Undertaking a robust development appraisal (feasibility study) can make or break a project. What Makes a Development Feasible? Understanding the inputs to a model and how these can be affected and manipulated is key. This is a full day RICS Training session. In the morning, participants will cover the key terminology, principles and inputs relevant to a Development Appraisal and in the afternoon, through case studies and a practical session, candidates will construct their own development appraisal model.This session focuses on Commercial, Retail and Industrial property. The session will be particularly useful for: Property Agents – seeking to better understand and market developments/land. Property Owners & Analysts – looking to sharpen their skills in development feasibility. Quantity Surveyors and Project Managers – looking to better interact with clients and developers. Property Valuers, Developers – seeking to construct a feasibility using best practice techniques. Banks & other financial teams – looking to manage risk better. By the end of the course, delegates should understand:  Underlying Principles & Terminology (DCF, NPV, IRR)  Key Property Development Performance Indicators  What makes a development feasible  Determining Land Values  Principles of Financing Modelling  Stages of a Development Appraisal  Development Preliminaries  Development Constraints  Case Studies  Building your own Development Appraisal Model About the Speaker: Tim Peisley, National Training Manager, Estate Master Tim has been working as a highly experienced training manager and technical writer for over 10 years with large commercial institutions. As a certified trainer and workplace assessor, Tim is responsible for training the Estate Master suite of products extensively in the Asia-Pacific region delivering content for all levels of property professionals. Having studied within the property industry, Tim works to bridge the gap between technology and the property industry across the Asia Pacific region. Tim is also the Estate Master Coordinator for the International University Partnership Program where Estate Master partners with universities around the world and assist them in educating their students on the principles of discounted cash flow, development feasibility and valuation. For registration, please email to Mr. Seyhak Bun at admin1@ibccambodia.com OR Ms Linda Kwok at LKwok@rics.org

Even though the sounds of construction ring across Phnom Penh, the Cambodian real estate market still needs development in terms of consistency and quality to encourage a higher rate of FDI in real estate.  Nevertheless, in the eyes of many investors, Cambodia is demonstrating the political stability and consistent economic growth necessary for confidence in new foreign investments. The director of Khmer Real Estate, Mr. Kim Heang, said that the real estate development in Cambodia is showing great potential as the Cambodian economic sector is rising by around 8 percent per year for the last 20 years. Cambodia in becoming an increasingly attractive place for investors because Cambodia today has better infrastructure, low labor prices, and 70 percent of people are under 35 years old. These factors are the most encouraging for investors, believes Heang.    ​He went on to say that the growth of the construction sector is demanding more responsibility and respect, as it is becoming a crucial industry for the nation’s growth and people's’ wealth. “Now Cambodian valuers and agents are also rising in their abilities and professionalism in order to prepare for the Asean economic community integration” he said. “Cambodia is one the leaders in economic growth within Asean, and we will step forward into the future as a strong market”.   General Director of Century 21 Mekong, Chrek Soknim, said that he is optimism about the growth of real estate in Cambodia. “This should continue to grow sustainably until 2018 because the sector faces no impediments.” He claimed that there are three factors currently supporting the growth of the real estate market sector. First of all, good political stability is important to attract more investors. Secondly, the Asean integration at the end of this year will mean more commerce and cultural exchanges between Asean states, naturally supporting demand for accommodation, investment properties and office space. Thirdly, the increase in quality and variety of available real estate will allow investors more choice when they buy real estate in Cambodia. And Forth, the royal government of Cambodia will soon be able to grant loans to its citizenry on long repayment terms of 20 years and higher, meaning more people will have credit to buy their own homes. When the majority of people are able to buy a house, then the construction and real estate sector can only grow.   “Even though new development projects face some obstacles in the coming years, if they choose the right location, and build to the right quality standards, these problems will be limited,” he added. He mentions that the economic growth rates of 7 to 7.5 percent are ideal for business growth, and will also support the real estate market development industry. Sear Chaylin, general director of CL Realty Estate, said that the property being sold has decreased a little bit in a last few months, but this is normal when the rainy season is coming. During this period, buyer transactions are usually slower. It will increase when Cambodia is ready to integrate with ASEAN at the end of this year. Many Japanese companies are now flowing into the Cambodian market, bringing new challenges and opportunities to the market. “I think that the real estate market and property sector will continue to develop because the needs of the people are rising, strong economic growth is occurring alongside relative political stability, and security in the market is better than ever,” Mr. Sear Chaylin said. “Even though we are seeing increases in construction, it will be suitably matched to the current economic growth and the needs of the people”. Senior National Economic Counselor, H.E Mey Kalyan said that “for instance, when we buy fish, vegetables, and rice today, then we can eat. But, if we buy a house and property, we cannot eat the benefits immediately. We have to keep it for a long time and it represents a big risk. If you don’t have enough money, you can borrow that money from the bank in order to invest, and hope that it will gain profit in the future. However, if the house is not sold or rented, people will not have money to pay back to the bank and, if this happens to too many people, the bank will collapse. When banks collapse the financial system and national economy is in great jeopardy.”       “Be careful if you are building for rent or sale, then you cannot rent or sell upon completion - this is a big problem. So, control your risks and always try to limit your chances of failure.” H.E Mey said. “The royal government of Cambodia can see this risk. Be careful, because any sector growing so fast has risks like this.” H.E Kalyan went on to say that the government should manage the flow of money in the right way in order to control this growth risk. But when you prevent the flow of money, the growth of the economy can suffer. Therefore, the management of money flow must play a balancing role into the future. H.E Mey Vann, General Director of Financial Industry of Ministry of Financial and Economy, said flows of money into the real estate market sector have come with few risks thus far, but the ministry is being proactive in working with investors in order to manage the data of development, demands, and specific support for preventing risk in this sector. “Data management and money flow management in this sector is very important for us if we want real estate development sustainability” H.E Mey Vann said. Realestate.com.kh is proud to support the CVEA's Property View publication. Click here to get your copy, or if you are interested to join the CVEA today.

People talk about a new angle of doing business which has both challenges and success phase, for it is the right time now to grab a chance to diversify business to be successful. With a new concept of doing business in the kingdom, Mr. Ly Senleap, director of FURI Real Estate, said that CONDO-TEL is mixed between condo and hotel which is a new business concept. “We turn condo into hotel with 5 stars and we will provide services for customers like their home as the customers can cook, live privately, have living room, dining room and workplace, and they can have a porch to see the outside view.” “The target customers that we focus on are business travelers who need privacy of living”  Besides the service we provide variety of services for customers such as swimming pool, gym, restaurant, and food order for 24 hours. Although some people think that condo market will get stuck, but Mr. Senleap is optimistic about this market that will not cause any problem because of the political stability and economic growth which boost the demand. The start of CONDO-TEL service will be run for the first times in June. The location of the service is in SILVER TOWN Condo which is along the street #63 and situated in BKK 1 commune, Chamkar Mon district, Phnom Penh and the next project is in Siem Reap at the end of this year and after that is Sihanoukville. The director said, “No one here has been interested in the new angle of the business, but it is very popular in the developed countries such as Australia and America because hotel is a place which stay in short time and no privacy. The difference is that businesspeople need quiet place.” “We think that we will have some difficulties for local customers because now there are many boutique hotel and hotels which target tourists, but we focus on businesspeople who want to do business here. We target this kind of guests, while it can face challenges, but it is the newest opportunity that no one takes and if we can do it, it will be strongly successful in the market as we have exports from America to lead the work,” Mr. Senleap said. “I strong believe that I will be able to do it because our price is 20 to 30 percent lower than hotel’s, but we will not make our customers disappointed with our service,” Mr. Senleap said, “The location is in the middle of Phnom Penh, commercial area, near embassy and government building which provide easiness for customers.”The hotel market focuses on 70 percent for online advertisement, so our market will concentrate on the perfect service advertisement and online, cooperate with businesspeople, NGOs, embassies, and both local and international investors.  Mr. Senleap, said, “Our strong point is that we lead the business professionally and have exports from American who have many experiences in meeting the customers’ demand perfectly.” “The business is risk, but we can do it, since we intend to solve the challenge or risk and turn impossible to possible and if we are successful, our business will be unique,” he added.   Realestate.com.kh is proud to support the CVEA's Property View publication. Click here to get your copy, or if you are interested to join the CVEA today.

The construction sector has become the most dynamic engine of growth, partly due to the return of political stability and a revival in consumption, according to a recent report by the World Bank. Economic growth here is still led by construction, garment exports and tourism, the World Bank said in its report “World Bank East Asia and Pacific Economic Update – Staying the Course.” Construction investment increased nearly 3 billion US Dollar in the first 11 months 2015 if compared with the same period last year, according to the data from the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction.According to Im Chhunlim, senior minister of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction, said construction investment capital reached about 2.9 billion US Dollars in the first 11 months in 2015 if compared with the same period last year, increased 27 per cent. A group of local real estate expert said the construction sector helps invigorate the economy as well as GDP growth. Kim Heang, CEO of Khmer Real Estate and president of Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association (CVEA), said the construction sector took the biggest part in Cambodia’s GDP because most wealthy people gain benefit from the land and construction. He warned, “We don’t have to concentrate only on the construction sector because the prices can increase or decline depending on the situation as there are many sectors we have to focus on such as tourism, agriculture, as well as garment.” “People’s income does not meet the current residential, and number of tenants saw an increase, so the government must take action to make middle income people to be able to afford housing,” he said. In order to become a developed country with strong GDP, we have to depend on human resource. It is a long-term investment and the education system has to be improved,” Mr. Heang said. Chrek Soknim, CEO of Century21 Mekong, stressed the vital role of the construction sector in the Cambodian economy. “The economy talks about money. Currently as we can see, construction sector in Cambodia injected a lot of money into the economy. That’s the reason the construction sector took a big part in the GDP growth,” Mr. Soknim said. However, he said, “even though the Cambodia property sector is younger if compared with other countries, the Kingdom gains advantages from the sector.” “With people’s stable income bank sector in Cambodia also plays a vital role in boosting the property sector, and cash flow can help the economy,” he added. “To make the construction sector consistency, the government has to take care of investors by issuing laws to projects both investors and buyers,” Mr. Soknim said. In Sitha, vice-president of World Trust Estate, said currently there have been many construction sites popping up in Phnom Penh, and this creates many jobs for people as well as experts in the sector: “It means workers and experts in the construction sector earn more income from the construction, and many constructions boost the GDP growth and according to the current data from the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, the construction saw an increase, and this means it took a part in the GDP as well,” Mr. Sitha said. “Bank sector plays an important role in providing loan for people to have enough ability to afford home as many middle-income people use the loan to buy their own home,” he added. Return On Investment of condo investment in Cambodia is around 7.5 per year if compared to the same Asian markets, Cambodia’s investment provide more benefit as Thailand and Japan at 6.3 and 5.5 per cent respectively, China and Hong Kong are offering rent yields of only 2.7 and 3.3 per cent respectively, and Philippine at 7.1 per cent annually, according to a recent study of Century 21 Mekong. According to a report of real estate agency Century21 condominium development increased by 20 per cent annually from 2008 to 2014 with 13 projects successfully completed, which translates to 3,090 available units as of today. With another 17 projects currently underway, the report predicted that by 2018, when many of the current projects are slated for completion, the number will have more than tripled to over 10,000 available units across Phnom Penh. Cambodia’s per capita GDP is forecast to reach $1,220 this year, up from $1,123 last year, according to official data. This places the country near lower-middle income status. Its new forecast comes just a few weeks after the Asian Development Bank revised its March forecast for economic growth this year from 7.3 per cent to 7 percent. The construction sector has become the most dynamic engine of growth, partly due to the return of political stability and a revival in consumption; however, the tourism sector is underperforming, despite the initial recovery in tourist arrivals to Thailand. Tourist arrivals during the first six months grew by only 4.6 percent (reaching 2.3 million visitors), compared to 6.9 percent during the same period last year, the report from the World Bank said. Realestate.com.kh is proud to support the CVEA's Property View publication. Click here to get your copy, or if you are interested to join the CVEA today.

Welcome to Real Estate Investment Opportunities High Value Networking Event... Successful people agree that effective networking is crucial to growing your business. That is why we are organizing the very special and high value networking event to provide you with the Best real estate investment opportunities and discover many good ideas how the seasoned investors invest in the property market in Cambodia. We have 3 Successful Entrepreneurs sharing their valued experiences.You will meet new business contacts such as Season Real Estate Investors, Decision Makers, Property Owners, Real Estate Professionals, SME Owners and Executives from across industries, and the Best of it’s Fun sharing together. We will be served Cocktail and Drinks and you will get a chance to win great PRIZES. Bring an associate, lots of Business Cards and be ready to have a GREAT TIME!Date: Wednesday 30th March 2016. Time: 6:00- 8:30PM. Venue: At Skybar of Frangipani Boutique Hotel (Toul Tom Poung). Address: #15 Steet 123 Khan Chamkarmom, Toul Tom Poung (Near Russian Market), Phnom Penh. Your investment is only $15/person.Call: Ms.Vannak 095 666 298 to reserve your place now!

Realestate.com.kh is proud to be the “OFFICIAL PROPERTY PORTAL” of the 2016 Cambodia Property Expo, in association with AMB Tarsus Events Group.The Cambodia Property Expo is an annual, international expo that brings together a host of the nation’s finest construction and property related companies under one roof. It is hosted by the Cambodia Constructors Association and the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, Cambodia.  The Cambodia Property Expo allows industry leaders to share knowledge and experience with each other, and show the public their latest projects and accomplishments. A wide variety of property developers also attend the event to showcase their latest projects and offer expo-only discounts to new buyers. By attending the Cambodia Property Expo, all exhibitors will also get an opportunity to build business relationships and network with all attendees. Meanwhile, guests from the general public will get a unique and comprehensive insight into the Cambodian construction and property industry. The Cambodia Property Expo proudly unites property owners and buyers, key shareholders and decision makers, builders, contractors, architects and real estate agents and consultants all in the same place. This expo is is not to be missed. CAMBODIA PROPERTY EXPO '16Venue: Diamond Island Convention & Exhibition Center Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Phnom Penh, Cambodia Date: 8-10 September 2016Contact Information for Exhibitors, Sponsors and Guests:AMB TARSUS EVENTS GROUPM: +855 16525142 E: veasna@ambtarsus.com DOWNLOAD THE FULL EVENT BROCHURE

The CVEA tour group's itinerary included conferences with the Institute of Estate Agents of Singapore (IEA), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS Singapore) and the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Johor, Malaysia. While visiting the IEA on the 4th of March, an association of real estate agents in Singapore much like the CVEA in Cambodia, a MOU agreement was signed. The purpose of the MOU “is to provide for exchange, representation, and other mutual benefits…” between the two professional associations. CEO of Towncity Real Estate and Vice President of the CVEA, Van Chanthorn, said that, “the benefit of this MOU for members of CVEA is that all CVEA members can connect directly to IEA members that have 1000 members to cooperate, promote and sell the projects that they have in Cambodia. Meanwhile, Members of the IEA in Singapore can connect directly to CVEA’s 86 member companies to cooperate and bring customers to buy the projects in Cambodia.” The agreement hopes to facilitate the sharing of ethics, real estate and valuation practice standards, and to actively encourage and facilitate business opportunities between the two association's membership. The MOU also calls for an annual exchange of information between the two parties in the form of trade junkets and conferences. Chanthorn notes that, “it is part of a longer term strategy for the CVEA. CVEA is not only focusing on the benefit sharing between IEA and CVEA but we also focusing on training and learning from each other on how to improve our members’ knowledge and experience to compete with not only in Cambodia but throughout ASEAN and Internationally.”

BNG Legal Cambodia has released their latest version of the Guide to Doing Business in Cambodia which contains extensive information about Cambodian real estate law and property regulations.This extremely comprehensive Guide to Doing Business in Cambodia gives valuable information for investors and Cambodian-based business people on Banking and Finance, Corporate & Commercial Law, Dispute Resolution in Cambodia, Intellectual Property Laws, Labor Law, Mining Law and Regulations, Marriage and Family Law - and last, but certainly not least, a comprehensive overview of Cambodian law related to Land and Construction.In regards to Real Estate Law and Regulation, the BNG Legal Guide to Doing Business in Cambodia duly covers Legal Ownership of Land in Cambodia, Acquisition of Property in Cambodia, Potential Risks, Enforcement of Property Rights, Establishing Control over Land, Perpetual Leases, Land Concessions, Construction, Encumbrances on Immovable Property and Recently Issued Regulations and New Procedural Rules.This is a great guide for those trying to get their head around Cambodian Property Law.BNG Legal Cambodia our a unique law firm in the Kingdom, able to offer a deep understanding of the local business environment while simultaneously supported by international professionalism and integrity. BNG Legal facilitate business, investment and trade between Cambodia, Myanmar and the rest of the world through innovative and cost-effective legal services. BNG Legal offer all range of real estate related legal services, including residential, commercial and industrial property transactions, Lease negotiation and agreement drafting, title search and due diligence, land registration and titling, agricultural land concessions, financing, mortgages and other securities, construction contracting, permitting, and financing, environmental compliance consulting, advice on Special Economic Zones and tax-optimization.Contact BNG Legal today at: cambodia@bnglegal.com / hhn@bnglegal.comDOWNLOAD THE GUIDE TO DOING BUSINESS IN CAMBODIA EBOOK NOWCheck out articles, news, and views related to real estate law on Realestate.com.kh today!

As HLH Group’s maiden housing development D’Seaview gears up for Phase 2 of its development – after having had all 300 of its residential units fully subscribed in Phase 1 since its launch in September 2015 – it will simultaneously be introducing Sihanoukville’s largest shopping mall.SEE THE FULL LISTING The shopping mall, comprising a colossal 20,000 square metres of retail space, will be situated right next to D’Seaview. Slated to be the trendy uptown area of Sihanoukville, with D’Seaview being a mixed-use development that encompasses 737 residential units and numerous commercial units suitable for an array of businesses, the shopping mall will be an enticing complex to complete both residents’ and non-residents’ entertainment and shopping needs. The mall will hold such amenities as food courts, bars, health and wellness centres, beauty salons, mini-marts and financial institutions. The development will also incorporate an integrated hotel to capture Sihanoukville’s growing popularity as Cambodia’s premier beach town.

The Gateway showroom is open everyday from 9.00am to 6.00pm. The Gateway showroom is located at the actual construction site of the Gateway project, along Russian Boulevard - the physical gateway of Phnom Penh central city.As Russian Boulevard is the main road or the gateway of Phnom Penh, it is the essential route for all VIPs entering the city, especially those traveling to the Prime Minister’s office from the International Airport. By positioning itself here on the main artery of Phnom Penh, the Gateway promises sustained appreciation for all ASEAN investors.  The Gateway is 3 minutes away from major amenities of Phnom Penh City. It will be alongside a variety of retail flagship stores, key government ministries, upcoming mega malls, and a host of International schools and embassies. Meanwhile, TA Corp has identified Cambodia as a fast rising market. Cambodia has illustrated strong and steady property growth year on year, with its average property prices doubling every 4-5 years over the past 10 years. Prime properties in Phnom Penh exhibit attractive rental yield of 7-11% of purchase prices. With bulk of its purchasing demand coming from the local buyers located in Phnom Penh; it displays a vote of confidence and a positive signal for potential investors who have already invested. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has substantially increased the convenience of doing business in Phnom Penh and stimulated the demand for foreign direct investments from International Companies. Investor’s from around the world are seizing the opportunity to tap on the high growth potential of the rising Cambodian market.Learn more about this iconic project: Check out the full listing and inquire today!

Jum reap sour! And welcome to another weekly Real Estate News Report brought to you by RealEstate.com.kh. The leader in real estate news in the Kingdom and the best place to find your new home. Missed Part 1 or Part 2?On this week’s show, we’re going to be speaking with Mr. In Sitha, Director of Business Development at VTrust Appraisal, about where to buy development land in Phnom Penh. Sitha has over 20 years experience in the real estate business in Cambodia and he now specializes in property development consultancy and real estate business development. He's also a renowned real estate teacher in real estate law and real estate practice. In this 6 Part series, we're going to get some tips for property developers and real estate businesses seeking to gain an edge when entering the Cambodian real estate market.PART 3: WHAT ARE BEST AREAS TO BUY DEVELOPMENT LAND IN PHNOM PENH?Realestate.com.kh: What districts are the best to buy in in Phnom Penh for developers?  Say if you got a new developer client seeking consultation, which areas would you recommend buying land in now for a new development project?In Sitha: I think right now Chamkarmon District is one of the four districts of Phnom Penh that I would consider as the good place to invest at the moment and into the future. I think that's where to buy development land in Phnom Penh. Realestate.com.kh: Land's expensive right?In Sitha: Yeah, the land is little bit expensive but it's still good to invest. As you see, Chamkarmon District is the place with the most expats, restaurants and the prime hotel area of approximately 1,073.72 hectares. In this district, I consider two communes, BKK1 and Tonle Bassac, to be best to invest in.Realestate.com.kh: Which ones?In Sitha: Number one is Boeung Keng Kang 1 and number two is Tonle Bassac. You see, they are in the central area, so the southeast of Independent monument, and this district has a lot of wealthy residents, NGO, corporates, etc. And the landscape is very nice, very beautiful and wide, leafy streets. Realestate.com.kh: Will developers who choose to build in BKK1 increase their chance of higher rental returns?In Sitha: That's correct.Realestate.com.kh: Because of all the expats and lots of money in this area?In Sitha: In Boeung Keng Kang 1 and Tonle Bassac, there are many rich people. One unit of a serviced apartment with two bedrooms can be priced from 800 US to over 1800. Yet, ultimately, it is based on the quality and the design of the construction.Realestate.com.kh: Much, much higher than the rest of the country?In Sitha: Yeah, it makes it a good investment opportunity if for a one bedroom unit you can get almost 1000 to 1500 in rental returns. These areas offer easy access to all sorts of entertainment and food venues, and also the government institutions, hospitals, international schools and universities. This is a centralized area. Market price increases yearly so this is a very good place to invest in these two sangkats/communes.Loving it? Then you should watch part 4 now:WHY PHNOM PENH BOREYS ARE PROVING SUCH A POPULAR MARKET FOR DEVELOPERS AND HOMEBUYERS coming soon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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