DULDULAO DOT NET This Day & Beyond

Month: November 2014

  • Lamudi rolls out iOS App to Global Network

    Fast-growing property portal’s iOS app now available in 27 countries.

    International property portal Lamudi has rolled out its iOS app for property seekers in a further 11 countries, making the popular mobile application available across the company’s global network.

    The iOS app has been progressively rolled out in countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America since it was launched in June. The app, Lamudi: Real Estate for Sale & Rent, is now available for iOS users in 27 countries in the emerging markets.

    With the release of version 1.5, the Lamudi iOS app has been made available in the Middle East for the first time. The app is now available with right-to-left orientation for Arabic speaking house-hunters in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Countries which already have the app will also benefit from improved speed and security for easier browsing.

    The iOS app was this week launched in: Algeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Lamudi’s Android app was rolled out to 28 countries in the emerging markets earlier this year.

    Lamudi’s Global Co-Founder and Managing Director, Antonius Salis, said: “Our website now hosts more than 750,000 property listings around the world. All of these have been made available to iOS users through the updated Lamudi app.

    For existing users, we have also made several improvements to the overall experience. The app is now more secure and faster to use, making searching for real estate on the go even more convenient than before.”

    The app provides the perfect platform for house-hunters to rent, buy or sell property on the go. A key feature of the Lamudi app is its customised search function, which allows users to easily switch between the 27 countries available in the app.

    The app also provides match alerts, with users receiving a notification as soon as a property that suits their needs hits the market. House-hunters can bookmark their favourite properties to access at any time and on any device.

    All listings on the app feature high-quality photo galleries, detailed property information, maps, and multiple contact details for property owners or agents. Users can also share their favourite properties with family and friends via Facebook, Twitter or email.

    ABOUT LAMUDI

    Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 600,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online. For more information, please visit http://www.lamudi.com.ph

    Visit Lamudi Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

    REFERENCE & MEDIA CONTACT
    Rodel Ambas
    Content Editor, Lamudi Philippines
    Email: rodel.ambas@lamudi.com.ph
    Phone: +63 917 3015127

  • Pros and Cons: Foreign property ownership in the Philippines

    Lamudi takes a look at the advantages and disadvantages of allowing foreign property ownership in the Philippines.

    To say that Philippine real estate is fast becoming a favorite among buyers abroad is quite an understatement. In fact, an article published in ABS-CBNnews.com reported that Asian investors—from Malaysia to Japan—are snapping up condo units in bulk. These buyers are favoring the Philippines over Hong Kong and Singapore, where the authorities have put in place cooling measures to rein in property prices.

    “There has never been this strong interest in the Philippine property market,” said Colliers International’s David Young in an interview. But despite this, the Philippines still does not allow foreign ownership of real property; foreigners, however, can purchase condo units so long as foreign ownership in a single project does not exceed 40 percent.

    This may seem counterintuitive, because more established property markets allow freehold foreign ownership of real estate to attract investment and create more wealth. Hence, it makes sense for the Philippines to follow suit. By doing the opposite the Philippines may be thwarting its competitiveness.

    To look into this issue closely, Lamudi Philippines compiled a list of the pros and cons of allowing foreign ownership of real property in the country.

    PROS

    1. Foreign Investment on Real Estate Will Boost the Market

    The residential real estate market will get a boost if some of the restrictions imposed on foreigners are lifted, said David Leechiu, JLL Philippines Managing Director and Country Manager.

    In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Leechiu said that the total worth of the Philippine real estate industry could jump from $48 billion reported in 2011 to $300 billion by 2031, if certain structural changes were made, such as relaxing rigorous rules on foreign ownership and longer lease terms.

    Although the Philippines’ macroeconomic fundamentals are sound, Leechiu said it could do so much better if it were less restrained.

    2. The Country May Benefit from More Substantial Investment

    According to Charlie Gorayeb, Chairman of the Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Association (CREBA), foreign investment into real estate will attract much-needed capital, which will unleash the multiplier effect of construction and real estate sectors into other industries. This multiplier effect will impact sectors closely related to real estate, and will provide additional opportunities for local businesses and employment.

    3. Benefits Will Spill Over to Other Sectors

    For many years the Philippines has lagged behind its neighbors in Southeast Asia when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment. According to experts, this is due in part to the country’s restrictive business climate, particularly when it comes to foreign ownership of properties. Allowing foreigners to own land for industrial and commercial purposes will benefit the manufacturing sector, which will boost employment opportunities for many Filipinos.

    Cons

    1. It May Cause Property Prices to Skyrocket

    In certain cases, allowing foreign money to come in freely is not entirely a good thing. For example, London has become too attractive to rich property buyers from Russia and the Middle East, which drove prices too high and priced locals out of the housing market. At the moment prices of houses and condos in Metro Manila are already beyond the reach of most Filipinos, so allowing foreigners to freely purchase may push prices even higher.

    2. It May Spur Speculative Purchases

    Speculative purchase of property—the kind that take large risks in the hope of making quick, huge gains—could be intensified when the gates are opened to foreign property buyers. This could pose danger to the real estate market, which could go through a period of irrational exuberance, fueling the formation of a real estate bubble.

    3. Lands Acquired by Foreigners May Be Converted for Another Purpose

    There are certain property types that if they get sold and converted into another use may do more harm than good to the local economy. Examples of these properties are agricultural land. According to Gorayeb, there should be some mechanisms of control to protect local interest. Agricultural lands, for example, should remain as such even when they are purchased by foreigners, and in order to protect our natural resources foreigners should only be allowed to purchase disposable or alienable land.

    REFERENCE & MEDIA CONTACT

    Rodel Ambas

    Content Editor, Lamudi Philippines

    Email: rodel.ambas@lamudi.com.ph

    Phone: +63 917 3015127

  • The Top 10 Haunted Places Around The World

    The Top 10 Haunted Places Around The World

    Prepare to be scared this Halloween

    From presidential palaces in Colombia to film centers in the Philippines, the most normal places are not always as they seem.In honor of Halloween, global real estate marketplace Lamudi guides you through the world’s top 10 haunted properties.

    1. Lawang Sewu, Indonesia

    A landmark of Semarang, Central Java, Lawang Sewu (which translates as “Thousand Doors”) is a former Dutch colonial era building, rumored to be haunted by headless ghosts. This large, deserted structure is open to the public 24 hours a day, so if you’re looking for a scare this Halloween, why not take a midnight visit?

    Image via Shutterstoc

    2. Manila Film Center, the Philippines

    A national building in Pasay City, Metro Manila, the Manila Film Center was built in 1981. During construction, on November 17th 1981, the construction collapsed, burying over 150 workers in quick-drying cement. It was believed that some of these workers were entombed alive in the concrete. However, records show that all bodies were retrieved from the site. Ghostlore says that those who died roam the film center to this day, making mysterious sounds.

    © Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) via Wikimedia Comm

    3. Mohatta Palace, Pakistan

    Located in Karachi, the Mohatta Palace is an elaborate, pink, and yellow stone building, consisting of 18,500 square yards. Legend has it that there is a superhuman presence at the palace, with guides believing the building is haunted. While on guard, workers are rumored to have felt the presence of spirits, and experienced objects moving without human touch.

    © Shahid A. Siddiqi via Wikimedia Commons

    4. The Tower of London, United Kingdom

    The former prison of some of England’s most renowned historical figures, the Tower of London is one of the most haunted places in the UK. Reportedly, the headless ghost of Anne Boleyn, one of the wives of King Henry VIII, still resides within the tower, following her execution in 1536. The oldest part of the building, the White Tower, is also home to the White Lady, who is said to have been seen standing at the window, waving to children in the opposite building.

    Image via Shutterstock

    5. Bhangarh Fort, India

    Legend has it that a black magic wizard named Singhiya, in love with the Princess of Bhangarh, cursed the fort with the death of all who lived there, following the Princess’s rejection of his love. The year following the curse, both war and famine broke out, leading to the death of the Princess. Tourists are unable to enter the building after sunset and before sunrise, so not to disturb the ghosts of Singhiya and other locals who haunt Bhangarh Fort.

    © Amlan Mathur via Shutterstock

    6. The Island of the Dolls, Mexico

    Xochimilco, a district just south of Mexico City, is home to a number of artificial islands and canals, one of which was owned by a caretaker named Julian Santana Barrera. When Barrera discovered the body of a young girl in one of the canals near his island, he began to collect dolls to hang around the island to ward off any evil spirits, and to make the young girl happy. The island, known as Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls), is now visited by thousands of tourists a year, who bring dolls to carry on Barrera’s work.

    © Cordella Person via Flickr

    7. Eltz Castle, Germany

    A medieval castle hidden away in the hills of Western Germany, Eltz Castle is one of just a few haunted castles in Germany. Allegedly, ghosts of medieval knights roam the grounds of the great 12th century castle, which has been owned—and haunted—by the same family for 33 generations. One of the more famous ghosts, Agnes, apparently died defending her honor, and her specter remains in the castle to this day.

    Image via Shutterstock

    8. Edinburgh Castle, United Kingdom

    The vaults of Edinburgh Castle are famous for the unsettling noises and movements that come from within. Constructed in the 15th century, the underground maze makes up 120 rooms, which were used to quarantine and entomb victims of the plague. Visitors can expect to see Lady Janet Douglas, who was burned at the stake following accusations of witchcraft, the spirit of a headless drummer, dogs wandering around the cemetery, and numerous prisoners roaming the labyrinth.

    Image via Shutterstock

    9. Marroquín Castle, Colombia

    This stunning mansion, built in 1904 near the Colombian city of Chía, was an asylum for several years. Allegedly, the castle is haunted by the ghost of a nun who once worked there, numerous patients who met their demise in the asylum, and “La Zancona,” a mysterious woman dressed in all black, who roams the building.

    © Brian Daniel Leon Machado via Wikimedia Commons

    10. Port Arthur, Australia

    Port Arthur is allegedly the most haunted place in Tasmania. During its almost 50-year history as a convict settlement, hundreds of men died at Port Arthur. Furthermore, the massacre in 1006 led to the death of 35 men, women and children. Tourists visit the port with the hope of catching a glimpse of the Lady in Blue—the crying ghost of a young woman, who reportedly died in childbirth—as well as over 2,000 ghosts that have apparently been seen over the past 20 years.

    Image via Shutterstock

    ABOUT LAMUDI

    Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 600,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online. For more information, please visit http://www.lamudi.com.ph

    Visit Lamudi Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

    REFERENCE & MEDIA CONTACT

    Rodel Ambas

    Content Editor, Lamudi Philippines

    Email: rodel.ambas@lamudi.com.ph

    Phone: +63 917 3015127