ASA to Help Real Property Appraisers Streamline their Appraisal Practice in New Webinar Series

HERNDON, Va.Aug. 17, 2023PRLog — ASA to host new webinar series to help real property appraisers streamline their appraisal practice to save time and money. This new webinar series will include five inter-connected topics, including:

  • Efficient Appraisal Practice: How Does an Assistant Fit In?
    September 6, 2023, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm EST
    https://bit.ly/3P1xjTg
  • Efficient Appraisal Practice: Far Beyond Data Entry Assistance
    September 20, 2023, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm EST
    https://bit.ly/3s7EIqU
  • Efficient Appraisal Practice: The Master Assistant
    October 11, 2023, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm EST
    https://bit.ly/44bzIz2
  • Efficient Appraisal Practice: Where’s Your Procedures Manual?
    October 25, 2023, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm EST
    https://bit.ly/3E2hDsk
  • Efficient Appraisal Practice: Planning for the New Year
    November 15, 2023, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm EST
    https://bit.ly/3skrjMa

Joshua Walitt, SRA, AI-RRS, MNAA, CDEI, Principal Consultant of Walitt Solutions will be the presenter.

Participants may view webinars live or via recordings. Each webinar will award 1.2 ASA CE Hours.

Register online at https://bit.ly/3qEtI3S or by phone at (800) 272-8258.

Hong Kong – Property Management Services Ordinance to be fully implemented tomorrow

Property Management Services Ordinance to be fully implemented tomorrow

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  The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) said today (July 31) that the three-year transitional period for the Property Management Services Ordinance (Cap. 626) (PMSO) will end today. Starting from August 1, 2023, all companies providing properties subject to deeds of mutual covenant with more than one category of prescribed property management (PM) services, as well as PM practitioners (PMPs) serving a managerial or supervisory role in such PM companies (PMCs), must hold a valid licence in accordance with the PMSO.
 
  The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) is responsible for the implementation of the licensing regime under the PMSO. The PMSO provides for a single-tier licensing regime of PMCs, which are business entities that carry on the business of providing PM services. The PMSO also provides for a two-tier licensing regime of PMPs (i.e. PMP (Tier 1) licence and PMP (Tier 2) licence). Only those PMPs who assume a managerial or supervisory role in a PMC in relation to PM services provided by the PMC will be subject to licensing. Frontline staff will not be required to obtain PMP licences. 
 
  As of yesterday (July 30), the PMSA has issued formal licences to 747 PMCs and nearly 12 000 PMPs.
 
  ”The PMSA has been actively taking forward the full implementation of the licensing regime. The PMSA has issued licences to PMCs that are required to be licensed under the PMSO. The PM industry should be able to smoothly transfer to the new regulatory regime,” a spokesman for the HYAB said.
 
  The spokesman said, “Following the full implementation of the PMSO, the new regulatory regime for the PM industry will take full effect. The new regulatory regime should regulate and control the provision of PM services; promote the integrity, competence and professionalism of the profession of PM services; and maintain and enhance the status of the profession of PM services.”
 
  For any enquiries about details of the licensing regime, please visit the website of the PMSA (www.pmsa.org.hk/en/), or contact the PMSA at 3696 1111.

Hong Kong – Property owner fined over $90,000 for persistently not complying with removal order

Property owner fined over $90,000 for persistently not complying with removal order

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     A property owner was convicted and fined over $90,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts last week for persistently failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

     The order involved erection of partition walls in a unit of a composite building at Chatham Court, for subdividing the unit into several individual rooms. As the alteration works obstructed the means of escape and contravened the Building (Planning) Regulations, a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.

     Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the Buildings Department (BD) in 2018 and was fined about $50,000 upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted again. The owner was convicted again and fined $90,800 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on July 18.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (July 24), “Illegal subdivision of flats may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with the removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who have failed to comply with the removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, so as to ensure building safety.”

     Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is one year’s imprisonment and a fine of $200,000, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Organisers of the 13th annual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) now challenge the country’s leading and emerging development companies and design practices to compete for recognitions that showcase and provide an international platform for their exemplary, outstanding achievements.

Entry submissions are accepted online until 1 September 2023 via: asiapropertyawards.com/

The Singapore property market is off to a promising albeit slower start in 2023. The housing market remains resilient despite uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions, rising inflation, and increasing interest rates, according to the PropertyGuru Singapore Property Market Report Q1 2023.

Defying economic downside pressures, property prices climbed in 2022, partly due to tight supply, amid declining sales volumes across all property types. Despite the increased cost of acquiring homes, many buyers maintain a positive view of the market’s long-term outlook.

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “Singapore developers continue to lead the way with designs and concepts that are not only deserving of international recognition, but also set a high standard for Southeast Asia. We are confident that this year’s entries will be just as exemplary, displaying Singaporean prowess in creating sustainable built environments and aspirational developments where people can live, work, and thrive.”

Kristin Thorsteins, chairperson of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) and head of partnership growth for APAC at IWG PLC (Singapore), said: “In recent years, Singapore developers have demonstrated remarkable resilience and flexibility, responding to changes by creating more sustainable spaces and integrating nature into their projects. As we look ahead, we anticipate witnessing further benchmark-setting innovations among our entries this year, as Singapore continues to adapt to post-pandemic societal changes and prepares to face any challenge with unwavering determination and vigour.

“With a robust infrastructure ecosystem and a commitment to green-building technologies, Singapore is at the forefront of sustainable development, leading the way in reducing energy and water consumption, as well as carbon emissions. We are confident that Singapore’s developers will continue to drive innovation in the real estate industry, creating spaces that are not only resilient, but also sustainable and in harmony with nature.”

The black-tie gala dinner and presentation ceremony of the 13th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore ballroom on Friday, 27 October 2023.

Key dates for the 2023 edition:
1 September 2023 – Entries Close
11-29 September – Site Inspections
3 October 2023 – Final Judging
27 October 2023 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Singapore
8 December 2023 – Regional Grand Final Gala Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

The public are encouraged to submit their nominations before the deadline of entries on 1 September 2023 here: asiapropertyawards.com/nominations

Led by Thorsteins, an independent panel of judges, comprising experts in diverse fields such as real estate consultancy, architecture and interior design, and sustainable development, will participate in a rigorous process selecting the award recipients.

The resulting shortlist of nominees will be able to showcase their companies and projects to a wide network of property seekers, real estate agents, banks and valuers, and other enterprises served by PropertyGuru Group (NYSE: PGRU), Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company.

Supervised by HLB, the global network of independent advisory and accounting firms, the awards programme makes full use of a professionally run and fully transparent judging system, with an established reputation for fairness, credibility, and integrity.

Excellent Asian companies

Main winners from the 2023 edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) will qualify to compete with other excellent companies across the region for the ‘Best in Asia’ honours at the 18th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final in Bangkok, Thailand on 8 December 2023.

Singapore companies scored several regional wins at the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final 2022. GuocoLand was named Best Luxury Developer (Asia) and Best Sustainable Developer (Asia) while UOL Group Limited was named Best Hospitality Developer (Asia).

UOL Group Limited also won Best Hotel Development (Asia) for Pan Pacific Orchard. Park Nova by Shun Tak Holdings gained the Best Condo Architectural Design (Asia) title while Artyzen Singapore by Artyzen Hospitality Group won Best Hospitality Interior Design (Asia).

Established in 2005, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards continue to reward high-calibre work within the industry, encompassing property development, construction, architecture, interior design, and sustainable building practices. The series initially covered Southeast Asia and has expanded over the years to include the region’s dynamic property markets, including Australia, China, Greater Niseko in Japan, and India.

The 13th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) are supported by official portal partner PropertyGuru.com.sg; official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; media partner d+a Magazine; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS:

PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region’s most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair and transparent.

In 2023, the Awards series is open to more than a dozen key property markets around the region. The exciting gala events welcome senior industry leaders and top media, as well as reach property agents and consumers via live streaming. Recognising excellence within each Asian market with a variety of categories, including green and sustainable development, each local awards programme will culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place after the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit during ‘PropertyGuru Week’ in December 2023.

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU GROUP:

PropertyGuru is Southeast Asia’s leading1 PropTech company, and the preferred destination for over 41 million property seekers2 to connect with more than 63,000 agents3 monthly to find their dream home. PropertyGuru empowers property seekers with more than 3.2 million real estate listings4, in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

PropertyGuru.com.sg was launched in Singapore in 2007 and since then PropertyGuru Group has made the property journey a transparent one for property seekers in Southeast Asia. In the last 15 years, PropertyGuru has grown into a high-growth PropTech company with a robust portfolio of leading property marketplaces across its core markets; award-winning mobile apps; mortgage marketplace, PropertyGuru Finance; and a host of enterprise solutions now under PropertyGuru For Business, including a high-quality developer sales enablement platform, FastKey, DataSense, ValueNet, Awards, events and publications across Asia.  

For more information, please visit: PropertyGuruGroup.com; PropertyGuru Group on LinkedIn.

1 Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022
2 Based on Google Analytics data between July 2022 and December 2022
3 Based on data between July 2022 and December 2022
4 Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022

PROPERTYGURU CONTACTS:

General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com

Media & Partnerships:
Nate Dacua, Media Relations & Marketing Services Manager
M: +66 92 701 2510
E: nate@propertyguru.com

Sponsorships:
Kanittha Srithongsuk, Regional Manager, Awards Sponsorship
M: +66 93 293 9794
E: kanittha@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:
Alicia Loh, Awards Manager (Singapore)
M: +65 8382 0078
E: alicia@propertyguru.com.sg

NOTE: Use of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards logo is limited to the publication of this article only.


Topic: Press release summary

Hong Kong – Property owner fined over $250,000 for not complying with removal orders

Property owner fined over $250,000 for not complying with removal orders

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     A property owner was convicted and fined over $250,000 at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts last week for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

     The orders involved an unauthorised structure of about 6 000 square metres across 13 sections of a lot in D.D. 52, Fu Tei Au, North District, New Territories. As the above unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), 13 removal orders were served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.

     Failing to comply with the removal orders, the owner was prosecuted by the BD and was fined $251,464 in total upon conviction at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on April 18.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (April 25), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement actions against owners who have failed to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, so as to ensure building safety.”

     Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is one year’s imprisonment and a fine of $200,000, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.