iProperty.com Introduces Malaysia to the World

Posted on January 20, 2012

A year ago, the team at the Malaysia office sat down and put their heads together on how best to give tribute to the unsung heroes who have through the years been instrumental in shaping the skylines of Malaysia – our developers.

I am also proud to say that the book has also garnered the support from the Ministry of Tourism as well.

They thought and they thought hard till they came up with the perfect idea – a coffee table book that will not only showcase their prestigious developments, but also their biographies and future developments. All encapsulated in a book that will proudly give these unsung heroes the due recognition they deserve.

And delivered on that idea the team most certainly did. Aptly named, Malaysia Top Property Developers 2011/2012, this 250-plus page limited edition publication is the perfect starting point for anyone keen on investing in property in Malaysia as the book features profiles of 36 of the country’s top property developers, inspiration and concepts of their signature developments. Aside from that, the book also highlights their past and upcoming projects and offers a comprehensive index and contact list of these developers.

The hard work the team put in has finally paid off when we launched the publication, which is in line with the company’s mission to be innovative in finding avenues to promote the property industry to world, together with the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Malaysia Properties Incorporated.

I am also proud to say that the book has also garnered the support from the Ministry of Tourism as well.

The book is retailing at RM 99 and is available at all major bookstores – MPH, Kinokuniya, Borders, Times and also Popular. So, do grab a copy of this highly coveted book at a bookstore near you.

To the team, kudos on putting together a book that not only showcases Malaysia’s finest developers and developments but for also giving the world the opportunity to know more about them!

Here are a few snapshots of the launch:

Our inaugural publication – Malaysia Top Property Developers 2011/2012

An Auspicious Moment for iProperty.com Malaysia –The signing of the mock cover of the Malaysia Top Property Developers 2011/2012 coffee table book together with the Minister of Housing and Local Government and CEO of Malaysia Properties Incorporated

A Group Shot – (L-R) Timothy Hor, Country Manager of iProperty.com Malaysia, YB Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung, Minister of Housing and Local Government, Kumar Tharmalingam, CEO of Malaysia Properties Incorporated and Daniel Ho, Manager, Developer Services, iProperty.com Malaysia

On a separate note, I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all those who are celebrating a Happy Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fa Chai. According to the Chinese calendar, this year marks the year the Dragon and it is often believed that that the dragon is an auspicious symbol as it signifies success and happiness.

So to all, may success and happiness be yours all through the year!

Enjoy the long weekend and festivities.

Find Malaysia Properties

Popularity: 44%

A Spectacular December for iProperty!

Posted on December 19, 2011

If I could find one word to describe 2011, it would be SPECTACULAR!

In my last blog I highlighted the success the iProperty Group had over the last 11 months of the year.

Here are the highlights for December, the last month of 2011:

A Night of the Stars

They are not movie stars nor are they top models or famous people that capture attention when they walk down the streets. But nevertheless, these people are stars in their own right.

Who are they? Why, our very own developers, agents and partners. Developers who have through the years shaped the skylines and gave us our dream home, agents who have worked tirelessly to promote these properties and not forgetting our partners, who have been our biggest supporters.

Yes, these people are our STARS!

To recognize their efforts, our offices in Hong Kong and Malaysia recently organized a special appreciation dinner.

In Malaysia, the dinner was attended by over 400 guests, comprising of developers, agents and partners. In Hong Kong, the dinner was held to recognize and honour property agents and lifestyle brands that offer the very best services to consumers. Aside from these distinguished guests, the dinner was also attended by actress, singer and commercial supermodel Bernice Liu and Executive Director, HK Association for Customer Service Excellence, Pauline Chan.

Below are a few snapshots of both events:

Pauline Chan, Executive Director, HK Association for Customer Service Excellence; Catherine So, Regional GM of GoHome.com.hk; and HK celebrity Bernice Liu celebrated the launch of GoHome Awards

A Toast To All Nominees and Winners

The winners of the GoHome Awards 2011

Fresh Face in Indonesia

I am pleased to announce that Peter Goldsworthy, the current Managing Director of AdMax for Indonesia and Malaysia, will be joining the iProperty Group as Country Manager in Indonesia in early January 2012.

Having lived in Indonesia for the last five years and with an Indonesian heritage on his mother’s side of the family, Peter has extensive knowledge of the online advertising industry in Indonesia and speaks fluent Bahasa Indonesia too.

A warm welcome to the team, Peter!

A Momentous Occasion

If you are in the property market and are pondering hard on gifts to get for your clients, here is a suggestion for a perfect gift idea. Get a copy of a limited edition of a book published by iProperty.com Malaysia which showcases 36 of country’s most renowned developers and their properties. Priced at only RM 99, this book is a sure must get.

If you need further information on the book and how you can get hold of a copy, do give the team a call at 03-2264 6888.

I just realized that we are 6 days away from Christmas and 12 days from a brand new year!

Enjoy the holidays and festivities!

Popularity: 59%

CommercialAsia.com Launched by The iProperty Group

Posted on November 3, 2011

Region-wide cooling measures by the government on the residential property sector and the rising yield in the commercial sector has prompted the launch of CommercialAsia.com, the region’s first comprehensive website dedicated to commercial and industrial properties across Asia-Pacific.

The new website has the largest database of commercial and industrial property listings in the region with over 150,000 current listings, a figure expected to grow to over 500,000 by the end of 2012.

Shaun Di Gregorio launching CommercialAsia.com

The growth potential of the commercial and industrial sector is expected to be in the range of 5% to 10% for 2012. More investors are looking into commercial and industrial property due to the lower cost and the higher return on investment and they may make 4% to 8% yields renting their premises. If an investor were to have invested in one light industrial cum office building 4 to 5 years ago, the investor will see a yield of 18% to 23% return^†.

Spearheaded by The iProperty group, Asia’s No.1 online property group, which reaches out to 3.5million unique visitors and over 25,000 real estate agents per month, the launch of CommerialAsia.com is timed in anticipation of the market trend. The Group, famed for its innovation, has also achieved number one status in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia. The company analysed property searches and data from Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia over the last year to ascertain the level of interest in the commercial and industrial property industry.

CommercialAsia.com will help business owners and business managers make informed decisions more efficiently by providing them with an easy and convenient platform to locate business spaces across Asia-Pacific and by providing vital research and reports. It is the only website that provides a comprehensive list of office, industrial and retail properties across multiple sub-categories and countries. It also features special functions such as a currency converter and a robust search engine.

Following the launch of CommerialAsia.com, customers can continue to look forward to innovations and developments including translation services, a wealth of information on current trends and research, a directory of property agents and owners, pricing trends as well as a dedicated trade forum to reach out to property experts. A series of upcoming advancements in the portal will provide the commercial and industrial industry with the best tool to promote their properties across Asia-Pacific and will ensure that consumers benefit from the best search experience.

These enhanced services will be made possible by strategic partnerships with leading names in the sector, including LJ Hooker, Ray International Real Estate Group, Centaline Commercial, PropNex, Orange Tee, PropertyBank.

For more information, visit www.commercialasia.com.

^† Source: Ray International

Popularity: 70%

The Fast and the Growing

Posted on November 1, 2011

J.D. Rockerfeller once said that the secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well.

That is indeed the secret to our astounding success. We have through the years transformed the way properties are listed, searched and sold. Our commitment to innovation is the key underlying factor to our continued success growth.

As mentioned in my last blog post, the iProperty Group has added another accolade to its collection of prestigious awards. The latest addition of these accolades recognises iProperty.com Malaysia and GoHome.com.hk as the Digital Media Company of the Year and Property Portal of the Year 2011 respectively.

And just recently, I am pleased to announce that have we snapped up the 4th place in Business Review Weekly (BRW) Australia’s Fastest Growing Businesses. Being in the top 10 out of a 100 key industrial leaders in their respective fields is certainly something that we are very proud of. More information about this prestigious recognition can be found at http://tv.brw.com.au/video/176305#/176305.

These highly acclaimed awards and recognition showcases that the iProperty Group have garnered the respect of the industry and is a clear indication that we are the market leaders in this highly competitive property arena.

To my team, the iProperty Group is where it is today because of your dedication, passion, commitment to excellence and relentless pursuit to do the common things uncommonly well. A BIG BIG THANK YOU!

On a separate note, if you are one of those that think doing your own home renovations is impossible, then do catch The Apartment, a brand new high-stakes reality show which is featured on AXN every Thursday night at 8.10pm in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong and 7.10pm in Jakarta.

The Apartment TV show

The show, which is produced by Imagine Group and sponsored by the iProperty Group and other sponsors, will see three couples design and decorate three separate identical luxury penthouses. Mind you, they have no experience in doing their own home renovations.

So do catch the show and see them get pushed to their physical and emotional extremes as they participate in this paint fight to the finish! You can learn more about the participants and the show by visiting theapartmenttv.com and The Apartment Facebook page.

You can also stand a chance to win some attractive prizes by joining the online contest on the Facebook page too. All the best!

Have a great week!

Popularity: 53%

iProperty Group Reports Continued Strong Growth In Q3 2011

Posted on October 28, 2011

iProperty Group Ltd formerly known as IPGA Limited (ASX: IPP), the owner of Asia’s No. 1 network of property portal sites under the iProperty brand (www.iproperty.com), today released its 4C statement demonstrating the continued strong financial growth of the business. In September of 2011, the Group hit a new record number of consumers viewing its websites and now has almost 17,000 real estate agents advertising across its network.

“2011 has continued to be a great year for the Group. Our cash receipts have continued their growth and this places the business in a strong position as we look to 2012. Our engagement with agents and increasingly property developers has driven the great result in our core markets of Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Singapore” said iProperty Group CEO, Shaun Di Gregorio.

“In Malaysia we’ve extended our leadership position with more agents, property developers and property listings driving a huge growth in consumer traffic. In Indonesia we’ve made terrific progress following the acquisitions of the #1 portal rumah123 and #3 portal rumahdanproperti. We’ve doubled the number of paying agent advertisers in the last three months having signed partnership deals with the three largest franchise groups ERA, Ray White and LJ Hooker. At the same time we’ve significantly increased consumer traffic to the #1 portal rumah123. This has consolidated and extended our leadership position in Indonesia” said Di Gregorio.

“In Hong Kong we’ve made significant improvements to the consumer experience and this was recognized with being awarded ‘Property portal of the Year 2011’ by leading industry experts. Our leadership position has continued to grow with more agents, property developers, property listings and consumer traffic than any other property portal in Hong Kong. And in Singapore our approach to innovation continues to drive the growth of the business with several new initiatives recently launched. We are focused on a quality experience for consumers as iProperty.com.sg continues to be the preferred property portal in Singapore, reinforced by independent website measurement firms”.

“As we look toward 2012 we continue to focus on providing our customers with more exposure and more leads and ensuring our consumers get the best possible experience when searching for property on one of our market leading websites” added Di Gregorio.