After receiving complaints from commuters regarding toll fees along Veng Sreng Road, the prime minister cancelled the road investment contract in late December 2015 and placed it under state management and abolished the collection of fees from commuters. “I am giving the Veng Sreng road back to the people to use free of charge as a New Year present. I am grateful to our citizens who brought this news on Facebook about their problems regarding the Veng Sreng road to my attention,” the Prime Minister Hun Sen said.Chinese firm BOTT WAYS invested in the Veng Sreng - Chom Chao road which runs for 6.5km and is 22 metres wide. Built with 20-cm concrete, the road is divided by 2.5-metre wide garden. When contract was cancelled, the road has almost been completed. The remaining works have subsequently been transferred to the capital department of public works and transport.   As with Veng Sreng Road, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen also decided to cease charges for commuters on National Road 4 from 13 January after receiving complaints from people via Facebook. The decision was made just a few days after he removed toll fees for people who own vehicles and reside along National Road 4 that have to pay daily. The 230-km National Road 4 has been operated and maintained by AZ Group under a 34-year concession since 2000. This main artery to the coast is currently being expanded from 2 lanes to 4 lanes with an unspecified completion date.   This article was submitted by: Tim Vutha, Construction and Property Magazine

Plans have been submitted for a super skyscraper to be built in Phnom Penh which would make it home to the tallest building in Southeast Asia (ASEAN) in 2019 should it be completed. The Thai Boon Roong Twin Tower Trade Center is being jointly developed by local firm Thai Boon Roong Co., Ltd and Chinese giant contractor Kia Nip Group. The development has been revised upwards from a proposal submitted to City Hall in June 2015 of 111 floors worth $3 billion to a new design of 133 floors worth over $1 billion.The capital’s Land Management Urban Planning and Construction department and the Phnom Penh municipality consecutively endorsed the revised master plan in mid-February. The plan has already been submitted to the Ministry of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction for a final study that is expected to take at least 45 working days before a final decision is released.  If final permission is granted, construction is planned to kick off later in 2016 with completion scheduled for 2019. The project is expected to become ASEAN’s Tallest TowerThe Thai Boon Roong Twin Tower Trade Center is to be situated on the five-hectare Dream Land plot in Tonle Bassac commune and will feature commercial office space, a cultural centre, hotel, retail and shopping centres and many more entertainment facilities.  If completed, the structure will be ASEAN’s Tallest Tower ahead of Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers (452 metres with 88 floors), Vietnam’s Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower (345 metres and 77 floors), Malaysia’s Menara Telekom Towers (310 metres and 55 floors) and the 304-metre Baiyoke Tower II in Thailand with 84 floors.  It will also be the 5th tallest high-rise in Asia as well as in the world following the UAE’s Burj Khalifa (828 meters), China’s Shanghai Tower (632 meters), Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel (601 meters) and Taiwan’s Taipei 101 (509 meters). However, if the 555-metre Diamond Tower proposed by Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC) in 2010 is successfully built on Diamond Island, the tower will rank only second in Phnom Penh.  While such high-rises are usually welcomed by the public, building safety systems - especially related to fire prevention - are usually the main concerns due to the fact that the Cambodian authorities still have limited capacity and legal regulation in dealing with safety issues on tall buildings, let alone super-skyscrapers. Prof. Tous Saphouen, Secretary General of Board of Architects Cambodia and also the Dean of Pannasastra University of Cambodia’s Architecture Faculty was involved in the architectural design of this project. He told local media that the development was the result of a very detail architectural study done by experienced Cambodian and Chinese architects. According to Prof. Tous, giant Chinese constructor and main contractor Kia Nip Group has developed many high structures especially in China. Since it is the first super-tall building in Cambodia, the developer it is not sure whether local firms can be sub-contracted to parts of the building works. According to data from the Ministry of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction, 628 buildings ranging between 5 and 40+ floors have been erected in Cambodia so far. Among them, 407 buildings are between 5 and 9 floors, 187 buildings are between 10 and 19 floors, and 22 are between 20 and 29 floors. Only four towers surpass 40 floors. Phnom Penh Governor Pa Socheatevong has indicated that Phnom Penh will attract more high-rises in the next few years, especially in the area surrounding Diamond Island, and in Chamkar Morn and Daun Pinh districts. Despite general industry enthusiasm for the project, questions continue to be raised about not only the viability of the project for the Cambodian market but also about whether due diligence will be followed in the approval, investment and construction of the project. This article was submitted by: Tim Vutha, Construction and Property Magazine

Jum reap sour! And welcome to another weekly Real Estate News Report brought to you by RealEstate.com.kh. The leader in real estate news in the Kingdom and the best place to find your new home.On this week’s show, we’re going to be speaking with Mr. In Sitha, Director of Business Development at VTrust Appraisal. Sitha has over 20 years experience in the real estate business in Cambodia and he now specializes in property development consultancy and real estate business development. He's also a renowned real estate teacher in real estate law and real estate practice. In this 6 Part series, we're going to get some tips for property developers and real estate businesses seeking to gain an edge when entering the Cambodian real estate market.PART 2: THE PROCESS TO START ANY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN CAMBODIA, FOR DEVELOPERS Missed part 1? View it here!Realestate.com.kh: For developers, when you meet the developer that's considering launching a project in Cambodia, can you briefly explain the process for starting a new development project in Cambodia? What do they need to do?In Sitha: Thank you, this is a good question as well. Most developers have to understand a few things when they decide to enter the Cambodian market. To start a new development project in Cambodia, number one, the developer must get the business license from the Ministry of CommerceRealestate.com.kh: Number one, business license. This takes how long?In Sitha: I'd say a few weeks, usually from one week to two weeks. Now everything's online so the developer can go to the website of the Ministry of Commerce and apply to get the business license.Realestate.com.kh: This process is much faster now?In Sitha: Yes, it is faster now. This is a new system for the Cambodian government so everything's online now.  Second, the developer needs to get permission from the General Department of Taxation. They have to apply to get VAT number and tax patent. You can also apply for tax patent online. The developers then apply to get the construction license from the Ministry of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction.Realestate.com.kh: The construction license, that's general - or you take a different license for different type of projects?In Sitha: Actually, it will be specific in regards to the size and type of the development. And we have specific periods. Realestate.com.kh: And if they don't complete the comstruction in a certain time?In Sitha: They can extend. At the same time the developers are applying to get the construction license, they need permission for their project from the Ministry of Economy and Finance as well. The same registration applies for a developer as applies to a real estate agency. In the real estate business, first we have to apply to get the business license from the Ministry of Commerce and then get the Tax Patent. Then we have to apply to get our license and certificate from the Ministry of Economy and Finance for the specific professional field as a developer, agent and property manager in some cases. The developer is no different, and needs to get licensed for any type of business it undertakes.Realestate.com.kh: So the developer, they need to apply for a license to sell their property also? They need to apply for a real estate license?In Sitha: Yes they do.Number five in the process is that  the developers have to prepare the master plan for the development project, and submit this to the Ministry of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction and wait for the approval. After the approval, the Ministry of Land Management provide construction permission. Developers then can start the development project at the site that they propose. Realestate.com.kh: Roughly how long does it take to receive these permissions to begin? How fast could they do that?In Sitha: It takes a few months. It depends on how busy the government is. Some Months they are busy, like for the official meetings or something, so it takes a longer. Broadly, it's between one month and three months start to finish.Realestate.com.kh: When they submit the project plan to the government, how specific, how detailed does the plan need to be at this stage?In Sitha: They should include the floor plans as part of the master plan, in order for a professional architect from the land management ministry to check. Which means that before construction starts, developers have to prepare the master plan, the complete of construction prediction, and submit all information to the Ministry of Land Management.  The Ministry of Land Management will then check and verify whether it shall proceed.Realestate.com.kh: You must have a registered construction company in this plan?In Sitha: Yeah, yeah. It shall be under one company who can also be registered for construction, or in partnership with a separate registered construction company. Number six, in the process for a developer to start in Cambodia, the marketing and selling strategy is also important. How to do the marketing and how to sell your type of development in Cambodia. Many developer don’t pay enough attention to this. It's all about the marketing. I say developers need to do the market research and see whether the project could be a healthy seller in this market. And don’t wait until after the construction to do this! Can customers buy or not? And research the right price or something like that. The developer needs to understand the market price, and likely changes, which means the price that could be affordable to the customer compared to the neighboring development projects. My company, VTrust Appraisal, are specialists in research and market study. We are an independent organization that can bring a lot of useful knowledge to those considering development projects.

Jum reap sour! And welcome to another weekly Real Estate News Report brought to you by RealEstate.com.kh. The leader in real estate news in the Kingdom and the best place to find your new home.On this week’s show, we’re going to be speaking with Mr. In Sitha, Director of Business Development at VTrust Appraisal. Sitha has over 20 years experience in the real estate business in Cambodia and he now specializes in property development consultancy and real estate business development. He's also a renowned real estate teacher in real estate law and real estate practice. In this 6 Part series, we're going to get some tips for property developers and real estate businesses seeking to gain an edge when entering the Cambodian real estate market.PART 1: WHY PROPERTY DEVELOPERS AND INVESTORS ARE INCREASINGLY LOOKING TO CAMBODIARealestate.com.kh: Mr. Sitha, I understand you have a lot of experience in advising property developers in Cambodia. What do you believe is driving the current high levels of property develop in the country now, in Phnom Penh in particular? Why do people want to invest in Cambodia?In Sitha: Well, thank you for your excellent question. In Cambodia now, the business opportunity is good compared to the late 90s. You see when the country and the world had the economic crisis. After 2009, the market is better and better. More foreign investors are looking to this market. Most from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, America and local developers. All these people are looking to invest in Cambodia.Come to the questions. What drives the property development in the country currently? I think the investors themselves firstly have to have unlimited/sufficient investment capital for the investments in Cambodia, meaning they can’t enter without foresight. Number two, the investment projects licensing fees must be taken into consideration. Number three, investors must choose the right locations given their target market and budget, so location is also the most important to set up the development project. I think the central city is the best location at present, and also in the peninsula areas, or the other side of the river, if you're talking by areas.Realestate.com.kh: Why's that?In Sitha: Actually in Chroy Changvar the environment is good. The heart of the land between the Rivers is very beautiful, ideal to build a hotel or condo development. Realestate.com.kh: The infrastructure's really improving that side of the river now?

CBRE Hong Kong has released a new report that charts Asian outbound investment in real estate in 2015. ​Asian outbound investment has seen another record year for 2015, reaching US$62.4 billion.And the Cambodian real estate market are drawing some of this capital.  Chris Hobden, Manager of Research, Consulting & Valuation Services at CBRE Cambodia notes that, "while 2015 saw a significant increase in allocations of Asian outbound capital beyond the Asia Pacific region, Cambodia has evidently benefited from the growing appetite of both developers and investors, notably from China, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, to expand development activity and holdings beyond their respective domestic markets. With sustained GDP growth, attractive returns and the widespread adoption of the US dollar, Cambodia is well placed to attract continued real estate investment from the wider region over the course of 2016."

The Gateway, a project of TA Corporation Ltd, is pleased to announce its official launch in Cambodia on Sunday the 28th of this month.The official launch festivities shall take place at the Gateway showroom on Russian Boulevard, which is located directly beside the actual site of the project now beginning phase 1 of construction.Russian Boulevard is the main road or the gateway of Phnom Penh; and essential route for all VIPs entering the city, especially those traveling to the Prime Minister's office from the International Airport. By positioning itself here on the main artery of Phnom Penh, the Gateway promises sustained appreciation for all investors. The launch event this Sunday will be attended by the most prominent political and business figures from across Phnom Penh and over 500 guests are expected. All are invited to join, including the general public. The ceremony with commence from 7.30am and from 12 noon onwards the showroom will be open to the public. The Gateway showroom is open everyday from 9.00am to 6.00pm. The launch of ‘The Gateway’ project is an iconic step forward for the Cambodian real estate community, and represents the first mega-project of TA Corporation in Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh. This project represents a significant milestone in the company's history, and will be the start of a much larger commitment from TA Corporation to the development of the Cambodian property market into the future. As a real estate developer and investor, TA Corporation’s reputation as a preferred property developer of uncompromising quality and excellence is hard-earned through their efforts around the Asian region over the past four decades. As a construction contractor in Singapore, TA Corp has grown rapidly over the last 40 years, leveraging their capabilities as a class “tier-1 construction company,” the highest class of Singaporean construction standard, to carve a niche as an established property developer inside Singapore, and increasing outside of their national borders. TA Corp have observed that the demand for quality accommodation in Cambodia, especially in the capital city, is on the rise. Interest for well-located, quality condominiums continues to outstrip supply, and this is a slice of the market that ‘The Gateway’ mixed-use development is uniquely positioned to capture. Learn more about this iconic project: Check out the full listing.

Why Is Cambodia An Excellent Investment Opportunity?The reasons to invest in Cambodia are many. Cambodia is a relatively young nation with a rich, old culture. It is a relatively untapped market, offering potentially substantial upside to foreign investors looking for green field investment opportunities. There is plenty of room for improvement in terms of the legal and judicial climate, but the current head of government -- Hun Sen -- has been in charge for more than 25 years, providing uncommon levels of stability in a country that was wracked by war not that many decades ago.  Rami Sharaf, Member of International Advisory Council, APCO Worldwide, and a well-known advocate for the Cambodian market, says that, “the major attraction for foreign investors considering whether they should invest in Cambodia is the ASEAN-member nation’s steady economic growth; phenomenally steady growth: 7.5 per cent average for the last 5 years, year on year. This puts Cambodia as the number 21 worldwide in growth, and number 1 in the region.” The Current Outlook:The country enjoys a relatively low cost of living, which helps keep wages low, thus making it a place investors can get their feet wet with relatively low risks. The government has liberal business policies and is actively seeking to attract additional foreign investment. It is a beautiful country with a rich heritage, fueling opportunities in tourism. It has an unusually good geographic position, giving it access to some of the largest, most active and growing markets in the world. Due to its membership in ASEAN, it has access to the ASEAN Free Trade Area.ASEAN is kind of like the European Union for the Southeast Asian Nations. For comparison, the countries of the European Union have 508 million people and the ASEAN countries have 625 million people and are a less mature market, providing vastly more opportunity for growth. Additionally, Cambodia has been designated one of the Least Developed Countries (LDC), which gives it preferential access to both the European and North American markets. Cambodia joined the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1999.This multinational organization has substantial goals of economic development for the group of countries located roughly between Australia and China, many of them island nations. If ASEAN were a single country, it would have the seventh largest economy in the world, after the US, China, Japan, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. Please note that Germany, France and the United Kingdom are all members of the European Union, the organization ASEAN is hoping to emulate to some degree.Additionally, Cambodia is midway between China and India. Very recently, India displaced China as the world's fastest growing economy. Due to its location, Cambodia has excellent geographic access to both of this huge, emerging markets. The wealth of the future is practically guaranteed to be determined by who has access to these extremely large and very fast growing markets. In 2010, the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) became a reality, giving member nations access to a trading block of 1.7 billion people. ASEAN also has an agreement with Australia and New Zealand that creates yet another free trade area in the other direction (AANZFTA).In addition, talks are under way between India and ASEAN, which could create a similar trade block. Last, Cambodia's LDC status gives it preferential access to some of the richest markets in the world for certain products.In 2003, the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom ranked Cambodia 35th among 170 countries in terms of economic freedom. This puts in on par with Japan and places it well ahead of many of its neighbors in the ASEAN community. Thus, it constitutes one of the most open economies in the region. At that time, the Index of Economic Freedom commented on positive governmental policies.Obviously, the country's qualification as one of the Least Developed Countries has some downsides, such as limited infrastructure and widespread poverty. But, increasingly, there is evidence that foreign companies typically provide both better pay and better working conditions for local nationals. This means that investing in an LDC can be a case of doing good while doing well.You can feel good about the improvements your investment is bringing to the country while also being happy with the benefit to your own bottom line. In fact, the poverty rate in Cambodia has dropped dramatically from 47.50 percent in 1993 to just 23 percent in 2011. So while it is still a poor country, it is seeing incredible forward progress. This fact helps ensure that investment will be profitable for the investors.Cambodia has been noticed for its unusual degree of market-friendliness for an LDC. The areas of note include:Opportunities in Tourism: Unlike its neighbors, such as Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia explicitly desires to attract foreign investment in its tourism sector. Tourism is the area in which Cambodia rightly most wants to attract foreign investment. This goal is little different than its neighbors like Thailand , Vietnam and most recently even Laos. In recent years, tourism to Cambodia has exploded, enjoying double digit increases many years and hitting 4.5 million tourists in 2014. In 1992, Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument, was named a World Heritage Site. It attracts significant interest, fueling growth of hotels and other amenities in the nearby town of Siem Riep. While it is certainly the best known site in Cambodia, there is no shortage of cultural heritage and natural beauty for attracting additional tourism dollars to the country. Development of hotels, golf courses and other amenities are a strong market. The government has a track record of dealing progressively with this development segment, such as at the Phnom Penh International Airport.Agricultural Investment Opportunities:An abundance of water and fertile land combined with affordable local labor creates significant opportunity for agricultural investment and development, such as in organic farming and agro-processing. Foreign partners bring not only capital, but also essential knowledge and skill to the table. The combination of forces is very often a win/win for both sides. Although land cannot be owned by foreign investors, access to land is readily available via 99-year leases and joint ventures where a local partner owns at least 51 percent of the equity. Some hot agricultural areas include: fisheries, rubber processing, sugar processing, jute, palm oil refineries, and large varieties of tropical fruits and organic produce.Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Throughout the 1990s, Cambodia attracted increasing amounts of Foreign Direct Investment. Malaysia got in early and captured a great deal of "first mover" benefit, as well as concessions for their investments, such in mining and forestry. Cambodia has come a long way since Malaysia first took notice of the country in terms of internal improvements and development, yet there remains a great deal of room for additional growth. The good track record of improvement combined with so much remaining upside is a situation that is extremely attractive for investors.  Want to know more about Cambodia's real estate market? Keep yourself in the loop through news and updates from Realestate.com.kh!

The urban planning and construction panel discussion held as part of the second Global Alumni convention (GAC) at the Intercontinental hotel on Saturday 30th January 2016 presented the figures of 151 borey projects currently underway, 186 real estate companies in operation in Cambodia and that there will be approximately 20,000 condos in Phnom Penh by 2018. This fell into a wider discussion about the proposed Phnom Penh City Master Plan 2035, and how the city can sustainably grow into the future...So what implications does this have for the sector and the investor?There were several questions raised at this year’s GAC event around construction quality control and the legality of the building and construction industry if the Royal Government seeks to achieve its vision of a Phnom Penh City Master Plan 2035. “How do you know that this building is built to standard?” asks H.E. Dr. Sok Siphana, legal advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia, “There’s a lot of issues around quality of construction, especially if you are building 20-30 stories. How do you know who is qualified?” The government sought the assistance of the experienced legal drafter, Dr. Sok Siphana, to develop a comprehensive building and construction law to regulate the industry, and this experience has no-doubt influenced somewhat the Phnom penh city master plan. “Good construction is a business within itself and it’s good for the economy,” says Dr. Sok Siphana, “Quality class A building attracts reliable investors. How do you attract sub-regional companies to set up in Cambodia in low quality shoddy buildings? We have to regulate the industry and the practitioners within it. We have to introduce the concept of certification.” Dr. Sok Siphana says that public safety is paramount. “For example, in general, the current laws governing contracts for boreys do not protect the consumer. As the State, we have to think about the public... How to ensure that there’s no fraud and that the public are safe, and that buildings won’t collapse while you’re still paying the mortgage.” So how will people within the sector build their knowledge and understanding of the law and how will it be enforced? How will they be educated on real estate technical skills such as quality building codes, practices and property evaluation?That being said, the Phnom Penh City Master Plan 2035 seemingly must come as part of a wider regulatory reform framework. And, so it seems, tertiary and vocational training development throughout Cambodia. Kim Heang, CEO of Khmer Real Estate and current President of the Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association (CVEA), says that the peak industry body plans to start a training institute after Khmer New Year with the view of providing essential technical vocational training for the real estate industry. “We plan to create a specialised institute - as the bulk of the dirty work is not done by the architect or engineer; it’s done by tradesmen. In Cambodian culture we value high position professions but forget about these trades such as plumbers and electricians. These people have a lot of value. This is where the role for vocational training lies. Not everyone can decide to be a crane operator and just go and do it”, he says. Kim notes that the CVEA has the full support of the Ministry of Banking and Finance to undertake their training institute project later this year, “We have the backing of the ministry for a real estate training school. Over the next year we plan to provide three months vocational training in agency work and property valuation.” Simon Griffiths, Associate Director of CBRE, believes along with technical training, realtors need to take the lead in upholding high standards. “Standards and quality all exist in Cambodia. We need real estate firms to take the lead to act responsibly while those valuation standards and new laws are being put in place. The industry as a whole needs to recognize the importance of valuation and not bend the rules when it suits because the impact it can have is very severe. ANZ and the other banks will know the risk of improper valuation.” “Cambodia has so much potential,” says Kim, “We have to compete with our neighbours now we are part of the Asean Economic Community (AEC). We hope our trainees will go out and even work abroad, then bring back this knowledge to Cambodia to advance the real estate industry as a whole”.

“Looking to invest in the abundant real estate market in Phnom Penh but not sure whether to purchase a villa or a condominium?Villas are the better choice”, advises Ms. Tang Hour, President of Amatak Property Services, “Investors will make more money in the short-term depending on the location.” Chee Yeong Yap, Project Director of Grand Phnom Penh International City agrees, “Ownership of landed property is better than condos, especially in underdeveloped countries like Cambodia.”  Tang suggests Boeng Keng Kang 1 (BKK 1) as the top location with those located around Monivong or Norodom Boulevard as the next best choices. BKK 2 and BKK3 as well as Toul Tom Poung and Toul Kork are also lucrative options.Stay tuned to Realestate.com.kh for all the latest news about the market!

信达集团是柬埔寨第一家也是最大的日本开发商，并于2015年在Bodaiju Residences广受欢迎的Bodaiju Residences之后爆炸成了物业发展现场。 成功日期：A proven track record in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and multiple other markets has been key to the success of Bodaiju Residences sales in Cambodia, already having sold 90 percent of both buildings A and B since launching.With only a limited time left to take advantage of the ‘early bird’ discounts, Bodaiju will be hosting a range of events for the industry and investors to communicate the benefits of investing in a world leading condominium project.The Creed Group have drawn on their extensive experience, research and deep understanding of the local and international real estate markets, and identified an opportunity for landed property projects in Cambodia - constructed to Japanese standards, whilst taking into consideration local Cambodian culture and market preferences. Great success with local investors with the Bodaiju Residences project were encouraging signs that the Creed Group construction standards appealed not only to an international market but the local Cambodian market as well.Introducing: Borey Maha Sen SokBorey Maha Sen Sok再次方便地靠近世界标准的国际学校，即将建成的百盛购物中心和金边国际机场 - 为所有关键设施提供潜在的投资者和居民世界级的生活水准。Borey Maha Sen Sok将由两个地产类型组成; “Satsuki”是一间2间卧室，3间浴室从低至47,500美元起。而第二种物业类型“Botan”是一间4间卧室，5间浴室连接房屋横跨地面，夹层楼和1层楼。在Realestate.com.kh上查看完整的列表

Phnom Penh's renowned Alley Cat Cafe is now for sale - a successful and profitable Mexican and Burger restaurant now in its 11th year of operation. Not only has the Alley Cat become renowned for its decadent tex mex cuisine, it has also become an institution for musicians and entertainers. In a town where entertainment venues come and go like the seasons, the Alley Cat Cafe has stood the test of time - and the flocks of guests - expats, tourists and locals alike - that still come to the lively eatery every week for food, drink and music is a testament to this.  The long-time owners of the Alley Cat have decided it is time to take on new challenges, and with reluctance put the Alley Cat on the market. This however presents a great opportunity for those passionate about F&B to own an established and profitable business that is well known on the Phnom Penh food and music scenes, offline and online! The restaurant occupies 130m2, and there is a further 74m2 of living and office space, and 30m2 roof space, with the possibility to create a hostel with the upper floors, all for an extremely attractive monthly rental, with a lease guaranteed until 2020. Located in a small and intimate side street in central Phnom Penh, very near to the royal palace, this business for sale in Phnom Penh enjoys plentiful traffic from 2 large boutique hotels situated next door. This is in additional clientele to the large expat following of customers that has already been developed by the owners since beginning in 2005. Tourists also visit the bar and resteraunt direct from other locations around Phnom Penh based purely on Alley Cat's great online reputation and online & offline marketing initiatives. The business has well established online marketing and SEO with various social media channels, a website that ranks page 1 on Google when searching Tex Mex Phnom Penh, and also ranks very well on Tripadvisor, with 2 certificate of excellence awards, and prominence on various other review sites. Daily promotions bring customers on all nights of the week with big draws being Rib Night on Tuesday, and live music twice a week on Friday and Sunday. A solid delivery customer base also provides additional revenue. The business for sale in Phnom Penh comes inclusive of everything you need to start making money immediately. Transfer of title will also come with a transfer of all the professional equipment needed to run the venue, full inventory available (valued at $13,000). On top of this, additional resources will be supplied, including recipes, cleaning schedules, training materials and ordering and accounting sheets. In short, this is a profitable business for sale in Phom Penh and detailed accounts are available for the past four years for serious viewers. Those who are serious about launching an F&B enterprise in Phnom Penh should check out this great property as soon as possible! Check out the full listing for this business for sale in Phnom Penh today!

Creed Group is the first and largest Japanese developer in Cambodia, and exploded onto the property development scene with the highly sort after, ever popular Bodaiju Residences in 2015. Creed Group is now offering all agents the exclusive opportunity to sell Bodaiju units to their clients, be sure to join them at their showroom this Saturday... Success to Date:A proven track record in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and multiple other markets has been key to the success of Bodaiju Residences sales in Cambodia, already having sold 90 percent of both buildings A and B since launching.With only a limited time left to take advantage of the ‘early bird’ discounts, Bodaiju will be hosting a range of events for the industry and investors to communicate the benefits of investing in a world leading condominium project.The Creed Group have drawn on their extensive experience, research and deep understanding of the local and international real estate markets, and identified an opportunity for landed property projects in Cambodia – constructed to Japanese standards, whilst taking into consideration local Cambodian culture and market preferences. Great success with local investors with the Bodaiju Residences project were encouraging signs that the Creed Group construction standards appealed not only to an international market but the local Cambodian market as well.Now, the Creed Group would like to engage referral agencies and co-broke agents to help support the continuing sales of the Bodaiju project. Accordingly, all agents are invited to a CO-BROKE NETWORKING EVENT, on the 20th of this month:What Is It? Co-broke Networking. What's the Point? Product presentation about Bodaiju to all agents with co-broke sales opportunities. Where is it? Bodaiju Residences showroom, Russian Boulevard (free gift and finger food provided). When? 20th February, 2016. What Time? 3pm to 5pm.

InternationalLiving.com's Annual Global Retirement Index has just named Cambodia as 1 of 3 top retirement destinations worldwide. The retirement index seeks to compare and contrast retirement destinations around the world - all of which are exhibiting relatively low costs of living by global standards.Retiring in weaker economies is becoming a global trend for expats from more expensive, developed economies, as the relative costs of living in cheaper retirement destinations guarantees a better quality of life for pensioners. In the past 10 years the Kingdom of Cambodia has become one of Southeast Asia’s most up-and-coming destinations for tourists and expats looking to enjoy the exotic charm of a country that also offers the most attractive cost of living in Asia. Cambodia has flexible visa requirements for citizens of Western countries who can obtain annual long-stay visas with a minimum of paperwork and a processing fee of just $285 per year. When you get there, everything from entertainment to renting is very affordable in Cambodia.Meanwhile, the Cambodian government looks set to make it even easier to retire in the Kingdom. The government has released plans to increase Cambodia’s attractiveness as a destination for foreign retirees, according to a draft policy obtained from the Ministry of Tourism Wednesday this week by the Cambodia Daily. "The draft includes a range of proposals to extract more income from Cambodia’s tourist industry by encouraging foreigners to buy property and stay longer in the country, with involvement from the ministries of tourism, finance and land management," said the Cambodia Daily report. The proposed policies are said to include measures such as the development of “special residences” throughout Cambodia with commercial tourist properties and a wide range of useful facilities. “Special tourists” such as retirees would have the right to buy, rent or sell property in these special residences, and also be entitled to longer-term and more flexible vi­sas, according to the draft of the policy.Find out why Chroy Changvar is becoming a development mecca!

Phnom Penh: Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. has just announced a contract with TEHO Development Cambodia Pte Ltd. to facilitate development and management of  "The Okura Prestige Phnom Penh," set to launch 2019. The 40 floor, 250 unit hotel will be part of The Bay project. Located just 17 kilometers from the Phnom Penh International Airport, the Bay complex will provide the hotel with lush views across the city, Tonle Sap and the Royal Palace. Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. is a big player in the hospitality-related industries. The Japanese company is also involved in hotel management through Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., currently operating three hotel groups. Hotel Okura will be the first Japanese hotelier to enter the high-end hospitality market in Cambodia, the nation seeing more and more visitors for leisure and work related travel every year.“We are greatly honored to bring our hotel to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s vibrant center of economy and commerce and a hub between Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok,” said Toshihiro Ogita, President of Hotel Okura. "We hope that visitors and locals alike will love The Okura Prestige Phnom Penh and that our brand will flourish alongside the people of Cambodia and ASEAN,” said Ogita.Want to buy a unit in The Bay? Check out the full listing on Realestate.com.kh today!

Established in 2009, Realestate.com.kh is celebrating our 7th birthday in 2016 as the leading website for property buyers and sellers in Cambodia. Our website lets users search for properties based on location (sangkat & khan), property type and price range. People interested in buying or renting can see photos, special features, floor plans, property locations, and all other necessary information they need before physically visiting the property. AT Realestate.com.kh, WE ARE NOT A REAL ESTATE AGENTS - in fact they are our clients. Realestate.com.kh is proud to be working with over 90% of the leading real estate agencies in Cambodia, such as Knight Frank, CBRE, CPL, Bonna Realty, IPS, Century 21 and many more. And we also work with the country's leading property developers, including Bodaiju Residences, Grand Phnom Penh International City, East Commercial Center, Embassy Central, The Gateway, Camhomes, North Park Condo and many more. These customers come to us because they know that we attract the most online attention from potential property buyers, inside and outside of Cambodia. We don’t take commission, and we don’t facilitate the final sale transaction. What we specialise in is online marketing and making sure your property for sale or rent receives the most online exposure possible, from property seekers within Cambodia but also from around the world. This means we send you sales inquiries from people who are interested in buying or renting your property. For private sellers (those looking to sell or rent their own property), you can upload your property for FREE on Realestate.com.kh and receive direct sales inquiries by email and phone! And if you don’t know how to use the website to upload, we can even help you do this. However, you might want to upgrade your listing for a small fee if you want to sell it fast with extra online exposure. "Since advertising our listings with Realestate.com.kh we have experienced an impressive increase in inbound inquiries for our properties. By using Realestate.com.kh we have been able to attract a different demographic from our usual customer base and this has flowed through to an overall increase in sales." David Murphy - Managing Director - IPS-Cambodia “We have received a large number of sales leads direct from our listings on Realestate.com.kh, producing a great return on our investment with them. Their post-sales support and service has also been fantastic and exceeded our expectations. This made re-signing with Realestate.com.kh a very easy decision." Sam Yang - CEO - Eastland Development (HK) Co. Ltd. On our 7th birthday, thank you to our loyal partners, customers and users, and we look forward to serving you into the future.

Located where the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers meet, to the north of the capital, the Chroy Changvar peninsula has undergone significant development over the last few years.Once a rural, marshy area, the peninsula is now seen as one of several future ‘satellite cities’ and accessibility has improved thanks to a second bridge opening last year, linking the suburb to the city center, and construction of commune and district roads and National Road No. 6A. With the much anticipated Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel opening its doors, along with some mid-rise and high-rise condominium developments completed such as Bellevue apartments and Galaxy condominiums, land prices have surged in recent years.According to VTrust Appraisal market research, the growth rate has been hovering around 20 percent over the past two years and is only set to continue. Current large scale project developments include LYP Satellite City, Borey the Flora, Borey the Royal Mekong, Mekong View II and III among others, and the advancement of the Chroy Changvar riverside boardwalk. Chroy Changvar district covers five communes, including Chroy Changvar, Preaek Lieb, Preaek Ta Sek, Kaoh Dach, and Bak Khaeng. An attractive calling card of the district is that it is less congested than those areas across the waterway and offers magnificent views of river and city skyline.A recent Vtrust land market survey from January 2016 found that land prices in the commune ranged from USD 420 to USD 1,750 per square meter depending on particular determinants such as significance of streets, zoning, and potentiality of development.“The land price is still lower compared to nearby districts such as Ruessie Kaev and Daun Penh,” says Mr. In Sitha, director of business development at VTrust Appraisal, “And only three kilometers from Phnom Penh’s city centre.”By contrast, the neighbouring district of Ruessie Kaev, located west and opposite the Tonle Sap River has experienced only a slight jump in land prices over the past two years, hovering around 8 percent.Chroy Changvar was found to be the fastest growing zone priced at USD 1080 per square metre in the second half of 2015 as compared to USD 670 per square meter in the same period in 2013. In says that land prices will continue to rise which is driven my major residential and mixed-use developments, and the peninsula realising its city master plans as mapped out by OCIC and L.Y.P Group.“There are several commercial developments underway and shop housing available at Borey Sopheak Mongkol and Young Commercial Supermarket. There is also potential to use existing commercial land for car showrooms, restaurants, banking and finance offices as well as office use for private companies,” adds In.VTrust also notes that there has been a slow market absorption rate influenced by a speculative demand deceleration due to an excessive supply of many large portions of vacant land that has seen a very slow pace of actual developments. However the evidence is clear that the district is packed with potential.Check out all properties for rent and for sale in Chroy Changvar!

An Opinion piece from Mr Sim Hoy Chhoung, ceo of V Trust Appraisal Co. Ltd.As the banking sector is growing in order to fuel the mortgage and collateral-based lending industry, so is the potential concerns over the property valuation standards and risk management systems currently in place in the Kingdom’s banking sector. The global financial crisis, which led to real estate bubbles across various countries around the world, offers a good lesson to explain the current concerns.Industry leaders agree: a risk analysis should be carefully taken into account. This was the suggestion of Mey Vann, director general of the Department of Financial Industry, Ministry of Economy and Finance, as cited by the Phnom Penh Post on 19 August 2015, one day after the inter-ministerial seminar on “Opportunities and Potential Risks in Developing Cambodia’s Property Sector” at Cambodiana Hotel. The 2008 global economic crisis, which impacted Asia and Cambodia, offered a lesson that “we must not let happen again,” he said.But how can we curb the potential risks associated with mortgage and collateral-based lending? From my experience, compliance to standards and professionalism in property valuation is one of the best ways to help mitigate the risks associated with loan defaults that could potentially lead to a wider market financial crash. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), one of the world’s most well-recognized organizations, representing professionalism and ethics in land, real estate, and construction appraisals, stresses that accurate and professional valuations are vital to a healthy property market and a stable economy, forming the basis of performance analysis, financing decisions, transactional or development advice, dispute resolution and taxation. However, not all banks in the country comply with valuation best practices and standards. While all would consider property valuation as a crucial part of any risk assessment, not all of them have clearly-defined measures to ensure compliance, often deciding to offer contracts to valuation partners that are not independent, and do not enforce professional and ethical codes of conduct, or lack professional indemnity insurance coverage. This sentiment has also been echoed elsewhere. While many of the banks seem to forget the potential risks, officials advise that property valuation firms should not be biased or under any influence that could cause an unfounded value inflation or deflation of the subject property. Kim Vanda, director general of Banking Supervision of National Bank of Cambodia, said, in the same seminar, that the malpractice could potentially pose risks to the banking industry as a whole, adding banks that have in-house valuation units should also use independent valuation firms to ensure that the appraised values of the subject properties are reasonably concrete and consistent. To ensure a healthy property and banking sector, an understanding of the weaknesses in the valuation process could help. The Central Bank of Ireland issued the December-2012 study report entitled “Valuation Process in the Banking Crisis – Lessons Learned – Guiding the Future” identifying three overriding areas of primary weaknesses in valuation processes during the boom lending years. First, a weakness could come from an inaccurate or inappropriate definition of valuation requirements by credit institutions, thus leading to a subsequent inadequate assessment and understanding of valuations.Second, it could be the result of inadequate valuation processes and standards, or a disregard for adherence to such processes.Third, the weakness could also be the result of a lack of appreciation of the significance of the valuation document as independent evidence of risk mitigation effectiveness. Many bankers did not fully regard the importance of independent valuations and the valuation reports as a key document underpinning the basis on which they were acquiring the risk. Besides identifying the overriding areas of weaknesses, the study also highlighted a number of critical issues that credit institutions should pay attention to in the property valuation process - such as the issue of conflict of interest, valuer panel management, and inappropriate use of informal valuations. In many instances, lenders would accept existing valuations that had been prepared by valuers on behalf of the borrower, not the credit institutions. In this case the study recommends that the valuers’ duty of care is to the credit institutions and this should be emphasized by credit institutions in their written instructions to valuers in accordance with its clearly defined terms of engagement. Valuation reports should always be addressed to the credit institutions that is advancing the loan funds to avoid any complaint or manipulation between valuers and borrowers or owners of the property. When it comes to valuer panel management, the study identified some weaknesses in credit institutions practices including the appointment of valuers without sufficient qualifications, without any evidence of sufficient professional indemnity insurance, with inadequate or no review of panel members’ performance, or on the basis they are a customer of the bank. In sum, to create a healthy financial environment, banks should comply with valuation best practices and standards. Two of the most credible standardized valuation systems advised by the study report are the International Valuation Standards, known as the White Book, and the RICS valuation standards, known as the Red Book. Although the study report seems to stress more on experiences and applications in settings outside of the Kingdom, it does not make any difference since globalization has made almost all the world’s systems into ‘one’ that applies for all and, more importantly, all central banks should be subject to the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision which should incorporate best banking practices into all standards. That said, the country’s valuers association is also working to benefit the industry. Cambodian Valuer and Estate Association (CVEA), which represents the country’s valuation and real estate industry, has taken measures to set minimum valuation fee charges for the industry. The minimum fees should help prevent valuation firms from competing on fees and in-turn compromise the quality of the final appraisal. Sim Hoy Chhoung is the chief executive officer at VTrust Appraisal Co., Ltd. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of VTrust Appraisal Co., Ltd.

While expats and wealthy Khmer alike scramble to properties in the highly desirable Chamkarmon, Realestate.com.kh looks to Toul Kork: a highly underrated and competitively priced location for expats moving to Phnom Penh.Anthony Perkins, director of special projects, finance & investments at the Royal Group of Companies, says that, "If you have a family and are not particularly concerned about your travel distance to work, Toul Kork should definitely be considered as a prime place to find a home for rent or sale."Perkins notes that Toul Kork "appears to have far less electricity cuts than other parts of town, and the various "Boreys" (gated communities) dotted around Toul Kork also offer security and a guarantee of no ongoing construction adjacent to your house." For those choosing to live in BKK, you can safely bet your bottom dollar construction noise will become a part of your life... There are a host of schools in the Toul Kork area also, including international standard offerings, catering to all budgets and student age groups. Entertainment and shopping venues are also well respresented in Toul Kork, with the highly popular TK Avenue shopping plaza & surrounding area cinema/restaurants."Toul Kork is often a forgotten Khan for expats, but it shouldn't be," says Perkins, "particularly for those with a family." For expat renters, a decent 3-4 bedroom house can be secured in Toul Kork for under $1000 per month, with security provided, communal pools/gyms and the rarest of rare in Phnom Penh: wide pavements to walk on and trees!Interested in Toul Kork? Search from thousands of properties on Realestate.com.kh now!

Realestate.com.kh spoke to the leaders of the Cambodian real estate market to find out what type of trends we are likely to witness in the property market in 2016.Sunny Soo, managing director of Keystone, Savills Cambodian associate: “For the last 6 months, the speed of apartment transactions have softened significantly in Cambodia, especially those projects heavily targeting foreign buyers - and one would only assume this trend to continue into 2016, especially when the volatility of regional economies continue to be a challenge and the Cambodian economy as a whole moves slower than the real estate market boom, the market will eventually face adjustment. The coming election in 2018 may also prompt some developers to start considering holding onto their development plan for now, unless 2016 proves to be a good year for transaction. Nevertheless, it seems that landed developments as well as projects targeting locals will continue to see higher demand as the middle income group continues to grow bigger. All in all, there are still good opportunities for real estate developments in middle-end offices and hotels. The Cambodian market will continue to remain significant for investment consideration among the countries in this region in 2016.”   Simon Griffiths, associate director at CBRE Cambodia:“For 2016, confidence in the Phnom Penh real estate market, with particular reference to the condominium market, will be low within Cambodia with commenters stating oversupply and too-rapid growth causing oversaturation, ultimate leading to exposure to risk.Interestingly, this sentiment will not be reflected outside of Cambodia, in particular relating to Taiwan and China where inbound investment is expected to grow from consumers and developers alike. However, Singaporean investment is likely to cool.Developers who have not launched schemes pre-2016 are likely to continue to progress with development plans but unlikely to consider exclusively condo developments.  Mixed-use schemes, as well as freehold strata title office and retail space, are likely to become more popular as the potential returns in these sectors are realized both locally and internationally.Hongkong Land Development’s “Exchange Square” shall be ready for tenants to fit-out in November 2016, bringing a second high quality Grade A building to Phnom Penh and a very interesting life-style mix for tenants.”   June Zeng, investment adviser at Da Yu Real Estate:“In my opinion, 2016 will be a rather different year for property developers and real estate agents alike. The major fact everyone has to face is that gone are the days when anyone who had a piece of land in town could make a fortune simply by building something on it. The age of professionals have come, which consequently means Adios to the amateurs.In the city of Phnom Penh, market performance will strictly favour the few projects that score high in two aspects: excellent product and professional marketing. Anything short of either, I'm afraid, is very likely to bring about disappointment.The immediate question Phnom Penh is soon to face within this year is not whether or not there are too many condo units in the market, but why aren't there enough small-sized and affordable units for the young middle class and expats.So, 2016 is the year for many to re-examine demand, which isn't a bad thing at all as that's how a market learns to mature. Despite Phnom Penh's new challenge, the nearly uncharted waters of other provinces are still fresh. 2016 is also the year we might hear major success stories from other fast-growing cities - Sihanoukville, to name the most potential one.”    VA Vireak, chairman of Century 21 Fortune Investment:“Cambodia’s property market in 2016 is very challenging and it’s very hard to predict about its future for this year and beyond.On one side, there are some challenges with increased supply (houses, condos, apartments, offices, …), and the possibility of global economy impacts (mainly from China and the region), the interest rate and bank loan policy (which may be changed), the exchange rate from US Dollars to other currencies (the strong US Dollar), etc.On the other side, Cambodia’s economy can maintain the growth of around 6.9% till 2018, the population growth rate in the urban areas as well, and the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) integration.Economic growth means more income to the country and to the people as well, therefore the GDP per capita will be increase, so people can have more money to buy the property - of course if there is not too much inflation. Population growth in the city triggers the demand for the housing, as most developments are based in cities only. The AEC integration will bring more skilled workers and specialist, so this new labour pool can help to boost the demand, especially for the condo, apartment and office space.All these factors can help to balance on the real estate market.”   Van Chanthorn (John), managing director of TownCity Real Estate:“The property market in Cambodia will be better than in the previous years for the following reasons.The ASEAN Integration will bring more expatriates to Cambodia. When expatriates come, whether tourists, investors, employees, students, workers or interns, the first thing that they need is accommodation, a place for business, an office, or hotel for a temporary stay. So when they come, it is not only a direct benefit to Cambodia but indirect as well. Cambodians can earn more money and will have the purchasing power to buy other products. When this happens, finally the locals will have enough money to invest in property.Cambodian Returnees who have stayed abroad for a long time have now graduated in their adopted countries and look to Cambodia with new, innovative ways of doing business. When the new businesses enter the market, the properties and offices are their first requirement. These returnees and expats will also seek a higher standard of living, meaning condo demand should pick up also.Bank policy is also changing, and this will boost the lower income real estate market. For the previous 5 years, the banking sector has increased year by year, and still more banks will come. As more competitors come, the policies of the banks are becoming more and more accommodating to Cambodian investors and young couples seeking their first home loan. More appropriate loan policies will drive up demand for low to middle range flats and villas across the market.Government Policy to encourage international and local Investors will also develop in 2016. When the government implements new policies to encourage the private sector, more businesses will come - and when businesses come, people have jobs, better salaries and a higher standard of living. Thus, there will be greater demand for property investment and homes for stay as well. In particular, the real estate sector is monitoring the government's plans to expand the city, and develop infrastructure in suburban areas."   Sharon Liew, ceo of Huttons CPL:“2016 will be a very challenging year for the property market in Cambodia. With owners and investors spoilt for choices for condominium and the country's upcoming elections, buyers are getting more cautious on their purchase. Personally, I feel this is a better start as cautiousness leads to more informed buyers, and this also helps to prevent the exploitation of over-promising developers. The market has upgraded more to commercial properties as is the current trend, and this is another challenge for local buyers needing to absorb the commercial investment value which is rather new in this market. Overall, through experience, I always believe that "Prime property will hold it's value" and "the Early & well-informed bird always catches the worm".”   Chee Yap, project director at Grand Phnom Penh International City:“Currently, there are so many unknown factors within the country, and both regional and global issues.First of all, I suggest the “actual” absorption and digestion of exponential land price growth in 2015 will be something very interesting to watch in 2016.Meanwhile, various factors will exert pressures on the local real estate market, in uncertain ways: such as minimum wages rising to USD 160 per month; local undercurrent political issues; Cambodians adjusting to improving regulations ( i.e. Traffic Law, Tax Law, Forestry Law etc.); the dropping of oil prices below USD 30 per barrel; the appreciation of the USD currency against other major currencies in 2016; and the regional influence of a booming Jakarta and increasing demand in other major regional centers. With these things on the horizon, be prudent and conservative for 2016.Last but not least, Grand Phnom Penh’s Fantastic Water World Waterpark will be completed in mid-February this year and will be the talk of the town during Khmer New Year.”   Ross Wheble, country manager of Knight Frank Cambodia:“With signs of softening in certain sectors, some developers are diversifying. Whilst the supply of retail and office space will approximately double by 2018, the supply of condominiums will increase by more than six-fold. This has led to a recent slowdown in sales rates of condominiums and developers are looking at alternative asset types to appeal to investors.TC Royal Asset Manor was one of the pioneers in this area with the launch of stratified office units in their TK Royal One development. This has been followed by a raft of new stratified office developments as developers seek to diversify away from the condominium sector and we expect this trend to continue into 2016.Equally, with more funds being allocated to infrastructure improvements, we are seeing increasing investment in the industrial sector as multinational companies assess the benefits of setting up operation in Cambodia, particularly along the border with Thailand. We also expect to see growing demand for agricultural land as foreign companies seek to take advantage of a more mechanised approach to farming, providing higher crop yields and better returns than the more traditional methods currently used in Cambodia.”   Alex Evengroen, general manager of Khmer Real Estate:“My forecast for the property market in 2016 is that there will be a large shift from buying properties to investing in land.Cambodia became part of ASEAN and this means that the country will be flooded with highly skilled and hungry Real Estate professionals and investors with a lot of inside knowledge. The M2 price keeps going up and so it is inevitable that at one point people start to look at other and more creative options….This is in my opinion land. There will also be a change in demographics regarding the land market. More will look for (low priced) land in the other provinces like Kep, Kampot, Sihanoukville and others closer to the borders. One of the issues I expect is the oversupply of mostly condominiums which will at a certain point lower the prices and will have an effect on the investments people make to buy these properties.  If this is not well monitored and guided many people could get into financial difficulties. One very important positive change that I see will be the unification of the official Real Estate companies under the scepter of the CVEA. This will result in a better understanding and sharing of upcoming and expected changes and needs within the Real Estate industry, and will also eventually eliminate the people who do Real Estate on the side without the proper papers or required knowledge. We do have to understand that we have to work hard and smart to keep going in the right direction, the direction that will benefit the people of Cambodia and safeguard their investments in the industry. This also means that it is important to keep communicating frequently and act on decisions made to reach the required upgrades.”   David Kim, ceo at Informax Property:“The core sector of new developments will shift from pure residential toward mixed commercial and residential developments in 2016, a trend we are already beginning to see.Due to new residential shifts during 2014 and 2015 to the suburbs of Phnom Penh, these areas now need commercial facilities such as shopping centers, hospitals, offices and schools.Expect to see a rush from mainland China. While Singaporean and Taiwanese developers were the main developers for 2015, now mainland Chinese developers with large capital are starting to launch projects in Cambodia. When they start promoting these projects in China, more and more Chinese investors will consider investments in Cambodia.Industrial development along the borders of Cambodia will enjoy the benefits of the AEC. Cambodia has a good business environment for regional expansions such as low tax, low labor cost, freehold property, and prime logistical connectivity to other member countries of the AEC. When the AEC goes through, the biggest handicap of Cambodia - namely it’s small domestic market - will not be handicap anymore.These 3 issues will be main things to watch in Cambodia's real estate market in 2016.”   Kim Heang, president of the CVEA:“I name the Year 2016 as “the Year of Condo Construction” as you can see the construction of Condos across the City, especially in Khan Chamkarmon, Daun Penh, 7 Makara and Khan Toul Kork.There will be around 18 000 to 20 000 Units of Condo by 2018, this amount is too much for the local market but it is still a small amount for the ASEAN Market. Developers need to find out their own market or create their own market for their product. Also, the Cambodian Government needs to attract more investors to help the Condo industry.The land price has increased too much in 2013, 2014 and 2015 - so the price in 2016 will not increase too much. It should be just 5 to 10% for land in down town, and still around 20% for land outside the city.Boreys for the Middle Class and High End clientele have reached their limits, so it is better for the developers to focus on the lower income and new family markets, especially for the flat house at around 30 to 45K - instead of flat houses at 80 to 100K for the middle class, or 200 to 300K for the high end client.Warehouses need to be moved from downtown as the price keep increasing for their land. The savvy warehouse owner needs to sell their land for big money and shift their business elsewhere!Serviced Apartments in prime locations such as BKK1 and nearby areas are doing good business. However, lower standard apartments will disappear and be replaced by higher end apartments.There will be investors coming to buy factories in Cambodia as we have great advantages for industry. In particular, no tax to the EU, USA and other Asian countries, and low labor costs. However, there are too many demonstrations in the industrial industries recently - thus, the Government needs to take the action and find a solution to the issues of workers.”   Desmond Yap, general manager of Yong Yap Properties:"Cambodia will continue to be an investment hotspot - especially with its continual integration into ASEAN and the government enforcing laws to ensure a cleaner business environment."               Check out a 2015 info-graphic review from Realestate.com.kh here...

On the heels of its first housing development success – Embassy Residences, which has sold 90 per cent of its units – local developer Urbanland is wasting no time in establishing its second project, Embassy Central. Being at the pulse of Boeung Keng Kang 1, and within strolling distance of renowned restaurants like Topaz Restaurant, Malis Restaurant, and Eric Kayser Bakery, with retail stores along the nearby Preah Sihanouk Boulevard such as Charles & Keith, Pedro, and Mango, and more cafés and bars interspersed around, there is no area more bustling and convenient than where Embassy Central is located. Thriving hub aside, Embassy Central itself is a building to behold; its discreet brilliance is reflected through its minimalistic and sleekly structured design. Only 25 storeys tall and 119-unit strong, Embassy Central holds its own in dedicating its composition to the importance of an urban lifestyle that is in sync with modernity, yet maintaining a green lifestyle with its outdoor landscape features. Check out the full Embassy Central listing today on Realestate.com.kh! With only 119 units, Embassy Central has a more private and intimate feel, with four sky gardens in different parts of the building that residents can fully utilise to their liking. These open spaces provide a tranquil respite from the hustling bustle of the city; spaces where you can exercise or do yoga amidst the rising or setting sun, sit and read a book by the trees, or simply bask in the crispness of the air. Besides its multiple sky gardens, another distinctive feature of Embassy Central is its vertical green wall garden that runs through the building from the 4th floor to the 25th, with the main purpose of brightening up usually enclosed hallways with natural sunlight. The condominium’s swimming pool is surrounded by lush greenery, as it is on the same floor where the vertical garden begins. The impressive architecture of this condominium comes from the same masterminds behind Cambodia’s most popular coffee chain – Brown Coffee. The same attention to detail, quirky steeled structures, and top-notch finishing seen in all Brown Coffee outlets across Phnom Penh are mirrored in Embassy Central’s building and showroom. Hok Kang Architects, who wholly designed Embassy Residences and Embassy Central, and are also the people behind Urbanland and Brown Coffee, aptly sums it up: “Embassy Central is a very special project for us. We want to design a building that responds to a hot tropical climate such as Cambodia. Vertically designed elements and oversized balconies help to shade the building from the harsh tropical sun. The building is punctuated by pockets of green gardens, giving it a more iconic architecture, and also its residents a more liveable space that is close to nature. Upon its completion, Embassy Central will be the emblem of contemporary urban living at its finest in the heart of BKK1.” Urbanland and Hok Kang Architects comprise a small but diverse team, and being local adds value and trust among Cambodians – that a relatively small developer is able to bring to the Kingdom international standards of ideas, design, and product. Urbanland is committed to investing in its home country, and seeing it thrive as an urban cosmopolis. The company prides itself on catering as much as they can to their niche clientele’s needs, offering interior design services or suggestions that will complement the overall flow of the building units’ designs. Embassy Central’s showroom is fitted with high-end furnishings, with cleverly streamlined storage spaces and enclosed air-conditioning, while everything that is attached to the walls such as the lights, cupboards, console table, and appliances come together with the unit. Singapore investment firm, Terrasia Capital Investment, has said that the quality of interior fittings and finishes is a game-changer that sets a very high benchmark for other developers to follow. In Urbanland’s Marketing Manager, Victor Huot’s words, “what you see and feel in our showroom will be the same experience you will get when you walk into your Embassy Central home.” “The most prestigious address in Phnom Penh, crafted with design and high-quality materials, Embassy Central is a gem of investment that will only increase in value over time,” Terrasia Capital Investment concluded. Check out the full Embassy Central listing today on Realestate.com.kh!