Welcome to Realestate.com.kh’s Dream Home Report. Every week we will showcase some of Cambodia's most luxurious, interesting and unique properties from throughout our listings database. We want to show you the gems of the Cambodian property market. This week we want to survey some homes with a unique Khmer flavor.Located in growing tourist area of Kampot, Samon's Village, this tree house home is something you dream of when you are stuck in the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh!Fancy a holiday home on a private island off the coast of Cambodia, Song Saa!Known as Khor Sang, located in Wat Kor Vollage, Battambang, the traditional khmer home has been passed down through 4 generations, and now restored to its former glory. And is a must see for tourists visiting Battambang.This locally designed 6 bedroom guesthouse in Siem Reap captures Cambodian culture perfectly, and its unique location inside a pagoda adds to the guests experience!A list of amazing houses in Cambodia wouldn’t be complete without mention of Vann Molyvann’s stunning architecture - and his signature roof design on this home.Check out another Dream Home report here.

CBRE Residential Global Living Report, released this year by CBRE International, has seen two east Asian real estate markets ranking in the top 5 highest value residential property markets worldwide, as decided by average property prices. The rational given for this Asian boom appears promising for the Cambodian residential property market, given hints to parallel trends occurring on a smaller scale in the Kingdom’s residential real estate market currently. The CBRE Global Living Report examines the residential property markets of 31 affluent cities around the world, including hubs such as Shanghai, Paris, New York, Tokyo, London and Madrid. Hong Kong ranked number one in the CBRE Global Living Report this year, having the highest average price per square foot in the world. Singapore has the highest property price by capital value in the world, according to the report, however, when viewed on a per square foot basis it came fifth, internationally. In Hong Kong, property prices leaped by 13.5 percent last year alone, meaning the market saw 20 percent average annual price growth, ranking as the second fastest residential growth market worldwide, according to the CBRE Report. Interestingly, the CBRE report cites increased Chinese investment as a key stimulant behind this boom: “As Hong Kong attracts a substantial amount of Chinese (as well as other international buyers), the market is likely to be buoyed by the recent Chinese stock market crash, which may lead to investors finding alternative homes, such as property, for their capital.” Not surprisingly, therefore, in Hong Kong only 65 percent of all residential properties are owned by owner-occupiers. Cambodia, with the unique invitation of an investment in USD, could also be benefiting from this type of investor. Anthony Galliano, Group CEO, Cambodian Investment Management, believes that, “Cambodia ‘s real estate market had been historically ignored as the country wasn’t viewed as a “quality of life” or “property investment” destination by foreign investors.  With Hong Kong and Singapore being Asia’s 2 most expensive markets and also in the world’s priciest markets, developers are seeking alternative Asian geographies that are more economically viable.” Knight Frank’s Cambodian country manager Ross Wheble explained to the Post, in regards to similar indicators in Knight Frank’s latest Asia Development Index, that the regional cooling “has benefited [Cambodia with] an influx of both foreign developers and investors seeking to take advantage of the comparatively low property prices and the relative ease at which foreign buyers can acquire freehold property (above ground floor level).” Galliano suggests that the surge in investment in Cambodia’s property market has been driven by economic fundamentals, namely, “ a more positive image of the country from frontier to developing market, and to an extent, herd instinct.” Galliano continues that “While property prices currently remain attractive, and the country, more specially Phnom Penh, has welcomed developers with open arms, inevitably once you do the math it is blatantly obviously there will be oversupply given the expected developments coming online in the next 2 years.  Therefore while it is all rosy today, I expect turbulence in property prices in the medium-term.” The Knight Frank report also added that growth in Cambodia has decelerated in the second quarter of 2015, suggesting prices may have reached their peak and will likely level off leading up to the AEC. As to why prices are appearing to peak, Wheble explained the sales rates of newly launched condominium projects in Cambodia for the first half of 2015 compared to 2014 “have eased.”

After the success of the “East One International Apartments” project – a condo development which is already 70% sold and now under construction in Duan Penh, Eastland Development Co. Ltd. have announced the launch of sales for “East Commercial Center (ECC)” along Norodom Boulevard, near the Malaysian Embassy. The number one real estate need within Phnom Penh moving into the future is a lack of affordable, sole-purposed office space, believes CEO of Eastland, Mr Sam Yang. "There are a growing number of talented local entrepreneurs and small business owners who need a place for their businesses to take flight, without driving them bankrupt." The East Commercial Center (ECC) will be completed in late 2017 and provide the market with 38 floors of pure office space, divided into small and affordable units, with low management fees, and common areas with all necessary business amenities. Inquire about the East Commercial Center (ECC) on realestate.com.kh todayThe ECC project will include a total of 680 car parks, over 6 floors. And in fact, the following stage of this development will be the East View Residence project, which will include four 38-floor high residential buildings. The second Cambodian condominium project for Eastland Development. The current office space market in Phnom Penh is unsuited to the growing demand, believes Mr Yang. "These types of start-up businesses are not interested in A-grade office space, as rental rates are too high, and instead now find themselves adapting villas or flat houses into office space. Meanwhile, International companies are increasingly interested in moving an office to Cambodia at low risk because investment incentives are some of the best in the region."Inquire about the East Commercial Center (ECC) on realestate.com.kh today

Is a property near the action of a higher value? Or are home buyers and renters willing to pay more for some peace and quiet? It may depend on your taste... Learn how to make your home quieter here.For some, such as Brian, who lives on central Street 51, Phnom Penh - the noise is offset by his surroundings: "I'm a heavy sleeper, so I can handle the late night music outside my apartment window. For me, it is a welcome trade-off for being able to walk 5 meters outside my home and be immersed in the heart of Phnom Penh City - I personally love the smells, sounds and great food all at my doorstep! And no need to pay for transport."  However, according to Realestate.com.kh data, most of the housing market does put a higher value on quiet homes. Having your home on a quiet street can increase its value by thousands of dollars, if you can find the right type of buyer. The value of peace and quiet is highly sought after by many property seekers, and this is known by valuation professionals. Homes on noisy main roads generally lose 10% of their value, as compared to homes in the same area on quiet side-streets. Enjoyed this post?  Learn how to make your home quieter here.

On Friday last week, Cambodia’s Global CAM Project Development Plc signed a MoU with Korea’s Green Eco Energy Co. Ltd. slating a high-speed Sihanoukville expressway from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, worth over 536 million. The 275-kilometer-long, 20-meter-wide Sihanoukville expressway along National Road 3 could begin as soon as next year, and marks Green Eco Energy Co. Ltd.'s first infrastructural investment in the Kingdom. The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, however, also signed an MoU in August with China’s Henan Provincial Communication Planning, Survey, and the Design Institute Co. Ltd. for the construction of a 190-kilometer-long, 25-meter-wide expressway linking Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville on National Road 4. This project is also said to begin next year and finish in 2020, weighing in with a cost of around $1.6 billion. According to the master plan by the ministry, Cambodia will need 850 kilometers of expressways by 2020, and 2,230 kilometers of expressway by 2040 - adding up to a total cost of about $26 billion. So it seems the Sihanoukville expressway is just the start...

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVDmfsV_PJw[/embed] Could underground parking systems like this one be Phnom Penh's answer to rush hour traffic jams in the future?One powerful (but also expensive) solution being used in China, and many other congested cities around the world, are underground parking systems like this: Fully automatic garages...

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is luring a new breed of foreigners to Cambodia, and the region more generally. With foreigners comes an increase in demand for property, and different types of property - and a series of new allowances in national property laws to accommodate this demand.Foreign investors come to the South East Asia region for the low labour costs, connectivity between the neighbouring economies, and the huge supply of land, resources and business opportunities. And as local markets grow, FDI will naturally follow as international companies are spurred by the chance of jumping on the wagon of a fast moving economy. Foreign capital presents a huge engine of growth in South East Asian countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos - which cumulatively saw an average annual rise in FDI of 9.2 percent in the years 2010 to 2013. In this FDI growth, Myanmar was the leader of the pack with a 35.8 percent increase over the three year period. Cambodia followed with 22.3 percent; Laos came third at 15.2 percent; and finally, Vietnam, fell behind with just 2.6 percent growth over the three year survey. Yet, amid the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam bloc, foreigners are subject to a variety of ownership limits. The foremost of these is being barred from owning land on a freehold basis, otherwise termed as outright ownership in perpetuity. This is a rule which is largely steadfast throughout the four nations’ borders. This may not be surprising, however, as freehold possession of land is likewise unavailable to citizens of Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, where government policy holds the state as the principal owner of all land. Long-term leasehold is, therefore, the accepted form of land ownership for foreigners based in these nations. Lease terms are flexible for most purposes, whether it be for a new business property or a residential address, and allow room for ownership limits to potentially ease in the years to come as governments in the region increase efforts to attract quality FDI. Given the relative political stability in the region, investors are generally happy to accept these long term leases. Cambodia, unlike its three neighboring counterparts, has a freehold land ownership system for its citizens. Foreigners based in Cambodia are also allowed rights of ownership over certain properties, subject to 2010 Law on the Provision of Ownership Rights. These rights, however, are restricted to buildings that have obtained a "strata title", which is available only to newly completed apartment buildings. According to the strata title regulation, foreigners cannot acquire a ground-floor unit legally, and any foreign ownership allocation is limited to a maximum of 70 percent of the units in any one co-owned building. Nevertheless, a foreigner lease term over landed properties can still be up to a 50 year maximum, with a 50 year renewal option included. In Laos, land is owned by the "national community", meaning no individual or business entity, foreign or local, can truly own land. Land-use rights are only granted to individuals or organizations by the state, and these rights are able to be transferred or inherited. 50 year leases are commonly granted to foreign individuals or companies. Myanmar's constitution similarly establishes the state as the ultimate owner of all land. Yet, under the new Myanmar Foreign Investment Law, an investor may lease land for up to 50 years, with two 10 year extensions. Structures affixed to land are the property of the foreign owner, but these rights revert to the lessor or the state with no prescribed compensation when the lease comes to an end. A Condominium Law, likely inspired by the Cambodian example, that is currently in development in Myanmar but not yet in force, would allow a foreigner to purchase a condominium on the sixth floor or above of a co-owned building, up to a quota of 40 percent foreign ownership of the total units in the property. In Vietnam, freehold ownership by foreigners over land is prohibited by the constitution. Yet state authorized leases between 50 and 70 years are widely available, especially for development projects, and renewable at the discretion of officials. Further, pursuant to the Vietnamese Law of Housing 2014, a foreigner may now own a unit in an apartment or condominium building - if it is a no-more-than 30 percent foreign owned building. The influx of FDI and the relaxations upon ownership laws is pushing local real estate developers to create and sell more residential space suitable for the needs of this new investor class. The massive boom in construction in all of these countries, Cambodia’s condo explosion being a prime example, reflects this drive to meet a new FDI based market. As rules are eased, companies such as property developers, banks and providers of property-related services, like maintenance, insurance and security, soon flow into the economy and boost it from within. In evidence of this, the GDPs’ of Cambodia and Myanmar each grew 9.7 percent last year; Vietnam's shot up by 8.8 percent; and Laos experienced 5.2 percent GDP growth.

There are three basic components to any mortgage. You must understand these clearly before you start the home loan application process. If you missed Mortgage Matters Part 1, read it here!In short, these are the home loan amount, interest rate, and loan term:Mortgage Component #1 - The Loan Amount: The loan amount is the principal amount that you want to borrow. Banks in Cambodia generally give a loan of up to 70% of the property value. Mortgage Component #2 - The Interest Rate: The interest rate is very important to understand! It is the percentage of annual interest that you have to pay on the total loan amount. It can be a fixed rate, a flexible rate, or a combination of both. Mortgage Component #3 - The Loan Term: The loan term is the duration/length of time that you take to completely repay the loan. Loan generally range from 15 to 30 years in Cambodia. If you combine the principal loan amount and the interest amount, you will then know the overall loan amount. Most home loans are usually repaid via monthly installments.The repayment comprises two parts or portions. One part is for the repayment of the principal amount. The other part is for the repayment of the interest.Read Mortgage Matters Part 3 HERE!This information should help you calculate your monthly mortgage payment... These home loan calculators should help too! Ready to get a Mortgage?? Inquire for a home loan here.

Myanmar's election held on November 8, deemed as the country’s first free election in 25 years, caught the attention of people around the world as Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won by a landslide.Considering the date from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) indicating the rise in the real estate market in Myanmar from $440 million in 2012 to 2014, to $780.7 million this year, Post Property’s Catherine Harry met up with Kevin Goos, CEO of Century 21 Cambodia, to talk about how the changes in the political scene will impact the local and regional property markets. How does the Cambodian property market fare compared to the region? Cambodia has the most attractive market for real estate development in Asia right now. Following closely are Japan and Myanmar. Most real estate markets such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan have seen a decrease in transaction by as much as 30 per cent; hence, the surge in foreign buyers over the last 24 months who are purchasing condos in Cambodia. Phnom Penh is seen as relatively affordable when compared to other cities in Southeast Asia and Cambodia has a strong economic growth track record with strong GDP growth since 2001. Comparative real estate markets such as Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong were booming in the 1980’s and 1990’s. What we are seeing in Phnom Penh is a city that is “catching up” and we can directly see the success of new developments, most notably North Park Condominium which sold 40 per cent of phase 1 on launch day.What advantages does Cambodia have in terms of laws, regulations and the ability for foreign ownership? Cambodia is good for business. The government’s stance on foreign direct investment (FDI) is very attractive when compared to surrounding countries. The drafting of the new development and construction law will create a clear pipeline for big developers to enter the market and the creation of the strata title and condo law in 2009, allowed for a transparent and practically applied way for foreigners to buy condos in Cambodia.Recently, Vietnam has brought in new laws for foreign ownership. While it appears to have had mixed results thus far, could this have an impact on property development in Cambodia? Yes. The new Vietnam laws on foreign ownership are a move in the right direction and I am sure when these laws are practically applied to the local market, more investors will continue to bring new real estate developments into Vietnam. Traditionally, if both Vietnam and Thailand are doing well in real estate, Cambodia also grows. In this case Phnom Penh is very far ahead of Ho Chi Minh City for condo development, housing development, and commercial development. The main positive effect of a prosperous real estate development market in Vietnam, that benefits Cambodia, is the decreased cost in construction materials for new developments in Cambodia.With Myanmar’s recent election, and the hope of a proposed condominium law, how could this change the focus of investors looking at frontier economies? How do you see the election results affecting the real estate market there? Myanmar is an attractive country for both retail and institutional investors, largely due to the growing populations, geographic location, and the positive results of last elections. However, for brands entering the real estate market, like Century 21, we are still very far from considering Myanmar as US sanctions are still in effect and pertain primarily to property. The condo law has been in the works for roughly 24 months and would have a great effect on real estate developments in the country. Once Myanmar finalises the condo law and allows foreigners to own condominiums outright, we will see a huge surge in world class developments begin to emerge in the country, bringing some of the best developers and large amounts of FDI.How important is political stability when it comes to investors’ decisions? Both retail and institutional investors are smart and base their decision around elections in frontier markets. However, Cambodia has been very consistent in economic growth and political stability for the last 15 years. We are seeing investor confidence at a very high level in Cambodia.After the recent political events in Cambodia, do you think it will have a lasting effect on the real estate market? The real estate market here has not been affected by any recent political events. The only political events that affect real estate transactions in Cambodia over the last 15 years are elections and they are minimal. Usually transactions begin to slow down about six months prior to elections and pick back up again about six months after the election outcome. This has been the recent trend and we expect to see this trend continue. However, as Cambodia enters into the ASEAN community, we expect to see a strong real estate sector in Cambodia well into the 2020’s.It’s believed that foreign investment in retail in Myanmar is limited because of its regulations that require foreign-brand entries to team up with local partners. Do you see similar problems happening in Cambodia? Foreign brands can enter the Myanmar market as a franchisor without a local partner but are required to have less than 40 per cent control over franchisee operations. American brands are still very hesitant due to the current sanctions that pertain primarily to specially designated individuals (SDI’s) who are considered to be involved in human rights violations. Currently, there are about 85 SDI’s that are restricted from doing business with American brands or American nationals should they involve in more than 50 per cent of the current investment, especially in property.This article was a co-production of Realestate.com.kh and the Phnom Penh Post, Post Property.Stay tuned for more updates from Realestate.com.kh!

In a profession that has long seen unlicensed real estate agents from tuk tuk drivers to open Facebook groups saturating the profession, local universities and real estate agencies are clamoring to attract and groom the next generation of agents. With fees ranging from $250 to $1000, these classes aim to teach the in and outs of the profession through business courses and lengthy intensive seminars. However, some students find that they need a more thorough education before committing to the profession.In Sitha, vice president and senior valuer of World Trust Estate teaches courses at both the Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association (CVEA) and Western University.At Western University’s three-credit 48-hour course, he focuses on basic knowledge of the market and industry trends to provide a general overview. “The students will have a better understanding of the real estate market in the area; why there are many companies investing on this sector, and why there are many investors investing in this country,” said Sitha. “Real estate is an important subject globally. That’s why countries like Malaysia and Singapore teach [these] subjects.” Out of all the lessons that the students can take away, Sitha reminds them time and time again of the importance of ethics to steer agents away from becoming entangled within legal predicaments, something that is rising as often unchecked investor cash flows in from overseas. “The most crucial duty of a real estate agent is to legitimise developments and investment,” he said, adding that to do so, an agent has to verify if the developer is properly licensed and has obtained permits from the authorities. Another thing he stresses is that agents need to do their homework and investigate a developer’s international and local track record, because “measuring a client’s financial status is a very important thing to be sure of,” something that can be difficult for smaller projects or new entrants into the scene. Meanwhile, at CVEA the classes are geared towards career development and valuation. The students range from company managers, to government officials and bankers who wish to increase their knowledge in a fast growing market. His class is usually full of students, he said. Taught one day a week at a cost of $200 to $250, once completed, students receive CVEA certification. Century 21 Cambodia, an international franchise, is another company offering classes for current and prospective agents. Learning Director, Grace Rachny Fong, said that their best selling and well-known course is “How to be a professional real estate agent” at $295 for a full day intensive. Other workshops last for three days at a total of 36 hours. Once completed, participants receive certification that is recognised in all 75 countries in which Century 21 operates. Century 21 also offers 16-day, seven course packages to the tune of $990. The majority of the students, Fong said, vary from college graduates, company managers, doctors and dentists, as wells as current investors. Se Penglong, a business major at Western University and one of Sitha’s many students, said that real estate classes have provided an insight into the sector and the terms, conditions and responsibilities involved in a real estate deal; something which he sees as beneficial as the sector grows. “We can see rapid growth in infrastructure and construction,” he said. “At the same time, we can also see an increase in foreign and local investment.” Meanwhile, Ry Socheat, also a business major, said that although he has learned a lot, he doesn’t yet have the confidence to delve into the world of real estate. “While the course has been valuable, the lessons only cover a small part of a complex sector,” he said. Kong Sovanatey, who is pursuing a degree in hotel management, explained that while she now has a grasp of the fundamentals, when it comes to purchasing or looking for property, she would still prefer to seek out a professional real estate agent. Um Vuthdara, a professor of Economics at Pannasastra University of Cambodia, said that the real estate courses through both universities and agencies are a good start because “we should have developed these skills many, many years ago”. While the construction sector has taken centre stage, becoming one of the major contributors towards GDP growth, he explained that no country can develop “without good human capital”. With 13 years of experience as a professor, he said that to support real estate development, “education and training needs to also include direct practical work,” noting that while it is up to a university or agency to provide quality programs, a course just provides a general guideline. It is up to the “students to practice their work with the private sector and investors,” he said, adding that is when the value of a real estate course really comes into play. Catherine Harry and Moeun Nhean, Phnom Penh Post, Post Property.

With the recent political upheaval that began with the severe beating of two Cambodia National Rescue Party representatives on October 26, last Friday’s arrest warrant issued for Sam Rainsy concerning a defamation lawsuit stemming from 2008, the subsequent stripping of his lawmaker status by the National Assembly on Monday – a vote which was boycotted by opposition lawmakers – the heated politics between the ruling CPP party and the CNRP has led economists to argue that further political instability will scare away foreign direct investors into the property market much like it did during the last election cycle, providing the situation further deteriorates.Seng Bunna, CEO of Bunna Realty Group, told Post Property that such political turmoil would generally spurn investors temporarily, slowing FDI, as well as delay ongoing projects causing investors to second-guess their decisions while they wait and watch to see how the situation plays out. Cautioning the dependence the Kingdom has on foreign investment, Bunna added that “[these events] demand vigorous discussion between politicians and they have to specifically address the need for political stability for the economy to develop because Cambodian politics and [the] economy are still not widely apart”. Ho Vandy, advisor to the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, echoed the fact that the potential for Cambodian economic growth was always viewed in the context of relative political stability and that a lack of it could freeze the flow of FDI. Also, Vandy, a former co-chairman of the Private and Public Sector Working Group, said that with rising political tensions, the tourism sector could also be placed at risk. Whenever the political situation heightens, it not only shakes local and foreign investor confidence, but potential tourists take notice, he added. In a deteriorating political environment, Vandy said that investors could face three options: shore up their investment to secure their current assets, maintain their current stance, or retreat. The latter, he explained, could be possible if property investors liquefy their capital by taking mortgages on their property and simply pull out due to increased uncertainty. However, while he sees no sign of this presently occurring, he suspects that tourism, which is a quick barometer of outside confidence, has already been negatively impacted. “We request politicians to calm the situation because this political turmoil disturbed much income, FDI and overall tourism in Cambodia,” he said, noting that the slowdown in the increase of tourism growth compared to last year – due to unrelated factors – needs to be addressed. “Currently we are conducting a study with many economists from related ministries in order to study these complications,” he said. Ann Thida, vice president of CBRE Cambodia, said that while she has not seen “reactions from anxious investors, what I see is that the investors’ sentiment is [primarily] affecting the international market perception negatively.” “In whatever way, I think they worry, but so far I have not received any response concerning this problem,” she added. Srey Chanthy, an independent economic analyst, said that the current state of affairs could take six months to blow over before investor confidence is renewed. In the present context, she explained that investor activities can “stagnate” causing a pause in “projects and signing of contracts because [investors] are still observing.” Besides political stability, he noted that the most important thing for FDI is economic growth, macroeconomic stability, “government policy and the rule of law”. Chailin Sear, CEO of Chailin Sear real estate, did not believe that the present situation was of consequence, noting that any appeared slowdown is chalked up to the mix of national holidays and the rainy season, when construction typically slows. “If we look into the political situation, I do not think it affects investors or projects,” he said, adding the turmoil has not even made it onto foreign investors’ radar screens. Investment figures from ACLEDA Bank also seem to suggest that at least for now, investment has remained unchanged. In Channy, CEO of ACLEDA, was unfazed by the current rumblings, saying that investors have always operated on the principle of long-term investment strategies. According to the bank’s figures, $2.7 billion is scheduled to come into Cambodia through ACLEDA by the end of this year, of which $2.6 billion had already arrived as of October. Channy tried to underscore the notion that a rather healthy dose of confidence comes from regional stability, saying that, “ASEAN is the most peaceful and secure region with the lowest risk for investment, while regions in Europe and the Middle East are having many troubles.” In a time of uncertainty in other global markets, he said this was the time for Cambodia to shore up its stance as a “favourable investment atmosphere in order to attract more investors.” Siv Meng, Phnom Penh Post, Post Property.

39.5% of the Cambodian population now own a smartphone, according to a recent report entitled "Mobile Phones and Internet in Cambodia," written by staffers from the Open Institute in Phnom Penh. This is double the number of users reported in 2013. According to the Open Institute, the rise in smartphone ownership is playing a large role in the nation's internet connectivity, and is likely to take the percentage of internet users in Cambodia from a 1/3 up to 1/2 of the population. Almost 95% of Cambodians own a phone, but the nation's youth are increasingly buying a smartphone or two, with a higher rate of ownership than the older generation. Meanwhile, Facebook has become the second-most read news source in Cambodia, surpassing radio and moving closer and closer to television, according to the report.

How much can banks lend you through a home loan? Banks can Cambodia can lend you up to 70% of the total property value. Much like the rest of the world, the final loan amount will be the bank's discretion based on the applicant's capacity to pay it back.What annual interest rate can I expect from Cambodian banks?Annual interest rates in Cambodia are about 8%.For how long can I borrow from banks in Cambodia?Borrowers can get a loan payment term for up to 20 years.Are there any fees associated with my loan application in Cambodian banks?Yes, the bank may charge around 1% of the loan amount drawn down. Associated fees such as Hard Title Registration, blockage, Property valuation, annual insurance, and legal fees are also borne by the borrower.How do I apply for a loan in a Cambodian bank?Of course, getting in touch with a bank will be the first step in doing so. But then again, choosing the right bank for your home loan is almost as important as the property itself. Realestate.com.kh is partnered with several banks in Cambodia offering great terms for both Khmers and foreign buyersInquire for a home loan in CambodiaWhat are some requirements if I want to apply for a home loan? Different documents will be required for different loan scenarios. However, the basic information requires from you includes:National ID Card and Passport;Sales and Purchase Agreement of the property; Income evidence (i.e. salary payslip, employment letter, bank statement, and/or other relevant documents); For self-employed applicants, business income verification is also required. Can foreigners apply for a home loan in Cambodia?  Yes, foreigners in Cambodia can apply for a home loan. Realestate.com.kh has a comprehensive guide on home loans for foreigners based in Cambodia.Guide to home loans for foreigners in Cambodia

Due to rising prime retail real estate prices, many new restaurateurs looking to set up shop in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are choosing whether to accommodate high property rental rates into their business costs in order to sit on the vein of the tourist and expat traffic – or whether they step outside the prime retail real estate zones and give their customers a reason to come to them. In Siem Reap, says Dave Murphy of IPS Cambodia, who have offices in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, prime retail real estate space is heavily centered around Pub Street, and the surrounding lane ways. “In a city with far fewer expats than Phnom Penh,” says Murphy, “this is where the money really gravitates for restaurateurs.” Check out what's on offer in Siem Reap! For those cooking in Phnom Penh, their scope for prime retail real estate, primarily, is around the riverside district, BKK1 and the central suburbs of Duan Penh and Tonle Bassac. “However,” notes Murphy, “where these businesses ultimate choose to set up depends on their products and who they are catering for - as most expats are not particularly attracted to the Riverside area.” And, in fact, prime retail real estate rental prices in affluent areas such as BKK, Duan Penh and Tonle Bassac are growing faster than those on riverside, spurred by high demand - “which suggests,” says Murphy, “that F & B businesses in Phnom Penh are realizing there is a strong market in Phnom Penh that lies outside of the tourist dollar.” Check out what's on offer in Phnom Penh! For Edward Carminati, managing director of Il Forno Restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, BKK1 was the preferred location for his second Italian restaurant destination after great success in Siem Reap. “We didn’t choose to set up on Riverside,” says Carminati, “because we know, from our experience with our tourist driven venue in Siem Reap, that tourists primarily want to eat Asian food, and their spending limits are often smaller that the expat community.” “In fact,” continues Carminati, “BKK1 offers us access to a whole new market.” In Siem Reap, 90 percent of Il Forno’s customers are tourists – the other 10 percent are expats, who predominantly work in the NGO sector. In Phnom Penh, Carminati’s new venue caters to 80 percent expats, 10 percent Khmers and a measly 10 percent tourist traffic. See BKK1 real estate here!“In Phnom Penh,” says Carminati, “the expat community has much higher spending power than we are used to in Siem Reap. Here you have the NGOs, but you also have the corporates. The long-term expats are looking for a taste of home, and an ambient, authentic dining experience – we can offer that all year round.” Carminati confirmed that his costs of doing business are 300% higher in Phnom Penh’s BKK1, sitting on some of the countries most prime retail real estate, than they are in Siem Reap, but the profit available in Phnom Penh easily legitimizes these rates. In Siem Reap, the market is far less complex. Pub Street is the pinnacle of demand for prime retail real estate thanks to a high turnover of affluent visitors, but likewise rental rates. “It is becoming an extremely hard area to break into for new business ventures,” says Murphy, “as pub street has quickly been deemed prime retail real estate leaving few owners willing to sell, and rental rates climbing every new term.” This means new F & B enterprises have no choose but to move off the main street, where rental rates are lower – but so is foot traffic. However, in both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, some restaurant owners are showing that it is not always crucial to have your property in the hottest areas. “Those businesses with high quality user reviews, and effective marketing, can take cheaper space in side streets off Pub Street, or a lesser known part of Phnom Penh, and customers will still find them,” believes Murphy. Carminati notes that, in fact, Il Forno’s less prominent retail space in Siem Reap, launched in 2011, located down a laneway off Pub Street, has been a blessing in disguise. “Our rental rates are more reasonable than on Pub Street, although growing fast, and, in fact, our location offers customer’s privacy, relative peace and tranquility, something very hard to offer when your restaurant sits directly on Pub Street. This keeps us well-reviewed, which makes tourist willing to come and find us off the main drag.” This is not unlike the booming F & B market in downtown Melbourne in the 1990’s, says Murphy. Spurred by the coffee culture boom, “any new cafe owners in the central Melbourne F & B industry either bought into prime retail real estate areas at huge cost – or did something very clever and unique to service their clients while they sat in the lower rental zones.” Check out IPS's listings here!

Stepping up to purchase your very first investment property represents a large financial commitment, and is probably one of the first major financial risks you will take in your life. So, how do you ensure you are not buying a lemon when looking for your first investment property? Here is the right start from Realestate.com.kh: Start by asking the following 3 questions!1. Do you know your own strategy?The basis of a successful investment property is having and practicing a clear strategy. Always consider your "bigger picture" first and foremost. Consider what you are looking to achieve through your investment property: Are you looking to create a supplement to your income in retirement? Or, are you looking to improve your cash flow in the short term? Alternatively, you might be trying to improve your equity position in order to consider buying more properties? First be perfectly clear on the "WHY?" question... Only then you can think about the ‘HOW?’. This means, if it is cash flow now you want, then you had better target cash flow positive properties. Trying to improve your equity position? Perhaps you need to renovate and flip a property. Whatever the why, you must be perfectly clear about how you’re going to make money from the investment property before you start investing.2. Know your finances, perfectly: Always plan your exact budget, before you even start surfing property listings on Realestate.com.kh. Here's why: If you are considering your first investment property purchase, you’ll need to have enough cash to cover the deposit and any additional purchase costs, such as transferring the title. Even if you’re using equity in your home to cover the deposit, you’ll still need some additional capital to cover the purchasing costs. Always be very clear about your precise borrowing capacity because understanding how much can you borrow is critical! It’s pointless looking for a property until you know what you can afford to buy. Only then can you work out your borrowing capacity using the realestate.com.kh calculators. Also, you had better not forget to add in purchasing costs, as well as including the headline cost of the investment property. For example, land transfer fees can be anything up to four per cent of the purchase price. You should also factor in legal fees, loan establishment fees and property inspection fees, as all these buts and pieces begin to add up.3. Know the buying process inside out: Each country’s investment property purchase process is unique, and even within the different provinces of Cambodia, buying requirements can differ slightly – you should understand how these work in your area and in relation to your investment property.Here's a guide to land title classifications in Cambodia, and a guide to transferring ownership rights in Cambodia, thanks to Realestate.com.kh. The three steps above may seem like small considerations in comparison to the actual house hunting and inspection process. However, successful property investing is not about falling in love with a house and buying it. Keep these three steps in mind and be fully prepared to make a wise financial choice when you take the plunge on an investment property.Want to learn more about investing in Cambodia? Check out Realestate.com.kh now!Looking for real estate for rent in Cambodia or real estate for sale in Cambodia?

ANZ Royal Cambodia and Realestate.com.kh are working together to make your dreams of owning a home a reality. We want to help all Cambodian's leverage their finances effectively to improve their life, and the life of their families, today!Realestate.com.kh is the number 1 property portal in Cambodia, with over 15,000 properties for rent and sale, and attracting 1000's of visitors everyday! [caption id="attachment_79387" align="alignleft" width="259"] Realestate.com.kh are on ANZ Royal ATM screens across Cambodia![/caption] A standout feature of our website is being able to apply for a home loan directly - and you can even use our clever home loan calculators to work out how much you will likely need to loan, based on the price of the property you are considering. Once you know the value of your dream house or commercial property, with Realestate.com.kh you can apply for a loan directly to ANZ Royal Cambodia with the click of your mouse. This process makes getting a home loan easier than ever before - all from the comfort of your home, office and even from your mobile phone! Find out more today about how you can finance your dream home with ANZ Royal and Realestate.com.kh, Cambodia's home of real estate.

Plans for a ASEAN Railway network are beginning to solidify, with China pushing the long-stalled project into action in recent news and signing an agreement with the Laotian government. If this railway ultimately extends to Phnom Penh, the real estate market should certainly see benefits.The ASEAN Railway plan, however, is not a new story. As long ago as 1995, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders first proposed constructing a region wide railway because it seemed the best alternative to unsuitable road connections which are currently linking the region. Faced with wide disagreements between Southeast Asian nations over how to proceed to actually implementing the ASEAN Railway plan, and a shortage of funds, however, the railway talk soon subsided to silence. But then entered China; a country which has long prided itself on pushing through fantastical ideas to completion. With grand visions of Chinese engineered trains moving the region forward, economically and politically, recent reports confirm that China is now willing to come to the party with the money and expertise to drive the project ASEAN Railway to a more serious planning stage. "The length of China's high-speed railways in operation has reached 16,000km, accounting for more than 60% of the world's total," said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in his March 5 opening speech to this year's session of the National People's Congress. After this announcement, Li followed by saying that China would now step up efforts to expand rail links abroad. It is no secret that an ASEAN Railway is what Li had in mind by this expansion. Since becoming Chinese premier in 2013, Li has continuously visited the region and, while in the various nations’ ears, has served as an unofficial salesman for Chinese railway businesses. Li has suggested that these railway businesses are well-positioned, and now well-experience, to take advantage of new opportunities to the south of China. State-owned China CNR and CSR are the world's two biggest railway makers as measured by sales, and recently have agreed to merge. These Chinese state-run companies enjoy many cost advantages in their railway operations - as they are able to handle everything from initial railroad placement and design, right through to track-laying, station construction and full-system installation. Chinese companies are suggesting that they can accomplish all these tasks at 50 to 66 percent less cost than Japanese, U.S. and European rail rivals. For Southeast Asian countries with budgeting priorities, China looks like a worthy partner for any ASEAN Railway projects. Early this month, China and Laos reached agreement to build a 40-billion yuan ($6.28 billion), 418-kilometer railway from Kunming, the capital of southwestern China’s Yunnan province, to Vientiane, Laos capital, according to the official China Economic Herald report that followed a signing ceremony. The ceremony was attended by the National Development and Reform Commission, China Railway Corporation, and Export-Import Bank of China. According to Chinese media, China will cover 70 percent of the necessary investment for the new line, while Laos will be responsible for the remainder. Once in operation, the railway will be Laos’ longest and fastest yet, with an average speed of 160 kilometers per hour and 60 percent of the line being bridges and tunnels. The next step for China’s Silk Road railway is yet to be seen, and the world waits to see whether a full-scale ASEAN Railway will become a reality.

Realestate.com.kh has taken a look at the positive and negative sides of wood vs. tile floors for your next kitchen. Which are the easiest floors to clean? And which one, wood or tiles, brings the most value to your house? Are there any unexpected side effects if you choose the wrong floors for your next home? Wood Floors:When you go with wood for your floors, everything old is new again! Wood is popular again these days, just like the old days, and there’s no reason that classic look shouldn't cover the rest of the home's floor for a seamless look and feel. The Positive Side of Wood Floors:The Look is Superb: It may not suit every house, but wooden floors can quickly bring class to your kitchen, and value to most properties.Accentuate Modern Features: The clean lines of wood floors add a seamless polish to any home - if done well. Wood can help an area feel homey, warm and welcoming.Less Sneezing: Carpets and other coverings can create problems for those who react easily to dust in the air. Pet hair, dirt and dust don’t stick to wood so easily, so may offer relief to all you sneezers out there.Sustainability: When looked after properly, wooden floors will last longer - and natural floors are generally more environmentally and family friendly than other synthetic flooring materials.The Bad Side of Wood Floors:Extra Attention: Wooden floors require extra care and attention, especially in a messy zone like the kitchen. They might be easier day to day, as they accumulate less dust, but you’ll need to treat them better over the long term if you want them to keep looking good - and take care not to use damaging cleaning materials.House Sounds: Your wooden floors are a living thing which will creak, bend, absorb and breathe. This adds character to any house, but may also create noises, cracks and other surprises. Be careful during the installation that the wood not only fits according to outward appearances, but that will continue to feel, sound and behave the way you expect over time.Damageable: The kitchen is a a busy place and often a dangerous place for flooring - and hardwood floors show their scratches. If you run a very busy kitchen, you might want to try synthetic laminate floors instead - cheaper, and easier to replace when damaged. They offer a similar effect if they are printed like wooden floors, with much less vulnerability. Wood reacts badly to moisture too, so make sure your kitchen can deal with any water damage quickly - or your nice flat wood floor won't look so cool (or flat) anymore.Pricey: Good wood ain't cheap, and you need to make sure it is put down right!Tile Floors:Tiles have been kitchen favorites for-almost-ever. The colors and textures available are almost endless too, so tiling can be a lot of fun - and easily adjusted to your interior decorative tastes. The Up Side of Tile Floors:Hardy: Unless you literally throw the kitchen sink on them, tiles can happily support years of foot traffic in your kitchen.Complete Design Flex: Lighter colored tiled floors can make a kitchen seem bigger, darker tiles on the floors can add contrast and shade. Smaller tiles are great for featured patterns, and larger tiles help a kitchen feel bigger. These hacks are all available for your kitchen when you choose tile floors...Hot and Cold: Tiles keep you cooler in warm or hot weather, and hold the heat longer when it cools down at night.The Pits of Tile Flooring: Limited stock: They stop making some styles of tiles regularly, which can fast leave you up the creek with no paddle. This means that it can be hard to find a match if you need to replace or repair tiles on your kitchen floor in future.Ease of Cleaning: While you might think that tile floors are going to be easy to clean - think again: Tiles can be very sneaky when it comes to stains. Some lighter colored tiles can stain easily if you don't clean them fast enough. For this reason, it is best to avoid bright whites tiles for your kitchen floor - or buy a set of tiles with maximum stain resistance. Heavy textures, with cracks and imprints, may also catch dirt and sticky substances - making the cleaning job much harder than first expected. Slate tiles will take extra time and care to really clean.One Drop and the Gig's Up: Drop your plate or glass and you’ll soon see how forgiving tile floors are... Tiles are not a drop friendly surface. If you want tiles, but fear breaking your priceless china, try adding rugs or carpets in the high traffic zones to offset the risk of smashage. A few less wines before doing the dishes can also pay off...Want more articles like this? Visit Realestate.com.kh now!

Without even considering HOW to buy into a booming real estate market, many people question whether it is a wise decision to buy into a property boom at all - and this is a fair reaction...It is also a question which is highly relevant to the current Cambodian property market, as land prices skyrocket in urban hubs such as Phnom Penh and central Siem Reap.To answer whether or not you should buy into a property boom - there is no perfect answer for every potential investor - as whether you should, or should not, buy during a property boom will depend almost entirely on your unique circumstances.  Each type of property buyer has a unique set of considerations before deciding whether to buy during a property boom.With that in mind, Realestate.com.kh wants to advise each type of property buyer respectively:The "First Home" Buyer; should you buy during a property boom? First home buyers are generally the most price sensitive type of buyer, because they may not have any equity (current properties) to use for a mortgage on their next property investment. Therefore, they are usually dependent on only their deposit savings to buy a new property. For this type of buyer, deciding whether to ride a property boom, comes down to only buying when you can actually afford to. First time home buyers have likely delayed their purchase, hoping that the market is going to adjust - downwards. However, unfortunately, in a property boom, delaying a purchase on a rising market often only costs the first home buyer more in the long run - as the average property prices don't stop growing. Keep in mind that property investment is for the long-term, even in a property boom, so the most important thing is to save hard for a larger deposit and avoid mortgage commitments, if possible. Then, aim to buy a property in a good position where you can add value over time.A "Change of Scenery" Buyer; should you buy during a property boom? In general - most people moving, will move to another property in their local area. However, many people look to escape the congestion of urban areas as they begin to grow up - in search of a quieter life on the outskirts of the city, suburbs, by the beach, near a forest or on a farm. Making a successful lifestyle-change property purchase will depend on how familiar you are with that new market, as well as the state of the property market in which you are selling your current property. Strong selling conditions in central Phnom Penh, for example, the extremely well-valued Chamkarmon district, mean it’s the perfect time to sell for those considering a lifestyle change property - and wanting to move to a location outside the central city: for example, trade in your high-valued villa property in BKK1, for a Borey home along Chea Sophara Road. Usually, prices are lower in areas outside the city, so selling in the city and moving to the country right now, during the property boom, means your purchasing power will be maximized. You should be able to get a bigger and better property with more privacy, and be near mortgage free - because you current home's sale should cover purchase fees. No mortgage would also improve your lifestyle, remember, but you might be trading this pressure for a slightly longer commute to work...The "Down-Sizing" Buyer; should you buy during a property boom? The down sizer, those people looking for a smaller, cheaper home, is often in the best position to buy their next home during a property boom. The chief example of a down-sizer is the retiree. Like an property up-grader, they tend to be selling at the same time as they are buying. However, the down-sizer is lucky that their new home tends to be worth less than the one they are selling. Strong demand will assist this type of property buyer, such as that present during a property boom - because it means a maximum sale price is available. With property boom conditions helping to assure a strong result, retirees and other down-sizers are more likely to be in a position to put some money in the bank and buy a less expensive retirement property.The "Property Investor"; should you buy during a property boom? Every property investors needs to ensure the money-return is sufficient before taking the plunge into even a property boom market. In a rapidly rising market such as Cambodia, that means keeping a strong head and not getting caught up in the boom fever. One of the main factors influencing your decision of whether to buy in a booming market, as a property investor, will be whether you will also be selling in a booming market, since capitalizing on demand for your existing property will boost the cash you have available to fund your next purchase. Consider your circumstances seriously before stepping into even a booming market - and consult a financial adviser to help make the right decision.Read more about how to approach property investment decisions, on Realestate.com.kh today!

Here are the top 6 reasons why Online marketing should be the #1 tool to grow your business, real estate agency or new development sales force... and why it can ultimately replace traditional sales methods. Online Marketing for property sales allows your business to Test Ideas Quickly:Online marketing campaigns are quick and easy to set up, and they can be switched ON and OFF with the click of a mouse. You can also have more than 1 variant running in parallel at the same time - split testing - which allows you to directly compare 2 marketing campaigns at once. Therefore it is very quick to test new ideas.Fast to Scale Up:Once you have a new Online Marketing Campaign working well it is easy to replicate it at a much larger scale - because with all the data and analytic's at your fingertips, you know exactly what worked, and what did not work. This makes online marketing campaigns perfectly suited to scaling up.Push beyond Your Tradition Reach:The internet helps you to reach people anywhere in the world. Your target market expands dramatically when you can reach people beyond your actual location - especially if you are looking for international property investors. With Online Marketing you can engage with someone, who knows someone, who knows someone you know in just matter of seconds - and across thousands of kilometers. That is the power of social networks and online marketing. If you have a small network of 450 contacts online, your potential to expand this network through online marketing is massive.Online Marketing beats Cold Calling because Your Sales Leads are Qualified and Excited!Knocking on the doors of strangers with cold calls or emails means they don't know anything about your service or properties - and this makes sales progress slow. With online marketing your customer knows all info before they reach you, and they are excited! Which client has a better chance of direct sales? Digital marketing helps you to build a pipeline of "inbound" sales leads that are easier to convert into a sale because all the educating and convincing is already done before you talk to the prospective client.  It is always more rewarding when you meet people who are looking forward to talk with you!Online Marketing comes at a Lower cost compared to traditional ways:Using the internet to find real estate buyers is much more cost effective compared to other mediums simply because internet infrastructure is much much cheaper compared to physical infrastructure. And the best part - you only pay for what you use, and you can start small!Build a "brand" through Online Marketing to stay ahead of the pack:It gives a strong competitive advantage when you can differentiate yourself against competition by branding yourself online, and online marketing helps you to create and promote that brand very easily and very cheaply.In conclusion, online marketing can be a very powerful sales tool for your real estate venture, whether you are an agent or property developer, for just two key reasons - Firstly, it helps you to TEST ideas, and it helps you to SCALE things up. These are the two key components of marketing success - and they are right in front of you! However, having said that - don't forget 2 things:A Sound Business Model must come first:You must have a solid business model built around customer value before you can think of online marketing. Online marketing will not replace or improve a bad business idea.Don't forget Traditional Marketing:This is no argument of Online Marketing vs. Traditional Marketing. Add traditional channels of marketing as your business grows, but start with digital for the reasons above. Interested in checking out online marketing that pays? Check out our guides now!