Cashed up Chinese property purchasers have become a major segment of international buyer in the United State.
Media reports now spin tales of China buyers attracted by rock bottom prices in distressed markets like Detroit and along what is known at the "Rust Belt".
While the promise to investor's is coming in on the bottom of the market has upside, the reality for many of the declining urbanized areas is that economic might not be a mater of years, but of decades.
There is always that old adage about if something is too good to be true, it probably is, but that seemingly is not detracting the Chinese at the moment.
One of Malaysia's fastest growing property markets is the southern border area of Johor next to Singapore.
The area is being framed by the large Iskandar project which entails large amounts of residential real estate aimed at overseas buyers.
Despite the focus the government is instituting an increase in property taxes for foreign owners.
It's been estimated that over 90% of buyers in the area are Singaporean.
Despite the kick in tax rates, compared to Singapore prices remain bargain basement rates comparatively.
Johor falls into the catchment of what is widely looked at to be Greater Singapore in the decade ahead.
Amanusa in Bali has brought ten new completed private villas into the rental operation.
Located in Nusa Dua and close to Bali Golf the design was done by renowned architect Kerry Hill.
Villas are four bedrooms, with a large private pool, though some larger units are available.
Aman is rapidly developing their residential offering with new properties currently on the market in the Philippines and Greece.
Look out Phuket, here comes Hua Hin.
In the past the beach destination on the Gulf of Thailand has seen mostly mid range condominium product geared to the domestic market.
News is in that developer Pace who are behind the MahaNakhon Bangkok are launching a luxury villa project called Mahasamutr in Hua Hin.
Pricing starts at THB35 million and escalates with larger homes.
The project is located on a 113 rai site and includes a lake and country club.
An offsite beach club is provided for home owners near to the Hyatt Regency.
Project completion is scheduled for 2017.
Anthony McDonald's X2 Group are taking on new hotel branded residence projects in Kamala, Chiang Mai and Sydney.
In Kamala the X2 is a modern design concept with nine pool villas which is being developed on a hillside location.
For those of you who don't know X2 stands for CrossTo, and the Bangkok-based group is under the umbrella of Boutique Hotel Management Asia.
For the Australia roll out the project will tagged X2 Apartments Collection.
Here on the island Kamala is seeing a strong push of new projects which included the large three tower condo development Oceana.
From hero to zero is how the current installment of the Eric Levine story reads.
After successfully listing his California WOW Xperience fitness chain on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, he became a regular cover story for the county's prominent society magazines.
Back in 2006 Levine reportedly sold his mega property the 6,500 square meter Villa Beyond just over the Sarasin bridge in Natai for what was reported as USD24 million.
Over the past few years Levine has been dogged by the bankruptcy of California WOW Xperience Plc after it was forced to shut down 7 of its 8 Bangkok branches.
One key creditor Bangkok Bank filed a court action in 2012.
Since that time over 100 former members have worked with the Foundation for Consumer and are rabidly pursing direct legal action against Levine.
Media reports in both the Bangkok Post and Nation have repeatedly detailed out the consumer complaints and legal entanglements that are focused on Levine.
California WOW is currently under bankruptcy reorganization proceedings in Bangkok.
Last we heard Levine who's name had been connected to a large multi-million dollar property project in Phang Nga, have become media shy and taken a back seat in the real estate world.
For those in Phuket the legend of the Beyond Villa landmark sales remain intact, but certainly the glitter has faded.
Lyndon Phillips who was the Director of Sales for Banyan Tree Residences and Laguna Property in Phuket has left the group.
Phillips had guided the successful launch of the Laguna Shores offering and his departure is sudden.
In other news Laguna Phuket is currently building a large new property showroom and sales deck at the intersection before reaching Canal Village.
We have received a number of email's asking about the large construction on Thepkassatri Road just north of the Heroines Monument.
The site is destined to be a Thai-Watsadu outlet under Homeworks which is part of Central Retail Corporation
In a nutshell it is a one-stop-shopping construction material supplier for the domestic market.
Completion is expected this September.
The Samui boutique private pool development AquaSamui has won an Asia Pacific Property Award.
Designed by Gary Fell of Gfab the property enjoyed a high sales pace after it's launch.
Over the past twelve months the island is seeing a pick up at the top end of the market with new launches including the latest phase of Samujana.
