On August 20th from 8:00am to 5:00pm, the Cambodian Valuers  and Estate Agents Association (CVEA) will organize a forum to update and inform the property industry across the country. It will be held at the Sofitel Hotel, Phnom Penh.Providing false information in the real estate sector can cause various problems, and certainly poses a great risk for the real estate sector. For that reason, the CVEA intend to create a open forum whereby all industry stakeholders can share information and find common understandings.The real estate sector in Cambodia is still very young with no real education institutions supporting it. Hence, the upcoming forum will be a place to learn more, for all the people of Cambodia: for novices who just started their career, and stakeholders in the real estate sector generally. In this public forum, we will discuss about: - Challenges and opportunities in Plotting Land and Sale - Challenges and opportunities in Housing Development - Challenges and opportunities in Condominium - Challenges and opportunities of Cambodia in ASEAN Globalization - Legal procedures for sale permit and construction permit for Condo - Type of Land title, property transferring, soft title ownership regulationsSIGN UP TODAY - contact the CVEA

Since the government’s commitment from the past decade to improve transparency and economic growth through Cambodian real estate law, the Kingdom has been one of the front-runners - and, in fact, one of the fastest growing economies in Asia.This is due largely to the numerous Cambodian real estate law and policies that have been passed and put into effect during this time. A few of these was discussed by Allen Pheap Prak, Legal advisor of P&A Asia, during his presentation at the inaugural Cambodia Property Show organized by Realestate.com.kh and Property Guru.Buying Condominium Units in Cambodia (Legal Qualifications):Pheap Prak mentioned that before the law on foreign ownership for co-owned buildings was implemented, sales of condominium units were really low and needed a quick boost. This is why Cambodia began accepting investments from foreign investors – through strata titles – to increase sales. Title deeds that are in the form of freehold strata titles could originally be held for 50 years and can also be mortgaged and put in a hypothec as collateral. But according to Pheap Prak, this policy didn’t initially have a provision to protect the locals. So, after a year, the Ministry of Economy and Finance decided that foreigners should only be allowed to purchase units above the ground floor and should only be allowed to own up to 70 percent of the property. This way, the occupancy rate goes up without giving any unfair advantages.He also states that a lot of developers have worked around the issue by either placing the parking area at the first few levels or turning the ground floor into a leasable commercial space.Although, if you look at the condominium market today, Pheap Prak mentions that locals are currently buying 40 percent to 50 percent of these condominiums for rental income. So, it’s not much of an issue these anymore.According to Cambodian real estate law, the typical transaction for purchasing a co-owned building in Cambodia requires a sales and purchase agreement. All sales and purchase of real property in Cambodia should have certification or notary by a Cambodian lawyer.But Pheap Prak mentions that if you were to sign a sales and purchase agreement outside of Cambodia, it’s important that you get a notary to witness on your agreements.He adds that if you want to rent a unit or retail space to operate food and beverage ventures, you do not need to get the tenancy agreement stamped by the local state council. However, if you were to rent a unit for office or residence, as a foreigner, that lease should be registered with a notary public so you can get a residence certificate to show that you can be in Cambodia and that you’re doing business here.For a company though, if you’re using it as an office address, you also want to register it because you would have to withhold 10 percent to pay to the government as tax.But it’s also important to note that for leases, it does not make a lease invalid if you’re not registered. Registering just means you’re compliant. Leases with 15 or more years, however, should be registered with the Ministry of Land. They give you a certificate of long term lease which is also valid collateral to use for mortgages and hypothecs.If you have long-term lease on a property, whoever the owner is, they cannot sell their landed property. A lot of foreigners like to register their lease in order to protect their interest, especially if they have a trustee hold or property for them.On top of all this, Pheap Prak also mentions that Cambodia is in the works for developing the trust law to further provide provisions to improve the way transactions are handled.Property Tax:In terms of taxation, just recently, Cambodia signed a double taxation treaty with Singapore which means that Singaporeans do not have to pay 14 percent tax for foreign remittance.  They now only have to pay 10 percent which is the same for Cambodian nationals. Pheap Prak also mentions other scenarios such as having a 10 percent VAT on a sale of a condo and that if you transfer property in Cambodia, especially freehold, 4 percent stamp duty for the transfer is a requirement.He further adds that when you purchase a condo, Cambodian real estate law declares that you’ll have to take care of the property tax which is once a year. It’s 0.1 percent per annum. Property tax does not fluctuate with the market though. It’s important to keep in mind that the Ministry of Economy and Finance has their own index for what your unit would cost in what area, and the prices are usually half the value.If you’re looking to buy for a capital appreciation though, Pheap Prak says that there is no capital gains tax and you can buy as a company or as an individual. He recommends buying as an individual though because, “if you buy as a company, you have to pay 20 percent tax on profit or 1 percent of your revenue. Even though there are no capital gains, it will come out somewhere when you’re declaring profits or dividends to take back.”Legality of Foreigner Opening Bank Accounts:It’s pretty easy to open a bank account in Cambodia. Creating bank accounts usually just require a passport valid for 6 months. Some banks require additional proof though, such as proof of ownership of property.But Pheap Prak says that generally, most foreigners don’t like opening accounts and borrowing from banks in Cambodia because interest rates are high. So, what most foreigners do is they leverage finance in their own country, take the lower interest rate, and then purchase overseas.But banking in Cambodia does have an advantage. Cambodian banks support locals and foreigners to obtain financing of up to 70% of the value of the unit. This is mainly because banks usually work with developers from the start to support the whole project.Pheap Prak explains that “they don’t like to share the end-users going into other banks. And usually, they have an agreement where, okay, the bank will support the project, help split the title. So, usually buyers are more confident when banks are splitting, instead of developers splitting themselves.”With regards to refinancing, he clarifies that banks don’t restrict refinancing, but it depends on the market’s supply and demand. Banks usually loan to a developer only if they have a cooperation agreement with them. He advises that you would also want to take your title deed back and go to a different bank. Most of the international banks are okay with this but the local ones might frown on it. You can do this because once the strata title is out, legally, the banks cannot hold onto your title deed.But in practice, they won’t loan you a mortgage a second time around. This is why a lot of foreigners like to get leverage from their own country and buy overseas.A lot of things have definitely changed in the structure of policies and governance, especially in Cambodian real estate law, but it’s definitely done a lot of good for the economy and for the country. And while many laws are still in the process of getting approval, we can be assured that the future will hold better opportunities because of them.Learn more about investing in Cambodia!

Jum reap sour! And welcome to another Realestate.com.kh property review. On this week’s show, we’re live at Apennines Condominium showroom in Phnom Penh with Ms. Vatey, sales manager at the Apennines Condominium project.See the full listing and inquire today!Tell us about the location of Apennines Condominium:Apennines is a modern condominium strategically located in one of the fastest-appreciating districts of Phnom Penh city - Toul Kork. More specifically, the location of our project is at house 40, Street 604, Sangkat Boeung Kak 2, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh - just right behind Pannasastra University Toul Kork Branch. Apennines condominium is located just 10 minutes drive from Phnom Penh International Airport, and is also surrounded by schools, restaurants, supermarkets, sports clubs, coffee shops and entertainment centers.Tell us more about the developer:Apennines condominium is developed by KHSI INVESTMENT PTE LTD, an award winning architecture & engineering company with a wealth of experience in both Malaysia & Singapore. KHSI is uniquely committed to optimizing best standards and creating modern and quality lifestyle living through innovative and creative means.What sort of features does this condo have?Standing a total of 17 storeys tall, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom condos are available in a variety of sizes. All units’ interior has been uniquely designed by Singaporean experts, and fully equipped with high quality fittings. Shared condo facilities include a swimming pool, pool deck, gym; and the unique perfect car parking system, a car parking elevator.What does KHSI offer to buyers?Home loan is available through RHB and Phillip Bank.Freehold ownership titles, for locals and foreigners. Full security (CCTV, security guard 24/7).Great common facilities such as swimming pool, fitness center, gardening and minibar.Full property management and maintenance of the building (interior and exterior). An enticing GRR package of 6% annually.The first Car elevator parking system ever to be used in Cambodia, which is efficient, secure and convenient - and maximising space. How does Apennines Condominium stand out above the rest of the condos coming online in the market?Our architectural design (interior and exterior) is from award winning architect, EDP Architect Malaysia. Our engineering structure has been designed by LSW Consulting Engineer Singapore. The structure of the building includes reinforced Concrete walls and transferred floor technology, a feature unique to other projects currently in Cambodia.And our project is located in a residential area that is a hotspot for potential investment returns.  What types of Units are available?Type A: 89.72m2; Type B: 132.62m2; Type C:  67.74m2; Type D: 110.22m2 - with prices starting from $150,000.If you want to find out more, come and take a full showroom tour with Ms. Vatey today in Toul Kork; and while you are there, check out the construction progress of the project, located just down the street!See the full listing and inquire today!

As with established markets all over the world, the Cambodian real estate market right now is an outcome of an evolutionary process that involved many things. And much of what it will become is part of that evolutionary process.This is what the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AMCHAM) and the International Business Chamber (IBC), Mr. Bretton Sciaroni, believes.In an exclusive interview with Realestate.com.kh, Sciaroni discussed the many factors that have played into shaping the laws, policies and environment of the Cambodian real estate sphere as we now know it.Cambodian Real Estate in the Past:As one of the first foreign lawyers in the country, Sciaroni has had vast experience in business dealings and law in the Kingdom. In fact, he negotiated the first foreign investment deal in 1993 for a $60 million brewery venture.Sciaroni recalls that it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the real estate market. He says that after Pol Pot was kicked out, the communist constitution made it difficult for the citizens to go back to their former land because all the land title documents had been destroyed. But around 1988 or 1989, a proper land titling system was put into place.Another key event that shaped how Cambodia real estate transactions are made nowadays was the National Elections in 2008. According to Sciaroni, it was normal for activity in the real estate market to slow down months to a year before elections. However, the international financial crisis added another layer of issues that the government needed to address. Sciaroni adds that at this time it was a “superheated real estate market environment.”Cambodian Real Estate Now:The country has since recovered from those tough times.When asked about why he stayed despite having to go through those hurdles, Sciaronii says that “the growth rates have been unbelievable.” A contributing factor to this is that the government is now very open to foreign investment and the citizens are more confident in the electoral process.As evidence of this growth, new developments like the Exchange Square building and the prestigious Shangri La are already underway.Sciaroni notes though, “So much needs to be done and so much can be done”.He says that the current challenges that Cambodia faces are only stepping stones to a more dynamic future for the Cambodian real estate industry, and the society as a whole.Cambodia’s Bright Future:The past has proven to be the perfect testing ground for Cambodia’s potential.And with many changes, such as having His Excellency Chea Sophara take over as the new minister for the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, it can only get better, says Sciaroni.Now we have an improved communication system where industry professionals and the government can have an open dialogue. Sciaroni believes that the past is not bound to repeat itself in these new times with new approaches.But he adds that there are still many more things that need to be set in their proper place. He says, “So, what we need to do: we need to encourage the government to continue to work towards getting the laws and policies in place. We really need these laws and policies in place to help the growth continue.”Cambodia is one of the new lands of milk and honey. It’s a land of opportunity, but it definitely will not come without a little bit of work.Learn more about investing in Cambodia today!

When you talk about an improved economic standing on any scale, it is inevitable to also discuss the taxation system that enables the government the luxury of its own stability and consistent growth.And one of the many sectors or industries that have undergone and is still undergoing various changes in taxation is the property market in Cambodia. According to the CEO of Cambodian Investment Management, Mr. Anthony Galliano, this has been causing both problems and solutions in the system.Tax for Businesses:Generally, Galliano says, it’s been more difficult for businesses who have not been following best practices over the years and have either been evading or unintentionally neglecting tax obligations.This is because businesses who are renting out office spaces are required to present property tax receipts which should come from the property owners. If the owners of these properties have not been paying tax, this causes an issue with the ability of the companies to register with the Ministry.He says, “we can see it from those that are registering businesses that perhaps the owners of those buildings have not paid tax in the past. And there are some of those that are seeking to rent property and needing those tax receipts to register their business, they’re unable to get it because the owner hadn’t paid it in the past.”Personal Tax:Galliano continues to say that the trouble with taxation with renters may be because of an “apathetic” view of taxation in Cambodia, which may be perceived as personal tax.But since there is a stricter implementation now, he says that apathy doesn’t really get them far enough. They are forced to educate themselves about the laws of taxation and to actually pay their due diligences.Galliano says, “If you’re a person that just owns a property, then you’re responsible for paying that tax as the owner.” He continues to say, “For sure, if you’re owning property, you’re responsible for registering that property and paying the tax.” And now that there is an urgent call for compliance, owners really do not have much of a choice than to pay the tax or else risk paying penalties and other forms of consequences that may result from their resistance.Tax Change Perception:These issues can now be viewed in two ways. You can look at it as a form of inconvenience or you can look at it as a form of straightening out the system and developing better ways of doing transactions in the country. This provides protection for the investors as well because they now have a standard of which to base the legality of their investments.But Galliano adds that, moving forward it may get easier for investors as developers now provide property management services for the owners. This means that there will be a more streamlined process of paying and collecting tax which would then help the economy sustain the growth.Whatever the case, what is important is to make sure what types of tax you should be paying and actually paying them - so as to avoid any conflict with the law enforcement agents and entities.Learn more about Cambodian property tax law!

The office space sector has seen rapid growth during the first half of the year and is expected to focus more on prime properties in its second half. This is according to a report that was recently released by Knight Frank.But even with high quality offices continuing to change Cambodia’s landscape, it offers few opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups to find a space that will allow them to go beyond its full potential.This is something that the Emerald HUB aims to address.In an interview with Ms. Sou Monypich, she mentions that as part of the Emerald+ Property Management Services’ desire to pursue social responsibility, the Emerald HUB Co-working office space was built.Emerald Hub is designed to create an atmosphere conducive to creating up and coming game changers in the different sectors of the local economy. Based in the capital city of Phnom Penh, the Emerald Hub provides entrepreneurs access to not only an office but also facilities like meeting rooms, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, printing services, a pantry, and all that anyone starting out in business would ever need.Beyond the Typical:Deciding to take a piece of the creative culture in Emerald HUB also guarantees that you will get more than just an office. Ms. Monypich says that their end goal is to provide the necessary support to help any entrepreneurial venture take flight.This means that there is a collaborative effort between you and their mentors on product development, creative design, financial management, and sales & marketing. They also offer trainings and different fun activities for people who call Emerald Hub their business home.More than all these benefits, it is also a place where you can meet like-minded people who are willing to network to create better business concepts that will make a huge impact on the way we currently look at doing business.Ms. Monypich says Emerald Hub allows “a space with a lot of people from different backgrounds, from different expertise, and for them to exchange the information.”Size and Time Doesn’t Matter:Ms. Monypich explains that more than a co-working space, they also offer private rooms which corresponds to around “8 or 9 square meters per room.” These rooms can be rented out by startups who need a more secure and enclosed space for them to be able to focus on specific tasks. Nevertheless, they are still able to mingle with fellow business people through the common areas of the property.She adds that you can rent out these spaces for as low as $30 a month. But if you only need a temporary work space, they also allow you to rent out an area on a per day or per week basis. These terms offer a more flexible and convenient way for both individual entrepreneurs and the small startup companies.If you have questions or want to find out more about how you can use this space to grow your business, you can contact Emerald+ today!

The perception of foreign nationals towards Cambodia often seems to have grown old like the ruins of Angkor. In fact, there is more to the country than temples...There is an understanding among some international investors and businesses that the country is still underdeveloped and poorly regulated. This is a myth Dr. Simon Vancliff, Investment & Development Director of ING Holdings, the developer behind ING City, has debunked during the recent inaugural Cambodia Property Show organized by the leading real estate portals of Singapore and Cambodia, PropertyGuru and Realestate.com.kh.Vancliff explains that this is far from the truth. In fact, there are large economic zones and developments coming to Cambodia, and this is increasing every year. In fact, just this year, Coca-Cola has decided to invest $100 million into the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone in order for them to be able to build a plant and expand their distribution inside the country and region, as according to the Phnom Penh Post last April.Large business entities have also established ties with the country such as Akira, Toyota, Samsung, ICBC, BMW and Suzuki, just to name a few. These companies, Vancliff says, recognize not only the inexpensive labor they are able to harness, but also the political stability of the land and its foreign-investment-friendly environment.He also enumerates other reasons why investing in Cambodia is ideal. Other than political stability, Cambodia has an advantageous location in the region, favorable investment climate, largely dollarized economy, increasing trade integration, improving transport and connectivity, lower costs in telecoms and internet, untapped natural resources and land, underpenetrated and growing domestic consumer markets, an unleveraged financial position, stock exchange and a flexible financial market. Furthermore, since the population is in the bracket of the working-age population, the demographics are also well suited for investment.Vancliff mentions that the Cambodian stock exchange will have around ten to twelve more companies joining soon and will continue to grow. He further strengthens his case by stating that Cambodia is now truly the “Pearl of Asia”, having a more centralized Governance system, and is raking in huge investments for infrastructural upgrades. As an evidence of this, more and more airlines are creating direct flights to Cambodia every year.One of the Kingdom's traditional weaknesses for investors - electricity costs - are also predicted to go down as more and more clean and solar energy plants are on the way to creating better solutions for energy consumption and supply.This will be especially true in Cambodia property areas like South Phnom Penh, says Vancliff, where the population is less dense and have more centralized amenities, such as water. Vancliff adds that there are also plans to install underground fiber optics and phone lines. New roads are also coming thick and fast, such as Hun Sen Boulevard, that will open in mid-2016. This will allow easier transport and access to resources that are once unavailable in the area.As the Cambodia property market and infrastructures grow, Vancliff hopes that the worldview towards Cambodia encompass more than just about the Angkor temples. While its grand history has been preserved, Cambodia continues to push towards global economic competitiveness.Want to find out more about Cambodia? Check out news and updates on Realestate.com.kh now!

Edmond Lim Yao Zen, Project Head, Cambodia Group Division Director @ Absolute Division of PropNex Realty Pte Ltd, has for many years been bringing investors from Singapore and around the region to the Kingdom to survey real estate investment opportunities. In an exclusive Q & A, Realestate.com.kh caught up with Edmond while he was last in town to find out more about his investor tours and get his thoughts on the progress of the Cambodian real estate market past, present and future... 1) Tell us about yourself, your experience and your relationship with Cambodia? I started my real estate career 17 years ago in Singapore. At that time, my job included the normal agent roles - like selling, leasing and property management, as well as hotels and building acquisitions. I first came to Phnom Penh in 2012. I was introduced by a good friend, Mr. Tan Teck Kee, COO of Worldbridge Land, to visit Phnom Penh at that time. My good relationship with Cambodia started then. I was with Jones Lang LaSalle Singapore at that time and we started off with a major event entitled "Cambodia Real Estate Night." The first of these investment nights was held in 2013 at the Sofitel Hotel, and was jointly organised with Bonna Realty Group. We had 200 guests who graced the event. Nowadays, I am with PropNex (in partnership with JLL), in charge of managing the sales of all partner projects in Cambodia. Besides taking care of all salespeople's sales training about Cambodia, I also join as a speaker at various hotel events (marketing Cambodia investments) around the region. 2) How long have you been involved with Cambodian real estate, and in what capacity? Since September 2012, I have traveled to Phnom Penh every month. As well as real estate investors, I bring business prospects other than just property investment clients to Phnom Penh and assist them in investing in the country. The first two years I had more difficulty getting investors to come here as they generally stereotyped  the country, based on the lack of potential of the economy and the history. In 2016, it is much easier... 3) Tell us about your investor tours? What is the inspiration, and how do they work in practice? I believed in educating the investors about the country, first and foremost. I don't just talk about properties to them - I share with them information about the economy, the people, the culture and my opinion about the potential future of what this country could transform into. I get them to spend time in the country doing enjoyable things like shopping, eating in a local eatery, spa and promoting to them some charities available for them to contribute too. They really understand more after my 4 days/3 nights trip. Past guests always introduce more investors to us too. 4) Why is coming to Cambodia, physically, so important for investors? Some savvy investors need not visit Cambodia physically, as they only look at the numbers and facts we show them. Some request to visit to experience the market personally before they invest. It depends on individuals. 5) Why is Cambodia such an exciting real estate market - in your opinion? Cambodia to me has been exciting since 2012. My beliefs started then.. And the passion is still burning high for me now. The property market for Cambodia is more transparent compared to Myanmar, Vietnam or Laos, if we are comparing emerging markets. And according to the FDI restrictiveness indexes of the whole of ASEAN, Cambodia's 0.049 is second to Singapore's 0.047. Even if its population is not the highest in the region, the FDI coming into the country is very promising for investors. Furthermore, the country allows 100% foreigner owned equity/corporations - which is highly beneficial to expat entrepreneurs too. 6) In your opinion, what steps need to be taken to boost the Cambodian real estate market to the next level? I believe that the country should look into raising the vocational standards of the whole real estate industry. Then the efficiency and professionalism can complement the thriving market - especially now with the mass influx of foreign investors. Despite the mass supply raising up in 2018, I believe that the government is exploring and opening up more industries and other business sectors to lift the economy standards to another level. You can see from the FDI coming from China, Japan, Taiwan and others that there will be more expat professionals moving to the country. We will need the infrastructures and housings to cater for these people. We can't wait for demand to come and then build supply - rather, the country has to be ready for it.7) What is some interesting feedback you have had from people who have joined your investor tours? They always say that they didn't expect Cambodia to be so attractive and that they enjoyed every moment of the itinerary I planned. They thought of the past where you might get bombed, gunned or other things related to the past conflict here. But instead, I show them my healthy legs and my ballooned belly from all the delicacies I have eaten in the country. Now a lot of them have also registered with me to visit Siem Reap and the beautiful beaches in Sihanoukville... Learn more about investing in Cambodia!

With the release of 13,730 new condo units through ‘off-plan’ proposals during the first half of 2016 in Phnom Penh alone, it seems that there is no backing down for developers in the real estate market in Cambodia as both the number of condominiums being built and the number of sales in the market continue to rise.But if you’re a property owner or investor, you may want to consider getting a dynamic property management team like Emerald+ so that you can avoid the stress of juggling different aspects and requirements of your investments. Whether it’s your first property asset or you are aiming to diversify your portfolio, Emerald+ offers an all-around property management solutions to protect your property from both anticipated and unforeseen issues.Taking a 360-Degree Approach:In a recent interview with Realestate.com.kh, Ms. Sou Monypich, General Manager of Emerald+ said that the demand for property management services will begin to rise in the next couple of years - just as the supply in different real estate markets increases drastically as well. She adds that the involvement of Emerald+ in various large-scale projects during this time of growth has given them an advantage that allowed them to develop a competitive standard of operating procedures to benefit both the customer and the property owner.Among the services Emerald+ has to offer is property maintenance, customer care, staff trainings, audits, asset management, marketing, and even equipment provision. They also provide their services for a wide range of property types including condominiums, boreys, and corporate offices.Venturing Out:During the interview, Ms. Monypich also mentioned Emerald+ is working alongside its sister company, Emerald Architect, to provide well-rounded solutions to help cover other aspects like landscaping, design consultancy and construction for both the interior and exterior designs of a property. She adds that this is a step towards bridging the gap in the current market where there is a shortage of companies providing these sorts of services.They have also branched out into offering effective business solutions through the Emerald Hub by creating a co-working space where young entrepreneurs can nurture their skills and ideas to pursue the start-up businesses that they are trying to build with limited means.The Heart of the Company:Ms. Monypich also states that the strength of the company, the heart of Emerald+, lies in the skills and the wellbeing of its people. This is why they provide comprehensive and ongoing training for all of their staff.More than that, Emerald+ also teaches their employees the value of good and meaningful customer service, which is vital to their business model. This is accomplished through various activities that enable their employees to attend and organize charity events that make a significant impact in communities across Cambodia.Despite its young age, the company has accomplished a lot already. It is a testament to the capacity of Emerald+ to follow through with their promise of total property management and protection.Find out more about Emerald+ today!

On the 3rd of August, 2016, Emerald+ Property Management Services signed an exclusive agreement with the committee ownership and development company Chroychangva.This is in conjunction with the property management services that they will be providing for the Borey Grand Chroychongva project. These properties will include 4 types of residential properties. Namely, the grand villas, single villas, twin villas and flats.In this agreement, Emerald+ asserts that they will only offer management services that are of high standards and quality.Chen Yuxian, the general manager of Grandvision International Development Co.,Ltd and the representative of Borey Grand Chroychangva, said that “Property management services are significantly important for borey projects. These include security protection, social order, and environmental protection so that the borey space will remain aesthetically pleasing and clean at all times.He added that Emerald+ offers the best suited partnership for the relatively new industry of property management in Cambodia because of the professional standards of their work and the qualifications of their human resources.Meanwhile, Ms. Sou Monipich, the general manager of Emerald+, said of the agreement that “offering property management services that are flawless and oriented towards a great customer experience is the stance of the company because of its long term vision for being in this business. Emerald+ sees itself as a company that will adhere to both national and international standards of quality into the future.Grandvision International Development is very busy with the next property development project which is named the Borey Moon Town. It will have 5 types of residential properties and will strategically be located along Oknha Duong Ngeap road, Sangkat Teuk Thla, Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh.Emerald+ Property Management Service is a big real estate management company that is licensed by the ministry of commerce. It will open its operation with various partners like UEMS and Nature Landscape who are both huge and famous companies in Singapore, They are known for their expertise in property management and developing natural gardens (landscaping), respectively.For more information, you can contact EMERALD+  today.

Everyone needs a warm environment where they can live with their loved ones. So before you decide to buy a residential property, carefully consider a few things first such as its atmosphere, it's construction quality, and its potential for future investment. These are just some of the things that shouldn't be overlooked in the buying process. The Borey Villa Toul Sangke development project has gained popularity mainly due to its success in selling its past projects. It is strategically located in the Russey Keo district in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. They offer residential units such as landed homes and condominiums.The Borey Villa Toul Sangke project includes a variety of villas and condominiums that come in different sizes that you can choose from. Each and every home has been designed by construction professionals with quality and beauty in mind. Attention to detail is obvious. Some of the villas that are available are the Single Villa, Link House, Twins Villa, and Flat houses. Families will  also have the flexiblity to choose the City Sangkeo villa type too, as they see fit.Check out full listing on realestate.com.kh"We think about the quality and the best standard of living for families. The Borey has been completed. For all projects, the Borey is almost sold out. The condo project started construction and is at around 20 percent completion. And an estimated 30  percent had already been booked. We also have a special offer for customers which is a 10 percent discount for owners who have paid off their residential condominiums. At the meantime, the developer also provides ultimate offer that only require customers to pay $ 660 in per month with no interest and no deposit. The Borey Villa Toul Sangke condo project concept is focused on helping locals change their standard of living and pursing a more modern life. It also aims to make you feel comfortable. This residential property is exactly that. It brings a high standard of living, which is fully furnished like a 5-star hotel." This is according to Mr. Andy Kong , the general manager of the Borey Villa Sangke company. Ky Kosal, an employee of a private company, says, "After I saw the showroom of the different projects from Borey Villa Toul sangke and researched about it, I think that this is a good projects because the investment location is just near the new Aeon Mall and because it also has a great future investment potentials."Living in the Borey Villa Toul Sangke project offers a more modern, stylish, and luxurious way of living for you the people you live with, whether it's your friends or your family. The Borey Villa Toul Sangke project also has an extremely competitively-priced condominium development located in Russey Keo. It is situated in the business district, which is really close to the main road, government institutions, shopping malls, riverside, sports clubs, banks, hospitals, schools, and entertainment. More importantly, it's also very near the toul Sangke market.The Borey Villa Toul Sangke project consists of around 174 residential units with various designs, all of which were made with the vision of providing spacious, and comfortable homes for individuals and for families. There are also a range of amenities which include swimming pools, a sauna, a gym, a small market, and a golfing club. So, families are sure they will never run out of things to do and places to go to. Check out full listing on realestate.com.kh

It is easy to talk about the many ongoing and successfully completed projects in Cambodia right now because there is an abundance of them. But what is rarely talked about are the factors that contribute to the increasing opportunities in the country for both local citizens and foreign nationals that will support the sustainable development of the real estate industry as a whole, and create a strong secondary resale and rentals market into the future. Two of those factors are the country’s gross national income and the income status of its citizens. The growth of these two factors has a significant influence on the growth of the real estate industry.These two factors have been a recurring indicator in research and reports lately, such as the World Bank’s statement that Cambodia has now moved to a lower-middle income status, contributing to a gross national income per capita higher than $1,026 per year. The World Bank classes lower-middle-income countries as those with average yearly incomes between $1,026 and $4,035. Cambodia has just entered this bracket. The Implications of Higher Income Status:There is great trust placed by investors on a country with a growing economy. And part of that growth in trust will always include lower unemployment rates and a higher income status for the entire country. This ultimately leads to a higher sustainable GDP, which is also good for businesses. But what does this specifically mean for the real estate market? Simply put, this means that people inside the country are now able to afford a wider range of properties that have been previously hard to purchase due to low incomes. Local buyers are also more like to be applicable for home loans and finance for their next property purchase. So, for investors, your potential rental returns and resales prices are strengthened. In fact, land prices in Phnom Penh alone increased by 15 percent in the year 2013. And has only continued to rise since then.Also, with higher amounts of income tax being collected, the government will have more scope for policies to assist in the country’s progress, such as infrastructure and affordable housing projects.Income in Emerging Markets:Emerging markets like Cambodia are one of the best places to invest in because the GNI and GDP are just beginning to rise. This means that there is much more progress to be made and much more opportunities yet to come for those who commit to the market early. Placing your money in a country with a promising future will potentially give you much higher returns than you are likely to get in more developed economies. Yes - emerging markets do come with higher risk, but in countries like Cambodia, the political stability is a standout case in the region, and so it the economic growth rates. This helps to give investors the assurance they need to put money down. For investors, now is the time to seriously consider Cambodia as a destination for a property investment with the potential to sky rocket returns. If you wait too long, the opportunity may be lost. Learn more about the charm of Cambodia for property investors.

The recently released H1 2016 Market report by the independent global property consultancy Knight Frank details both the data gathered by the company from the real estate market’s activities during the first half of the year, in combination with an exciting preview of what is to come in the near future.According to Ross Wheble, country manager of Knight Frank, the outstanding turnout of new construction projects has ultimately led to a stage of moderation as a means to address the short-term risks in the market. If all goes well after that, the report indicates that Cambodia has the potential to climb the ranks and outperform Southeast Asia through the process of diversification, a state in which “robust growth is expected to continue.”Phnom Penh Office Sector:Starting the year with the completion of three large office buildings that totaled to a net lettable space of 5,000 square meters, the second half of the year for the office sector may see a slight difference in trends as companies start to take interest in higher end commercial space and transfer to Grade A and Grade B office buildings. This is due to the difficulties of the Grade C units to keep up with changes in regulations and standards.The demand for higher grade buildings has also been apparent with several projects seeing higher amounts of inquiries, like in the case of the Vattanac Tower where the occupancy rate is now almost at 50%. This may be the reason why most of the supply coming in the next few years is Grade A buildings. These include the units that will come with the completion of projects like the Exchange Square, Diamond Twin Tower, and Olympia City.The report by Knight Frank indicates that for the medium term, the country is expected to capture more foreign investments for the prime office space sector where prices may continue to rise from the current rate of $4,900 per square meter. This indicates bigger names moving in to do business in the country.Retail Sector:If there is anything that the data from the retail market sector is indicating, it’s that there is growing interest from international brands to acquire retail space in the country. Although currently moving at a lower pace in terms of occupancy, the percentage remains constant for malls in strategic locations like the Aeon mall - which still enjoys their steady 95.8 percent occupancy rate.  But this reprieve may not last long as newer retail space projects are expected to hit completion by 2020. The report indicates a projected total increase in retail area of around 209 per cent by that time.   But this may not necessarily be a bad thing, at least for businesses. Because along with the increase in the number of retail spaces available, rental prices will become even more competitive in contrast to the current range of $10 to $70 per square meter.Hotel Sector:The hotel sector had its fair share of both troubles and successes during the first half of 2016. While boutique hotels garnered a significant amount of tourists, international five-star hotels like the Marriott struggled to increase their occupancy rate due to the competition with the local accommodations.Despite this, another 175 keys will come into play with the completion of Rosewood Hotel, in addition to the 259 that was already added earlier this year. But according to Knight Frank, the struggle of international hotel chains is going to end soon as more international hotel giants have expressed great interest in expanding their business into the Cambodian market. Should these plans push through, the estimated 2,732 rooms that are awaiting their completion by the end of the year may just be the start of the growth that is projected to happen by 2019.This is also to address the anticipated influx of business tourists, especially by 2017 when the World Economic Forum will be held in the capital city, Phnom Penh.                      Serviced Apartment Sector:Though most of the serviced apartments are locally owned, the market heavily relies on expatriates to rent and occupy the properties. Currently at around 4,017 monitored units, there are around 1,730 more units that should be completed by 2018. This is expected to cause a significant decrease in rental price which currently ranges from $667 to $4,000 per month, depending if it’s in the high end market or not. The construction of more modern condominiums and small scale serviced apartments will also contribute to the decrease of the current value in the collection of serviced apartments.Condominium Sector:The condo market saw a 4.9 percent increase during the first few months this year. This comes up to a total of 2,797 units added in the supply which includes developments like The 240, Galaxy residences, and 9 East. 929 of these units were sold during the first half of 2016. This represents a decrease of about 26.7 percent since last year. these units were sold during the first half of 2016. This represents a decrease of about 26.7 percent since last year.More and more projects of this type have been slated in the coming years, and 74 projects are noted to reach completion by 2020. 72 percent of these will be made up of high-end or prime condominium projects. For completed, central condominium rental rates, prices remain relatively high at a maximum of $4,000 per month. This is why it would be wise to disperse and move to the outskirts of the capital where land prices are less expensive and concepts much more fluid.Stricter enforcement of the law will also be a factor in drawing the interest of foreign developers and investors who had initial fears of losing money because of unenforced and vague policies. Much friendlier financing schemes for both locals and foreigners also make it more convenient to invest.Download the full H12016 Knight Frank Market Highlights Report

In the process of selecting residential properties, more so than the price, it is important to make sure that it will provide the best standards of living with high quality construction materials to make it ripe for long-term appreciation and future resale or rental value.It is also helpful to consider living with your family in a home that has good environment, and is comfortable and modern. This is what The Penthouse Residence is offering in the heart Phnom Penh. It is an upcoming world-class condominium project that will suit the needs of people who are looking for a more modern flare in their lives.The Penthouse Residence is strategically located in the most desired residential area of Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. It is the majestic and luxurious condominium project that stands along Sothearos Boulevard, right in front of landmark establishments such as Aeon Mall and the five-star Sofitel Phnom Penh Phukeethra Hotel, and close to many other useful institutions such as embassies and international schools. In addition, this 36-floor tower (about 130m high) is also located close to the Chaktomuk riverside and the fast developing district of Koh Pich (Diamond Island).The developers and contractors have been working hard day and night since the groundbreaking last March 12th, 2016, to ensure that The Penthouse Residence is built according to the highest standards, especially in its foundation work. In a span of just 4 months, the pile boring and foundation work are almost completed. And with the construction going at this rate, it is safe to assume that this project will be finished even before the proposed deadline at the end of 2018.The Penthouse Residence will not only be built with highest quality, lavish decorations, and the safe environment in mind, it will also be built in partnership with many other well recognized construction suppliers includes CPAC by SCG Thailand.The interior designs will be done by Sangiorgio from Italy; the bathroom equipment will be supplied by world class brands such as Grohe and Hafele from Germany, Cotto from Thailand, ToTo from Japan as well as American Standards, which will provide nothing but the best functional and long-lasting products. This helps ensure the project’s safety and build the trust of our customers, now and in the future.According to Mr. Imsouchivy Suos, the assistant project director of The Penthouse Residence, “The Penthouse Residence will offer both great quality and value in real estate market. The project has sold over 50 percent of the units already and has been one of the best-selling condominium projects in Phnom Penh so far due to its prime location, best quality, and reasonable price. We expect to increase our sales to over 70 percent by the end of the year. At the moment, we also offer 5 percent discount and an iPhone 6s for those who decide to book our condominium unit today. Guaranteed Returns of Renting (GRR) will also be offered at 6 percent per year or 18 percent for first 3 years.”For more information please check out the full listing on realestate.com.kh today!

Sino Plaza held a press conference at their showroom in Phnom Penh Friday last week, July 29, 2016, to announce their official launch for bookings.Sino Plaza’s 4 towers will rise to a height of 45-storeys each, located in the south of Phnom Penh city near Beoung Trabek Plaza, Sangkat Beoung Trabek, Phnom Penh.The project started construction in early 2015, and now all foundations are complete, with around $15 million already invested into the construction work. The total project of Sino Plaza is worth more than $200 million and will be entirely finished, ready for occupancy, in 2018.This project is a venture of Cambodian Natural Lucky Real Estate Development Co. Ltd, wholly owned by CYTS (China Youth Travel Services) from Hong Kong and China.According to Oknha Cheng Kheng, executive chairman of CPL, exclusive sales partner of Sino Plaza in partnership with Huttons CPL, "Sino Plaza is actually one of the most sustainable developments in Phnom Penh now. The number of units provides economies of scale for maintaining a development with the most-extensive onsite facilities. The Office Tower will ensure that commute time to work is minimized. Meanwhile, the completeness of the retail mall is unique: with International SPA, Gold Center, Supermarket, International  KTV and restaurants serving cuisine from around the world.”“Considering the convenience, completeness and the high potential appreciation from rental yield and capital, Sino Plaza will be the most desirable development for at least the next five years or more."Oknha Kheng continues to say that, “This is the first ever development in Cambodia that the developer is adopting the foreign method of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), allocating a certain percentage of units at a very special price for the Local Cambodians only. Encouraging the locals to strive for a better lifestyle at an achievable budget is a very clever approach. This is the developer’s way of giving back to Cambodian society. The whole tower is actually priced slightly lower than market rate to ensure the affordability for Cambodian with end-user financing and the development ultimately will not be a ghost-town.”Chhoeung Sotheara, head of sales for the project Sino Plaza at CPL, said that "this area is a matured neighborhood with amenities and conveniences nearby, surrounded by embassies and government departments. Yet it is only five minutes away from BKK1 where most international schools and eateries are located. The potential for capital appreciation is very high here."Contact today to find out more.

Singapore – 21 July 2016: SGX Mainboard Listed HLH Group (HLH) has reported strong demand for its first real estate project in Cambodia. D’Seaview, a mixed-use development of 737 residential units, has sold more than51% to date.SEE FULL PROJECT INFORMATION AND INQUIRE TODAY! The project was successfully launched in Sihanoukville (the third largest province in the country) in September 2015 and the groundbreaking ceremony was held in January this year. Following the successful launch and strong demand for its residential units in D’Seaview, the commercial spaces and the balance 51% of its 737 residential units with an estimated market value of US$88 million, are available for sale. Meanwhile, construction is well underway. The contractor has now confirmed that 100% of all piling work is complete for the D’Seaview Project, as of July 18, 2016. Ryan Ong, Director of PH One Development (Cambodia) Limited, stated at a recent press conference on-site, "I look forward to stand here again in 2018, upon the successful completion of this project." One of the key highlight of the commercial spaces is a 10 stories boutique hotel – the first to be built by a Singapore company in Sihanoukville - is the country’s premier seaside destination for international tourists. The hotel will have up to 98 rooms where HLH will seek boutique hotel operators in Cambodia or the region to invest in and operate the hotel. The commercial units of D’Seaview, which includes a good mixture of commercial spaces, retail spaces, two commercial buildings and a grand tower of ten-storey boutique hotel comprising of up to 98 rooms, are scheduled to be completed in Q4 2017, while the residential units for D’Seaview are expected to be completed by 2018. Dato Dr Johnny Ong, CEO and Deputy Chairman of HLH Group, says “This is a highly opportunistic time to leverage on Sihanoukville’s booming growth by expanding and growing our businesses. Sihanoukville’s tourism growth has been on a rapid rise in recent years. There are many international light industrial parks and special economic zone being set up in the province as Sihanoukville is a deep-water seaport. It is also the third largest province in Cambodia with an international airport.” To kick-start the construction of D’Seaview, the Group has awarded the construction project to Yanjian Group (Cambodia) Co Ltd for US$36,797,993.93. Yanjian Group (Cambodia) Co., Ltd is a subsidiary of Yanjian Group Co. Ltd – a global engineering and construction company listed in the Engineering News-Record Magazine as among the Top 250 Global Contractors. HLH will issue a 30% advance payment to Yanjian Group (Cambodia) Co., Ltd for the construction project. The parent company, Yanjian Group Co. Ltd will provide a 40% performance guarantee on the construction amount to ensure the successful completion of the construction. The D’Seaview project is not expected to have any material impact on the financial performance of HLH for the financial year ending 31 December 2016. About HLH Group Limited:HLH Group was founded in Singapore since 1988, from a sole proprietorship providing construction services to a regional property developer and producer of raw and processed agricultural products. It has been listed on the mainboard of Singapore Stock Exchange since June 2000.The HLH Group operates two core business segments: Property Development and Agriculture.Since the establishment of the Group’s Agriculture Division in Cambodia in 2008, it has become one of the largest privately owned cassava plantations in the Kingdom with land size approximately 11,000 hectares. The Agriculture Division is focused on agricultural investment & development, as well as the cultivation of cassava and sugarcane through collaboration with joint-operation partners.A new cassava starch production line was recently added, capable of producing up to 120 tons of cassava starch daily. The setting up of the cassava production line is part of the group’s overall strategy to extend its agricultural production chain downstream from farming to harvesting to value-added processing on our produces. Currently, the factory is producing around 80-100 tons of starch daily.The Property Division, which has successfully completed numerous projects in Singapore since 2001, officially started its overseas property division in 2015 with the launch of its residential brand “CAMHOMES”. It has also unveiled its first overseas mixed development project called D’Seaview, which will be built in the port city of Sihanoukville. The only deep water sea port in Cambodia. Under “CAMHOMES” the Group will aim to launch more high quality and affordable housing developments to target the growing middle income residents in Cambodia.   SEE FULL PROJECT INFORMATION AND INQUIRE TODAY!

In a recent BBC report, Cambodia's condo sector is in the world spotlight.  "Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh is on the rise. Glass, steel and concrete mega-structures are beginning to dominate the city's skyline," says BBC's Nick Wood, "But as the capital grows, there are concerns that many of Phnom Penh's residents will be squeezed out by the frenzy of construction projects." The report includes Victor Huot, Marketing Manager at Urbanland Asia, the developer behind Embassy Central and Embassy Residences. Foreign Direct Investment is now at an all time high in the Kingdom, putting the Cambodian condo construction industry on a similar playing field to its larger, more-developed ASEAN neighbors. However, the BBC speculate that current development is not suitable for most local buyers, given the average costs of most large scale condo projects currently underway in Cambodia. Learn more about the Cambodian investment climate today on Realestate.com.kh's extensive location profiles and investor resources.

The ZEMCH 2016 Conference scheduled for 20th-23rd December is the 5th most important global gathering of green architects, developers and managers for Zero Energy Mass Customized Housing. With their vast academic research background, the community as a world wide operating network tries to present research-based, viable systems for housing as a contribution to curb global warming by green and energy efficient building technology.It's recent back story relates to the December 2015 Paris Agreement with the ambitious Climate Agreement goals inhibiting the increment of global warming to maximum 1 degree C by 2050.  As the overarching theme of this year’s conference based on the Paris Agreement, the buzzwords “implementation” and “action” are the ones that should echo into the future. Hence, the theme of the conference is “Zeroing in on the Paris Climate Agreement - Contributions of Zero Energy Mass Customized Housing”. One focus is how sustainability relates into cost savings for the owners and occupants of residential housing buildings.The organizer, which is the University Kuala Lumpur together with the University of Brighton, is expecting 40 selectively quality contributions of all over the globe, including topics like "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Residential Sector or Energy" or  "Efficiency vs. Indoor Air Quality: A Review of Optimal Retrofit of Existing Buildings". The deadline of registration for early birds will closes on the 15th October 2016; bookings through the website: zemch2016.com and  for any information please email ZEMCH2016@unikl.edu.my

Sun Fair Market is set to be the first flea market in Cambodia, with a huge range of consumer goods and materials, kitchen and office equipment, antiques, artifacts and all sorts of other bits and pieces for sale.Sun Fair Market will be launched in early August, this year, and will be open to the public from 8am to 12 noon inside Olympic Stadium, Sangkat Olympic. According an interview with CTN, Mr. Kem Oeun, founder and director of the Cambodia Japan Cooperation Center and the President of the Association of Trade and Investment Cambodia – Japan, said that “Sun Fair Market will be full of used and secondhand goods. By sharing and selling these home goods these can then be reused. It is a common thing in other countries, but it is the first ever in the Kingdom.”Kem continues, “The location for our sales are very good, inside Olympic stadium, and the selling will start from 8 am to 12 pm every Sunday. We hope each market day will bring big crowds to Olympic stadium.”He added that, “this is the Japanese culture concept called ‘Mottaina’ - passing on things which we no longer use or do not need to others who need them, and saving the environmental damage of just throwing the used things away.”Ms. So Chanleakhena, fresh-graduate from Korea and currently working in private company in Phnom Penh, “Yes, I’m extremely excited about this project. For one thing, Sun Fair Flea Market is a way to get rid of things I am not using in a really useful way, either financially or emotionally - and by emotionally I mean, giving them to people in need. My house and room will undoubtedly become more spacious and tidy.”“‘Kill two birds with one stone’ is a suitable expression for this, I guess. Also, this can be seen as a chance for Khmer people to start socializing, understanding and helping each other. I’m pretty sure that the project could evoke our beautiful and priceless ‘culture of helping’, which we used to possess.”Sun Sinett, designer and private company staff in Phnom Penh, agreed with this concept: “When you buy from the fair flea market you’re not helping the big business to get richer and bigger.”“Instead,” continued Sun, “You’re helping your community and saving the world’s resources by recycling! It could be a gathering that you can enjoy networking with neighbors and friends.”According to the Facebook page of Sun Fair market, the profits derived from operations will be distributed to Olympic stadium, 25%, Foundation Leng, 25%, 5% to the Kantha Bopha Hospital and 5% for the Sunrise Japanese Hospital. The remaining 40% will be given to operating personnel.

The Kingdom of Cambodia uses the Cambodian Riel as its primary currency and, unofficially, the U.S. dollar as its secondary.But this may soon change as the tourism ministry urges businesses to facilitate and allow the use of the Chinese Yuan for transactions as part of their “China Ready” plan. This encouragement comes not long after the news that around 2 million tourists from China will make their way annually to Cambodia by 2020.Having close diplomatic and historic relations with the country, Chinese citizens and tourists feel as if they’re right at home when they visit Cambodia because many Khmer people also know how to speak the Chinese language. But this move addresses more concerns than just goodwill between the two countries. Owners from various businesses have a fear of financial losses as a result of fake currencies and the fluctuating exchange rates, according to a recent Cambodia Daily report.Renaud Fichet, co-owner of the Abacus Garden Restaurant and Bar, says that “as long as they come to the place,” he’s fine with trying accepting the Yuan currency. Others aren’t as forgiving of the idea. Penh, says Khemmara Niza, Manager of the Sentosa Silk Shop in Phnom that this may just cause an issue of redundancy. Already seeing trouble with determining fake U.S. money, she says that accepting the Yuan currency may produce the same issue because local staff will not be able to determine its authenticity. She adds, “We don’t really know about Yuan money.”Anthony Galliano, ceo of Cambodian Investment Management, said that, “The government’s “China Ready” initiative makes sense as it addresses the fact that Chinese tourism is the fastest growing and likely to be the number one tourist inflow market for Cambodia.” Yet, Galliano disagrees with the recent encouragement from the ministry: “While encouraging the hospitality industry to accept the Yuan as payment simplifies financial transactions for Chinese tourists, it unfortunately complicates them and heightens risks for the recipient of the Chinese currency. In addition to assuming exchange rates risk, being able to properly identify counterfeit notes, and having to agree rates with generally financially shrewd visitors, the Yuan is not a freely convertible currency and is unlikely to be so in the near future.”Concerns of exchange rates which may lead to losses have also been brought up as a possible result of this.An unnamed local bank manager noted that, “maybe we should be encouraging local merchants to use point of service (POS) digital devices instead - that way, we don’t need to use cash at all of any currency – that would be a better solution to attracting more tourists.”For now though, accepting Yuan is still just an encouragement from the Government. Businesses are still free to choose whether or not they will take a risk or take the plunge and embrace this suggestion.