Yong Yap Properties have officially moved into their riverside office...And it is a beauty! At this momentous juncture, the Yong Yap Properties team would like to say thank you to all their valued and loyal clients for the support over the years. It is an exciting time for the Yong Yap Properties team and the new office will be their home base for the coming years.The new address is #95A st 118 cnr st 17 - but phone numbers are still the same 023 223 712 / 017 400 700.The Yong Yap team look forward to seeing you all shortly!And don’t forget to check out Yong Yap Properties’ listings on realestate.com.kh today.

According to a recent Cambodia Daily report, Cambodians passing rights to property from relatives won't need to pay property registration tax - as according to a Government announcement at the CPP party's party congress on Sunday.Transferring property is generally taxed at 4% of the properties value, including other minor property registration fees. Learn more about the title transfer process here. Yet, according to the new directive, spouses, parents and children, will no longer require this tax, and has been said to be effective already. The same will apply to grandparents and grandchildren. Stay tuned to realestate.com.kh news for more on this topic of property registration as the situation clarifies. Learn more about property registration, Cambodian land titles, strata title transfers and foreign ownership regulation on Realestate.com.kh today!

Now that 2015 has come to an end, Realestate.com.kh would like to start 2016 with a recap of the Kingdom of Wonder and its burgeoning real estate sector.  In particular - let's review the office space and retail supply trends in Phnom Penh - 2015. Also, don't miss the Real Estate Review: 2016Real Estate developers in Phnom Penh are seemingly boosting Grade A and Grade B office space to welcome the AEC integration in 2016. The intention is to be ready for potential demand from incoming investors as the integration takes affect in 2017-2019. According to Knight Frank's report, there will be a 64% increase in office space stock by 2018: 60% of this office space will be Grade A category, 40% will be Grade B. The majority of all office space will be within Daun Penh and 7 Makara. No wonder business is booming...The retail sector is growing rapidly: New malls, such as Aeon - with Aeon 2 and Parkson on the way soon in 2016, are having a dramatic influence on Phnom Penh's retail sector. According to Knight Frank Cambodia's: “Cambodia Real Estate Highlights 1st Half 2015,” total supply is building fast 2011: 59,154sqm; 2012: 66,154sqm; 2013: 72,114sqm; 2014-15: 134,153sqm; 2016: 223,173sqm (est.); 2017: 297,591 sqm (est.). With the entrance of a host of new brands and extensions of existing franchises in the retail sector, the supply by district is evening out. The evening of the share of retail supply could be related to new and existing brands increasingly looking outside of the Phnom Penh city center, where their customers are increasingly choosing to live. Check out more great info-graphics, from Realestate.com.kh: Prime Development Land Price Growth Tops ASEAN and the Real Estate Review: 2016

Realestate.com.kh would like to present another of our featured agencies - Kampot Real Estate.Are you considering investing in Kampot province? Need a professional property valuation from experts in the region? Looking for a holiday rental, investment land or a property to start a tourism venture? Do you need an investment plan focused on your needs, not on the agent's fee? Need buyer and seller advocacy that doesn't leave you high and dry as soon as the agreement is made?Check out Kampot Real Estate listings for rent and for sale on realestate.com.kh todayAt Kampot Real Estate, we aim to give our clients a specialized real estate experience, providing state-of-the-art professional services to vendors and buyers that create maximum benefit and personal satisfaction in a lifetime relationship. Our mission is to ensure that our clients have all necessary information to make a valid decision, and ensuring that all documents are in line with the local law. We will achieve this by: Making trust, quality and integrity hallmarks of the way we do business; Excelling and being consistent in everything we do; and - Being motivated and spreading our enthusiasm.Come and see us at our office at the old market in Kampot. We want to provide you with the service you deserve to make your investment with confidence!Check out Kampot Real Estate listings for rent and for sale on realestate.com.kh today

Every landlord or property manager must ask this question, first and foremost:What are the special features of my apartment for rent that are going to make potential tenants genuinely excited to move in?Find out what is attractive about your apartment property for renters - and then flaunt it, baby! With this in mind, Realestate.com.kh has gotten to the bottom of what tenants really want when considering a apartment for rent… Location of your apartment! Apartment tenants are more-driven by no other factor than a prime location. But of course, “a great location” is always subjective. Different apartment renters are looking for different locations depending on where they work, where their kids go to school and what they like to do for fun in the weekends. Renters will pay a lot more money to live in their preferred location. Normally, people are looking for hubs within the city with amenities at hand. This means shopping, banking, F & B venues, schools and proximity to work stations. But, first and foremost, tenants considering your apartment for rent will look for transport options. If your apartment for rent isn’t close to these other amenities naturally, you had better make sure your tenants can access appropriate transport, or, at the very least, have parking for their personal vehicle “People think about where they need to live long before they consider how they would like to live.” The unique features of your apartment for rent and any questions of cost only enter the tenant’s equation after location is measured. Access to work places and schools is always going to be important because we spend as much time at these places as we do in our home. So, always make sure transport amenities are promoted to prospective clients considering your apartment for rent. And, if you are still searching for an investment apartment or condo to use as a rental property – pay more for a great location, because it is going to guarantee your rental returns for that apartment into the future. If you cheap out and buy an apartment in a bad location, don’t expect the rental process to be easy…. Lock in a great location, and your apartment for rent won’t sit empty for long. For agents, when a property seeker mentions they want to live in a certain area – this really means they must live in this location. Don’t see it as a preference among many; it is the number one preference. If you want to help them and win the commission, forget about apartment properties away from their preference area – even if the prices are higher where they really want to live. Apartment renters will generally rethink their budget when the right location comes along. Number of bedrooms inside the apartment: If a rental tenant says they need 3 bedrooms, that is exactly what they need – and they will be very unlikely to accept less.  So – if you don’t have enough bedrooms for that prospect in your apartment for rent, don’t bother inviting them to view the property. You are wasting your time! Possibly, they will accept an extra bedroom inside the apartment for rent, but not if it is costing them an arm and a leg.  Some people do like to have a spare bedroom for guests or as a study/home office. This means always make it very clear how many bedrooms your apartment has available, and focus on making that feature attractive. When the tenant’s visit your apartment for rent, make sure all rooms are set up for occupants, and don’t try to advertise a room that is not fit to be a bedroom as a bedroom. This will frustrate prospective tenants who are only considering properties that truly fit their bedroom necessities. Extra Perks: Those in the market for a apartment for rent are generally quite busy people. They might be foreigners temporarily living here for work. They might be students living in the city for study. Or they might own a property in the provinces, but need an apartment for rent close to their workplace so they can work in the city during the week. This means the tenant might appreciate features in your apartment for rent like the garden and swimming pool – but, remember, they don’t want to maintain them! This makes an apartment for rent with service inclusions very attractive. Tenants don’t want to waste their time setting up the internet connection, or paying the electricity bill to the provider. The more services you can package into the rental price for your apartment for rent, the better. When the tenant pays just one fee every month and knows that the pool will be cleaned, the garden will be weeded, and the internet will be provided – this is a great bonus for prospective tenants looking at your apartment for rent. Cleaning services and exercise facilities might also be attractive to many busy tenants looking for an apartment to rent. "If you are dealing with a busy demographic - think about how you can make their life easier!" Make you property more attractive to tenants by thinking about how you can make their day to day life easier. This will mean you property rents faster, and for a higher monthly rate. Here are some more handy tips for getting the most return on investment from your rental property!

Welcome to another Realestate.com.kh Dream Home Report. Every week we will showcase some of Cambodia and the world's most luxurious, interesting and unique properties. We want to show you the home gems of the International property market. This week we show you a home with an unbelievable view.Located in Peru, about an hour and a half from Cusco, the Skylodge is a collection of sleeping capsules fastened to the cliff face with a series of sustaining anchor harnesses.Don’t be scared to sleep though! World class engineers assure holidayers that these pods are safe and sound, and not one has fallen off yet... Skylodge Adventure Suites offers guests hanging accommodations with the best bedside views you are ever going to find! At night, sleep under the starry sky with a magnificent view of the Sacred Inca Valley. Check some more Dream Home reports here:Dream Home Report : Unique Khmer HomesDream Home : Song Saa Private Island Villa

2016 has now arrived, and as the New Year comes you might be turning your attention to your long-ignored mortgage.  Although no one likes to think about their mortgage repayments, you need to analyze it regularly if you want to find ways to make your repayments more effective and move yourself closer to financial independence. Missed Mortgage Matters Part 1 or Part 2? Read them first!With that in mind, bring in the New Year with these 5 handy ideas from realestate.com.kh to speed up your loan repayments, and work towards a financially free future!1. Don’t automatically decrease your repayments just because the interest rates falls: For many loaners, as soon as bank fees and interest rates decrease, and minimum repayments are lowered accordingly, this immediately means a happy camper - with more money in the pocket and less for the bank. However, this is short sighted. Instead of pocketing the cash, if you keep your repayments at the same level when the interest rates are falling - because this is a prime opportunity to reduce your principle with each payment and make faster progress satisfying your total loan in the longer-term. As opposed to seeing it as a time to relax your repayments – this year you should see it as an opportunity to get ahead of the bank and pay back your principle faster. 2. Test out an “Offset Account”: If it is possible for your loan, try using an offset account. A mortgage offset account is directly connected to your mortgage and the payable interest on your mortgage month to month will be calculated by deducting what funds exist in your offset account against your loan. To clarify, here’s an example: if your total mortgage is $200,000 and your offset account currently has $5,000 in it, you will only pay interest on the remaining $195,000. An offset account allows you to save interest while still allowing access to your savings if needed. For investors, offset accounts are also useful for the preservation of mortgage tax deductible benefits. 3. Refinance and get a better run for your money: Maybe you have worked out that your current mortgage is not suitable to your needs and financial circumstances now that 2016 has dawned. If this is the case, you need to change your loan quickly before it seriously hurts you. If you are not sure your current mortgage is right for you, it is best to consult a professional finance broker before it is too late. A well-attuned broker will negotiate with your lender about fees for additional repayments, refinancing, or any other necessary measures to help you save on your loan. A good broker should identify the perfect terms for you and then negotiate the best rates for that plan. Get in touch with Cambodia’s leading lenders today!4. Make smaller mortgage repayments, more regularly: If you make more payments, naturally these payments will be smaller. But more regular payments, even if they are smaller, will mean ultimately you can pay off your loan faster because you will lessen your interest repayments in the long term. If you currently repay your mortgage on a monthly basis, try changing to fortnightly loan repayments. Now, your monthly mortgage repayments might equal $2000 per month, for example. If you can instead pay $1000 every two weeks, by the end of 2016 you would have made significant savings on your interest costs, and will be a little bit closer to satisfying your overall loan repayment. 5. Take measures to pay back a little bit more each time: Remember, your “minimum repayment” is exactly that: it is the least possible amount you need to repay each month. So, for most mortgages there in nothing stopping you from paying more than the minimum necessary payment. And it doesn’t matter if you pay extra regularly, just when you can afford to now and again is still worthwhile. Even a little bit here and there can add up and eventually reduce your mortgage. When you receive bonuses, tax returns or other monetary gifts you should seriously consider putting this expendable income into your mortgage repayments before it disappears into thin air. Read more about home loans on realestate.com.kh today. Missed Mortgage Matters Part 1 or Part 2? Read them first!

Phnom Penh’s Condominium market has boomed recently owing to the sudden increase of demand on housing of international purchasers who buy condo units for investments or expect to resell at profitable prices, the rising need of housing among the local population, and the expected market demand bolstered by ASEAN market openness by the next coming year.“Cambodia is the most eye-catching market in Asia for investors most of who are Taiwanese, Japanese, Chinese, and Singaporean” Said Mr. Kuy Vat, Chairman of Century 21 Cambodia. ​As the number of developers with a good prices grows, these major areas should be archery target to boost the networking as well as to broaden the market and opportunities. He continued. Having officially operated in Cambodia for two years, now Century 21 Cambodia has made a remarkable mark in the real estate franchising business signed under the world-recognized brand. Not only does Century 21 Cambodia stimulate benefit from a powerful brand to all franchisees they also have access to a global network– to build a strong co-operations and collaborations among the regional Century 21 especially to bring the key investors. In addition, Century 21 Cambodia now, after co-operative connecting to Century 21 Japan, is creating another collaboration trip to Hong Kong on the 10th of January 2016 to not only enhance the level of collaboration and co-operation between Century 21Camboida and Century 21 Hong Kong but necessarily to match Potential Property to the Potential Buyers in Hong Kong.Within its 22 years experienced in Hong Kong, CENTURY 21 Hong Kong actively increases its presences and market shares in Hong Kong, Macau and China. Currently it has expanded to over 140 franchisees. Every CENTURY 21 professional is dedicated to provide buyers and sellers of real estate with the highest qualified services possible. Realestate.com.kh is proud to support our "featured agents" such as Century 21 Cambodia. Find the best agents on realestate.com.kh's "find an agent" page today!

According to Knight Frank’s PRIME ASIA DEVELOPMENT LAND INDEX H1 2015, Phnom Penh recorded the strongest increase in both prime residential and office development land prices in the first half of 2015 as compared to regional competitors.“With prime residential and commercial land prices surging by 14.1% and 9.7% respectively, Phnom Penh topped the table once again,” says the Knight Frank Report. The report suggests that FDI was the chief stimulus behind the strong performance of the local residential sector. Yet, the report also notes that this growth decelerated in the second quarter, which may suggest that prices were peaking. Meanwhile, approvals for higher density developments have continued to push commercial land prices upwards. Check out the latest news and property sector analysis on realestate.com.kh today!

Phnom Penh will soon be linked via rail to Poipet town on the Thai-Cambodian border. According to local authorities, this section of rail track is is due to be completed by the end of 2016.Now, only 6 kilometers of railway track is needed to complete the connection. Once Phnom Penh is connected to Poipet through this railway, direct access from Phnom Penh to Bangkok will be possible via train. Read about other new rail developments in the ASEAN region.

Realestate.com.kh is proud to sponsor and support the Global Alumni Convention (GAC) 2016.The Global Alumni Convention (GAC) is organized by IDP Education to bring together graduates from Cambodia, Australia, the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, France, Russia, Korea, Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries and give them a forum to meet, share ideas and network with experts, decision makers and leaders from governments, the private sector, and civil society for education, trade and investment opportunities.AIMS OF THE CONVENTION: The convention is designed around the themes of reconnecting with learning, knowledge-sharing, and being inspired to fulfil education, professional, and business potential. Organizers anticipate attendance by more than 500 alumni, professionals, experts and leaders from the public and private sector. The objectives of the GAC 2016:To learn about the pathways and successes that alumni from these countries have achieved.To showcase world class education systems and opportunities.To gain insights into Cambodia’s position in the world.To enhance friendship and cooperation within Cambodia and internationally.Who will attend the convention? The Global Alumni Convention is a high-profile event with 500 anticipated attendees being: Graduates from around the globe.Leaders from Governments and Embassies.Directors, CEOs and Senior Executives from business and civil society.Professionals, specialists, and experts from diverse industries.Cambodians and non-Cambodians.When and where will the convention be held? On the evening of Friday 29 and all day on 30 January 2016 at InterContinental Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Convention Format: The format of the panel discussions will be four panellists plus a moderator with an interactive Q+A. The convention will be in two parts – the Business & Education Networking Reception on the evening of 29  January  2016  coupled  with  the  Main  Convention  on  30  January  2016  and  concluding  with  the Convention  Cocktail  Reception. The  Business  &  Education  Networking  Reception  will  be  a  networking dinner  with  leaders  from  the  government,  embassies,  the  private  sector  and  civil  society. The  Main Convention  will  consist  of  a  series  of  moderated  panel  discussions  with  topics  being  on  Cambodia-related  issues  and  will  be  given  by  leading  figures  from  the  business  community,  the  public  sector, relevant industry figures and alumni themselves. GAC  VIPs: GAC 2016 will be honoured with a welcome address by HE Sun Chanthol, Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce on the evening of the 29th, and the official opening address by HE Dr Hang Chuon  Naron, Minister of Education Youth and Sport in the morning of the 30th January, 2016. REGISTRATION FEES: Early Registration – 01 Oct – 30 Nov 2015 (US$ 70)Standard Registration – 01 – 30 Dec 2015 (US$ 80)Late Registration – 01 – 28 Jan 2016 (US$ 90)Walk-in Registration – 29 – 30 Jan 2016 (US$ 100)To register, please go to www.cambodiaGA.org  ; For more information, please contact GAC Secretariat Office at gac@idp.com or 023 222 064.

On 26-27 December 2015, the Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association (CVEA) traveled in convoy to Sihanoukville Province to study the real estate market of the region, seek opportunities and benefits for the members of CVEA, and to build relationship and unity between the various CVEA members. The trip was attended by Kim Heang, President of CVEA, and Van Chanthorn, Vice President of CVEA along with members from over 13 different real estate agencies and companies.Visits included information sessions, tours and negotiations with Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone (SSEZ), Chork Kampongsom Special Economy Zone and the development site of D’ Sea View Condominium, a project of HLH Group and Camhomes. The CVEA was given a chance to introduce themselves to company representatives from these developments and propose cooperative measures between the various projects and CVEA members. All projects showed great interest in partnering with the CVEA and its members, and working towards greater cooperation in 2016. The official tour schedule ended with a dinner party on O’Chhoeteal Beach with all members in attendance. The overall feeling was one of cooperation, unity and growing friendship, despite the competition that traditionally exists between many agencies. The CVEA is bringing industry leaders together and developing strong bonds that will bring mutual benefits to all members as the industry pushes forward and competition becomes more fierce in 2016. The Realestate.com.kh team were proud to attend the tour as CVEA members and partners of all Cambodian real estate agencies and agents, whether big or small, and look forward to future CVEA events and tours such as this!If you would like more information about the CVEA, or are seeking membership opportunities, or you are a developer who would like to invite the Association and its members to visit your project - please get in touch with the CVEA today.

Aircon units in your home or office need a service once a year if you want them to keep pumping cool air at full capacity! Now that winter’s come around and you don’t need the aircon on, it’s the perfect time to give your unit a long needed check up! Stay cool and save cash on power bills with these simple maintenance checks, thanks to realestate.com.kh. Time for a new filter:If you have a central air system, make sure you change the filters every few months. If you have let it slide all year, now’s a prime time to do your chores and change it!And while you’re at it, clean the vents!At least a few times a year, you need to dust your aircon vents to keep the airflow free and easy. If it still seems muffled after this, you should hire a professional aircon cleaning person to give your air ducts and vents a full thorough blowout.Make sure you aren’t blocking the condensing unit:The air conditioner unit that sits outside and draws air into the system must be unrestricted and uncovered. It seems obvious, but sometimes people forget they left the mat lying on top. Make sure the induction vents a clean and clear, and you should be winning!Still seem Funky?If you unit still seems to be struggling, you might have an issue with your Freon Levels. Get a pro to check for a leak (especially if your aircon is an old model). While your at it, better get them to check the electrical controls and coils are in tip top shape too. They can also calibrate your thermostat if need be. Is wood or tile floors best for your home?? Find out here.

Most people’s attention span lasts between 5 and 10 seconds… For those involved in marketing, and especially digital marketing, this means that you need to work extremely efficiently if you want to engage the right customers at the right place and the right time, and share with them a message that they will actually take on board. Don't forget to read part 1 first! Read it here.Because online marketing is our full time job here at Realestate.com.kh, we would like to share a few tips to get the most benefit from your various online marketing channels – and ultimately, sell and rent more property through the internet.  Online marketing with your own Website: Your company website is home sweet home, no matter what business you are – but, remember, your website must reflect your underlying objectives if you want it to be successful. Don't forget to read part 1 first! Read it here. Of course, the layout and functionality will be totally different depending on the online marketing objectives. Your website might exist purely for branding purposes, in which case focus on the presentation. But if you intend to sell directly through your website as an ecommerce application, your design must focus on functionality and smoothly facilitating the sale, and after-sale support. Regardless of the intent of your website, it is crucial that it is easy to navigate, and the content is relevant and engaging to visitors. Want to learn how to use LinkedIn for real estate sales? Success metrics are always at hand to advise of the development of your website, whether it be considering generic goals such as overall revenue and conversions - or more specific analysis, for example building offsite referrals from social channels, or considering the best demographic targeting for your website. If you want a bigger audience to visit your website, the sole answer is content. Clear, engaging and consistent content is the only way to grow your website sustainably. Remember that longer term trends and analytics must be well-considered during any development of your website. A website is not like a short term marketing drive. Your website is here to stay for the life of your business. This means any changes you make should consider the present, but always look to the future. Why online marketing can help you test ideas quickly!Online marketing with your Email Database: Business people and individuals can receive hundreds of emails every week. Because of this flow of info, if your email online marketing is stale it will quite-simply fail because those emails will never see the light of day. Nearly all email database marketing has the same objectives: increasing click-through rates to your company websites; and reducing the number of contacts choosing to unsubscribe from your communications. Thus, to improve on returns from email online marketing, make sure you keep a clean and organized database – this will allow you to build trust with recipients and recognized email addresses. Increase your open rate with inviting email titles, and always test innovation. Throw in new elements such as video, interactive features and try to maintain a personal touch for your database members. Don't forget to read part 1 first! Read it here.Alternatively - Let us take care of your digital marketing and send you the sales inquiries. Realestate.com.kh can share it’s huge online audience with you. If you are an agent or developer, there is no easier way to improve your online sales conversions. Find out more today.

Most people’s attention span lasts between 5 and 10 seconds… For those involved in marketing, and especially digital marketing, this means that you need to work extremely efficiently if you want to engage the right customers at the right place and the right time, and share with them a message that they will actually take on board. Read part 1 already? Read part 2 here!Because online marketing is our full time job here at Realestate.com.kh, we would like to share a few tips to get the most benefit from your various online marketing channels – and ultimately, sell and rent more property through the internet.Online marketing with your Social Media Channels: No longer are the ultimate goals of social media likes, follows, and shares. Nowadays, social media marketing is a direct source of sales and represents great and highly affordable opportunities for marketers of all kinds. Of course, it is no secret that online companies like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram have developed their services to support company branding and sales. By simple testing, you can soon find our which social channels deliver you the best rate of conversions, click throughs and brand awareness. However, if you are situated in Cambodia, it is a safe bet that Facebook will come out number one - as the majority of the country’s 3.4 Million strong social media users taking first and foremost to Facebook. Surprisingly, some locals still understand Facebook and the Internet as a conjoined concept. Want to learn how to use LinkedIn for real estate sales?Online marketing with Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is the least understood type of online marketing – but can be the most expensive and, for many online businesses, the most important. Basically, your company website is as useful as it is visited. If nobody can find your website, it is as useful as a 50 foot billboard behind a wall. SEO can be divided by on-page and offsite SEO. On-page relates to developing the navigation of your website so that all content is easily available to visitors. Offsite SEO is like casting a net – developing your offsite SEO will mean more people searching on leading search engines, such as google.com and its international network of sites, will find your site in their search results, and before they find your competitors… Be patient when developing your SEO as results will not come overnight. Remember, once again, there is no avoiding the need for content.  If you want a bigger audience to visit your website, and improve your website’s organic SEO, content is key – now, more than ever. Clear, engaging and consistent content is the key to growing your SEO sustainably. New search algorithms demand that top ranking pages must provide the user with content that engages them, and is unique and well referenced. If your post is about buying real estate in Chamkarmon, for example, it needs to be genuinely useful to your readers if it is ever going to rank well in SEO. The days are over when you can simply load articles with keywords and expect search results. Further, your keyword selection is crucial for a successful SEO strategy. You must clearly target your strategy to bid for the search key words most likely to bring revenue to your business. Don’t waste any time or money trying to win key words that will never convert. Also be wary about your competition.  If you see that another website has dominated certain key words for a long time, your chances of beating them are much lower, and will require far more effort in regards to content creation. Look for the low hanging fruit first, and the key words that will convert. Why online marketing can help you test ideas quickly!Online marketing with Paid Ads: Whether you are considering implementing search, display, or social ads into your online marketing strategy, always pay attention to conversion tracking and testing first and foremost. Otherwise, you are swinging in the dark! By using conversion tracking for paid advertising initiatives, you can immediately gauge which ads and keywords bring revenue with the highest return on your investment. Test and optimize all elements of the campaign until your success metrics start to show growth. The same rule applies whether you are interested in branding or conversions. Keep in mind; you will incur additional creative costs during this process if you want to do it right. It is important that you ensure your content and other visual media is in line with your audience, marketing strategy, and company image. Enjoyed the post so far?? Read part 2 here!Alternatively - Let us take care of your digital marketing and send you the sales inquiries. Realestate.com.kh can share it’s huge online audience with you. If you are an agent or developer, there is no easier way to improve your online sales conversions. Find out more today.

As the event's official property portal, Realestate.com.kh is proud to present the 2016 Cambodia Property Awards - part of the Asia Property Awards series, brought to you by Ensign Media. Don't miss Cambodia's biggest and most prestigious property event - Early bird tickets are now available, until the 26th of January 2016 only. The Cambodia Property awards will take place at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra on Thursday, 25 February.Email info@asiapropertyawards.com for booking, or click here to visit the website.

Camhomes’ maiden mixed development at Sihanoukville, D’Seaview, aims to bring an integrated concept of living to Sihanoukville, which focuses on the convenience that only a mixed development can offer: living and shopping at the highest standards in the same building. Besides offering high quality homes while retaining affordable prices, Camhomes’ Group General Manager, Ryan Ong, also emphasised on the potential capital appreciation and first movers’ advantage for buyers who invest in a D’Seaview unit, regardless of whether they are residential or commercial buyers. Investing in a mixed development at Sihanoukville that comes to life through commercial and residential owners and tenants, acts as a hedge against future inflation. Having the advantage of being in a prime economic seaside location like Sihanoukville, with its deep-sea port, Special Economic Zone, international airport, as well as its oil and gas industry commencing operations soon, D’Seaview is the market leader in high-standard condos that extends its services beyond just quality housing and to the world of commerce. “With Sihanoukville being an up-and-coming booming coastal city, it is only a matter of time before more foreign businesses start coming into this province, and when that happens, housing will be the first few things they will look out for, thus we are hoping to fill up this hole,” Ong explains. Envisioning what expatriates and locals would appreciate within such a mixed development at Sihanoukville, D’Seaview places its focus on the integration of convenience, facilities, lifestyle, and status. In addition to its two residential towers, D’Seaview has four commercial blocks comprising 66 units. These include a vast ground-level space of approximately 500 square metres dedicated solely to F&B, either a food-court or a restaurant, which is priced at an estimated $1.7 million. Also, there is the second level that will be left as a wide plan for retail purposes. From the third to the seventh levels are smaller commercial units with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. D’Seaview also has a hotel block, which is open to investors, as well as local shophouse-style blocks that are targeted at Cambodians who would like to set up their business as well as live there. A typical commercial block features a third-storey roof terrace, which D’Seaview visualises to be a childcare centre, a spa, a salon, or even a family karaoke lounge hall. However, the final outcome depends on the imagination of the buyer. The variety and potential of D’Seaview’s commercial hemisphere brings the term mixed development to a whole new level, “which will be satisfying a lot of purchasers’ requirements and demands,” as explained by Ong. Such is the flexibility of D’Seaview in catering to its commercial purchasers’ needs that if a buyer wants to purchase an entire floor, Camhomes will be more than willing to work with them and help them in re-designing the floor plan. The starting price per square metre for a commercial unit within the compound is from $1619. Some commercial units have already been sold since the launch of its retail store spaces last weekend. With a ready pool of customers from the 735 units of residences and the 98-room hotel, D’Seaview’s commercial hub looks to be abuzz with consumer activities once the development is completed in Q1 of 2018. Open to the public, the lifestyle element is a factor of appeal, as the commercial units will feature a slew of trendy bistros and cafes that has the potential to be the new uptown of Sihanoukville. D’Seaview envisions itself to be a cosmopolitan hub with a balanced mix of locals and foreigners. On what sets D’Seaview apart from other housing developments, Ong elaborates, “we have the advantage of the seaside and close proximity to the port, thus reducing travel and delivery of consumer goods. Our central location among the seaport, airport, and the future highway connecting Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh, is also another great advantage.” Realise your housing and commercial dreams now; visit Camhomes’ D’Seaview showroom at Canadia Towers and talk to their property consultants, call their hotline at 023 985 828 / 097 768 9090. Phnom Penh Post, Post Property.

Flanked by life-sized statues of Japanese cartoon character Doraemon, and the infamous one-eyed yellow minions made popular by the animated American movie Despicable Me, China’s Prince Real Estate was far from alone at the official launch of their showroom (opposite the National Assembly), and the opening ceremony of its latest development Prince Central Plaza, a HOPSCA—Hotel, Offices, Parks, Shopping Mall, Convention Centre, and Apartments—last Tuesday. Want to learn more about Prince Central Plaza? Here is the full listing, on Realestate.com.kh. While the launch aimed to spice up the humdrum of a typical property launch, Pol Lyta, a property consultant for Prince Central Plaza, explained the deeper meaning behind the unusual marketing strategy, saying, “Doraemon is a robot cat that comes from the future [22nd century], and can go back into the past, and he is also able to fly all over the world.” With the ability Doraemon possesses, it seems to refer to Prince Central Plaza’s outlook on the future of Phnom Penh in making the development the integrated business and lifestyle nucleus of the Kingdom, while retaining an avant-garde take on traditional Khmer architectural design. As countless Doraemons had flown in to Phnom Penh to station themselves at the opening ceremony, Despicable Me’s yellow minions had also come along for the ride, possibly to inject some humour and entertainment to a typical lacklustre affair. Being an entertainment-centralised hub, Lyta elaborated that “the minions from Despicable Me represent the fun and entertaining side of what Prince Central Plaza’s various amenities and facilities can offer.” Want to learn more about Prince Central Plaza? Here is the full listing, on Realestate.com.kh. To emphasise its point, guests at the launch were also given freebies in the form of the one-eyed yellow minion soft toy plushies. However random it may seem, such cute and fun twists are not uncommon here. In 2012, an Angry Birds Foreign Language School had sprung up in Banteay Meanchey province, riding on the wings of the insane global phenomenon that the Angry Birds game had prompted. Nonetheless, the opening ceremony of Prince Central Plaza was not all fun and games. Having sold an approximate 200 out of its 1,786 residential units just at the launch itself, it has also sold an estimated 40 per cent of its homes thus far. Prices range from an average of $58,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, to $100,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Almost all of its snazzy penthouses, which cost from $250,000 to $600,000, have been snapped up as of the launch day. As with the case of the Angry Birds school, whose owner was nonchalant in using the fowls’ infamousness without consulting their copyright holders, it is unclear whether these future robot cats and one-eyed yellow minions were lawfully licensed as mascots for Prince Central Plaza’s opening ceremony. What is definitely clear, however, is the completion of the impressive Prince Central Plaza slated for May 2018, located at the pulse of Phnom Penh’s heart south of Norodom Boulevard, wherein its residents may just be lavishly greeted with another surprise appearance by the unofficial mascots. Hanamariya Halim, Phnom Penh Post, Post Property. Want to learn more about Prince Central Plaza? Here is the full listing, on Realestate.com.kh.

After a tumultuous year in Cambodia for Singapore-based TEHO International, the developers of the $500 million The Bay condominium project on Chroy Changvar peninsula said construction will begin early next year with a new marketing strategy after another managerial shakeup. Want to inquire about a unit in the Bay? Check out the full listing today, on realestate.com.kh.  Announced on the Singapore Stock Exchange earlier this week, ECG (Cambodia) was bought out and formalized into the parent company ECG Property—a wholly owned subsidiary of TEHO International that handles all marketing and promotional activities. Previously operated by the joint venture’s partner, Sok Bun, ECG Cambodia was purchased to a tune of $71,776, or what amounted to 45 per cent of the initial paid-up share capital. Currently, the unaudited net assets for ECG Cambodia as of July 2015 amounted to $169,836, the statement read. While ECG Cambodia will still perform its duties as the acting real estate agency for The Bay, all marketing and promotional activities will be conducted at the head office back in Singapore. Phua Cheng Boon, Financial Controller for TEHO International, said, “it is good to have full integration of our projects.” “We will have somebody based in Singapore who will be able to run operations regionally as well,” he said. Want to inquire about a unit in the Bay? Check out the full listing today, on realestate.com.kh.  It was previously reported by The Post that 100 condominium units had been sold since the soft launch in September. However, Phua declined to provide current figures. “While we can’t disclose the level of sales, we are confident to say that construction will begin in the first quarter of 2016,” he said. With a new marketing strategy, he added, the development “will not be about big exposure.” TEHO International, which formally launched the project in February of this year, had spent $1.1 million on advertising and promotional activities, as well as around $600,000 in legal and professional expenses to promote the development, an annual filing in August stated. While Sok Bun, who resigned from his position as director of the board, currently awaits trial for the beating of a former TV star, his shoes has since been filled by Yim Chhay Line, the daughter of Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly. “She is a good asset to the group and I am confident that all the necessary requirements for construction have been achieved,” said Phua. Kim Heang, CEO of Khmer Real Estate, said that a marketing shift to overseas investors is the “smartest” market strategy for The Bay, as it faces more competition and is also behind schedule. When asked if The Bay would miss out on the local segment, Heang explained that it is too small, “so why [do] they need to waste time and money [on] the local segment?” With a few soft approaches to buyers in Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan recently, Phua said sales “have picked up.” “We are doing this gradually because The Bay is a rather large project. We are going to all these different countries to do soft launches to get sufficient buying. We want to position [ourselves] as [a] more exclusive development,” he said. Want to inquire about a unit in the Bay? Check out the full listing today, on realestate.com.kh.  Kali Kotoski, Phnom Penh Post, Post Property.

Last Friday, master plan of Phnom Penh until 2035 was fully approved by the council of ministers, as announced by Pa Socheatvong, governor of Phnom Penh. While it is claimed that the plan is complete, those in the private and public sector and other relevant stakeholders fear that they have not been adequately consulted, raising concerns that implementation is unlikely and unjust. Without a publicly available draft that addresses socio-economic conditions as well as infrastructure, zoning, land title rights and all other concerns that come with the development of a city, they say it is unclear as to what the master plan of Phnom Penh actually entails. Takashi Ito, Senior Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) described the master plan as “a fruit of self-efforts by Phnom Penh municipality,” stating that JICA played no part in the current approved plan. Ito pointed out however, that JICA has submitted a master plan for transportation lines in March of this year, and is currently working on a master plan of Phnom Penh for a citywide sewage and drainage system. “We continue to be interested in healthy development of the capital city, which is why we have engaged in [these] two master plans,” Ito stated in an email. While Ito wouldn’t give Post Property an overview of the resources that are necessary to implement only a few crucial issues concerning city development, he admitted that without adequate resources, “it is not really practical to try to address all the problems,” he said. When it comes to meeting the demands of a burgeoning city and population, “it is, in a sense, a question of priority,” he said. To him, the success of a master plan hinges “not only on the degree of commitment of the municipality itself, but also on the degree of support and participation of other relevant governmental institutions, [possibly including] the private sector” and civil society. Piotr Sasin, country director for Czech NGO People in Need that focuses on spatial planning in Phnom Penh, called it “worrying that the plan has been developed in secrecy without the consultation of civil society groups.” He argues that city development is a complicated process that needs to be carefully coordinated to ensure implementation that properly addresses all issues. “We would appreciate if the municipality shared the plan with all shareholders so they can work on something that we will all be proud about. There are resources and the capacity to do this,” he said. Considering the sheer complexity of a master plan, Sasin admitted that “the majority of all master plans are never really implemented.” “It’s about the process, bringing the people together and it would be the job of the municipality to coordinate these efforts,” he said. Long Dimanche, spokesperson of City Hall, however, said that there have been specialists outside the municipality working on the master plan. “We have been working on this master plan since 2002 and had help from many groups of Cambodian professionals such as architectures, land management, landscaping, environmental, engineering, and [from the] cultural aspect and we had advice from French experts,” he said. According to Nicolas Baudouin, spokesperson for the French Embassy, French involvement in the city master plan ended with the publication of the 2007 White Paper, titled Livre Blanc. While the 330-page long master plan was published by Phnom Penh municipality, and outlined development until 2020, it was never adopted. “The project was considered complete with the publishing of the report and funding stopped. Why it wasn’t adopted, I don’t know,” Baudouin said. Even though French involvement stopped in 2007, governor Socheatvong cited 14 focus points that are identical to the ones listed back in 2007. While the 14 points are meant to address issues such as zoning, open spaces and land title issues, Socheatvong said that what contributed to the adoption of this version was spurred by economic growth, commerce and a rising population. “The main purpose of the 2035 Phnom Penh land usage is the strategic document in order to serve the government’s ambition as well as the aim of Phnom Penh municipality and their vision toward 2035 of managing and setting the direction of economic development… in an attempt to meet the increasing demand of private investment and the population in Phnom Penh,” he said. Dimanche added that he did not know when the overall master plan would be published publicly, despite last week’s approval. However, he said the government will issue a new order to properly implement the city development plan. Meng Bunnarith, spokesperson for the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, said that while the framework that was adopted by the council of ministers is comprehensive, it only provides a general overview that does not give much insight to critical details. The ministry has to set specific regulations in order to ensure a clearer use of land, he said. Nevertheless, Sasin fears that a master plan can be used to further exclude marginalised groups. “My main fear is that it will be a plan for the privileged,” he said. As an example, he worries that poor urban communities who have been excluded from systematic land titling, such as the evictees in Borei Keila or in Boeung Kak, would still not be addressed. He added that City Hall’s lack of transparency opens the door for misjudgment and misinterpretation. “If they published the document and got other stakeholders involved they could really pass on a positive message to the city which would be: we care.” Julius Thiemann, Siv Meng and Moeun Nhean, Phnom Penh Post, Post Property.