of the end of 2018, according to data released Tuesday by the New York Federal Reserve. That’s more than 1 million higher than the peak in 2010 as the country was recovering from its worst downturn since the Great Depression.
How is that possible?
I thought that the U.S. economy was supposed to be “booming”.
Isn’t that what they have been telling us?
In recent weeks I have repeatedly brought up current economic numbers that are even worse than the last recession, and yet so many people out there continue to insist that everything is just fine.
No, everything is definitely not “just fine”.
Economic activity is slowing down dramatically, and many believe that things are about to get a whole lot worse. In fact, Peter Schiff is warning that what is ahead “is going to be worse than what we now call the Great Recession”…
People are going to realize that we checked into the monetary roach motel that I talked about from the beginning and that there’s no way out, and then the dollar is going to fall like a stone.
When they find out that it’s never over and it didn’t work, then there’s going to be nothing propping up the dollar and it’s going to drop like a stone, the price of gold is going to take off, and the recession that we’re entering into, which is going to be an inflationary recession, is going to be worse than what we now call the Great Recession.
Maybe it’s taken longer than we might have thought to play out, but this is the beginning of the end.”
I wish that I had better news for you today, but I don’t.
The retail apocalypse is accelerating, America’s debt crisis is starting to reach a critical level, and very challenging days are approaching for all of us.
U.S. retail sales recorded their biggest drop in more than nine years in December as receipts fell across the board, suggesting a sharp slowdown in economic activity at the end of 2018.
The Commerce Department said on Thursday retail sales tumbled 1.2 percent, the largest decline since September 2009 when the economy was emerging from recession.
Every time I write an article like this, a few commenters chime in and blame this entire trend on the rise of online retailing. And without a doubt online retailing has been growing in recent years, but it still accounts for less than 10 percent of the entire industry.
If online retail sales were to blame for this latest drop, you would expect to see that reflected in the numbers. But instead, when we look at the numbers what we find is that online retailers experienced “the biggest drop ever” during the month of December…
December online internet sales (non-store retailers) tumbled 3.9% MoM – the biggest drop ever
So brick and mortar retail sales are going down and online retail sales are going down.
It is starting to smell a lot like a recession, and many in the industry are starting to panic.
And when I say panic, I mean that they are closing stores at a pace that is far faster than last year. In fact, so far retail store closings are 23 percent ahead of the pace set last year…
Coresight Research released an outlook of 2019 store closures Wednesday, saying there’s “no light at the end of the tunnel.”
According to the global market research firm’s report, six weeks into 2019, U.S. retailers have announced 2,187 closings, up 23 percent compared to last year. Those closings include 749 Gymboree stores, 251 Shopko stores and 94 Charlotte Russe locations.
Unfortunately, the number of store closings is about to double because Payless ShoeSource plans to declare bankruptcy and shut down 2,300 stores…
U.S. discount retailer Payless ShoeSource Inc plans to close all of its approximately 2,300 stores when it files for bankruptcy later this month for the second time in as many years, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
And Payless is far from alone. If you can believe it, the number of retail bankruptcies in 2019 is “already at one-third of last year’s total”…
Bankruptcies also are continuing at a rapid pace “with the number of filings in the first six weeks of 2019 already at one-third of last year’s total,” the report states.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is what a retail apocalypse looks like, and we are still in the early chapters.
It is going to take some time for this drama to fully play out. Just look at Sears – it is a money bleeding zombie of a company, but Eddie Lampert has convinced investors to give things one more try. But they are going to zero, and so is JC Penney, and so are a whole host of other major retailers.
In the end, millions upon millions of square feet of retail space is going to be sitting vacant. Some of the more economically depressed areas of the country are going to closely resemble ghost towns, and we are going to see a commercial real estate crisis that is off the charts.
Switching gears, we also just learned that the number of Americans that are at least 90 days behind on their auto loans is already “more than 1 million higher” than it was during the peak of the last recession…
More than 7 million Americans are 90 days or more behind on their vehicle loans as of the end of 2018, according to data released Tuesday by the New York Federal Reserve. That’s more than 1 million higher than the peak in 2010 as the country was recovering from its worst downturn since the Great Depression.
How is that possible?
I thought that the U.S. economy was supposed to be “booming”.
Isn’t that what they have been telling us?
In recent weeks I have repeatedly brought up current economic numbers that are even worse than the last recession, and yet so many people out there continue to insist that everything is just fine.
No, everything is definitely not “just fine”.
Economic activity is slowing down dramatically, and many believe that things are about to get a whole lot worse. In fact, Peter Schiff is warning that what is ahead “is going to be worse than what we now call the Great Recession”…
People are going to realize that we checked into the monetary roach motel that I talked about from the beginning and that there’s no way out, and then the dollar is going to fall like a stone.
When they find out that it’s never over and it didn’t work, then there’s going to be nothing propping up the dollar and it’s going to drop like a stone, the price of gold is going to take off, and the recession that we’re entering into, which is going to be an inflationary recession, is going to be worse than what we now call the Great Recession.
Maybe it’s taken longer than we might have thought to play out, but this is the beginning of the end.”
I wish that I had better news for you today, but I don’t.
The retail apocalypse is accelerating, America’s debt crisis is starting to reach a critical level, and very challenging days are approaching for all of us.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Owning property in Bali
The law and regulations concerning owning property in Bali/Indonesia:
Anyone who has been to Bali knows that it takes a moment to fall in love with this island. The climate, culture, nature, hospitality and tolerance of the people living on this tropical island in paradise are all very appealing. As soon the journey home begins, many people already start planning for next trip to Bali. Many times these so called “returners” are interested to buy property. For residential purposes like retirement or as an investment on the rental market to obtain a return, and for some, a permanent base in Bali.
These dreams may quickly become plans and reality.
But to realize these plans successfully you need to ask yourself if you have enough knowledge about the Indonesian property law and rules. How about the tax rules, visa rules, property laws concerning owning a property? There are many questions and finding the right answers is important to avoid that your tropical dream does not become your tropical nightmare.
On this page of our website we would like to introduce to you some of the laws that apply to foreigners who buy or rent property in Bali, Indonesia.
The law and regulations concerning purchasing property in Bali:
Foreigners are not allowed to own property in Indonesia. You can discuss forever but the fact is, that it is not allowed by law and there is nothing you can change about that fact.
However since 1996 it is allowed for foreigners to lease properties for periods of 25 or 30 years with extensions for another 25 or 30 years, (depending on the conditions are in the lease contract).
And there are other legal ways to obtain property. You can use constructions in which a nominee is involved, this nominee has to be an Indonesian citizen.
So first you may have to choose in what way you want to purchase a property, lease or freehold. Many times however, this choice is already made for you by the way the seller is offering his property on the market. Sellers can offer their properties with a freehold title or with a lease contract. We shall give an explanation about these two options.
Purchasing property:
Until now it is prohibited for foreigners to own property in Indonesia, as all property, land or buildings, are to be registered in the name of an Indonesian citizen.
This means that if you want to purchase a property with a freehold title that you will need an Indonesian citizen as a so called “nominee”. In the land certificate, this Indonesian citizen will be mentioned as the legal owner. To protect your interests as a buyer you will have to make an agreement with this nominee at a notary’s office.
If you are interested to buy a property with a freehold title it is adviseable that you already have a relationship with your Indonesian nominee, although in many cases the nominee of the seller can also be your nominee of this person agrees to act as your nominee.
But again in all cases the agreement should to be settled with the notary to make it a binding official agreement. The notary can be chosen by the buyer and the notary fee may vary from 1% up to 2% of the sales price, and is negotiable in some cases. The sales and purchase agreement is to be drawn up by the notary in Indonesian language, else it is not binding. One of the duties of the notary is to conduct a “due diligence”. The notary makes sure that the property is accessible, free of mortgage and most important the property is provided with a land certificate, building license and proof of payments of several taxes.
The “security documents” between buyer and nominee:
Between the buyer (you) and the Indonesian nominee will have to be an agreement and we call these the security documents, to protect you and also the nominee. Here is an explaination of what this documents need to contain to make it legally binding
The buyer (foreigner) declares that he/she gives the nominee a loan (mortgage) with the objective to buy the mentioned property; this loan is exclusively made to buy this particular property. The nominee declares that he receives this amount of money to buy this particular property. The foreign buyer will be mentioned as the mortgage giver and the Indonesian nominee as the mortgage taker. A mortgage document will be drawn up by the notary.
In these same security documents is a lease agreement between the buyer and nominee for example 25 years and an extension for another 25 years and if you want again for another 25 years. For this period of 25 years the nominee receives a certain amount of money each year, so this lease period is been paid for.
Also a power of attorney (surat kuasa) is drawn up , so you as a buyer, have the full right to do with the property what you like; for example selling or renting it out. Also there will be conditions that you are free to renovate/improve the house without needing to ask permission to the nominee.
In the case that you buy land only, the nominee will give you permission in this power of attorney ( surat kuasa) that you can build a villa if you desire to do so. And of course the power of attorney to sell.
Also a statement of the nominee is included that he is obligated to cooperate with you to protect your interests.
And as soon the Indonesian law changes which makes it possible to legally own land in Indonesia that he is willing to change the freehold title (hak milik) into your name.
The documents will only be legally binding if in Indonesian.
If the purchase is only land and the objective is eventually to build a villa on this plot of land the notary has to check at the land office (kantor pertanahan) if the land is allowed to build on, in other words if the land is applying correctly to the zoning law. The land has to have the aspect of "residential” so an application for a building permit is possible.
Lease and rental:
Between rental and lease there is a significant difference, this difference is the period in which the property will be occupied by the tenant or lessee. To put it more simply ....you “rent” a property for holiday or a longer period of up to a year. When you lease a property you will lease it for the period in the lease contract, commonly 25 years, but can be anything anything between a couple of years to more than 50 years, depending on the offered lease agreement.
In both cases and in 99% of all rental and lease agreements the total sum of money has to be paid up front, before the rental/lease periods starts.
Basically when obtaining a lease (contract), you become the effective owner of that property for the period of the lease period with all obligations and privileges that come with the property. You have the right to sell and in case you pass away, it can go to your heirs. If the lease contract does not have an agreed extension condition, the property will be returned to the landlord after the agreed period and he/she can put it on the market again or whatever he/she wants to do with it. In most cases the purchasing price will be less than a property with a freehold title.
Renting a property:
To rent a property for a shorter period of time gives you flexibility allowing you to move quickly if you don’t like the property and/or want to move to another location. However, renting a property is significantly more expensive in comparison with leasing a property.
In Indonesia there are no laws like in Western countries to protect the tenant. The landlord can do whatever he/she wants when you want to extend the rental period for like another year. It’s likely that the rental price will go up and you have to negotiate again about the rental price. Don’t forget that Indonesian owners won’t maintain the house while you are living in it and he/she will expect that the tenant will do this.
You are advised to use rental contracts with conditions in it for both parties, normally a receipt of payment will do for Indonesian landlord and on the receipt is written the period of rent. We strongly advise to you to draw up a rental contract and to make it stronger. You can do this at a notary. We recommend you make sure that the person who is offering you the property for rent is the legal owner or is legally entitled to offer this property on the rental market.
It is always recommended to work with a trustworthy and thorough notary if you want to set up a rental contract if there is not a contract offered by the landlord.
To lease a property :
To lease a property gives you the full legal protection during the period of the lease contract. In popular areas like Seminyak and Sanur, properties with a freehold title are rare to find these days and the majority of properties on offer for sale are leasehold.
The lease contract has to be drawn up officially by a notary to protect the interests of the lessee (you) and the lessor (landlord). In this lease contract the period has to be defined and the sum of money to be paid by the lessee to the lessor for this period. As soon as the period has expired the property falls back in the hands of the landlord/owner of the property. Unless one of the conditions is about the extension of this lease period.
It is recommended that one of the conditions in the lease contract is about the extension possibilities, and the price of the extension.
If the lease contract has been drawn up by a notary, this agreement is legal . If buying an existing lease contract for, let us say 16 years, this agreement still has to be conducted by a notary.
To obtain full legal protection it is recommended that the lease contract is drawn up in the official Indonesian language (to be legally binding) and another one in English to help prevent misunderstandings between parties.
Hak Pakai....”the right of use”:
Besides the possibilities mentioned above there is still another option for effective ownership.
The Indonesian government realized that many foreign investors were not particularly fond of above mentioned ways to protect legally their property and interests in Bali, Indonesia. So the Indonesian government invented the “Hak Pakai” in other words “ the right of use”.
This way to legalize ownership for foreigners is in many ways similar as in a lease hold, the only difference is that there is no landlord/landowner anymore because the title of ownership is set on the government and the buyer makes an agreement with the government.
It may sound a bit spooky but this is all arranged by the notary and many foreigners see this as the only legal and safe way to protect their ownership and interests. This “Hak Pakai” will be noted in the land certificate and the period of Hak Pakai will be 25 years with guaranteed extensions up to a maximum of 90 years.
The notary will make additional costs for this to arrange this and this will be charged on top of the notary fee.
Building your own villa/house:
If you buy land to build your own villa, again some matters have to be taken care of, in which you need the legal help of a notary.
If the objective is to build a villa on this plot of land the notary has to check at the land office (Kantor Pertanahan) if this is permissible. In other words if the land applys correctly to the zoning law. The land has to have the aspect of “residential” so an application for a building permit is possible. This is part of the Due Diligence is critical and you may need to make this clear to the notary. You are of course free to use the land as agriculture land in that case the land can stay with the zoning title “pertanian”.
If the land is zoned “greenbelt” ( jalur hijau) then you are not allowed to build on that land anyway. We do not recommend bribing officials to get a building permit, although it has been done many times.
If the land meets up to all the legal conditions for building, you can apply for a building permit, called an “IMB”. Do not be mistaken and think this can be done quickly. This is better to be done by a person/specialist who has done this many times before so it can go smoothly. Your building permit application goes with architectural building drawings and estimation of building costs to calculate the construction taxes.
We advise you to consult with acknowledged and legitimate building/construction companies who can assist you through the whole process of applying for a building permit and constructing your dream villa.
Anyone who has been to Bali knows that it takes a moment to fall in love with this island. The climate, culture, nature, hospitality and tolerance of the people living on this tropical island in paradise are all very appealing. As soon the journey home begins, many people already start planning for next trip to Bali. Many times these so called “returners” are interested to buy property. For residential purposes like retirement or as an investment on the rental market to obtain a return, and for some, a permanent base in Bali.
These dreams may quickly become plans and reality.
But to realize these plans successfully you need to ask yourself if you have enough knowledge about the Indonesian property law and rules. How about the tax rules, visa rules, property laws concerning owning a property? There are many questions and finding the right answers is important to avoid that your tropical dream does not become your tropical nightmare.
On this page of our website we would like to introduce to you some of the laws that apply to foreigners who buy or rent property in Bali, Indonesia.
The law and regulations concerning purchasing property in Bali:
Foreigners are not allowed to own property in Indonesia. You can discuss forever but the fact is, that it is not allowed by law and there is nothing you can change about that fact.
However since 1996 it is allowed for foreigners to lease properties for periods of 25 or 30 years with extensions for another 25 or 30 years, (depending on the conditions are in the lease contract).
And there are other legal ways to obtain property. You can use constructions in which a nominee is involved, this nominee has to be an Indonesian citizen.
So first you may have to choose in what way you want to purchase a property, lease or freehold. Many times however, this choice is already made for you by the way the seller is offering his property on the market. Sellers can offer their properties with a freehold title or with a lease contract. We shall give an explanation about these two options.
Purchasing property:
Until now it is prohibited for foreigners to own property in Indonesia, as all property, land or buildings, are to be registered in the name of an Indonesian citizen.
This means that if you want to purchase a property with a freehold title that you will need an Indonesian citizen as a so called “nominee”. In the land certificate, this Indonesian citizen will be mentioned as the legal owner. To protect your interests as a buyer you will have to make an agreement with this nominee at a notary’s office.
If you are interested to buy a property with a freehold title it is adviseable that you already have a relationship with your Indonesian nominee, although in many cases the nominee of the seller can also be your nominee of this person agrees to act as your nominee.
But again in all cases the agreement should to be settled with the notary to make it a binding official agreement. The notary can be chosen by the buyer and the notary fee may vary from 1% up to 2% of the sales price, and is negotiable in some cases. The sales and purchase agreement is to be drawn up by the notary in Indonesian language, else it is not binding. One of the duties of the notary is to conduct a “due diligence”. The notary makes sure that the property is accessible, free of mortgage and most important the property is provided with a land certificate, building license and proof of payments of several taxes.
The “security documents” between buyer and nominee:
Between the buyer (you) and the Indonesian nominee will have to be an agreement and we call these the security documents, to protect you and also the nominee. Here is an explaination of what this documents need to contain to make it legally binding
The buyer (foreigner) declares that he/she gives the nominee a loan (mortgage) with the objective to buy the mentioned property; this loan is exclusively made to buy this particular property. The nominee declares that he receives this amount of money to buy this particular property. The foreign buyer will be mentioned as the mortgage giver and the Indonesian nominee as the mortgage taker. A mortgage document will be drawn up by the notary.
In these same security documents is a lease agreement between the buyer and nominee for example 25 years and an extension for another 25 years and if you want again for another 25 years. For this period of 25 years the nominee receives a certain amount of money each year, so this lease period is been paid for.
Also a power of attorney (surat kuasa) is drawn up , so you as a buyer, have the full right to do with the property what you like; for example selling or renting it out. Also there will be conditions that you are free to renovate/improve the house without needing to ask permission to the nominee.
In the case that you buy land only, the nominee will give you permission in this power of attorney ( surat kuasa) that you can build a villa if you desire to do so. And of course the power of attorney to sell.
Also a statement of the nominee is included that he is obligated to cooperate with you to protect your interests.
And as soon the Indonesian law changes which makes it possible to legally own land in Indonesia that he is willing to change the freehold title (hak milik) into your name.
The documents will only be legally binding if in Indonesian.
If the purchase is only land and the objective is eventually to build a villa on this plot of land the notary has to check at the land office (kantor pertanahan) if the land is allowed to build on, in other words if the land is applying correctly to the zoning law. The land has to have the aspect of "residential” so an application for a building permit is possible.
Lease and rental:
Between rental and lease there is a significant difference, this difference is the period in which the property will be occupied by the tenant or lessee. To put it more simply ....you “rent” a property for holiday or a longer period of up to a year. When you lease a property you will lease it for the period in the lease contract, commonly 25 years, but can be anything anything between a couple of years to more than 50 years, depending on the offered lease agreement.
In both cases and in 99% of all rental and lease agreements the total sum of money has to be paid up front, before the rental/lease periods starts.
Basically when obtaining a lease (contract), you become the effective owner of that property for the period of the lease period with all obligations and privileges that come with the property. You have the right to sell and in case you pass away, it can go to your heirs. If the lease contract does not have an agreed extension condition, the property will be returned to the landlord after the agreed period and he/she can put it on the market again or whatever he/she wants to do with it. In most cases the purchasing price will be less than a property with a freehold title.
Renting a property:
To rent a property for a shorter period of time gives you flexibility allowing you to move quickly if you don’t like the property and/or want to move to another location. However, renting a property is significantly more expensive in comparison with leasing a property.
In Indonesia there are no laws like in Western countries to protect the tenant. The landlord can do whatever he/she wants when you want to extend the rental period for like another year. It’s likely that the rental price will go up and you have to negotiate again about the rental price. Don’t forget that Indonesian owners won’t maintain the house while you are living in it and he/she will expect that the tenant will do this.
You are advised to use rental contracts with conditions in it for both parties, normally a receipt of payment will do for Indonesian landlord and on the receipt is written the period of rent. We strongly advise to you to draw up a rental contract and to make it stronger. You can do this at a notary. We recommend you make sure that the person who is offering you the property for rent is the legal owner or is legally entitled to offer this property on the rental market.
It is always recommended to work with a trustworthy and thorough notary if you want to set up a rental contract if there is not a contract offered by the landlord.
To lease a property :
To lease a property gives you the full legal protection during the period of the lease contract. In popular areas like Seminyak and Sanur, properties with a freehold title are rare to find these days and the majority of properties on offer for sale are leasehold.
The lease contract has to be drawn up officially by a notary to protect the interests of the lessee (you) and the lessor (landlord). In this lease contract the period has to be defined and the sum of money to be paid by the lessee to the lessor for this period. As soon as the period has expired the property falls back in the hands of the landlord/owner of the property. Unless one of the conditions is about the extension of this lease period.
It is recommended that one of the conditions in the lease contract is about the extension possibilities, and the price of the extension.
If the lease contract has been drawn up by a notary, this agreement is legal . If buying an existing lease contract for, let us say 16 years, this agreement still has to be conducted by a notary.
To obtain full legal protection it is recommended that the lease contract is drawn up in the official Indonesian language (to be legally binding) and another one in English to help prevent misunderstandings between parties.
Hak Pakai....”the right of use”:
Besides the possibilities mentioned above there is still another option for effective ownership.
The Indonesian government realized that many foreign investors were not particularly fond of above mentioned ways to protect legally their property and interests in Bali, Indonesia. So the Indonesian government invented the “Hak Pakai” in other words “ the right of use”.
This way to legalize ownership for foreigners is in many ways similar as in a lease hold, the only difference is that there is no landlord/landowner anymore because the title of ownership is set on the government and the buyer makes an agreement with the government.
It may sound a bit spooky but this is all arranged by the notary and many foreigners see this as the only legal and safe way to protect their ownership and interests. This “Hak Pakai” will be noted in the land certificate and the period of Hak Pakai will be 25 years with guaranteed extensions up to a maximum of 90 years.
The notary will make additional costs for this to arrange this and this will be charged on top of the notary fee.
Building your own villa/house:
If you buy land to build your own villa, again some matters have to be taken care of, in which you need the legal help of a notary.
If the objective is to build a villa on this plot of land the notary has to check at the land office (Kantor Pertanahan) if this is permissible. In other words if the land applys correctly to the zoning law. The land has to have the aspect of “residential” so an application for a building permit is possible. This is part of the Due Diligence is critical and you may need to make this clear to the notary. You are of course free to use the land as agriculture land in that case the land can stay with the zoning title “pertanian”.
If the land is zoned “greenbelt” ( jalur hijau) then you are not allowed to build on that land anyway. We do not recommend bribing officials to get a building permit, although it has been done many times.
If the land meets up to all the legal conditions for building, you can apply for a building permit, called an “IMB”. Do not be mistaken and think this can be done quickly. This is better to be done by a person/specialist who has done this many times before so it can go smoothly. Your building permit application goes with architectural building drawings and estimation of building costs to calculate the construction taxes.
We advise you to consult with acknowledged and legitimate building/construction companies who can assist you through the whole process of applying for a building permit and constructing your dream villa.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Fewer COEs for next three months starting from February
SINGAPORE - There will be fewer certificates of entitlement (COE) for the next three months starting from February.
The Land Transport Authority said on Thursday (Jan 24) the supply of Category A COEs (cars up to 1,600cc and 130bhp) will shrink by 9.1 per cent to 3,300 a month.
Category B (cars above 1,600cc or 130bhp) will have 2.9 per cent fewer certificates at 2,399 a month.
Open category (for all vehicles except motorcycles but which ends up mostly for bigger cars) will have 26.4 per cent fewer COEs at 794 a month.
In all, car buyers and sellers will see their collective supply (including Open) shrink by 9.6 per cent to 6,493 pieces a month. Those buying or selling bigger models will see a bigger shrinkage of 10.1 per cent.
Commercial vehicle buyers and sellers will have 7.6 per cent fewer COEs at 608 per month. And motorcyclists will see a 25.2 per cent plunge in their COE supply to 1,651 pieces a month.
In total, the monthly supply is 12.9 per cent smaller than the November-January quota at 8,752.
Although some motor traders baulk at the prospect of a smaller quota, Mr Ron Lim, head of sales and marketing at Nissan agent Tan Chong Motor, said its impact on car prices may not be significant.
“Category A is now basically back to what it was in the August-October 2018,” he said. “Back then, COE at its lowest was $25,556.
“So, unless buying sentiment picks up strongly, I doubt Cat A COE will see much fluctuation.”
But Mr Lim noted that the impact on those who buy and sell bigger cars may be more significant, as the shrinkage in their pool was “more than expected” – mainly because of the 26.4 per cent plunge in the Open quota.
Even so, “a lot depends on whether demand can be sustained, especially whether Gojek’s buying is over”, he said, referring to the new private-hire firm’s arrival fuelling demand for cars.
“If Gojek buying is over, then again we might not see much fluctuation in Cat B and Open category prices,” Mr Lim added.
The trade is likely to gauge how customers react to news of the reduced quota before adjusting car prices, but Mr Lim said “based on past experience, especially during the Chinese New Year tender period”, most customers will not rush in.
“Fundamental buying sentiment still remains relatively weak,” he noted, adding that it will be this, rather than COE supply numbers, which will have a bigger impact on prices.
Industry observers said Gojek is looking to build up an initial fleet of 2,000 cars. Even if they stagger buying over five or 10 months, it will exert upward pressure on COE premiums.
The Land Transport Authority said on Thursday (Jan 24) the supply of Category A COEs (cars up to 1,600cc and 130bhp) will shrink by 9.1 per cent to 3,300 a month.
Category B (cars above 1,600cc or 130bhp) will have 2.9 per cent fewer certificates at 2,399 a month.
Open category (for all vehicles except motorcycles but which ends up mostly for bigger cars) will have 26.4 per cent fewer COEs at 794 a month.
In all, car buyers and sellers will see their collective supply (including Open) shrink by 9.6 per cent to 6,493 pieces a month. Those buying or selling bigger models will see a bigger shrinkage of 10.1 per cent.
Commercial vehicle buyers and sellers will have 7.6 per cent fewer COEs at 608 per month. And motorcyclists will see a 25.2 per cent plunge in their COE supply to 1,651 pieces a month.
In total, the monthly supply is 12.9 per cent smaller than the November-January quota at 8,752.
Although some motor traders baulk at the prospect of a smaller quota, Mr Ron Lim, head of sales and marketing at Nissan agent Tan Chong Motor, said its impact on car prices may not be significant.
“Category A is now basically back to what it was in the August-October 2018,” he said. “Back then, COE at its lowest was $25,556.
“So, unless buying sentiment picks up strongly, I doubt Cat A COE will see much fluctuation.”
But Mr Lim noted that the impact on those who buy and sell bigger cars may be more significant, as the shrinkage in their pool was “more than expected” – mainly because of the 26.4 per cent plunge in the Open quota.
Even so, “a lot depends on whether demand can be sustained, especially whether Gojek’s buying is over”, he said, referring to the new private-hire firm’s arrival fuelling demand for cars.
“If Gojek buying is over, then again we might not see much fluctuation in Cat B and Open category prices,” Mr Lim added.
The trade is likely to gauge how customers react to news of the reduced quota before adjusting car prices, but Mr Lim said “based on past experience, especially during the Chinese New Year tender period”, most customers will not rush in.
“Fundamental buying sentiment still remains relatively weak,” he noted, adding that it will be this, rather than COE supply numbers, which will have a bigger impact on prices.
Industry observers said Gojek is looking to build up an initial fleet of 2,000 cars. Even if they stagger buying over five or 10 months, it will exert upward pressure on COE premiums.
Monday, January 21, 2019
LG to supply gesture-reading system for Mercedes-Benz
[SEOUL] LG Electronics Co. is the supplier for a Daimler AG Mercedes-Benz model that will feature a motion-detection system that can read a driver's gestures in order to control some automobile functions, people with knowledge of the matter said.
A camera installed in the car ceiling will read the driver's hand gestures, letting them control tasks such as turning on cruise control and adjusting music volume. Ultimately, LG envisions a system that can perform more complex functions such as shifting gears, said the people, asking not to be identified because the information isn't yet public.
BMW has already deployed a similar system in its 7 Series sedans, using technology from Softkinetic Systems, which was later bought by Sony Corp. LG already has a deal with Mercedes for a camera system that can tell if the driver is drowsy. A Jan. 8 news release by Mercedes-Benz from CES in Las Vegas showcased a new feature called MBUX Interior Assist, which lets occupants of the Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe control functions with gestures.
The ability to detect pedestrians and read traffic signs has also been deployed by several automakers; such advanced driver assistance systems are building blocks for fully autonomous vehicles that can fundamentally change the way people ride in cars in the future. LG is also working on a driver-assistance system, which it aims to supply to Daimler later this year or in early 2020. Delivery was initially set for later this year, but was being delayed because the South Korean company had trouble acquiring the necessary chips, one of the people said.
Representatives for LG and Daimler declined to comment.
LG is a member of a South Korean conglomerate that's been stepping up efforts to supply auto components, from electronic batteries to digital dashboards. LG competes with Intel Corp.'s Mobileye and Harman, a unit of Samsung Electronics Co., in the driver-assistance market, which is expected to expand to US$67 billion by 2025 according to Grand View Research.
The Seoul-based company is seeking new sources of profit as its mobile phone and consumer electronics sales shrink in saturated markets. LG said earlier this month that its fourth-quarter operating profit fell 80 per cent to 75.3 billion won, compared with the 389 billion won average analyst estimate compiled by Bloomberg.
A camera installed in the car ceiling will read the driver's hand gestures, letting them control tasks such as turning on cruise control and adjusting music volume. Ultimately, LG envisions a system that can perform more complex functions such as shifting gears, said the people, asking not to be identified because the information isn't yet public.
BMW has already deployed a similar system in its 7 Series sedans, using technology from Softkinetic Systems, which was later bought by Sony Corp. LG already has a deal with Mercedes for a camera system that can tell if the driver is drowsy. A Jan. 8 news release by Mercedes-Benz from CES in Las Vegas showcased a new feature called MBUX Interior Assist, which lets occupants of the Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe control functions with gestures.
The ability to detect pedestrians and read traffic signs has also been deployed by several automakers; such advanced driver assistance systems are building blocks for fully autonomous vehicles that can fundamentally change the way people ride in cars in the future. LG is also working on a driver-assistance system, which it aims to supply to Daimler later this year or in early 2020. Delivery was initially set for later this year, but was being delayed because the South Korean company had trouble acquiring the necessary chips, one of the people said.
Representatives for LG and Daimler declined to comment.
LG is a member of a South Korean conglomerate that's been stepping up efforts to supply auto components, from electronic batteries to digital dashboards. LG competes with Intel Corp.'s Mobileye and Harman, a unit of Samsung Electronics Co., in the driver-assistance market, which is expected to expand to US$67 billion by 2025 according to Grand View Research.
The Seoul-based company is seeking new sources of profit as its mobile phone and consumer electronics sales shrink in saturated markets. LG said earlier this month that its fourth-quarter operating profit fell 80 per cent to 75.3 billion won, compared with the 389 billion won average analyst estimate compiled by Bloomberg.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Parc Esta
Project Name: Parc Esta
Type: Apartment / Condo
Address: 828 Sims Avenue
Site Area: 376,712
PROJECT INFO
PROJECT : PARC ESTA
DEVELOPER : MCL LAND
LOCATION : SIMS AVENUE AND CHANGI ROAD
DISTRICT : 14
TENURE : 99 YEARS LEASEHOLD
TOP : -
SITE AREA : 376,712 SQFT
UNIT MIX : 1399 UNITS
Developer MCL Land
Development Parc Esta
TOP Est 2023
Tenure 99 Years
No. Of Units 1399 Units
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
2020 Mercedes CLA-Class svelte shape revealed at CES
The interior comes standard with a pair of 7-inch screens, and buyers can opt for larger 10.25-inch displays.
The teasers are finally over, and the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is here after an unveiling at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The saloon's new generation will have its European market launch in May 2019, and Mercedes will announce pricing info closer to launch. Unlike in US market, the Edition 1 will not be offered in the UK.
The little four-door on display in Las Vegas is the CLA 250 with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel drive. The mill produces 221 bhp and 258 pound-feet of torque. For now, Mercedes isn't offering many performance details for the 2020 CLA beyond its electronically limited top speed of 130 miles per hour.
The latest CLA-Class grows a little over the previous generation. Overall length is up 48 millimetres to 4,688 mm, and the wheelbase increases by 30 mm to 2,729 mm. The company also pushes out the wheel tracks by stretching them 63 mm at the front and 55 mm at the rear. The greater size doesn't translate to big boosts in cabin space because front legroom decreases by 1 mm and rear legroom grows by 1 mm. In the boot, cargo capacity decreases by 10 litres to a total of 460 litres.
On the inside, the CLA-Class comes with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) software, and the standard cabin features a pair of seven-inch displays – one for the instruments and other for the infotainment system. Customers can upgrade to two 10.25-inch screens for a more eye-catching view. Another option adds gesture control to the tech that lets occupants just wave their hands to make selections, rather than using the usual touchpad on the centre console. Further available improvements include navigation and a Burmester Surround Sound System.
The 2020 CLA comes standard with an Active Brake Assist system that can automatically slow the saloon to avoid collisions with vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. However, the optional Driver Assistance Package loads the vehicle with helpful driving aids. It includes features like adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, lane keep assist, speed limit sign recognition, and blind spot monitoring.
Mercedes Singapore News
The teasers are finally over, and the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is here after an unveiling at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The saloon's new generation will have its European market launch in May 2019, and Mercedes will announce pricing info closer to launch. Unlike in US market, the Edition 1 will not be offered in the UK.
The little four-door on display in Las Vegas is the CLA 250 with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel drive. The mill produces 221 bhp and 258 pound-feet of torque. For now, Mercedes isn't offering many performance details for the 2020 CLA beyond its electronically limited top speed of 130 miles per hour.
The latest CLA-Class grows a little over the previous generation. Overall length is up 48 millimetres to 4,688 mm, and the wheelbase increases by 30 mm to 2,729 mm. The company also pushes out the wheel tracks by stretching them 63 mm at the front and 55 mm at the rear. The greater size doesn't translate to big boosts in cabin space because front legroom decreases by 1 mm and rear legroom grows by 1 mm. In the boot, cargo capacity decreases by 10 litres to a total of 460 litres.
On the inside, the CLA-Class comes with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) software, and the standard cabin features a pair of seven-inch displays – one for the instruments and other for the infotainment system. Customers can upgrade to two 10.25-inch screens for a more eye-catching view. Another option adds gesture control to the tech that lets occupants just wave their hands to make selections, rather than using the usual touchpad on the centre console. Further available improvements include navigation and a Burmester Surround Sound System.
The 2020 CLA comes standard with an Active Brake Assist system that can automatically slow the saloon to avoid collisions with vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. However, the optional Driver Assistance Package loads the vehicle with helpful driving aids. It includes features like adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, lane keep assist, speed limit sign recognition, and blind spot monitoring.
Mercedes Singapore News
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Mercedes GLC Coupe facelift caught with very little camo
Mercedes didn't put much effort into camouflaging the prototype.
It’s a bit difficult to keep a track of everything that’s going on at Mercedes due to its vast lineup. Because there are so many models, it means there’s a facelift or a next-generation car right around the corner almost throughout the entire year. The GLC Coupe has only been out for less than three years, but in today’s hugely competitive automotive world, the Daimler company needs to keep the crossover-coupe mashup fresh and relevant in its battle with the BMW X4 and next year’s Audi Q3 Sportback / Q4.
A barely disguised prototype of the compact crossover was spotted out and about on the streets of Germany not shy to show off its mildly updated headlights and taillights. A GLC 300 4Matic test vehicle, the high-riding Merc had camouflage only on the front bumper and the horizontal slat of the grille, while the revised LED taillights were also carrying a bit of mascara.
Being more or less the crossover equivalent of the C-Class, it means the GLC / GLC Coupe will inherit the same novelties as the facelifted C. As such, the GLC 43 will get a power boost to mirror the C43 while on the inside there’s going to be an updated infotainment system, but sadly not the MBUX of newer Mercedes models.
Don’t hold your breath on seeing a GLC 53 since the three-pointed star has mentioned the C53 – for which it has filed a trademark – will have to wait until the next-generation C-Class. By the way, our spies have already caught on camera the W206 undergoing cold weather testing in Sweden ahead of a possible market launch in 2020.
Meanwhile, Mercedes will introduce the facelifted GLC lineup in the months to come, so we might get to see it at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It certainly won't be in Detroit since Mercedes along with BMW and Audi are skipping NAIAS in 2019.
It’s a bit difficult to keep a track of everything that’s going on at Mercedes due to its vast lineup. Because there are so many models, it means there’s a facelift or a next-generation car right around the corner almost throughout the entire year. The GLC Coupe has only been out for less than three years, but in today’s hugely competitive automotive world, the Daimler company needs to keep the crossover-coupe mashup fresh and relevant in its battle with the BMW X4 and next year’s Audi Q3 Sportback / Q4.
A barely disguised prototype of the compact crossover was spotted out and about on the streets of Germany not shy to show off its mildly updated headlights and taillights. A GLC 300 4Matic test vehicle, the high-riding Merc had camouflage only on the front bumper and the horizontal slat of the grille, while the revised LED taillights were also carrying a bit of mascara.
Being more or less the crossover equivalent of the C-Class, it means the GLC / GLC Coupe will inherit the same novelties as the facelifted C. As such, the GLC 43 will get a power boost to mirror the C43 while on the inside there’s going to be an updated infotainment system, but sadly not the MBUX of newer Mercedes models.
Don’t hold your breath on seeing a GLC 53 since the three-pointed star has mentioned the C53 – for which it has filed a trademark – will have to wait until the next-generation C-Class. By the way, our spies have already caught on camera the W206 undergoing cold weather testing in Sweden ahead of a possible market launch in 2020.
Meanwhile, Mercedes will introduce the facelifted GLC lineup in the months to come, so we might get to see it at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It certainly won't be in Detroit since Mercedes along with BMW and Audi are skipping NAIAS in 2019.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
COE prices end mixed in last round of bidding for 2018
Certificate of entitlement (COE) prices rose for small cars, the Open category and motorcycles in the last round of bidding for the year, which ended yesterday.
The price for cars up to 1,600cc and 130bhp closed at $25,501, up from the $23,568 of the previous bidding round.
In the Open COE category, which applies to any vehicle type except motorcycles but is typically used for bigger cars, the price rose to $31,809 from $30,851 in the previous round.
Premiums for motorcycles rose to $3,789 from $3,399 in the previous round.
The price for cars above 1,600cc and 130bhp remained unchanged at $31,001.
Premiums for goods vehicles and buses dipped slightly to $27,001 from $27,009 in the previous round.
Honda agent Kah Motor's general manager Nicholas Wong attributed the small-car price hike to recently released figures for deregistration of cars in October and last month.
Deregistration means the vehicles are scrapped and taken off the roads permanently.
"Deregistration numbers have gone down, which means that from February onwards, the quota will be reduced. So dealers will make a move now," he told The Straits Times.
The price for cars up to 1,600cc and 130bhp closed at $25,501, up from the $23,568 of the previous bidding round.
In the Open COE category, which applies to any vehicle type except motorcycles but is typically used for bigger cars, the price rose to $31,809 from $30,851 in the previous round.
Premiums for motorcycles rose to $3,789 from $3,399 in the previous round.
The price for cars above 1,600cc and 130bhp remained unchanged at $31,001.
Premiums for goods vehicles and buses dipped slightly to $27,001 from $27,009 in the previous round.
Honda agent Kah Motor's general manager Nicholas Wong attributed the small-car price hike to recently released figures for deregistration of cars in October and last month.
Deregistration means the vehicles are scrapped and taken off the roads permanently.
"Deregistration numbers have gone down, which means that from February onwards, the quota will be reduced. So dealers will make a move now," he told The Straits Times.
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