Home and business security is highly important for residential and business owners in Cambodia. Ms. Sim Kaliyan, the general manager of Global Security Solutions (GSS), recently joined Realestate.com.kh to talk about professional home and business security. There are 2 types of solutions that deal with predictable risks and security precautions in Cambodia, according to her. One is suited to a smaller budget - the other is more comprehensive, but also more expensive.1.  Cheaper Home Security Solution for those on a Tight Budget:Ms. Kaliyan cited that normal middle class families or small businesses can choose this solution. She mentioned some major points to check out:Door, Fence, Key and Window:You must check whether the door of the house and other entry points are secure or not. There should at least be a fence to keep the inside of the property safe. You can use long broken bottles placed on the fence to strengthen it. And it's best to use double steel bars if you have a bit more money and want a better defense. This action will also prevent the fence from being stolen.Steel Bars:You also need to thoroughly inspect all aspects of the outer doors, the lock quality, and the bars of the windows and doors to ensure your home’s safety. Kalyan warns about a possible fire though. It is important to enforce the windows, but it is also important to ensure that you have a backup exit point to yourself in case a fire breaks out. You want to keep people out of your house - but you don’t want to trap you and your family inside in the case of an emergency.Use Motion Sensor Lights:You can also use motion sensor lights that activate when they detect movement outside of the house. You can place these at the entrance, the exits, and on the fence.Other Affordable Home Security Solutions:Kaliyan explains that there are other options to secure your house such as building secret passages. She also introduced ideas like placing a cardboard image of a person close to the windows, leaving your lights on while you’re not home, using a pillow to give the illusion of people sleeping, placing objects that will sound when drawers or desks are being moved, asking for the assistance of neighbors, and not letting people know when you bring home a valuable or expensive product.2. More-Expensive Home Security solutions:Kaliyan said that whatever solution is chosen, what matters most are the “external monitoring and internal monitoring”. But there are more convenient solutions for those with more resources.  These home security solutions include:Electronic Entrance and Fence:You can install electrical wires on your fence in addition to steel bars so that anyone who attempts to touch it will get shocked.Use Light Motion Sensor:You can use “light motion sensors” to protect your home round the clock. However, you need to do a perimeter check to find potential areas where burglars can pass through such as trees.Hiring Home Security Guards and  Installing a Security Camera:You can hire security guards from an agency for your home and build a central monitoring station in the compound. They can keep watch of the camera feed and inspect the house. In case someone jumped your fence and tried to enter, they can take action immediately.Intrusion alarm:Intrusion alarms are also called sirens. In case someone climbs or jumps your fence, the device will ring and alert people nearby.Magnetic Door Contact or Magnetic Door Break:You can install a “magnetic door contact” or “magnetic door break” on both doors and windows of your house. When someone attempts to break in using the door or window, it will signal your smartphone. Other similar alarms include motion sensors and photo beam protectors.Safe Control:For those who have a lot of money, it’s not necessary to use locks. Using “Safe Control” may be the best option because it requires you to either use a card or fingerprint to open.Beware of Dogs:Whether you choose the cheaper option or the more expensive one, you can always hang a sign that says “beware of dogs”. This will give you good results.Learn more about Home Security Solutions on Realestate.com.kh

You have our deepest gratitude for supporting the launch party of the second edition of the Cambodia Real Estate Magazine on the 22nd of October at EPIC club of Phnom Penh!The Event & Magazine by the Numbers:The Cambodia Real Estate magazine party was a roaring success which was experienced by over 650 guests from over 274 leading local and international companies. Including 51 real estate agencies, 37 property developers, 21 banks and finance companies, 16 news and media platforms, 60 architect, construction and related businesses, 7 law firms, and 14 chambers, embassy and ministry related bodies! Making up the huge crowd were 112 General and Senior Managers, 30 CEO’s, 33 Directors, 126 real estate agents, 23 founders, 345 general employees, and 2 excellencies - including our esteemed Guest of Honour: H.E. Mr. Mey Vann, Director General of Financial Industry at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The party was made possible by 8 very supportive sponsors: Imperial Crown, Ford, The Piano Shop, Cellcard, Kilat Events, E-Design Photography, Image Printing and, our lucky draw sponsor, BOSE. We are extremely proud to have increased our print run for the October edition of the magazine to over 15,000 copies, which are available FOR FREE at over 800 highly targeted and relevant pick up points countrywide. Pickup points include leading developer showrooms, real estate agencies, business lounges, business centers, chambers of commerce, embassies, cafes, restaurants and more! Online distribution of the magazine - through our website, email database and social media platforms - reaches over 100,000+ local and international readers.The Event in pictures:Check out the full photo album for the event. Please like and share!Cambodia Real Estate Volume III – Secure your spot before it’s too late!We are excited to announce that the third edition of The Cambodia Real Estate Magazine is due for release in January 2017. The content for the next magazine is already progressing rapidly and our existing advertising partners are continuing their support for Issue 3.If you would like to advertise in Issue 3 we strongly recommend booking your spot now as we already have limited availability for ad and advertorial space. Please call or email Jonathan Baxter at jonathan.baxter@realestate.com.kh or on +855 (0) 10 561 502Once again, thank you everyone for the support! And we look forward to hosting you all at the next Realestate.com.kh party in January 2017 - sure to be another event not to be missed...Event sponsorship opportunities for the next party in January 2017 are also available - but likewise filling up fast. If you are interested to sponsor our next event and promote your brand in front of the elite of the Cambodian real estate industry please call or email Jonathan Baxter at jonathan.baxter@realestate.com.kh or on +855 (0) 10 561 502Click here to download your free copy!

Selling your home takes a bit of thought process and energy sometimes. And one of the questions that frequently pops up is whether or not you should stick with one real estate agent - or list your property through multiple agents. This is especially true when you’re looking to sell your property fast for whatever reason.Both have clear advantages and disadvantages that sellers may want to consider first before deciding.Listing with Multiple Agents:If you want to make a quick sale, listing your property with multiple agents would seem like a logical choice. There’s a good reason for that. You get more exposure. These professionals can utilize different avenues such as the newspapers, real estate publications, and the internet to spread awareness for your property. More exposure means a gathered interest from a larger audience.This option also means more information about the property is released. Buyers can get to know your property better. Agents today are now also utilizing modern tools and techniques to target potential buyers better.The downside to using multiple agents though is that you’re working with a range of people and various sales strategies that are often times totally different from each other. This also entails that there are different degrees of understanding as to what type of buyers are qualified for the sale. There are self-professed private agents out there who will do anything to close a deal.Hiring multiple agents also means that negotiations will be done in isolation. The ones competing won’t be the buyers but the actual agents. This hurts your cause because you might find out too late that someone else may have made a higher offer.Listing with an Exclusive Agent:The thing about listing with an exclusive real estate agent is that their sales strategy – if it’s the right strategy – can save you a whole lot of time and effort. It focuses in on making sure that you get a good deal without demanding too much. This also offers the agent more flexibility to adjust their strategy based on your needs and on buyer feedback.You can hire a professional that specializes in your kind of property too. It is important to note that one effective person can outdo a hundred ineffective ones. Make sure you choose your agent wisely.Having an exclusive real estate agent also makes it easier for the buyer. Buyers would rather think about their personal needs more than they think about which agent they should contact. Keeping everything singular eliminates any possibility of confusion and makes it more convenient for buyers to make an offer.Exclusive agents also sometimes package property management services into the mix as a form of incentive. This is something you won’t get from multiple agents.The downside to this is that information about your property is limited to the stream of influence your agent has. Your reach is much more contained. There is also the risk of running into “commission cowboys”. These are self-professed private agents who will do anything to make a sale. This doesn’t always get you the best buyers.Remember that you will also play a big role in the process no matter what option you choose. What system you think will work best for you and how much effort you’re willing to put into the process is entirely up to you.  Choose wisely.Find Cambodia’s best real estate agents on Realestate.com.kh!

Sihanoukville is increasingly grabbing the attention of both locals and tourists as a seaside getaway. But it’s more than just the beautiful beaches and its magnificent views that keeps drawing people in. Economic progress in the market is also enhancing Sihanoukville’s appeal for investors needing an alternate destination for capital injections outside of the nation’s capital city, Phnom Penh - especially given the growing opinion that this marketplace is becoming saturated. Sihanoukville development is reaching milestone after milestone, and looks set to become the country's next economic star.Sihanoukville Development Milestones: InfrastructureEfforts are being concentrated into building better infrastructure in Preah Sihanouk. China signed an agreement for the construction of three bridge and road projects. One of the roads that will be built through this partnership is the highway that will connect Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. It will be called national Highway 11 and will cost an estimated $1.9 billion.The province also has the Sihanoukville International Airport is also one of the largest airport in the country and may continue to be the case for the next decade and a half. This is according to Mr. Sin Chansereyvutha – Director of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation.The Royal Railways also made their contribution in the sector through the revival of its train services. The route connects Sihanoukville to Kampot, Kep, and Phnom Penh.Sihanoukville Development Milestones: CondominiumsPrime properties are now making their way into the province due to an influx in the area’s tourist arrivals. It is now considered an alternative condo hub by some experts as a result of this.And one of the incoming projects in Sihanoukville will be  D’Seaview Luxury Condominium by Camhomes. It will be located an hour away from Sokha Beach. The development will be a mix of both residential and commercial units. It will also have features and amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, lush gardens, 24-hour security, and a view of the ocean.Other upcoming condominium and mixed use projects include the Blue Bay and Royal Bayview. The Royal Bayview is expected to reach completion by the end of 2019.Sihanoukville Development Milestones: Special Economic ZonesThe Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone is one of the economic drivers of the province and the country. It’s been tagged as the model of the Chinese-proposed “One Belt One Road” initiative which aims to create the 21st century maritime silk road. This brought about the introduction of Sihanoukville and Wuxi as sister cities back in December of 2008.  The Director of the Board of the SSEZ – Chen Jiangang – says of the SSEZ, that “The first phase of our project has finished. We have built a 5-square-kilometer area, equipped with sound infrastructure, including roads, water and power supplies, as well as telecommunication facilities. Our industrial park meets international standards in terms of livability, production capacity, and environment. It is also the biggest industrial park in Cambodia. The park has 102 companies and provided jobs to 16 thousand local people.”Sihanoukville Development Milestones: Smart CitySihanoukville will also be the setting of a “Smart City”. The Land Management Minister Chea Sophara went to Seoul in South Korea last August to sign a memorandum of understanding with his South Korean counterpart. The project will be in partnership with South Korea. A Ministry official Cheam Sophal Makara mentions that the development will center on “building good infrastructure, using modern technology and eco-friendly methods.”Sihanoukville Development Milestones: Deep Sea PortThe deep sea port hasn’t always been smooth sailing. This is something officials aim to address. Port officials had recently gone into its 37th ASEAN ports Association meeting to discuss methods and systems that can be put into place to improve maritime trade growth.CEO of the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port – Lou Kim Chhun – explains, “We want to simplify trade procedures across all ASEAN ports and improve the efficiency of shipping management systems.”He also mentions using more modern mechanisms to facilitate port transactions. He says, “Cambodian port terminals need to start using electronic data interchanges and improve their facilities to reduce operational inefficiencies so that the country can attract more vessels to its ports.”The International shipping port in Sihanoukville has experienced revenue growth despite setbacks though. A growth of 10 percent to 15 percent per annum was reported in 2015 alone.There is more to Sihanoukville’s beauty that meets the eye. A lot of growth has been experienced and a lot more growth is expected for the city. How this humble beach town will transform into a modern paradise is truly one that many will be anticipating.Looking for real estate for rent in Sihanoukville  or real estate for sale in Sihanoukville? or Read the The Ultimate Guide To Sihanoukville by Realestate.com.kh

This article was originally featured on B2b Cambodia, one of the leading guides to doing business in CambodiaRealestate.com.kh celebrated its seventh anniversary of operations in the Kingdom in February this year—a landmark for both the company’s founders and the fast-growing Cambodian e-commerce sector. As the first mover in the online classified space for real estate in Cambodia—a market worth billions worldwide—Realestate.com.kh positions itself as a digital marketing partner for the leading real estate agencies, property developers and money lenders in Cambodia, essentially catching traffic from google searches and converting this traffic flow into direct sales, rental and home loan leads for its customers.Realestate.com.kh’s parent company, Digital Classifieds Group (DCG), is based in Australia with classifieds websites across three Asia Pacific markets. The group announced last monththe addition to its board of directors of Tim White, founder and ex-CEO of leading Australian real estate portal, www.allhomes.com.au; a website that White recently sold to Fairfax Media for over $54 million.With the appointment of a such an experienced partner, and sustained growth across all its active markets, DCG looks set to continue to expand its presence in Cambodia and across Southeast Asia.DCG’s entry into the Cambodian market and the rise of Realestate.com.kh is also a local success story for the website’s founder and majority shareholder, Cambodian national Moek Chenda.Chenda comes from an IT background, and was involved in the early creation and installment of IT systems for the Phnom Penh International Airport around 10 years ago. He also spent a large part of his early career developing and implementing CRM and website systems for local real estate agencies.Chenda launched Realestate.com.kh in 2009, using just one of the prime domain names he had purchased five years prior on the advice of a foreign colleague he had worked alongside during the airport project. In its early years, the website was solely managed by Chenda, with more and more local real estate vendors slowly but surely beginning to use his service.“When I was first building the website, my wife used to always bother me for wasting my time on it. She didn’t believe I could ever make money from it. She didn’t believe that websites made money, full stop,” recalled Chenda.“And it’s true. Before the market didn’t believe that a website could produce quality sales leads for their agency or project either. Many didn’t understand the value of SEO and the internet, that is, outside of basic Facebook marketing.”The business took off on all new legs in early 2015 when Chenda entered into a joint venture agreement with DCG, with the website appointing Australian expatriate Tom O’Sullivan, as CEO.“When I met Tom, I could immediately tell that these guys had the passion and the know-how to grow my business quickly, and I immediately trusted them,” said Chenda.O’Sullivan admitted to feeling he had just stumbled across the ideal partner without really trying. “We saw that the domain www.Realestate.com.kh was active, and had been for some time, so we reached out to meet the owner. When we met Chenda, it was clear he was the right choice as a local partner.”“He knows his trade inside out, and his connections within the industries, both IT and real estate, have proven invaluable,” added O’Sullivan. “Furthermore, he’s just a great guy to work and spend time with.”With the expertise and capital investment brought by DCG, Chenda’s website transformed dramatically in terms of user traffic growth and user experience. This led to a sharp increase in generated leads and in the portal’s clientele base.Click here to download your free copy!

Home and business security is of high importance for residential or business owners in Cambodia. Taking precaution for protection and crime prevention requires attention from the right providers in order to ensure that every property of yours is confidently secured.Ms. Sim Kalyan, the general manager of Global Security Solutions (GSS), joined Realestate.com.kh to talk about professtional home and business security. There are generally a few guidelines that deal with predictable risks and precautions for home security in Cambodia.What are the risks concerning home security in Cambodia, and business security?Kalyan says that most of the problems that home and business owners experience are theft, burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping, and fires. She explains that the armed robbers focus on the entrance of the house or areas near the house, while kidnapping could happen at home or elsewhere in order to get a ransom. These can cause injures or can even be deadly.How do you protect your home or business?Kalyan cited that the best solution for these risks is to find a professional private security company to help monitor the residential and business areas. These companies will then provide methods to protect your property. Another solution is to contact the police because they are trained specifically in the field of security and protection.Kalyan also provided two main key points which you can personally check:External Monitoring:Kalyan explained that external monitoring refers to the external aspects of housing such as location – whether it’s an unsafe area, there are reports of robberies, or there are pickpocket boys around. We can also inspect whether or not there are lights on the road. Another factor to check is whether or not the fence is strong enough or high enough.In terms of the home itself, she said that we must inspect the strength of the doors and windows on all levels. She also cautions to be careful with the veranda area.Internal Monitoring:Kalyan said internal monitoring means paying attention to people in the home such as helpers and drivers. This means a clear and thorough review of their backgrounds. We need to be clear who they are or what they are about before allowing them to live in the house. You should even be aware of people like postmen or cable fixers.Another thing Kalyan mentioned is that you need to have is a list of emergency contact numbers. It should be posted on the wall or somewhere where it’s convenient to find.Read more about home security in Cambodia tips on Realestate.com.kh!Click here to download your free copy!

People have been focusing on an affordable housing project by Worldbridge Land. The company’s CEO, Oknha Sear Rithy, says this project is located about 17 kilometer from Phnom Penh. The Worldbridge Land Company will invest around $100 million. Construction will start early 2017 and will take approximately two years to complete. The Worldbridge Land Company just recently officially presented its master plan. The project will occupy a total land area of 202,000 square meters where 107,008 square meters of the land will be used to develop residential units and 76,004 square meters will be dedicated to the development of the roads and garden. It’s possible for low to low-middle income earners to afford this housing project. It costs only $25,000 to $30,000. A recent AKP Report states that some local and Australian investors are planning another affordable housing project for lower-middle and middle class citizens. It will cost $25 million. This project will be located in Khan Porsenchey and Khan Dangkor, Phnom Penh. There is no clear statement about when construction will begin.This upcoming project will have three types of house designs – Khmer style house prices will start at $20,000, Khmer-Australian style houses will start from $25,000, and the Khmer-French style houses will start from $30,000.This will be more convenient for customers. The payment scheme will be a monthly installment at $100. This project will take 18 months to complete.Keep track the new development news on Realestate.com.kh!

Being away from home in Cambodia can be a frustrating feeling for some people. And worthwhile accommodations have been helping them feel a little less unsettled. Some people like extravagant rooms, some people want a variety of amenities, some people want a view of the city, and some just want a view of their surroundings.But Angelina Jolie likes to stay in places where she can immerse herself in the culture. That’s why choosing Phum Baitang by Zannier Hotels was an easy choice for her home in Cambodia.How It All Started:It was in one of Jolie’s numerous flights that she came across Phum Baitang on a magazine. It was perfect timing because she was then about to work on the Netflix movie “First They Killed My Father” at Battambang. She decided to make an arrangement for her and her family who stayed there for three to four months. She and her kids fell in love with the luxury resort instantly.Arnaud Zannier, founder of Zannier Hotels, recalled that at one point, Shiloh – one of Jolie’s children – set up a tent in the garden. Meanwhile, Jolie said that Phum Baitang is “where the best of Cambodia is shared with those who are looking to enjoy peace, tranquility and the uniqueness of the country.”Zannier says Jolie “loves the fact that the resort is very authentic, very simple, very emotional. We have tried to transport the real Cambodia within the walls of the hotel.”What the Hotel’s About:Phum Baitang Hotel is located in Siem Reap and is sort of a green village. There are a lot of authentic factors about this 5-star resort that make it stand out. But one of the rare things that Angelina Jolie fell in love with is the paddy field. It comes complete with farmers too.  More than that, the resort is an eight-acre property filled with greenery and natural elements such as stones and wood. It has 45 villas in total with authentic Cambodian architecture and designs. 25 of these villas have private terraces and the other twenty have private plunge pools.Phum Baitang also offers relaxation treatments and facilities through the Spa Temple which has 7 treatment rooms, a steam room, a sauna, and a relaxation area. They also have a Yoga pavilion, a 50-meter infinity pool, and a fitness room.Phum Baitang also boasts local and international cuisine through its two restaurants in the vicinity. You can also grab a few drinks at the cigar and cocktail lounge that’s situated near the paddy fields.So whether you’re looking for an authentic Cambodian experience or just a relaxing stay in the area that feels like a home away from home in Cambodia, Phum Baitang by Zannier Hotels might give you a mix of a little bit of both. And you might just bump into Angelina Jolie too…Looking for hotel properties? Check out commercial property for sale and rent across Cambodia.Click here to download your free copy!

Manny Pacquiao has not only worn gloves and thrown punches. He has also put on several more masks, outside of being a boxer. We’ve also seen him as a father, as a husband, as a son, and as a senator of the Republic of the Philippines. But even with a bunch of titles attached to his name, the boxer still has plenty more facets about him that not a lot of people know about. Above all of these things, he is also a generous philanthropist recently building new homes for the poor.Growing up as Emmanual:Before he got his big break in boxing, Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao was a pretty normal kid. In high school, he had to stop going to school because of poverty. By age 15, Pacquiao moved away from his family. It didn’t come easy. He had to brave the dangerous streets of Manila and scavenge for shelter and food. Eventually, he discovered a passion for boxing and slowly worked his way from being an amateur boxer to being a legend. Ever since he went under the spotlight, his life was never the same. He has gone on to fight in the big arena where he faced boxing giants like Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley, and Floyd Mayweather.A Thousand Reasons to Thank Manny Pacquiao:Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao – as he is now more popularly known as – has identified with the poverty Sarangani is facing. This area is considered to be among the ten poorest provinces in the Philippines. This prompted Pacquiao to donate 1,000 new homes for his constituents in the province after his match with Mayweather.  Pacquiao says on his Facebook Page, “I'm so happy giving these new homes free to my constituents in Sarangani Province from my own pocket more than thousand families are the beneficiaries. and i'm still building more because I always believe what the bible says; 1 Peter 4:8-10 NIV.”Many have been less forgiving of “The People’s Champ” and said that his acts of kindness and generosity are merely political moves to gain the trust of people. Nevertheless, 1,000 families will benefit and will be given homes to live on because of this new homes development.Close Fists and an Open Wallet:This isn’t the first time that Pacquiao donated something off of his earnings. In 2015, a Philstar article reports that the boxing star signs over 50 checks a day for hospital bills for his foundation. The article also mentions that he regularly sponsors scholarship programs, medical missions, and that his house was always open for people seeking help and financial assistance.Manny Pacquiao holds a record of 58 wins, 6 losses, and 2 draws. He’s the only boxer in the world to hold 8 division titles. He has served both as a congressman and as a senator for the Philippines. But even with all these accomplishments, everyone is still excited to see what the boxing legend has in store.Learn about affordable housing initiatives in CambodiaClick here to download your free copy!

Kampong Cham is known for different things. It has the Ko Paen Bamboo Bridge, the Wat Nokor, the Koh Paen Island, Wat Hanchey, the Phnom Srey and Phnom Pros, the French Tower, and the Wat Maha Leap. But the province is slowly drawing in more than just tourists lately. Developers have also become fascinated with it and the opportunity to build Kampong Cham Borey developments.The Breakdown:Kampong Cham is a Cambodian province located near the Mekong River. It’s situated in between the provinces of Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Kratié, Tbong Khmum, Prey Veng, and Kandal.Kampong Cham continued eastward towards the Vietnam international border. It was also known as the 11th biggest province in Cambodia. It became the second most populated Cambodian province. Kampong Cham was then separated into two individual provinces on December 31, 2013 through the fifth mandate. The portion located on the left of the Mekong River remained to be Kampong Cham and the eastern portion became the Tbong Khmum province.The Possibilities:Kampong Cham thrived even after its division in 2013 and is now seeing great interest from developers as a potential economic province.  According to a Phnom Penh Post report, Kuy Vat, CEO of Century 21 Cambodia, says that “Kampong Cham is an unpolished town. It’s a good province to build a special economic zone because it is only one hour away from Phnom Penh.”Hong Piv, Director of Borey New World, also saw this potential and decided to build a Kampong Cham Borey. Doing the development in this area has given the developer newer possibilities, according to Seav Sophal – the exclusive sales agent of the property.He explains that “in Phnom Penh, we receive deposits, but in Kampong Cham town, we sell them as we build them.” He continues, “Such commercial residential houses are sold in phases. They are being sold as they are being built because the residential trade here isn’t the same as in Phnom Penh.”However, the CEO and President of Khmer Foundation Appraisal, Noun Rithy, warns the developers of the Kampong Cham Borey Project to plan well. He says that Borey New World should consider limiting their development to a medium-sized Borey.He states, “It is possible to have a medium-sized Borey development in Kampong Cham, but it should not be as big as those in Phnom Penh, because Phnom Penh is a multi-economic zone with a huge population.” He explains, “In terms of Borey location, Kampong Cham town is a good location. There isn’t any risk, but they should be thinking about whether or not there will be renters after they buy it, or if they’re buying it to live or do their own business.”The Project:The Borey New World development will be located at Village 7. It will have a total area size of 3.5 hectares and will comprise of 270 commercial houses.  Around 20 percent of the project has already been completed. Prices will start from $68,000 and can go all the way up to $180,000. Properties in the area will be a mix of traditional and modern designs, according to the Phnom Penh Post.The Kampong Cham Borey development by New World is near the Me Sar Chrey pagoda, Me Sar Chrey Market, ACLEDA Bank, Me Sar Chrey Primary School, Natural Fruit Shop, Restaurant along Provincial Road 222.The newfound interest in Kampong Cham has also brought about a newfound confidence in what it can become. And as more and more developers take a leap into investing here, it’s only a matter of time before we see bigger changes built upon this big potential.FIND THE BEST BOREY HOMES ACROSS CAMBODIA RIGHT NOW!

This article was provided by Desmond Yap, General Manager of Yong Yap Properties. It seems like the directive of H.E. Kong Vibol, Director General of GDT,  presented in Cambodia’s first Tax Forum in September  is swiftly moving into action, with officers checking rental contracts of commercial locations for VAT and now what appears to be the introduction of a soft titled property transaction tax.We will unofficially call this a “stamp duty” tax for now.At the start of the week, Sreyleak EnChan, Yong Yap’s star consultant, was processing a new sale transfer at the sangkat office (local authority) when surprisingly, a new procedure was in place to transfer, with the need for the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) and the General Department of Tax (GDT) to be involved.Yong Yap Properties have met and discussed with the four main sangkats of khan Daun Penh in which they specialize in, along with verifying as much as possible with the khan and other related sources, the procedure now appears to be the following:Register to transfer property at your local sangkat office as per usualThe local MLMUPC office will be informed and an appointment arranged to inspect and measure the propertyA stamp duty tax invoice will be issued for the vendorOnce the sangkat has confirmed payment from GDT, the title process can continue as per normal to the khan.The additional costs appear to be $50 for MLMUPC to measure and issue invoice.  Stamp duty tax appears to be $6-8/m2 for the internal size of the property.  For the standard one bedroom flat, you would be expected to pay an additional $400-$700.  Transfer time is now expected to take 4 – 6 weeks, previously 3 – 10 days.This has come as no surprise as there has been rumors of imposing stamp duty tax on soft title properties since the start of the year.The surprise (or lack of in Cambodia) is that in typical Cambodian style, this law was enforced overnight without information passed onto the public or even the local authorities handling the situation, causing much frustration in the industry.Looking forward, if all our findings are correct, we hope this will bring more transparency and confidence in the security of soft titled properties to the market.  ACLEDA is the first major bank to provide loans for soft titled properties, with this additional tax registration, it should lead the way for other major banks to follow suit.See original story here.Find out more about land title in Cambodia on Realestate.com.khClick here to download your free copy!

The General Department of Taxation (GDT) has extended the deadline for owners to settle their immovable property tax.  The usual deadline is September 30 every year. This year’s deadline has been extended to October 31, 2016, a month longer than the usual date. “Property” is referred to lands, houses, buildings and other constructions that are built on the land.The GDT has already issued two official notifications, numbers 12723 and 13466, reminding all owners of immoveable property to submit their Property Tax Application and pay their tax.Notification No. 13466 ordered owners of registered immovable property to pay their 2016 tax at any tax office or branch of Canadia or Acleda Bank, using the receipt for their 2015 property tax payment if the size of their property had not changed size, been separated, demolished, or changed hands. If any such changes have taken place then owners must inform the GDT so the department can update its records for any potential additional tax payments.Note that the failure to register immovable property and pay tax may result in penalties in accordance with tax regulations.The purpose of the law is to rationalize the use of land and to benefit the sub-national administrative budget. The property tax is to be imposed in all municipalities and provinces of the Kingdom and applies to immovable properties valued in excess of one-hundred-million Riel (25,000 USD).Property Tax baseThe tax is to be collected annually at a rate of 0.1% of the value of the property. The value of the properties will determined on market prices as evaluated by the Property Evaluation Committee established by the Prakas of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.Property Tax Calculation: an example from Cam Accounting & Tax Limited is a leading audit firm (Chartered Accountants) in Cambodia which offers Tax, Accounting and Audit Services.Mr. Heng owns one three-level building (E0, E1, and E2) of 4m x 16m with a total land area of 10m x 40m. The market prices per square metre would be evaluated by the Property Evaluation Committee as follows:Land price: $400/m2 Ground floor (E0): $120/m2 First floor (E1): $80/m2 Second floor (E2): $65/m2 Land price: $400 x $400 = $160,000 Ground floor (E0): $64 x $120 = $7,680 First floor (E1): $64 x $80 = $5,120 Second floor (E2): $64 x $65 = $4,160 Total price of property: $176,960 Property Tax = (80%* of Price of property – $25,000) x 0.1% = ($ 141,568 – $25,000) x 0.1% = $ 116.5 The information in this article was provided by Mr. Keat Heng (ACCA, CPA), Managing Director of Cam Accounting & Tax Limited.Contact Cam Accounting & Tax Limited for further assistance. The company will assist you with your immovable property and any payments you are required to make, calculating the amount of tax due by calculating the amount of property tax payable and submitting the correct payment to GDT.For further information or assistance, contact: Cam Accounting & Tax Limited Head Office:Head Office: Room 508, 5 Floor, Bayon Market, No. 33‐34, George Dimitrov (St. 114), Sangkat Monorom, Khan 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Phone:(855) 97 5555 298 E‐mail: partner@cam‐at.comLearn more about Cambodia property tax by watching this video on property tax on Realestate.com.khClick here to download your free copy!

It is extremely easy to create a new listing on Realestate.com.kh, whether you are a private seller, landlord or real estate agent.However, there are some simple ways you can improve your listing quality and make sure every property you list on Realestate.com.kh gets the views and sales leads it deserves.The better your listing looks and the more information it contains, the more views your listing will receive from prospective buyers – and the faster you will sell or rent that property.And to ensure property seekers on Realestate.com.kh are presented with the highest listing quality possible, we automatically display listings with 0-1 images at the bottom of the list. Quality listings will always be preferred by our website, and sit higher in the list of search results.Tips to improve listing quality:1) Upload more than 3 Quality Photos:Some buyers who are accessing the site from outside Phnom Penh, or internationals who are searching for property from overseas on Realestate.com.kh, can’t view the property in person, or may have trouble navigating new cities in Cambodia. Hence, they rely on the photos more than most property seekers. Therefore, it is wise to make sure you (or your agent) take high quality photos – and lots of them. Furthermore, in most cases, the user on Realestate.com.kh only wants a physical property inspection if they really like the look of the property in the photos. There are so many properties to choose from on Realestate.com.kh, that home seekers will not waste their time looking at properties with poor quality photos; or photos of a messy house.The more photos – the better: After all, a picture speaks 1000 words. Realestate.com.kh’s internal data shows that your chances of selling a property can increase by 85% if you upload more than three images.Real Photos: It is very important that the photos you upload are of the actual property you are selling, as this will show potential buyers exactly how the property looks – and prove it is a genuine property for sale.Quality Photos: Always use a camera, not your phone!Clean the House: Clean the house thoroughly and remove clutter to make the space look as big as possible.Remove personal items and fixtures: People want to imagine their things in the house, not your things!Use the Light: Take photos in the daytime when the sun is out! Make the property look as light and lively as possible.Variety of Photos: Take a photo of every room in the house, and try to include any eye-catching and unique features that will draw users to your listing.Consider Functionality: Take photos that demonstrate the functional aspects of the house also. For example, include pictures of the connecting hallways, the security features, the laundry and the size of the car parking spaces. These may not be the most exciting images, but the to potential buyer or renter they hold a big value.Upload landscaped images: If the image you upload is portrait it appears cropped on the listing on Realestate.com.kh until the image is fully opened. If the image uploaded is landscaped, it looks good even when embedded inside the listing. So always flip the photo file before you upload it.2)Take time writing a Quality Listing Description:Offer as much detail as possible when you are writing your listing description. And most-importantly, put yourself in the property buyer’s shoes! What features will they find most attractive in your property? REMEMBER, do not rewrite the price, size of the property, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, your email address or phone number etc. in the description section, as this confuses the user. Instead, use the dedicated sections where you can tick the features of your house, and add price etc.English AND Khmer: Write an English AND Khmer listing headline and description in the designated section. Don’t kill half your audience by ignoring one language.Tell us the Title: What title do you have for that property – soft title, hard title, strata title etc.? Tell the buyer in the listing description.Special Features: What special features does the property have? If there is something special about the property, tell everybody!Property Uses: What is the property's current use? What are the property’s potential uses? Are there any restrictions on its future use?Nearby Amenities: What are the amenities and attractive places that are close by to your property – schools, hospitals, shopping centers, government institutions, transport etc.?Construction: Is the property’s location free from ongoing construction? As major cities in Cambodia see construction booms, a property free from the noise and distractions of ongoing construction is an attractive feature.Access Roads: How about the road quality and quality of infrastructure near the property?Renovations: Has there been any recent renovations to the property?Extra Notes: Is the price negotiable? Are contractual terms flexible? Are their benefits to long term rental agreements (if a rental)? Do any services come free/inclusive with the property?  References: If you have any online references from previous clients who recommend your services, or ex-tenants who have positive reviews about the property, or a personal LinkedIn profile, include these all in the listing description – and inside your seller profile on Realestate.com.kh. All these things will build trust between you and the potential buyer/renter.3) Get your Contact Details Perfect:Your listing is a waste of time if people can’t get hold of you! So make sure your contact details are perfect.Add two phone numbers and two email addresses if you know that sometimes you will be too busy to take the calls.Take time to improve your “Personal Profile” or “Agent Profile” on realestate.com.kh. This profile allows you to give some extra information about yourself and/or your real estate agency. Completing this profile before you list is the perfect way to create a sense of trust and familiarity between yourself and potential buyers and renters. The more people know about you, the more people will see you as a legitimate seller/renter.If you are an agent, you should also include your agency’s name and upload your business’ logo to your profile. Whenever your logo is spotted on a listing, buyers will immediately know who you are, and your agency’s reputation. This recognition will ensure you benefit from the reputation of your agency’s brand, your previous transactions and build long lasting and profitable relationships.Also, if you are an agent, add a professional photo of yourself. A professional picture adds more credibility to your listing.Make sure you are registered on realestate.com.kh’s “Find an Agent” page too – and complete the profile. This is where our users come to find an agent, so make sure you are on the list! 4) Make your Property Listing Headline Count!Add a “Property Headline” in both English and Khmer – and make it count. If it is simple and clear, people will find your items before they find another. Realestate.com.kh has thousands of listings, so you need to make sure your title quickly summarizes what you have to offer!SEO Optimize it: Think about what people normally search for on google or on realestate.com.kh, and make a title for your listing that includes key search terms.Give a short, simple and relevant name to your listing. For example, “Big Villa for Sale in Toul Kork” or “10th Floor Condo Unit On Street 51” are ideal name choices.It is just a title! Save any description for the dedicated description section.5) List a price – Don’t list Price On Application (POA):At realestate.com.kh, we have found that potential buyers generally read the home’s description and expect to see an exact listed price. As such, we strongly recommend that you include a price on any listing if you want to maximise your inquires.Don’t scare potential buyers: If a home features a long list of unique details but lacks a sales price, buyers tend to think the home is likely overpriced. Make it easy for someone to investigate your home further by providing as many details as possible: including a list price.If the price is negotiable: also let the user know in the listing description.If the terms of sale/rent are negotiable: let the buyer know in the listing description. 6) Follow up your sales inquires QUICKLY and PROFESSIONALLY:When you receive phone and email inquiries for your property on realestate.com.kh, it is extremely important that you follow up with the potential buyer and renter as fast as possible. If you don’t get in touch quickly, your potential buyer or renter will soon find another offer, and another seller who is more interested in them. Following up inquiries slowly immediate makes you seem unprofessional and unorganized!International leads process: For international inquiries it is best practice to first contact via email with clear information, and then follow up with a call in English language, or whatever is the preferred language of the international buyer.Know the language: If you don’t speak English, or whatever the buyer's preferred language is (albeit French, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, German etc.), find a friend who does speak this language fluently to follow up the lead for you.Remember, an international user who inquires through a property portal is a SERIOUS LEAD and should not be wasted. Internationals totally understand the real estate portal system, and will only inquire to you if they genuinely intended to!Local Buyers: For local inquiries from inside Cambodia, it is best to call directly, as soon as possible.Know your product! Always be professional and understand your property information perfectly before calling. If you seem confused about the details when you contact the potential buyer or renter, they will lose trust in you and your property.For agents listing old properties: if the potential buyer or renter has inquired for a property that you know is already sold or rented, please be honest about this when you contact them about their inquiry. If you are honest about this, you can then establish enough trust with the prospective customer for them to allow you to show them similar properties that you are listing. 7) Upgrade Listings:You can now upgrade your property listings for sale or rent to “featured” on Realestate.com.kh for only about $1 per day! This means your property will be on the top of the list, and get more exposure and more inquiries. Just click “Upgrade” on the property that you want to upgrade inside your seller’s office and we will do the rest!8) Refresh Listings:If your property is still for rent or sale, you can now refresh your listing once every 7 days and bring it back up to the top of the list! When you click “REFRESH”, the property will be moved back up to the top of the list where potential customers will see it!Harness the online revolution that is spreading across Cambodia – and get your listings sold on Realestate.com.kh today, Cambodia’s home of real estate.Make a listing now! It’s fast, easy and free, with no commission on sale!

On the 20th of September, 2016, Century21 Cambodia officially signed an MOU with the Country Garden Group: a Forbes’ Fortune 500 Company, incorporated in 1992 and headquartered in Guangdong, China. Country Garden was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in April 2007, and currently employs 70,000 employees through 238 subsidiaries.The MOU offers Century21 Cambodia and all national franchises rights to market and sell the Forest City project. The MOU will also give Century21 Cambodia the exclusive rights to handle all sales inquiries for the Forest City project that are generated by the entire Century21 International Families network. Finally, the MOU allows Century21 Cambodia to introduce the Country Garden Group to opportunities within the Cambodian market. The Forest City project is a joint venture between Country Garden Group and a company controlled by the Johor Government, Malaysia. In total, the Malaysian-based project has around 5,000 acres of land, which makes it roughly two thirds the size of Macau. Valued at $100 Billion, Forest City’s ongoing development will last 30 years, creating 220,000 jobs opportunities for Malaysians. While an ongoing development, some phases are already available for occupancy.China and Singapore are the main foreign investors of Iskandar Malaysia thus far due to its convenient access to Singapore. Forest City is located just two kilometers from the border, with new entry points by land and by sea enabling a seamless connection. In fact, residents can enjoy 24 hours shuttle bus services to and from Singapore. A self-constructed highway also provides quick access to Kuala Lumpur and the Johor Bahru CBD.Mr. Kuy Vat, Chairman and CEO of Century21 Cambodia, stated that Century21 Cambodia has great faith in the Forest City project given that Country Garden is one of China’s largest development companies, and listed by Forbes as a fortune 500 company in 2007. Country Garden has over 500 projects around the globe and collects annual sales revenue of over $20 billion.“The reputation of this company and this project made it easy for Century21 Cambodia to agree on the partnership,” says Kuy Vat. investors overseas.”Mr. Seraj Sutton, Managing Director of Global Strategic Business Development (GSBD) at Century21 Cambodia, said “Our main focus is strategically thinking globally. This means proactively promoting Cambodia investment opportunities to the global market, but also promoting the global real estate investment opportunities in Cambodia for local investors. Furthermore, also promoting overseas real estate investment opportunities to the international Mr. Caleb Loh, Business Development Director of Country Garden Pacificview SDN BHD stated that, “the secret to our company's huge success around the world has always been in the quality of our partners. Hence. Century21 Cambodia are an ideal company for us to work with on this project.”Forest City has been announced as a duty free zone by the Malaysian government, with areas that enjoy import duty and goods and service tax exemption. Tourism and MICE, education and healthcare are also qualified for corporate tax exemption for the first 5 years.Iskandar Malaysia, the location of Forest City, is the most successful out of the five economic corridors in Malaysia. In 2014, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that “the economic zone in Johor has secured $47 billion investment, of which 51% or $23.8 billion has been realized.”For residential buyers, the project offers a seafront living paradise, with 100% freehold landed and high-rise apartments - at a quarter of Singapore’s prices. Forest City is surrounded by the world’s second largest mangrove reserve, ecological wetlands and other natural resources; together with 10 kilometers of lush coastline. Ranging from 2 to 4 seaview bedroomed apartments and landed properties, Forest City has already generated more than $1.5 billion in sales within just 6 months.Forest City will be the first city of its kind worldwide, where horticulture covers the facades of the buildings, creating a natural eco-barrier which conserves energy, purifies the air and reduces noise pollution. It also utilizes an advanced multi-layered urban planning concept in which parks and recreational spaces spread around the city cover over 20 kilometers squared. There is no vehicle traversing the city surface, instead railways connect the whole city and roads, flyovers and parking space are docked underground, meaning total separation of pedestrians from vehicles.Seraj Sutton notes that a lot of the populations of investors around the world, including Cambodia, are looking to diversify their portfolio. That is why Century21 Cambodia are creating opportunities for Cambodian property investors to invest in world-class overseas projects: Seraj Sutton stated, “Forest City fits perfectly in our "Complete Global Vision and Strategy.”When finding investors for Forest City, Century21 Cambodia is aiming to leverage partnerships in countries like Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Thailand, France, India, Australia, Canada, and USA.Find out more about this exciting investment opportunity today with Century21 Cambodia.Click here to download your free copy!

The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) is an overseas economic and trade cooperation zone made possible through the partnership of the Jiangsu Taihu Cambodia International Economic Cooperation Investment Co., Ltd and the Cambodia International Investment Development Group Co., Ltd.The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone is located 3 kilometers from the Sihanoukville airport and 12 kilometers from the Sihanoukville international deepwater port. It’s also close to National Highway No. 4 and 210 kilometers away from capital city of Phnom Penh. Sihanoukville is the only international port city in Cambodia.In an article by Koh Santepheap Daily released on October 24, 2016, Mr. Jack Chen – CEO of the Special Economic Zone of Sihanoukville – explained that the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone is turning into a counterpart of China’s Shenzhen City. It offers great potential for the development of the economy and the industry sector. The SSEZ has a total area of 11.13 square kilometers. 5.28 square kilometers of this will be dedicated towards the leading industries in the SEZ such as textile and clothing, machinery and electronics, and light industry products.Jack Chen continued to say that across eight years of development, the SSEZ had created an international industrial park that had absorbed investments from China, Japan, France, South Korea, and the European Union. Currently, the special economic zone holds 103 enterprises with 88 operating and employing over 16,000 thousand people.Chen also said that “moving forward, the SSEZ will have a total of around 300 industries coming into the area and will have the manpower of about 200,000 employees. Other than employment opportunities for residents of special economic zones, workers and students will also be trained to use the Chinese language for workers and students. There will be a school building fund for the Bet Trang commune. The special economic zone will also build a vocational training center to teach people in order to obtain greater integration to compete in the ASEAN platform. Moreover, the special economic zone will see the construction of a standard hospital  to provide health services for citizens and workers.  President Xi Jinping of China during a recent state visit to Cambodia acknowledged the progress of the special economic zone in the Sihanoukville province. He also pointed out that the economic zone’s model of cooperation between China and Cambodia started with the vision of infrastructure connection and cooperation within the strategic framework of “one belt, one road”.  The SSEZ will provide better opportunities and livelihood for locals. This project will significantly  benefit the whole country, Jack Chen said.Read more about development in Sihanoukville province on Realestate.com.khClick here to download your free copy!

North Park Condominium perfectly blends contemporary design with modern lifestyle amenities, in a lush, natural environment, featuring lavish-style grounds and facilities. The first thing you will notice on arriving at North Park is the sense of space. The same is true when entering the apartments themselves.With 1.2 hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens, North Park’s intention is to blend between interior space and its luscious open space surroundings. Designed to create a world class lifestyle unlike any other, North Park boasts stunning interior and exterior features with 5 star resort amenities.With a beautiful lagoon swimming pool, restaurants, gym, playground & 24 hours security, your daily life will be enhanced by the feeling of relaxation and exclusivity.Financial:35 percent of the 55 units in the Sapphire tower have already been sold before its official handover date on March of 2018. Currently there is a special promotion called North Park Guarantee (NPG) which enables serious buyers’ huge savings. For a limited time only the current promotion is open to 7 units which comprises of a discount, a 7% rental guarantee annually for 2 years and free property transfer.The Royal Group:The North Park Condominium is a project by the Royal Group of Cambodia. They are recognized as the country’s “most dynamic and diverse business conglomerate”. They are involved in telecommunications, financial services, media and entertainment, hospitality, property and transportation. They’ve also been part of large-scale development projects in other sectors such as the recent Royal Railways project.North Park Luxury:The North Park Condominium is a very low-density development that is family-centered. It was designed by international architects who followed international standards during the planning and execution of the project. Condo units range from one-bedroom to three-bedrooms that start anywhere from 55 square meters to 245 square meters. These all come standard with a large balcony looking over manicured landscaped gardens or a Laguna pool.They include amenities like the resort-sized pool, modern gym, children’s pool, lagoon, playground, restaurant, and BBQ area cater to different family members. The condominium also offers 24-hour security facilities and CCTV systems.It’s located along Street 2004 at the Northbridge Community in Phnom Penh. Notable landmarks in the location includes the Northbridge International School, CIA FIRST International School, Cambodian Country Club and Ratana Plaza Shopping Center.For a lavish and luxurious resort-like home for you and your family, the North Park Condominiums project is a perfect choice.Learn more about North Park Condominium today!Click here to download your free copy!

As the Phnom Penh Urban Area Expands Rapidly, Chaom Chau, Kakab is seeing huge Residential & Industrial GrowthIntroduction:Covering the majority of the western part of the capital, Pou Senchey district (locally called ‘khan Pou Senchey’ or Khmer: ខណ្ឌ ពោសែនជ័យ) is currently the largest of all 12 districts of  Phnom Penh and home to about 184,000 residents. As of today, Pou Senchey is administratively subdivided into 10 communes (locally called ‘sangkat’ or Khmer: សង្កាត់), namely Boeng Thum, Chaom Chau, Kakab, Kamboul, Kantaok, Ovlaok, Phleung Chheh Roteh, Samraong Kraom, Snao, and Trapeang Krasang.It shares borders with four other districts, namely Preaek Phnov district to the north, Sen Sok and Meanchey to the east, and Dangkao to the south.Market Summary:Pou Senchey, since the last decade, has seen a rapid pace of development, especially in the realm of residential, commercial, and industrial sub-sectors, leading to a considerable land price surge across the district. Observed within the period of the past three years, the district experienced an average annual growth of 31 percent in land prices, from US$110 p.sqm. in 2013, when averaged across the whole district, to US$170 p.sqm. in Q3 2016. Within those three years, 2014 and 2015 marked the strongest growth for land prices, yet during the course of three quarters of 2016 the prices were sluggish to move upward due to the situation that overall real estate market has cooled down steadily since late 2015.Fortunately, recent housing and plot land subdivision market stimuli practiced by many of developers have been seen to bolster the market growth again, albeit slowly, and this trend will continue helping boost market demand and thus keep real estate prices from going down negatively.Land Market and Pricing:In general, market prices for land across Pou Senchey district grew 31 percent y-o-y since 2013 until 2015, while the two bustling communes of Chaom Chau and Kakab grew about or less than 10 percent y-o-y because prices in the two communes were already high compared to the rest of Pou Senchey’s other communes.In term of land values and major business hubs, however, Kakab and Chaom Chau stand out from the rest thanks to their strategic locations as well as coverage of prime streets ideal for business positions. Kakab commune is immediately adjacent to Tuek Thla of Sen Sok district, while Chaom Chau commune is westwards next to Kakab.In Chaom Chau, land prices across the whole commune ranged from US$35 p.sqm. in undeveloped zones to a peak of US$1,800 p.sqm. along prime streets (e.g. Confederation de la Russie) and bustling commercial hubs. The average market price in Chaom Chau was US$400 p.sqm in Q3 2016, growing from US$320 p.sqm. in 2013. The average growth for land market prices was eight percent y-o-y.Immediately adjacent to Phnom Penh International Airport, Chaom Chau covers some part of the capital’s arterial street, namely Confederation de la Russie (Russian Boulevard in English), National Highway 3, and National Highway 4. Further, it shares a long distance of Veng Sreng Blvd.With similar geographic positioning, Kakab shares a similar market value as does Chaom Chau, but being closer to the central business hubs of the capital makes Kakab stand out in term of land prices and commercial demand. Land prices in Kakab commune grew 10 percent annually, from an average of US$380 p.sqm. in 2013 to US$490 p.sqm in Q3 2016. Kakab’s land market prices could range from a small base of US$70 p.sqm. in the undeveloped areas to a peak of US$2,080 p.sqm. along prime streets and in the most bustling commercial hubs.Nevertheless, a notable land price growth was mostly witnessed in less developed communes, as speculation seemed to be challenged by high prices in prime hubs and along major streets, but this speculative vision rather spilt over across the underdeveloped suburbs of Pou Senchey. For example, less developed communes such as Samraong Kraom, Kaboul, Snao, and Trapeang Krasang experienced a land price surge of about and more than 40 percent y-o-y, mainly due to their small price base and high price jump, as driven by the trendy development of plot land subdivisions.Samroang Kraom, which shares a long distance of Tomub Kop Srov Road, was seen with a remarkable growth in land prices following the road development that is currently almost complete. In 2013, the average market price of land in this commune was about US$45 p.sqm., and in Q3 2016 the average price reached US$150 p.sqm.. The average annual growth in the Samroang Kraom was almost 80 percent within the period of those three years.Similarly, Kamboul, Snao, and Trapeang Krasang experienced a big jump in land price growth, mainly driven by (1) increasing plot land subdivision development, (2) increasing demand for low-price land parcels and housing in the peripheral suburbs of the capital, and (3) the rapid pace of urban expansion especially since early this decade.Prime Street and Pricing:Chaom ChauChaom Chau is located west and south of Phnom Penh International Airport, being home to a large number of business hubs and residential zones, relatively similar to its neighbor Kakab. Residential towns and commercial activities concentrate only along the commune’s prime streets, thus making property prices along the streets higher than its less developed or undeveloped outskirts.In the third quarter of 2016, average land price along Confederation de la Russie (Russian Boulevard in English) in Chaom Chau commune was US$1,520 p.sqm., with a price range from US$1,400 p.sqm. to US$1,800 p.sqm.National Highway 4, the Kingdom’s arterial road interlinked with the capital’s main boulevard Confederation de la Russia, could be offered on the market at US$430 p.sqm on average. The base price started from US$140 p.sqm in the farther west parts of the commune and a peak of US$1,300 p.sqm. in the areas close to Chaom Chau Circle.On Veng Sreng Boulevard, land market prices could range from US$600 p.sqm in a less developed zone to US$1,550 p.sqm. in a more commercial zone, with the average market price at US$850 p.sqm.KakabKakab is closer to the city center, being home to Phnom Penh International Airport. The commune shares four of the capital’s main streets along which a large number of businesses are based, thus creating high values for land prices there.One of the high value, prime streets in Kakab is Confederation de la Russie (Russian Boulevard in English), along which land price could be about US$1,650 p.sqm. in Q3 2016, ranging from US$850 p.sqm. often for a large portion of vacant land, to US$2,080 p.sqm. for a prime commercial location.Another high value, prime street of Kakab is Street 2004, running off Confederation de la Russie through to Wat Ang Taminh Street. Along Street 2004, the average market price for land was US$1,300 p.sqm., with a range from US$800 to US$1,850 p.sqm.Next, along Oknha Try Heng (Street 2011), which runs off Confederation de la Russie through to the crossing railroad, average land price was US$780 p.sqm., with a range from US$570 p.sqm. to US$1,200 p.sqm. On the other hand, Street 105K is less competitive in land prices. By the third quarter of 2016 the average market price along this street was US$300 p.sqm., even if in the sought-after locations the prices could jump to US$750 p.sqm.Trend & Outlook:Market & Pricing TrendLand price growth across Pou Senchey district seemed stable since early last year, and it is predicted to see a slight increase over the course of the next two years by going through to 2018. In general, Pou Senchey’s pricing growth dropped negatively to 0.2 percent over the course of the first three quarters of 2016, though this has almost no impact on general price growth within the whole district.However, land prices as well as other properties in the form of land in Phnom Penh will start to pick up markly again by 2019.Urban ExpansionThanks to its many available large portions of land for new developments and  land properties with comparatively low prices, Pou Senchey has been seen with tremendous opportunities for urban expansion and relocation or new positioning of complementary services and amenities.Residential towns, several other types of cluster housing, and commercial establishments have been positioned in many different parts of the district, especially the district’s outstanding communes of Kakab and Chaom Chau, resulting in an increase of population there and leading to increasing demand for new housing units and related infrastructure improvements.Opportunities have been there since many years ago for Pou Senchey mainly thanks to its strategic locations, coverage of capital’s arterial roads and main streets, and large space available for urban expansion to host the increasing number of population as well as industrial and commercial positioning. Further, the increasing demand for development parcels with comparatively low prices also offer the district lots of opportunities for growth.Since recent years, it is notable that a number of developments have concentrated in the commune of Kakab and Chaom Chau, both of which shares arterial roads and main streets, along which commercial activities exist to complement the increasing number of residential communities nearby the areas.Tomnub Kop Srov Road, one of the capital’s ring roads, will be soon complete, while Veng Sreng Boulevard was rehabilitated by being expanded 22 meters wide and paved with concrete. Both of the roads run through parts of Chaom Chau and other parts of Phnom Penh. These establishments have created numerous opportunities, added further property values, and drawn new development potentials to the areas, especially along those streets.In Kakab, recent developments are in the realm of residential and commercial subsector. Notable developments under construction are Budaiju Residence (condominium project) and Lion Mall (commercial and shopping complex) along Confederation de la Russie, as well as many other cluster housing projects, both complete and under construction. Up to date, in Kakab commune alone, about 2,700 new cluster housing units have been complete, and 950 are under construction. Nevertheless, 3,300 units of the planned housing projects have been halted construction so far due to unsatisfactory pre-sale results.Industrial Trend:Increasing land prices and rental costs in the zones nearby inner city center will force existing factories that rely on rents to consider relocating to the suburbs such as western parts of Pou Senchey where rental costs and cost of living of workers are much lower. Easy access to National Highway 4, which directs to the Kingdom’s most important seaport, might also weigh the consideration for new factory and other industrial park positioning.As of today, Pou Senchey is already home to 40 percent of the total factories in Phnom Penh, ahead of Dangkao (22 percent) and Meanchey (15 percent).Learn more about Cambodia today in our detailed location profile!Click here to download your free copy!

Key Trends:7.0% GDP for 2016; Predicted 7.1% for 2017.GDP rate higher than South East Asia average GDP by 2.5%.Primary sources of GDP growth includes Agriculture, Garments & Footwear, Construction and Tourism.Construction most dynamic engine of GDP growth for 2016.First 8 months of 2016 FDI in real estate increased over 700% since 2015, totalling $7.2B.Inflation levels moderate.GDP per capita rose almost $100 to $1,216 in 2015, and forecasted at $1,325 for 2016.Cambodia raised to “lower-middle income” bracket as of July 1 2016.US$ appreciation, and a slowing China and EU having some downsides on Cambodian market.   GDP Trends:Rami Sharaf, Member of International Advisory Council, APCO Worldwide, said in an interview with Realestate.com.kh in late 2015 that, “the major attraction for foreign investors considering whether they should invest in Cambodia is the ASEAN-member nation’s steady economic growth: 7.5% average for the last 5 years, year on year. This places Cambodia as the 21st fastest growing country globally.”While this GDP rate has slowed somewhat in 2016, it still sits at a level of growth that is outperforming Southeast Asia’s aggregated GDP by approximately 2.5%, according to the recent Cambodia Real Estate Highlights 1st Half 2016 report from Knight Frank Cambodia.In 2015, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had forecasted GDP growth for Cambodia at 7.2% for 2016. However, this growth rate was retracted slightly by the ADB this year to 7.0% for 2016, and forecasted for 7.1% in 2017.The Word Bank agrees with ADB’s index prediction for 2016. The Bank cites that “the garment sector, together with construction and services, are the main drivers of the economy. Growth is expected to remain strong in 2016, as recovering internal demand and dynamic garment exports offset stagnation in agriculture and softer growth in tourism.”Downside risks cited by the World Bank also include “potential renewed labor issues, continued appreciation of the US dollar, slower economic recovery in Europe, and spillovers from a slowdown in the Chinese economy.”Given the comparatively high reliance of the economy on the garment and footwear industries, Knight Frank Cambodia mentions that, “there is a growing need to improve the quality and productivity of the labour force for Cambodia to sustain GDP growth at current levels.”If Cambodia cannot continue to support the quality, price and productivity efficiencies of the garment and footwear industry, key market investor groups may look to shift their manufacturing operations to other destinations that can produce more-competitively than Cambodia. If this occurs, Cambodia’s GDP will take a sharp decline.Diversification of industry is another mechanism that Cambodia can use to combat potential risks of a decreasing garment and footwear market share, and this is something being actively promoted within the Council for the Development of Cambodia’s (CDC) Cambodia Industrial Development Policy 2015 – 2025.The need for the Cambodian Government to take an increasingly proactive approach to long term economic policy was also mentioned by the World Bank, suggesting the benefits of the ASEAN alliance may take some time to directly influence GDP levels: “Improving the overall business environment would enhance competitiveness across sectors, underpinning product and market diversification, while also helping firms to be well prepared to take advantage of the single market and production base goal set by the ASEAN Economic Community.”Nevertheless, both the ADB and the World Bank were in agreeance that with the current economic growth trends and the continuance of moderate levels of inflation, disposable incomes for the Cambodian population should continue to increase yearly, supporting domestic consumption growth and improving overall economic stability in the medium-to-long term.The Cambodian Ministry of Economy and Finance cited that GDP per capita was $1,135 as of 2014, rising to $1,216 in 2015, and forecasted at $1,325 for 2016.Meanwhile, as Cambodia was reclassified by the World Bank from “low-income” to “lower-middle income” as of July 1 2016, there is potential for a reduction in aid and development support and a potential decrease in preferable trade duty exemptions.Lower-middle income criteria means there is now a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita falls between $1,026 and $4,035, as compared to less that $1,025 for low income nations.The Bank states that, “improving the public investment management framework to scale up publically financed infrastructure would be advisable in the face of declining donor-financed capital.”Given that this new classification may influence agreed duties and tariffs for trade from Cambodia to certain key markets, this also calls for continued improvement in the skills and efficiencies of the garment and footwear sector (as noted above). Higher barriers for trade will mean that costs of manufacturing will need to decrease in order to maintain the sector’s international competitiveness.While this new classification may mean a lower reliance of foreign aid for Cambodia, an increase in the lower-income bracket seemingly should benefit the retail and retail real estate sector, increasing disposable incomes and fueling consumer expenditure. It should also have positive effects for the domestic residential real estate market moving forward, increasing the number of earners applicable for home financing and higher standards of accommodation purchasing and renting generally.FDI Trends:According to the ASEAN Investment Report 2016, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Southeast Asia's least developed countries grew at the end of last year. According to the report, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam saw a 38% increase, supposedly due to multinational companies entering the markets to stake their claim in the newly formed Asean Economic Community (AEC).However, overall FDI flows to Southeast Asian Nations bloc dropped by 8% in 2015, to $120 billion. EU investment fell 20% to $20 billion; and U.S. capital decreased by 17% to $12.2 billion.Nevertheless, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Cambodian property sector continues to grow rapidly. Total investments in real estate were $7.2 billion between January and August 2016, representing a massive 700%+ increase from the preceding period.  The source of this FDI is various, with a total of 18 countries contributing. Yet the MLMUPC states that China was ranked number one for construction and property FDI, South Korea second, and Japan third.Construction Trends:In a recent construction sector report, the MLMUPC said it had approved 1,753 projects worth $7.2 billion in the first eight months of 2016, compared to 2,305 projects worth $3.3 billion in all of last year, a 400%+ increase.   Since the year 2000 until June 2016, the MLMUPC has been said to have approved approximately 35,206 projects, equal to 85 million square meters countrywide. For this 16 year period, a total $32.3 billion construction investment has been accomplished by the Kingdom.Meanwhile, the MLMUPC has also released information for the first five months of 2016 that confirms 990 new construction projects have been approved since the start of the year, compared to just 2,305 approved projects throughout the the whole of 2015. Local media have speculated that this is in part due to an increase in administrative efficiencies within the Ministry in 2016.The World Bank accounts for this large increase in demand for housing and huge investment in the construction industry as an indicator of the return of political stability in Cambodia and rising incomes amongst the general population.According to Ross Wheble, country manager of Knight Frank, in the Cambodia Real Estate Highlights 1st Half 2016, the outstanding turnout of new construction projects in 2016 so far has ultimately led to a stage of moderation as a means to address the short-term risks in the market. By doing so, Cambodia has the potential to climb the ranks and outperform Southeast Asia through the process of diversification, and “robust growth is expected to continue.”Recent reports state that the Ministry of Economy and Finance estimate construction growth will moderate to 15% in 2016, and 10% by 2020, compared to 19% in 2015. In slight contrast, The Cambodia Infrastructure Report from Business Monitor International suggests that overall construction sector expansion is forecast to grow 9.9% in 2016 and 9.8% in 2017.However, approximately 10-20% of launched projects have halted construction in the first half of 2016, according to various industry sources. Hence, it is unlikely that these halted projects have been accounted for in the reports released to date in 2016.  Learn more about Cambodia today in our detailed investor guides!Click here to download your free copy!

Realestate.com.kh caught up with Mr. Ouk Chandaravuth recently at the B.T.S Condominium showroom at the Russey Keo district to talk about the condominium project in detail.Chandaravuth is the Marketing and Sale Director of the Borey Villa Toul Sangke Group. He discusses the current state of the development and why it’s an attractive choice for both personal and investment purposes.Here’s what he had to say:1. Tell us about the location of Borey Toul Sangke Condominium?The B.T.S Condominium development project has gained popularity, mainly due to the developer’s success in selling its past projects. It is strategically located in the Russey Keo district in Phnom Penh. Residential units such as condominiums are offered in this area.The Borey Villa Toul Sangke project also includes a variety of villas and condominiums that come in different sizes. Each and every home has been designed by construction professionals, with quality and beauty in mind. Attention to detail is also obvious. Some of the villas that are available are the Single Villa, Link House, Twins Villa, and Flat houses. Families will also have the option to choose the City Sangkeo Villa type, as they see fit.2. What types of units are available and at what price ranges in the Borey Toul Sangke Condominium project?174 residential units with a variety of sizes are available. The interiors have been uniquely designed by a team of experts, and finished with high quality construction materials. Units at the B.T.S Condominium development start from $40,000 per unit. All units are packaged as one-bedroom spaces, beginning at 50 square meters up.... (We have different size). It also has a smart design, with fittings that allow a unique, spacious, and modern layout throughout each unit.3. How are the sales to date?Around 3 months after the launch date, about 30 percent of the units had already sold. We have proven to the market that the local project has gained the trust of both international and local buyers.4. What is the parking situation like?The B.T.S condominium provides comfort for every resident. The number of parking spaces add up to about 85 percent of all the units and also have security features in place. This is the highest parking space ratio, compared to other recent high-rise buildings in the area.6. Do you have bank loans available or other payment methods?We don’t have any loan schemes in place with a bank, but we have a special method in place for people interested in the B.T.S condominium. The developer provides the ultimate offer by asking customers to only pay $660 per month, with no interest and no deposit.7. Tell us about the unique features of this project?The B.T.S condominium is on a great location, in Russey Keo. It is situated in the business district and sits close to main roads, government institutions, shopping malls, sports clubs, banks, hospitals, schools, and entertainment facilities. More importantly, it’s also located close to the Toul Sangke Market.It promotes a high standard of living through its fully furnished units – comparable to a 5-star hotel. The B.T.S condominium project also provides a range of amenities such as swimming pools, a sauna, a gym, a small market, and a golfing club. So, families will never run out of things to do in this project.8. Why is the Borey Toul Sangke Condominium project better than the others?When people visited the B.T.S. Condominium showroom, they were surprised to see the quality and the workmanship of the unit. We focused on the quality and the best standards of living for families. This is the 3rd project after two successful ones that the Borey Villa Toul Sangke did. People will find interest in it because it offers better standards.A home is important for everyone. So, if you decide to buy one, it must be done carefully. So, if you’re considering to live in a luxury residence with a high standard of living, surrounded by a secure and peaceful community, take a look at the B.T.S. Condominium project.Check out the full B.T.S. Condominium listing on realestate.com.khClick here to download your free copy!

There is an ongoing discussion about the supply of condominiums in the country, and the same question gets asked over and over again – whether it’s true that the country's condominium supply is more than the demand, and how that will affect the condominium market in the future. Realestate.com.khTV discussed this with Mr. Yin Leangkong – editor in chief of the magazine Property View, and presenter and editor of real estate and economics at BTV.A recent Knight Frank Cambodia report stated that “the condominium sector is forecast to grow by 723.5 per cent” by 2020. And The 2016 Century 21 Condo report estimates that there will be over 37,000 units to be released into the market by 2020. What are your thoughts on this and the current talk of a looming oversupply? Do you agree? And how will this affect the market moving forward? In my opinion, I both agree and disagree. If I talk about the negative side, we can just briefly look at the Cambodian lifestyle. It seems that the residential condominiums are not yet popular in the country. Although some people started buying condos gradually, some of them still worry about safety when living on high-rise buildings. For the moment, we cannot adapt. So, the projected surplus in the condominium market, it’s true.The number of condominiums in the current market hasn’t reached 4,000 units yet. But the number of condos on the market could potentially reach a figure of around 40,000 in 2020. So, I’m optimistic that the people's mindset will change in the next 10 to 20 years before the population growth in the year 2025. People have more difficulties to deal with the traffic growth of our country's.And since the economy is affected by these factors, the value of property is already at $40,000 to $50,000. At this price point, we can buy an old flat (second or third floor). If this is the case, the best option is to just buy a condo unit, a standardized housing that provides features such as safety, modern way of living, and other services. We saw it happen already in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.Are there condos worth $40,000 to $50,000?Condominiums worth $40,000 to $50,000 are available in the market and have a strong potential for purchase among the young and middle-class local citizens. It is a response to market conditions. A number of local buyers who purchase luxury condominiums are foreigners or those who have higher living standards.What is the impact of the condominium surplus for buyers?It doesn’t affect the buyer too much. In fact, investors are the ones that will be affected. When the number of condominiums surplus, that means that there are no buyers. So, investors or condo owners are forced to give a discount.If we talk about the price comparison to neighboring countries, the condominiums in Cambodia are cheaper. But if you talk about value for investment and construction, there’s a huge difference because those investments are much more profitable. So, they can afford to give discounts to people who are in the middle-class range who cannot afford to buy housing – a point that many experts have suggested as well. You can invest for profit, but you should also consider the social aspects. Investors should work with people not only for business profit, but also because of a common interest to help them.Given the current market conditions, should investors invest in Cambodia or not?One of the questions investors ask is if it’s the right time to invest in the country, given its current market conditions. Investors will continue to repeat that question. The current political situation in the country is heating up, and the issue of election season is worrisome for some investors. But other investors think that it’s just the same occurrence in almost every country. So, they don’t worry about anything.In my opinion, should investors wish to make an investment in a community of the country, it should be based on the country's economic situation. Cambodia’s a tiger in Asia because of the country's stable economic growth of about 7 percent over the past five consecutive years. The macro-economic growth of the country has improved as well, according to a press release from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.Read more about: Are Cambodian living tastes changing?Click here to download your free copy!