OverviewLae is the capital of Morobe Province, and the second largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is situated on the northern coast of the Huon Gulf Peninsula, within close proximity to the Markham Delta. The city is considered as the industrial axis of Papua New Guinea, because it has more industrial capacity than both Port Moresby and Mount Hagen combined. The city of Lae retains an impressive internal road network, serving the logistics needs of both Madang Province and the Highlands Highway, which significantly stretches up to 700km.The official population of Lae City, based on data compiled by the PNG National Statistical Office, continues past 148,934 to date, which is inclusive of its 11 suburbs: Bumayong, Bugandi, Chinatown, Dowsett, Eriku, Malahang, Taraka, Tent City, Voco Point, 3 Mile and 6 Mile. The traditional custodians of the greater Lae area are the Butibam and Kamkumung villages, who happen to be the first inhabitants of the land that is currently Lae city. However, the battle for land ownership between the two villages has been ongoing since the colonial days. Lae was built on the back of the Wau-Bulolo gold rush, with prospectors and miners using Lae airstrip as the transport hub to fly equipment to the fields, during the 1920s. The town grew as miners flew in from around the world with the Morobe Goldfield, at one point,  hosting 700 expatriates and over 6000 local miners. Overtime, Lae city developed into both a major cargo port and manufacturing base in PNG, with almost 20 foreign and locally-owned companies operating alongside each other.In the years that followed, more established routes were developed and penetrated throughout much of Lae, allowing stories and histories to be told and retold as the city matured. It was not until 2014 when a mammoth plan for development was forecasted by the Asian Development Bank for the Lae wharf, named as the ‘Lae Port Development Project’, which amounted to a hefty sum of $390 million.Upon project completion, the wharf had an additional 250 meters spread on top of an  existing base of 600 meters, purported to ease shipping congestion.Being the industrial axis of Papua New Guinea, Lae became an important point of entry to the Highlands region, resulting in a revitalised economy that stemmed from major sectors such as distribution, manufacturing, fisheries, mining and agriculture gaining strength. HistoryLae was established as a township in 1900 when German traders set up a branch of what was then known as the New Guinea Company in Lae.German missionaries arrived in numbers between 1915 and 1919 at the Territory of New Guinea, which was administered by the Germans and was later handed over to Australia, following the defeat of Germany in World War I. Missionaries from the Lutheran Church later settled in Lae and have had a profound effect on the lives of Lae residents and the province’s population since. The town eventually came under the Australian colonial administration following World War I.However, not much of a development was seen other than a police station and an administration center, until the Wau-Bulolo gold rush in 1926.In 1941, the Australian government chose Lae as the new capital of the Territory of New Guinea following the 1937 volcanic eruption in Rabaul. But the status-change wasn’t effective immediately, as the region came under fire from World War II, largely due to the invading Japanese Imperial Forces, who went on to occupy the township together with Salamaua; both areas were then turned into major Japanese bases on the island of New Guinea. Following defeats at Kokoda Track, Guna and Wau, the Japanese retreated to Lae and Salamaua, where they made a last stand that saw weeks of fierce fighting, before succumbing to defeat in September 1943. The Australian colonial administration founded Lae’s local government in 1971, followed by the proclamation of Lae as a city in 1972. Between 1978 and ‘79 – backing the establishment of the Morobe provincial government – the Lae City Interim Authority was created under the Development Authority Act 1981. The city authority became the Lae Urban Local-Level Government Council in 1997, as a patronage to the National Government’s provincial and local-level government reforms. EconomyLae’s economy relies heavily on the distribution, manufacturing, fisheries, mining and agriculture sectors, thanks to its strategic location as the gateway to the Highlands region, as well as its establishment on the northern coast of PNG, which links up with other provinces in the Mamose and New Guinea Islands regions. The completion of the ADB-funded project was ensured through an investment by the then National Government, that was worth K250 million. The project was aimed at rehabilitating Lae’s major roads between 2013 and 2016, alongside the construction of a four-lane highway, to link both Lae and Nadzab and succinctly resuscitate the city’s private sector. The redevelopment of the Nadzab airport in 2018, came in at a whopping K600 million, a project funded by the Japanese government at that time. The scope of the project was to allow for an increase in air traffic to Lae and Morobe Province following its commissioning. Some of the large businesses currently based in Lae include: Paradise Foods Limited, Halla Cement, HBS PNG Limited, iPi Group, Trukai Rice, SP Brewery, Bismark Maritime, South Pacific Steel, Papindo Group of Companies, Prima Small Goods, Lae Biscuit Company, Citylink Motel, MMK Transport, Barlow Industries Ltd, Mapai Transport, PNG Metal Fabricators and Homestate Cooperation. Having already benefited from the construction phase of the $19 billion ExxonMobil-led PNG LNG project, as the city had produced and transported thousands of tons of goods to service the project site in the Highlands, putting Lae in the box seat to capitalize on the extractive industry. The Wafi-Golpu gold and copper project, situated approximately 65km south-west of Lae, was the brainchild of Newcrest Mining Limited, who  came off a K12.7 billion investment. InfrastructureTransportHealthcareUtilities TransporLae’s Nadzab Airport is a 30-40 minute drive from the city, and is the key link by air between Morobe province and other major centers throughout PNG. The national carrier, Air Niugini, offers daily air services to Lae and other townships from Port Moresby. PNG Air, a third level airline company, also frequents this route out of Port Moresby.On land, the National Government is responsible for maintaining a 137km stretch of road, comprising Independence Drive, Markham Road, and the Milford Haven Road. The other remaining portions are the sole responsibility of Lae City Council.The National Government, that time, invested K250 million between 2013 and 2016 to restore the city’s road infrastructure, which saw most of them resealed. In addition, a four-lane highway was constructed to ease the traffic congestion that occurs between Lae and the Nadzab Airport. Work began that year (2018) to redevelop and upgrade the Nadzab airport, which was planned to receive international flights, presumably overseen by the Japanese government, back then.Healthcare The Angau Memorial Hospital is a publicly-funded health institution that also provides a 24-hour emergency service as well as houses the National Cancer Center. Other healthcare providers include the Lae International Hospital, Eriku Medical Center and Dr Garap’s Clinic.Water supplyGovernment-owned utility company, Water PNG Ltd, manages Lae City’s water supply and sanitation services to the residents. Water quality is guided by the World Health Organization (WHO) Drinking Water Quality Guidelines. Water PNG is also responsible for the city’s sewage and the main water catchments throughout the region. ShoppingCurrently, Lae is experiencing a surge in department and hardware stores, banks, travel agencies and a plethora of small shops and business owners. The major players in this regard include the likes of Papindo Lae Toptown Shopping Centre, Papindo Supermarket, Lae Plaza, and Brian Bell Plaza. Educational institutionsThe Papua New Guinea University of Technology (UNITECH) leads education service providers in Lae and offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs to both local and international students. Other tertiary education institutions include the Lae Technical College, one of the largest in the country that offers polytechnic certificate and diploma courses, and others such as The International School of Lae, Busu Secondary School and Coronation College.  LifestyleLifestyle in Lae City is slightly different compared to Port Moresby, basically in terms of dressing, behaviour and local expressions. Everything else has striking similarities. What you experience in Port Moresby you can expect the same in Lae. The only exceptions are the terrain, area development and geography.Generally, the city of Lae is at the epicenter of several villages, thus the overall lifestyle borders on three-quarter traditional and one quarter Western culture.Safety And SecurityLike Port Moresby, and everywhere else within PNG, taking precautions when out and about is your number one ally at this juncture. As we’ve mentioned whilst in Port Moresby, the gap between the haves and have-nots continue to widen, so be cautious when using your new iPhone, opening your cash-filled wallet, or changing the lenses of your new DSLR camera in public. In public transport, make sure you shut the windows, or if you prefer to enjoy the breeze, keep your phone, camera or wallet in your bag always. The chances of your valuables being snatched through the window are ridiculously high. This also goes for open car windows and even if you're cycling. It all goes back to the idea of always being aware of your surroundings.If someone approaches you and demands your belongings, hand them over. No matter how tough you are, they could be carrying anything and your possessions are not worth your life.If you've planned ahead and have electronic copies of your passport and essential phone numbers (insurance claims number, friends or family contacts, bank number to cancel cards) then you're already landing on your feet.EmergencyLet’s hope that nothing bad ever happens to you while in Lae. But f you need to phone the emergency services, keep this in mind:Lae’s police division is considered the most proactive and community-focused disciplinary force PNG has to offer. Lae’s police force is currently in a partnership with the local mobile phone operator, Digicel, to maintain the initiative behind its local emergency toll free number: +675 7090 3300. Police emergencies can still be contacted through a landline on: +675 473 5401.

From the laid back surrounding of Jacksons Airport to one of three bustling city suburbs of Port Moresby, equal in standing with its own unique scene, attraction, and history, get to know Port Moresby and its diverse ethnicity with Boroko as your starting point.You may find it overwhelming with all the choices; so many price tags, wantoks and of course the road conditions, whether it’s accommodation to rent or buy. We all want our abodes to be effectively affordable, accessible, versatile, secure and have aesthetic appeal, followed by carefully considering the suburb and indeed the neighborhood in a city like Port Moresby, before you even begin your search.According to the 2020 PNG Real Estate Survey, both Boroko and Waigani turned out to be the most of attractive neighbourhoods to live in. With a past as memorable as the red, white and black colors of the Papua New Guinea's flag, Boroko was once the epicenter of Port Moresby’s city life between the ‘80s and ‘90s. The suburb, though it has lost most of its appeal to Waigani’s Vision City Mega Mall, it has come a long way to maintaining its dignity as a livable suburb to date.Let’s consider some reasons why Boroko remains a highly sought after suburb to live in:1.The happening in BorokoUsing a map, you can easily figure out why this particular suburb is one of the highly sought-after suburbs in Port Moresby, provided you know what you’re looking for. Major sporting facilities such as the National Football Stadium, the Rita Flynn Netball Courts and Bisini Soccer Grounds are found here, just minutes apart from each other. These facilities also play host to many international sporting events.2. AffordableAffordability is relative to your income. What you find affordable may be extremely expensive to someone else, and this is one of the best things about Boroko! There is a price tag that is just right for everyone! You can find apartments as low as K800 a week to serviced townhouses at K4,000 a week, and more.3. AccessibleWhen we talk about accessibility, we mean access to conveniences, access to other suburbs and also the actual driving conditions of the streets. Boroko can be described as the center of Pom City.From Boroko you have easy access to other suburbs, one of Pom City’s main public bus stops is here, so getting to and from work or school is easier. Boroko offers a police station, a fire station, a post office, two banks, a craft market, many grocery stores; service stations; pharmacies and other health services; beauty parlours; schools and an assortment of churches.Overall the condition of the roads and the general security reputation of the suburb make it one of the best choices in the nation’s capital. 4.VersatilityBoroko is the most versatile suburb you can expect to live in. it can be a short stroll from your residence, training grounds or shopping intentions. From bedsitters to daycares to educational institutions of all intents and purposes, can be found in this suburb.Various denominations are also present in this neighbourhood, as well as there are clubs and betting shops to choose from. Even with both residential and commercial properties, and not to mention industrial and sporting facilities, Boroko has quite an offering compared to competing, eclectic suburbs in the nation’s capital.5.Secure Security is one factor that many Papua New Guineans consider seriously when deciding where to live, and this is one reason why many people prefer to live in Boroko. Despite the area’s notoriety for prostitution and petty crimes, it is generally a quiet neighbourhood to live in. The police station located in this suburb also helps with maintaining the law and order, not only in this part of the city but right throughout Port Moresby..6. Aesthetic appealBoroko is built on what used to be swampland in the 1930s, meaning that the actual land is sustainably rich and makes for pretty good gardens, if you have the time. The suburb is surrounded by rolling hills, and numerous streets that are outlined by white frangipani and orange ixora plants that remind you - in case you forget - that you are in the heart of the tropics.7.The freshest, organic food at affordable pricesIn terms of fresh organic foods, Boroko has one of Port Moresby’s three major fresh food produce markets. Boroko market is located opposite the National Football Stadium with a huge variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, poultry and at times, depending on the weather, seafood. Boroko market is another wading pool of the local SMEs, and one of many areas within the city where you can actually support and promote local produce. 8.The best 'Kalsa' spotThere was a time when between every June and September, Port Moresby had weekly pre-independence and provincial day celebrations.No other province sees as colourful or as dedicated a show of cultural pride as than NCD, where the cooking pot had at least one of the 800 cultural ingredients. During this period, people living in other suburbs have to either send word to back home for someone to bring an item or two for ‘bilas’, or go searching the markets for these ornaments. Boroko residents, however, had one of two things to make the most of: unwind at home or take a casual stroll down to the craft market that happened every Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 4pm.

The real estate market in PNG is largely determined by the laws of supply and demand and thus makes it increasingly difficult to forecast. Hausples recently had the opportunity to speak to some of the best in the business on what to expect in 2018. Q. HOW DO YOU SEE THE MARKET PERFORMING GENERALLY IN 2018?“Generally, I'd say it’s going to continue to weaken. There is still considerable downward pressure on rents across the market. Some areas are performing better than others, the lower end remains fairly strong and has not seen the large fall in rent that has occurred in the higher end of the market. There is still considerable downward pressure on rents for mid-range properties.”Ken Richardson Managing Director, Strickland Real Estate  “We're starting into a consolidation stage after our downturn; where that actually ends is anybody's guess, but some sectors are doing quite well and there's demand for certain types of property and others are still declining. So, it’s a mixed bag but generally I think we're entering into a consolidation stage.”Greg Peck General Manager, BCMS “I think this year it's going to be a more challenging year and it will be a buyer's market. We're seeing property prices decline and the rental markets have definitely slowed down. I think it's going to be a challenging year for property owners and for those trying to offload.”Agi DokoManaging Director, Professionals  “I see the real estate growing slowly and moving in the right direction in 2018. Both for house sales and rental.”David MackenzieBusiness Development Manager, Rhodes Projects HOW DO YOU SEE THE EXPAT MARKET? WILL PRICES GO UP OR DOWN?“Broadly down. Surprisingly, most of our high-end properties, those over the K4,500 mark are nearly full, so there's obviously still demand at the higher end but prices are down from what they were a few years ago. I think you can say the general expat rental market is seeing rentals fall.Employers are seeking to save costs and reducing rental allowances is an obvious area, this then leads to further downward pressure on prices.”If landlords have a property that doesn't have a differentiation in terms of good sea views, facilities or size, older apartments in need of work are the ones that are really going to be struggling to maintain a reasonable rental return, whereas newer ones are probably going to be a little more in demand.”  “Definitely down - there's no two ways about it. As you know there's a comeback in some cases by more than 2%. It depends on what happens on the resource side where the expat market is generally reflective of any major forthcoming developments. Again, the consolidation stage that we are in has taken the initial downturn. It is on a slower trajectory now than it has been, so I don’t see a lot more expats coming into town but after APEC, who knows? There's going to be a lot more interest in the country so we're hopeful that that might stimulate demand for more of the expat type houses.” “The rents have definitely come down, especially in the high-end market and I think they may continue to decline because there's not enough tenants out there.” “Towards the end of this year, as numbers of expats come into the country in preparation for some major construction projects and the APEC summit, it is likely that the rental market will increase. This happened in the last property boom in POM and since then there has not been a great deal of additional housing constructed for the market.” HOW DO YOU SEE THE AFFORDABLE MARKET PERFORMING? WILL PRICES RISE AND DO YOU SEE DEMAND INCREASING?“From an affordable housing point of view, once some of the issues around land availability are resolved, I would think that at the lower end of the market there's room for prices to come down. But I think that's dependent on developers using new building techniques and building more PNG appropriate housing. Some of these new estates, where they are building row upon row of stilted houses, in the long term, they're not going to appeal to Papua New Guineans. New estates need to be a little bit more 'village focused' and feature more open spaces and communal areas.  I think that there needs to be different thinking about what affordable housing actually is, and not just creating these huge estates.” “It's pretty exciting that its now centre stage and there's a lot more thought being given to that and, as you know, building a high-rise tower is probably the best option at the moment to accommodate affordability. The traditional style housing is one that is favoured by most Papua New Guineans so it's going to take a while to convince people that perhaps they should be looking at vertical housing rather than horizontal. They are more affordable. Say if you’ve got a foot-print of a thousand square meters and generally that’s one or two houses there, but on 1000 square meters you can put a 15-storey tower that could accommodate 80 or more families. I think it’s just a slow, educational process because the market is still maturing to get out in the field and say, ‘Traditional houses are going to cost you anywhere between K500,000 to K1 mil whereas you can get an apartment for an odd K400,000.”   “There's a big demand for affordable housing but I think there's still a lack of supply. There's a big market for anything between K320,000 to K350,000. I just don't think we have sufficient products for a lot of Papua New Guineans within that price bracket and it could be a case of whether there's sufficient land available.  “We know the demand is there, doing the Hausples Show last year proved that. We, at Rhodes, have an affordable quality product and we hear that all the time. The issues people face here are obtaining land to build and banks approving loans. However, both the banks and the Government have realised this and have started to act.”  WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE HEAD INTO 2019?“It’s really difficult to make a generalization across the real estate market. There will still be reasonable demand by people purchasing a home to live in and as a general rule, established residential areas like Boroko and Korobosea have seen prices remain reasonably firm. Broadly across the rental market, I anticipate 2019 being a tough year. To a certain extent, in 2018, the market is being propped up by expenditure on preparing for APEC and the subsequent flow into the economy.Once the committed expenditure for delivering APEC has gone, the government is likely to tighten up and that's going to leave a big hole in terms of the monetary injection into the Port Moresby economy. I think that will flow on very, very quickly through the market and lead to a further downturn in demand and put downward pressure on rentals. I’m reasonably confident we will get through 2018 and have a fairly good year, however I'm not seeing anything that's giving me any confidence in the short term. Over the medium term I can see it starting to bounce back. I think 2019 is going be a tough year.”  “It's very interesting, I think we'll get a spike around APEC obviously for activity around housing and accommodation and projecting forward to 2019, again I think we're very dependent on the resource sector and major developments coming to town to bring an influx of people in. The demand may pick up in 2019, as I said originally, I think the consolidation phase has started, there will still be some downward trajectory on pricing and that's a good thing for the general public because the housing is extremely expensive so I see that as being a positive note for people that are looking for housing. On the same token its very short sighted to go for something that's cheap because quality is a big concern here.”  “We're hoping in 2019 things will pick up again come the Papua LNG. This year is definitely a challenging year but we're hoping in 2019 things will turn around and pick up again.” “Standards of houses should improve. People are becoming better educated about housing and materials used in building them. They are asking questions all the time. Builders and suppliers will have to raise their game if they want to stay in the industry.” ANY OTHER COMMENTS? “We've still got sellers expecting that they're going to get prices they may have gotten three or four years ago. They are basing the value of property on the rents that they might have been getting at the height of the market. There are quite a few active purchasers in the market at the moment, however the vendor's pricing expectations far exceed what buyers are prepared to pay.”  “There seems to be no entry level or barrier for anybody to act as an agent. When you're dealing with somebody's biggest asset in their lifetime, I think there should be checks and balances on who can actually practise in that sector. There are a lot of sales agents out there who are really uneducated in terms on the protocols that need to be in place, so it's a big issue. At some stage I think it will be addressed and I hope to be part of that.”   “For the people who are cashed out, you might be able to pick up properties where people are forced to sell.There's a big need for more affordable housing and it's something the Government really needs to address.” “An increase in the rental market will have a knock-on effect. Companies have to look elsewhere to accommodate staff. For example, we have just completed a project at Koki for Nambawan Super for their staff housing, and we can see more of these types of projects happening. Keeping staff happy with quality housing keeps them happy at the company that provides it.”

Search 2,000 properties for sale and rent FREE with PNG’s leading real estate app! Each property listings contains photos, details about the property or building such as amenities and features, as well as information about the surrounding neighbourhood. We also have detailed location profiles for major areas of Port Moresby and guides to living in PNG as an expat. Search Properties on the go: Residential, Commercial, New Developments, Compounds, Apartment BuildingsSearch multiple locations at the same timeSearch properties near landmarksRefine by price, beds, baths land areas etc Features include:SMS, Email, Call multiple agents in one clickMap view with useful amenities: transport, schools, restaurants etc.Save your favourite properties and searches Create alerts based on your criteriaDownload on iOS or Download on Android

If you are considering PNG properties for sale, www.hausples.com.pg lists more homes, land and commercial real estate for sale than any other website! About the PNG property marketPNG’s real estate market is unique in that that vast majority of PNG land is customarily owned (estimated to be upwards of 85%) and 80% of the countries 7 million citizens live in rural and remote areas. For this reason, the png properties for sale are generally limited to the major commercial centres of Port Moresby, Lae, Mount Hagen, Madang and Goroka.To compound PNG’s limited supply of freehold land, the real estate market has been through a boom over the past 10 years due in large part to a range of high profile infrastructure projects such as the Exxon Mobile PNG LNG project. Whilst price rises have been excellent for investors, PNG’s housing affordability has been at an all time low and this has made it very difficult for the average Papua New Guinean to afford a house, or even a cheaper style home such as an apartment or bedsit.Thankfully, the construction of a number of projects are coming to an end in 2014 and this has caused the property market, especially the rental market, to retract significantly from the high’s of 2012 and 2013. In addition, the PNG Government have introduced a range of new initiatives aimed at making it easier for people to purchase PNG properties for sale. One such scheme is the BSP / PNG Government’s First Home Ownership Loan Scheme which provides loans to homebuyers at a preferential interest rate of 4%.Please visit our dedicated page for more detailed information about Port Moresby real estate and market predictions for 2015. How Hausples.com.pg will helphe Hausples real estate portal is PNG’s No 1 real estate website, with more than 1,000 PNG properties listed for sale and rent, and this number is growing daily. Our website is free for any PNG real estate agent or property developer to list a property, and it is absolutely free for the public to use.We aim to make it easy to search for land, homes and commercial properties for sale through a simple web-design that is mobile phone and tablet friendly. You can also save your favourite png properties for sale and create email alerts to advise you when new homes for sale are listed on Hausples.com.pg.Finally, we are helping to make PNG’s property market more transparent by providing sold prices for PNG properties and providing an easily searchable database of available properties for sale and rent.

OverviewKorobosea is a suburb of Port Moresby and is located between East Boroko, Kirakira village and the Two Mile Hill area.It is predominantly a residential area and within the vicinity of public and private health service providers such as the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) and the Pacific International Hospital (PIH).Most properties in Korobosea were previously government-owned medium to high cost covenant housing, which were later sold to the tenants (public servants) or ended up in private ownership through various government give-away schemes.The nearest large supermarket is the Supa Value Stoa (SVS) next to the PNG Defence Force headquarters at Murray Barracks. There are smaller shops located at China Town in East Boroko.A privately-run public transport system connects Korobosea with East Boroko, the Boroko commercial area and the Port Moresby CBD through Two Mile Hill. HistoryThe suburb is named after Korobosea, a large village whose inhabitants the Motu-Koitabu are considered the traditional landowners of Port Moresby. Korobosea, located on a hill overlooking Joyce Bay and Walter Bay, was the first village for the indigenous population in the area.Over the years some villagers left Korobosea and moved to the foot of the hill to establish what is now called Kirakira. Mahuru village, which can be found between Korobosea and Kirakira villages, is an offshoot of Kirakira village.  The descendants of the original settlers of Korobosea can still be found living at the site of the old village and have a population of about 1000 people. ResidentialAn increasing number of owners of what was previously government-owned medium to high-cost covenant housing have reinvested in their properties and are now putting them up for rent.The close proximity of Korobosea to Port Moresby’s two large health service providers and the Boroko commercial area make it an attractive location for working-class Papua New Guineans who want to rent. SchoolsKorobosea is home to the International Education Agency (IEA)-run Korobosea International School. Other schools in close proximity to the suburb include the Port Moresby Grammar School, Port Moresby International School (POMIS), Kilakila Secondary School (close to Kirakira village) and the Ted Diro Primary School at Murray Barracks. HealthcareOn top of the services offered by the PIH and PMGH, there are other healthcare providers in the area. These are Paradise Private Hospital, 2K Medical Centre, Korobosea Clinic, and the University of PNG School of Medicine and Health Sciences dental clinic.The UPNG School of Medicine and Health Sciences is next to the PMGH and trains PNG’s doctors. EmergencyThe Port Moresby police metropolitan command is stationed at the Boroko commercial area and is a 10-minute drive from Korobosea. Adjacent to the Boroko police station is a PNG Fire Service station, which can respond to emergencies within the community.

Gordons OverviewThe Gordons suburb of Port Moresby spans across various kilometers bordering other suburbs such as 5 mile and Waigani. The Gordons area is divided into Gordons and Gordons 5, each comprising of their own within the vicinity of major amenities. Gordons ResidentialPropertyThe residential area of Gordons is largely located along Henao Drive, which boasts a variety of accommodation from stand alone homes to blocks of units, to lodges and hotels. The majority being stand alone homes built to the traditional PNG style homes which has attracted many Papua New Guinean families to live there.The security factor involved along Gordons is not very high as many of the residents are families whom are notCommercial properties are also present in Gordons with buildings such as the recently built CHM Corporate Office and the Datec Compound housing some of the biggest companies in Port Moresby. Other office spaces are also available for the smaller business in buildings such as Copy-Tek Ples. SchoolsThe Ela Murray International School (TEMIS) and the Gordons International School are run by the International Education Agency (IEA) international standards of education for children up the 8th Grade. In addition to those, there is the Sunny Bunny Preschool located next door to TEMIS. Shopping & DiningThe Boroko Foodworld at Gordons is located less than 3 minutes away from all ends of Gordons, a popular grocery shop for expats and locals alike offering largely Western style foods as well as the Poppy’s Cafe. Less than half a kilometer away is the RH Hypermarket, also very popular for the locals and expats alike but provides more food for the asian cuisine.For those looking for locally grown produce, the Gordons Market is the market for buying fresh vegetables in bulk, for a very cheap price. Gordons Market however is also the location of the Gordon’s Bus Stop, bringing hundreds of commuters together at one time and has had issues with petty theft across the years. For a safer alternative, the H-hill Open Market is located across the road from TEMIS and amongst the residential properties. Here you will have access to both local produce as well as a variety of seafood.  Located in Gordons are various dining establishments mostly offering the asian cuisine such as Maggie’s Seafood Restaurant, Phoenix Restaurant, Regal Bar & Grill, Kiwa Korean Restaurant and the Brown Beans Cafe.Within Gordons, various other shops are available to find a variety of items that would be much too long to mention in this profile. Popular stores however, include the Brian Bell Home Centre, BNBM Home Centre and Courts. Furthermore, buildings in the area include South Pacific Brewery, Datec, the Air Niugini Head Office and A number of hardware stores can also be accessed in the area such as Plumbers & Builders and Agmark Hardware. NightlifeThere are a number of establishments that provide a place for an evening drink. Most notably is the Armani Club, Diamond Club and Club 22 in Gordons. Although these places are popular amongst locals, they are not highly recommended given the factor of security. Although all hope is not lost as Gordons borders Waigani and other establishments such as the Gekko Bar at Holiday, Lamana Gold Club and the Cosmopolitan are within 5 minutes driving distance. Basic ServicesThe Eda Ranu Head Office, the State Owned Entity responsible for supplying water to all residences in Port Moresby as well as other urban centres in PNG.Gordons Police Station is also located next to the Gordons Market, where people can go if need be; or they can be contacted on their emergency number 000. Gordons IndustrialLocated within the Gordon is an area known by the locals as ‘Gordon’s Industrial’ Located on the south side of the Poreporena Freeway, this area, as the name suggests, is where many of the industrial dealers may be found. Here you can find vehicle workshops such as Pit-Stop, Dunlop Tyre Services, ARB and other service centres such as the Brian Bell Service Center and ESCO.All within walking distance of one another, you can also find a Bank South Pacific branch with ATM access. A 2 minute walk away is the head office for Hitron, one of the major television network providers in PNG.If you’re looking to dine while you’re in the area, a Duffy’s Cafe is located right next to the Hitron office. For something more heavy, there are restaurants in the area such as the Imperial Chinese and Ang’s.

About the PNG rental marketResidents of Papua New Guinea will be unsurprised to hear that PNG properties for rent are the largest part of the real estate market. Unlike other countries in which real estate sales make-up the majority of activity, in PNG rental properties are where the bulk of transactions take place.The primary reason for this lies in PNG’s unique land titles system which means that the vast majority of real estate is owned under customary title, meaning there are limited plots of freehold land for sale. For a detailed explanation of the PNG land tenure system please visit our Port Moresby real estate page.As a result of the huge demand for rental properties, real estate agents maintain large teams dedicated to servicing landlords and tenants. Types of rental propertiesThe rental market can be divided into residential, commercial and land rentals. Residential rentalsThe residential market includes apartments, houses, townhouses, bedsitters (which are single room apartments similar to a studio apartment) and shared accommodation in which individual rooms are rented with shared bathrooms and other amenities.Generally, the cheapest rentals are 1 bedroom spaces in bedsitters (shared accommodation) which will rent for K150+ per week and the landlords typically prefer ladies. While 2 bedroom apartments and houses start at K500 per week and 3 bedroom apartments range from approximately K800 per week upwards. These prices are the lowest end of the available properties and will usually be found in less affluent areas such as Port Moresby’s Gerehu, Badili and Hohola.Unfortunately, the majority of rental properties in the major cities of Port Moresby and Lae are quite highly priced with approximately 60% of properties currently available on Hausples costing between than K1000 – K3000 per week. These properties are generally 2 to 3 bedroom and are located within a secure compound or apartment building with around the clock security. Rental properties of this type are available in suburbs such as East Boroko, Gordons and Korobosea.For expatriates, corporate rentals and executives, there are a range of properties costing K3,000 per week and ranging up to K7,000+ per week. These properties will all feature 24 / 7 security guards, full back-up electricity facilities, communal BBQ areas and most likely a pool. These houses and apartments are usually located in the best areas of Port Moresby such as the POM CBD (known as Town), Waigaini, Gordons and Ela Beach. Commercial rentalsPNG commercial real estate rentals are a relatively small segment of the market with under 50 commercial properties presently listed on Hausples.com.pg.The majority of commercial rentals are for warehouses and light commercial spaces. These properties are located within the major industrial centres in Gordons, 6 Mile and Badili. Whilst office space, commercial and retail (for example shops) rentals are commonly situated in Town(the Port Moresby CBD), 2 Mile and Boroko. Unfortunately PNG real estate agents do not tend to list monthly rental pricing for commercial property and as such many properties are listed as ‘Price On Application’. Land RentalsPNG land for rent is extremely limited. This is clearly demonstrated by a ratio of land rentals to land sales of 10 to 1 on the Hausples.com.pg website. Land for rent is generally limited to storage space. Undoubtedly there is a large amount of customary land which is rented for various purposes in rural areas for purposes such as agriculture, however this market is informal and therefore not listed on Hausples.com.pg. Hence, those searching for land to rent should also consider purchasing land Searching for PNG properties for rentHausples.com.pg recognises the importance of rental properties in PNG and as such our website is focussed on making it easy to search for and inquire about a rental home, land or commercial property. The site presently lists in excess of 500 homes for rent from over 20 real estate agents located in the major cities of Port Moresby and Lae.

Papua New Guinea’s first ever real estate show -The 2017 PNG Real Estate Show – organized by Hausples.com.pg, welcomed an influx of over 3000 local and international visitors on the 3rd and 4th of November- hosted at the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex. Over 30 businesses in the real estate industry showcased their services to property renters, buyers and potential investors over the two days. The aim of Hausples.com.pg in organizing The 2017 PNG Real Estate Show, was to bring as many stakeholders of Papua New Guinea’s real estate industry together into one easily accessible forum. The company further aimed to provide an opportunity for the general public to learn about the real estate market as a whole in Papua New Guinea and any current and prospective changes taking place.The event included a wide range of exhibitors from the real estate industry; from real estate agents such as Century 21 Siule Real Estate, The Professionals and Strickland Real Estate, financial institutions such as Bank of South Pacific (BSP), and superannuation companies including Nambawan Super Limited, and National Superannuation Fund (NASFUND).In addition, PNG Forest Products, Rhodes Builders,Inc and the China Railway Group Limited, showcased a variety of different housing models which could be adopted by home buyers when looking at the construction phase of their new home. Home furnishing businesses; Brian Bell Group and FairPrice Furniture also exhibited their in-house furniture options; ranging from sofas to white ware -and other furnishing necessities.Guest speakers from across the industry delivered speeches over the two days, including topics such as; ‘Legal implications of apartment development and strata titles’, delivered by Mr John Leahy of Leahy Lewin Lowing Sullivan Lawyers, ‘Private sector perspective of addressing affordable housing’, by Kym Young, Director of Edai Town, and Ms. Linda Garo of Transpacific Assurance Limited, addressed common questions surrounding home insurance.Mr Tom Snelling, General Manager of Hausples.com.pg, believed these speeches at the show were important: “Education surrounding the property market is sorely lacking in Papua New Guinea and we believe including speakers about relevant topics in the real estate industry was a major draw card. Attendees gave positive feedback on speakers and we have some excellent suggestions for speakers for the next show.”Mr Snelling, reflecting on the show a whole believes the show was considered a success by attendees: “We’ve actually surveyed attendees and over 1,000 have taken the time to respond,” Mr. Snelling continued: “93% of respondents said that they enjoyed, and received value from the show. Moreover, 85% said they wanted to see more exhibitors at the 2018 Show.” Over 60% of attendees enquired about the purchasing property at the show- with a majority of those expressing an interest to purchase property in the immediate future, according to Mr Snelling.This sentiment was also confirmed by feedback from exhibitors: “We are proud to report that over 90% of exhibitors said that the show delivered on their expectations, whether it be generating leads or awareness of their product.” Mr Snelling stated.Mr Snelling has confirmed the return of the PNG Real Estate Show in 2018: “The show will be back- bigger and better than ever in 2018”. He explained that the date will likely be around mid-year 2018, and arrangements have already taken place to ensure 30% additional space will be available at the venue – for further exhibitors to take part in the show.Official Media Partners for the event were Bank South Pacific;Trans Pacific Assurance Limited; The National; Pascoe Group: Marketing & Brand Specialists Click TV PNG; Guys Official; Advantage PNG Audio & Photography; Skerah Papua New Guinea; LightSpeed Internet.

Pictured is the Rokolo Clan of Irupara Village in the Central Province, the first ever recipients of a Customary Land Title issued in the province. Photo source: lands.gov.pg Only about 5% of land in Papua New Guinea belongs to the State, the remaining 95% of the land therefore belongs to customary landowners across the country. With the increasing number of tangible developments around PNG, the percentage of State owned land is set to increase meaning a lot more customary land owners will eventually be dispossessed. In an article in the Post Courier in August this year, Barney Orere explains this issue and the steps to be taken to protect one’s interest in customary land. Bringing You Up to SpeedPapua New Guineans have a very strong connection to the land which is the foundation of our many customary traditions and beliefs, even to this day the land customarily owned provides means of daily survival for those living in rural areas. Without getting too entangled in legal jargon, but in order to protect this interest, those bringing our country towards Independence ensured that our right to our land be protected in the Constitution. Hence, Section 53 of the Constitution provides that any possession or interest in any property cannot be acquired unless it is by agreement or by compulsory acquisition. Compulsorily acquisition only occurs where the land is needed for public purpose or for a reason that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.To enter into agreement whilst using customary land as collateral, it must be done so through an Incorporated Land Group (ILG) the process being made available for by the Incorporated Land Groups Amendment Act 2009 and the Land Registration Amendment Act 2009. Why Register Customary Land Groups?The further the State develops infrastructure, there would be a larger need for land to be acquired for public purposes. “The aim is to give prominence to landowners so they can participate in Vision 2050 by leasing their land and benefit from royalties. In that way land lying idle is put to gainful use.Land may only be acquired by the State, in accordance Section 53, where there has been just compensation paid for the land. The significant difference is that where land is compulsorily acquired, just compensation need only to be paid once. Where it is entered into by agreement, it means there has been discussions between the State and an ILG, where the ILG has leased the land to State for a certain period. When the period comes an end, the lease may be extended, meaning another payment is to be made to the ILG. The benefit of this as well is the flexibility in dealing with the land; it not only needs to be leased to the land, but corporations as well.Eda Tano Haus, Department of Lands & Physical Planning Located between Aopi Centre and Lamana Hotel, Waigani Photo source: lands.gov.pg How to Protect Your Land?Orere explains that before the need for compulsory acquisition catches up to customary land owners, they must take the proactive step to register the clan and its ownership over the land. “First you must visit the Incorporated Land Group Division and after you’ve been issued a registration certificate over your customary land, the next stop is the Customary Land Registration Division – to facilitate your land title. The processes have been accommodated by the amendments to the law to help you, the customary landowner, to do this.”, Orere says. As a further measure of protection, customary land is owned by clans and cannot be sold by individuals. One must get consent from all members to engage in its registration and subsequent business dealings. What Are the Risks Involved?“Once your customary land is registered, you can use your title as collateral to enter into the gainful activity, either through business or with the State through leasing arrangement.”, Orere remarked. Therefore, the risk involved from entering into certain activity are the same as any other commercial transaction.  A recent issue which became apparent was that agreements being entered into was not done voluntarily or with the consent of clan members which led declaring of all Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABL’s) illegal in March earlier this year. Further issues include the problems such as businesses taking advantage of the land an exploiting it for purposes unintended. In such cases, the Courts have been willing to intervene to nullify certain contracts and hold those responsible. Should You Register Customary Land?Simply put, yes. All customary landowners, whether apportionment large or small, should look to have their customarily owned land registered through an ILG because given the structure of our legal system, the State may acquire it despite objections. Director for the Customary Land Registration at the DLPP remarked “The momentum is slowly picking up to register customary land. People want to retain their bond with the land and through leasing arrangement benefit by making use of the land this way.”The only way to ensure that an interest is kept in the land and the future generations of the clans can benefit from the land will be to register the land. Thus, although possession may be given up, royalties may continue to be acquired. Sign Up Here to Get Latest News!

Papua New Guinea’s property market has been turbulent since the LNG boom just a few short years ago.  Whilst this is often regarded as doom and gloom in many countries, there is a bright light at the end of tunnel for PNG.  Firstly, the affordable housing shortage is being addressed, particularly by private sector and secondly, now is an excellent time to buy according to the latest “Hausples Sentiment Survey” indicating a general feeling for property prices to increase.For this reason, Hausples.com.pg is hosting the first exhibition dedicated exclusively to Real Estate Industry: ‘The Hausples Show’. The show offers agents, developers and those related to the property industry, the chance to exhibit to a large local and international audience of buyers, renters and investors. The event is free for the public to attend and Hausples expects thousands of visitors over the two-day event, which is to be held at the Sir John Guise Indoor Arena in Waigani (opposite Vision City). There will be over thirty booths, with leading agents and property developers showcasing their latest offerings. These include Edai Town, Kennedy Estate, Northlakes, Rhode’s Napa Napa and PBF’s new development in Bomana and Zenith’s Duran Farm.The show will also contain a broad range of exhibitors related to real estate, making it a one stop shop for property hunters. Exhibitors include finance companies, insurance, pay TV, internet providers,  kit home providers and many more. Leading PNG companies supporting and attending include ClickTV, Bank of South Pacific, Transpacific Assurance, whilst exhibitors include Nambawan Super, Advantage PNG, Akzo Nobel, Lightspeed Internet, PNG Forestry Products and more.Attendees will also have the chance to learn real estate industry trends, tips and tricks from a range of expert speakers during seminars running throughout the two days. Seminar topics include 2017 / 2018 real estate market predictions, navigating the purchase of a property from a legal and accounting perspective, and how to negotiate the best finance on a property purchase.Tom Snelling, the General Manager of Hausples, says:“Hausples.com.pg is incredibly excited to bring the whole of the PNG real estate industry under one roof. For the first time, the buying and renting public will be able to conveniently explore the full range of property options available in PNG, plus learn critical insights into the future of PNG’s real estate sector from leading authorities. Based on the 2017 PNG Real Estate Sentiment Survey, we know that the majority of Papua New Guineans and expats believe the PNG real estate market will grow quickly over the coming years. In fact, of the 2,000+ people we surveyed, most believe that now is a good time to buy or rent and more than 50% of people intend to purchase over the next 12 months. This pent up demand gives us confidence that the show will be a huge success and we have already received thousands of free registrations.” Then he added:“Due to the strong demand have chosen the Sir John Guise Indoor Arena as an ideal location with easy access and ample parking. We are also providing free wifi Internet thanks to our friends at Lightspeed Internet and a range of fantastic lucky door prizes including a TV production and airtime package from PNG TV worth over K10,000. I encourage all those who are thinking of attending to register today” Click Here to Register for Free! To reserve a booth to exhibit your services at the 2017 or 2018 PNG Real Estate show please contact Hausples at: [email protected]

Just recently, University of Sydney’s Senior Lecturer in Political Economy Dr. Tim Anderson gave his presentation on the “Framework for Assessing Compensation for The Wrongful Loss of Customary Land.” One of the things he argued was that there was a lack of concrete processes in determining the financial value of land in the country. However, it may not just be a lack of process that’s serving as a roadblock. It may also be the lack of laws that protect the rights of landowners – especially for customary land.So, what are the implications that may arise from this? What actions can be done to resolve this gap? Experts in the field weigh in. Setting the backdropWhile Dr. Anderson says that land is not a commodity in the country, Act Now Programme Manager Efrey Dademo mentions that there are commodities that can be derived from customary land. In a conference last 22nd of May 2017, she explains, “The wellbeing and livelihood of our people is directly linked and central to our customary land and the economic value that it possesses.”Dademo continues, “Our people’s resilience to the financial and food crisis in the world is because of the fact that they still have their land in their aid at this time on which they are planting cash crops and food to consume and sell, fuel for cooking, building materials for housing and other livelihood necessities.”This is something that Dr. Anderson agrees with as well. He said in his presentation that Customary land can be a source of greater economic returns. Identifying the problemDr. Anderson states that the reason why the greater economic returns are not being received is because the government trades these land for special agricultural business leases. He mentions that a little over 5 million hectares have already been leased out to corporations. In turn, customary landowners are dispossessed of their properties.Dr. Anderson adds that “In 2013, the government was made aware through a Commission of Inquiry (COI 2013) that these leases were unlawful for failure to follow proper process under the Land Act and, in particular, for their failure to ensure the free prior and informed consent of customary landowners.” Addressing the DilemmaThe problem with the current setup of Papua New Guinea is not that there is a lack of law for customary land. The problem is that there is an absence of law to address customary land issues, thereby leaving customary landowners defenseless. This is according to a recentarticle from The National.This lack of provision for already existing laws at the moment to be used to do the opposite of what it was intended to do. Communal Land Law Foundation principal adviser Mali Voi states, “Currently, our legal system is using the English common laws that do not capture the interest of our traditional or customary land issues.”Voi adds that this allows preference to foreigners rather than the country’s people. He explains, “The current laws are used to dispossess us as we’ve been dominated by foreigners and we are basically helping the foreigners rather than helping our own people.”Dademo echoes this and says that the government was “persuaded by outside interests  with the focus to promote unrestrained economic growth and export earnings in the false hope that this should improve lives of the majority of the people.”This has been an ongoing issue for years now, but there are those in the government itself who are also trying to change the current situation by proposing amendments to the current law regarding land. Now, whether this tension dissipates or not is only a question of how these efforts to change the system will make a difference to the current government’s decision.

There is a desire when constructing infrastructure in Papua New Guinea to have it be within reasonable costs, together with topnotch materials and output that will last for years. But this has not been the case for the past five years. That’s according to outgoing president of the Papua New Guinea Institute of Engineers, Ila Mari. Image from: Monier PNG FB Page and pnglife.blogspot.comCounting the previous costDuring the 2017 two-day convention on Innovation and Sustainability in Port Moresby last month, Mari raised a few concerns. She mentions, “It is true to say there has been a lot of development happening over the last five years than the last 15 years but at enormous costs.”Mari then proceeds to point out several developments as evidences of her claim.  One of them is the South Pacific Games Facilities that proved costly, and yet had a poor output quality. She also pointed out that the Government buildings rehabilitation have been completed at double the estimated cost. Marin even pointed out that the National Capital Districts roads were designed and constructed at double or triple the estimated cost. Focusing in on present abilitiesMari stated engineers – architects, mechanical, civil, mining, petroleum, and so forth – were all here to make sure that development costs for infrastructure were at a reasonable rate and that they were constructed using high-quality materials.Mari says both innovation and sustainability are crucial for any developmental initiative being implemented within the country. She qualifies, “Thus, it is important to save costs and look at priority areas that would additionally emerge as assets to generate revenue that contributes toward the economy.” She adds, “Engineers are now challenged to have a better look at the current development in order to contribute creatively.” Correcting it for the futureShe also gives a reminder that better usage of assets or resources will conserve time and money in the long run. So, better planning for the construction of road infrastructures and buildings in the country is also essential. She mentions that “with the current leadership, the upcoming engineers should focus on how to go about addressing such developmental issues before taking a step forward.”Mari also urged engineers and construction professionals to develop innovative cost-control systems in various areas in the field to ascertain that the procurement procedures were not abused. She said, “The engineers were encouraged to look ahead to ensure proper material costs and placements be according to procedures and within reasonable frameworks.”So, while there has been tremendous progress, there is much more growth to be had in the country for this particular sector. And it takes initiative from different individuals and professionals who have been trained and who have the passion to create a more sustainable developmental environment for both investors and customers.

Click to download the full report  Hausples.com.pg, Papua New Guinea’s leading real estate portal, is excited to share the results of the 2017 Real Estate Consumer Sentiment Survey. The survey sheds light on crucial information vital for property industry professionals such as Government authorities, developers, investors, insurers, financial institutions, personal home hunters, and real estate agents. The survey was distributed over various digital and physical channels to over 2,000 respondents in both Papua New Guinea and globally; this is likely the most comprehensive real estate survey in PNG history. Most respondents were citizens of Papua New Guinea, coming in at roughly 91% of the total, whilst international respondents came from a diverse range of countries including Australia, America, China, Philippines, and Malaysia.Survey respondents were reasonably evenly split between males and females and ~70% of respondents were over the age of 30. The most prevalent professions of respondents were government (19%), banking and finance (13%), oil and mining (13%) and real estate and construction (6%). Most respondents lived with a partner (husband or wife). Hausples.com.pg believes the demographics of the survey represent a highly accurate snapshot of Papua New Guinea society and the sample size of over 2,000 people provides statistical accuracy of over 97%. Survey questions were divided between the rental and sales markets, financial literacy and the real estate industry generally.In terms of the rental market, ~45% of respondents are considering renting a property over the next 2 months, confirming that demand for rental housing is incredibly high. Perhaps surprisingly, nearly 40% of those seeking rental accommodation have a preference for condos/apartments, with the next most popular property type being PNG-style houses (timber framed, high set buildings). Roughly 45% of respondents are prepared to spend over k2,000 per month renting and 40% consider that renting is either somewhat affordable through to very affordable. This should give apartment developers in the capitals continued confidence of ongoing demand throughout the price spectrum, but particularly for affordable styles of housing.   Property purchase is now an extremely high priority for Papua New Guineans, with over half of respondents (55%) stating an intention to purchase over the next 12 months. Sentiment toward housing is also extremely buoyant with 61% of people believing that now is a good time to buy a home. This is despite (or perhaps even the result of) a highly prevalent belief that property prices have increased over the last 12 months (67% of people). As distinct from renters, purchasers clearly prefer PNG and Western style houses (30%+ and 28% respectively), with condos being preferred by just 7% of respondents. Port Moresby is by far the most popular locale for property hunters, with 80%+ respondents seeking to buy in or around the Capital, followed by Lae, East New Britain and Madang.     Purchasing power and financial literacy are also rapidly improving, indicating that steps taken by both the Government and private enterprise, such as the First Home Ownership Loan Scheme, are having a positive effect. Whilst 70% of home hunters intend to spend less than K500,000 on their next home, a substantial proportion (20%+) will spend between K500,000 – K1 million, and 10% will spend K1 million or more. 85% of people are prepared to contribute a deposit of 10% or more toward their purchase and 77% indicated that they will fully insure their future home.These results confirm very positive sentiment toward home ownership, the prospects for the real estate market and rapidly increasing financial literacy. Those in the real estate, construction and financial services sectors should be encouraged by these results. However, whilst there is clearly substantial demand for housing, supply clearly remains highly constrained. This is evidenced in respondent’s primary concern for the real estate industry as “land tenure and the availability freehold land” (over 60% of respondents). Indicating that Papua New Guineans are well aware of the complexities of the country’s customary land tenure system and the pressure this places on the availability of land for purchase. Hausples.com.pg notes the Government’s efforts to increase the availability of land for purchase, particularly in the affordable spectrum. There are between 5,000 – 6,000 new homes forecasted to be built in Port Moresby over the next 18 months, with up to 50,000 additional homes slated to be build by 2020. These comprise major government initiatives such as the National Housing Commission’s mega-development at Duran Farm which will comprise 44,000 dwellings (standalone 2-3 bedroom houses). There are also some other smaller private developments such as Mediterranean Apartments (48 units comprising bedsit and 2 – 3 bedroom homes), Community Housing Limited’s proposed development at 9 Mile (160 stand alone 3 bedroom houses), and larger developments such as Edai Town which comprises 300 homes (2 – 3 bedroom homes).This increased supply, when coupled with novel housing initiatives such as the First Home Ownership Loan Scheme and the National Superannuation Fund’s Housing Advance Scheme are excellent positive steps in allowing ordinary Papua New Guineans to purchase a home. It is extremely encouraging to see the present efforts to address the housing shortage. These efforts are clearly increasing people’s positivity toward homeownership, education with respect to financial literacy, and general sentiment toward PNG’s property market. All of these factors bode well for the future of PNG’s real estate market and people’s prospects for living in a home.Hausples.com.pg hopes that Government authorities, those in the real estate and construction sphere and the financial services sector will use the data contained 2017 Real Estate Sentiment Survey constructively and to the advancement of the Papua New Guinea’s real estate market. Click to download the full report

Ela Beach is Port Moresby’s primary public beach. It houses the country’s whitest sands, beautiful waters, and a range of various recreational facilities like beach volleyball and basketball courts, a boardwalk, an amphitheater, and a few kiosks. Or at least that’s what it was. Now it’s playing host to a rather controversial development that foreshadows significant changes in the landscape that has once defined Port Moresby. And whether that change – a proposed four-lane road and a beach extension – is good or bad depends on who you ask. All that glitters is not goldThe underlying issue is not with the project itself, as many perceive it. The real problem with the construction of the development, at least for most of the city residents, is the fact that the project will involve cutting the old Casuarina trees that have decorated the landmark for decades, trees that have been part of countless family stories passed down from generation to generation. For some of these people, removing them means removing a part of the country’s history.Many are also already crying foul and asking if the government could have done more research in order to continue construction without having to cut the trees down.Understanding the ColorsThe government was quick to respond to the allegations and have made it clear that they are doing all they can to save as much of the trees as possible. NCD Governor, Powes Parkop said, “We understood that the older trees were part of the Ela beach heritage and are working hard to save those which can be saved.”He clarifies that the ones being cut down are merely trees that have reached their life expectancy. This will be a difficult dilemma in the future should the dead trees become a threat to public safety.Parkop stressed, “Our interest is to serve our people as best as possible. Ela Beach is the only major park we have in Port Moresby and we are looking forward to making it bigger, better and more serviceable for our residents.” He also urges the residents to not focus on what will be lost, but instead to focus on what can be gained.Setting the ContrastWith the loss of the abovementioned facilities, the residents will gain a larger beach area, a new two-way road, and even a new Sea Park not far off into the beach. These will add to the APEC Meeting Hall which is set to become one of the most iconic buildings in PNG. This, the government hopes, will propel the country into the global main stage.In total, the government will be spending K55 million for the redevelopment of Ela Beach and another K45 for the Sea Park. Both projects are expected to reach completion in 2018, right before the APEC Summit starts.With both arguments valid and both sides taking the initiative to fight for their own causes, what remains constant and agreeable is the fact that everyone just wants to paint a better future for Ela Beach and PNG as a whole. And while it looks uncertain for now, it will soon be revealed just how much everyone can benefit from the bigger picture. For now, we can just give the artist some recommendations and trust that the final product will be one that everyone can enjoy.

Papua New Guinea is becoming an increasingly interesting investment location for business and industry expansion. But it’s also becoming a breeding ground for many emerging startups that come from various industries and sectors. So, it is typical for these businesses and individuals to expand their physical work space as they expand their network. How do you Find the Perfect Office Space?Great work spaces need to address the needs of the business or organization. Its characteristics include a safe and convenient location, a reasonable price, good infrastructure, and a decent work area. But getting these things on your own doesn’t come easy or cheap – especially if you’re just starting out. Strategically located in Stanley Esplanade, Harbourside West Tower Serviced Offices offers easy access to just that.There are also dining options at Harbourside itself, like Duffy, Tandoor on the Harbour, The Naked Fish on the Pier, and The Pier Drinking Consultants, and Sogno – So, whether you are looking for a quick bite, coffee, or a fine dining experience to woo your clients, Harbourside is the perfect place for this.What Range of Office Spaces Does Harbourside West Tower Serviced Offices Have?More than the convenient location, Harbourside West Tower Serviced Offices also offers a wide variety of fully-equipped and fully-furnished office spaces that cater to the needs of different business models – from a 5 sqm one-person private unit that costs K4,576 a month, all the way to a 70 sqm fully-equipped 12-person office for just K23,100 a month.Other options include a 8.8 sqm 2 to 3-person office for K7,436 a month, a 36 sqm 4-person office for K11,880 a month, a 46 sqm 7-person office for K15,180 a month, a 43 sqm 6-person office for K12,613.33 a month, a 45 sqm 6-person office  for K13,200 a month, a 54 sqm 7-person office for K17,820 a month, and a 50 sqm 8-person office for K10,982.40 a month.If you’re looking for something more cost efficient, another feature that Harbourside West Tower Serviced Offices offers is its K60 hot desk seats that essentially allows budding entrepreneurs and freelancers to get a space of their own on a shared office environment to easily veer away from the rush of the central business district. What Makes Harbourside West Tower Serviced Offices So Special?All the units here are accompanied with a great view of the Fairfax Harbour or the Central Business District and can be leased for both short or long-term purposes. This means flexible rental arrangements that can be done on a monthly, weekly, daily, or even on an hourly basis.Each unit also comes equipped with a set of modern and high quality desks, chairs, and filing cabinets. Renting a unit also allows businesses to use shared facilities such as the fridge, microwave, kitchen, and the breakout area. The rent is inclusive of utilities such as washrooms, water, electricity, general office cleaning once a week, 24-hour security, and competent support staff.Harbourside West Tower Serviced Offices does not claim to be able to run your business for you, but it offers you the ability to take charge and help you run your office space and environment. With your own fully-furnished work space and a fully-trained support staff, all you’ll ever need to do is to turn your business into a success! So, when work starts becoming a hassle more than an asset and it slowly becomes your life, it’s worth checking to see if you can live that work life more efficiently at the Harbourside West Tower Serviced Offices!Click Here to See all the Harbourside Offices AvailableorClick Here to Contact Harbourside!

A portion of Papua New Guinea’s population is now trying to recover after extreme floods recently devastated their properties. Homes were submerged alongside gardens, crops, and even livestock. Other than that, surrounding roads also seemed to have lay to waste as the storm subsided. This has called into question the construction quality of infrastructure.Image Source: emtv.com.pg What happens after a calamity?The typical recovery scenario one might find in Papua New Guinea after tragedies such as this is the quick attempts at reparation of damaged properties. But the government has recently been finding it much more difficult to move forward due to the ludicrous amount of requests they receive for compensation. And while this may potentially help alleviate the situation of affected citizens, it has been the subject to alleged abuse.Works Minister Francis Awesa recalls that just recently, the people at Guo in Chimbu requested a payment amounting to K1 million before they were allowed to repair a portion of the national highway. This is something the government is not taking lightly.Awesa explains, “This Government and the Works Department will not entertain these unnecessary and ridiculous compensation claims, which are an impediment to Papua New Guinea’s development, growth and prosperity.” He continues, “That is why the O’Neill Government will introduce new laws with tougher penalties for people who try to hold the country to ransom with their demands for compensation.What else is the government doing about the “compensation mentality”?Awesa describes the O’Neill administration to have delivered more bridges and roads than any former government administration. But more than that, he says that it also is currently developing higher grade infrastructures that is less prone to damage by extreme weather and climate conditions. He said, “For the first time, this Government is delivering climate-resilient infrastructure to withstand extreme weather conditions that pose a grave danger to our roads and bridges.”What developments are actually lined up?Part of these planned infrastructure developments is the Bridge Replacement for Improved Rural Access Project where old one-lane bailey bridges are being replaced by new concrete ones throughout the country. The project will see the construction of a series of bridges that include the recently opened Laloki Bridge at the National Capital District. It will be the first 4-lane bridge in the country.Other constructed bridges include the Brown River bridge and the Angabanga bridge which was built in a span of 18 months by the China Harbour Engineering Company through a loan from the Asian Development Bank. Seven other bridges are also set to rise along the Magi highways in Central and Hiritano.The rolling out of a second package of developments will also happen in East and West Sepik, Madang, and West New Britain soon. Works Secretary David Wereh mentioned that the construction of the three new bridges is a testament to the focus of the department to create structures that reflect high engineering standards. Wereh states that the the department had currently bypassed its 800-meter construction target for bridge structures.Subscribe to our Newsletter to receive news and updates about New Developments, Free Land Titles News, Real Estate & Housing Demand trends and other programmes to help PNG home buyers!

Image Source: onepng.comPlaying a huge part as a factor affecting growth and as an indicator of it, infrastructure is easily an essential element that affects people’s way of life in Papua New Guinea. It offers accessibility, comfort, convenience, and opportunities. But is the end result of building PNG infrastructure really all fine and dandy?Building BridgesLand and property prices in Siviri and Kerema may see a sudden change, following the completion and launching of the K-Bay footbridge last September 16, 2016.  The bridge cost K350,000  and was built by the Mesaivo Clan Land Owners. It was funded through the SSG Funds by the Gulf Provincial Technical Services. This project will allow locals to conveniently move from one town proper to another in order to access healthcare, proper education, and markets. Gulf Governor Havila Kavo – who attended the opening – warns though that the Siviri people who had been affected by the unusually high tides should relocate to another area. This bridge may be one of the steps for residents to slowly and easily do that.The opening of the 100-meter long K-Bay footbridge last Friday was also attended by the Mayor of Kerema Town, Jack Narrie, and Gabriel Ikamu who is the ward councilor of Siviri.Houses Built on Air?While the construction and completion of the K-Bay footbridge has brought new opportunities for locals and tourists who wish to visit Siviri and Kerema, another PNG infrastructure is causing an alarm – not because of the infrastructure itself, but developments surrounding it. Concerns regarding the Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby is now increasing, particularly because of the houses that have been popping up in and around it.According to the Civil Aviation Authority, not only is this in breach of existing policies, but it’s also dangerous for people living in these housing developments who can potentially be victims of aircrafts crashing through their property. The CAA also adds that these housing projects have not gotten any sort of approval. Some of these houses have even been built along flight paths and are causing problems as they serve as obstacles for aircrafts trying to leave and land on the airport. Any more of these developments and the runways may be rendered unusable.Korean HydropowerResidential and commercial properties are soon to enjoy the taste of hydropower as Papua New Guinea’s Works and Implementation Development Department closed in on investor Korea Southern Power or KOSPO through a signed memorandum of understanding. This is especially significant since only 10 percent of the total population have access to energy.Through this project, the government aims to increase this figure to 70 percent by the end of 2030.Linking the GapExpecting to generate around K4.3 billion, construction of roads that connect 9-Mile, Gerehu, and Hanuabada started back in 2012. According to the NCDC deputy city manager of regulatory services, Kenneth Atasoa, this will open up zoned land for businesses and commercial use. In total, there will be around 4,000 allotments that would be available. He explains that this will also open up the land which individuals and developers can utilize for development projects, including residential housing and buildings. He says “The roads have enabled rapid development and there are vast commercial opportunities to be made use of (from which) businesses and residents can benefit.”Heaps of upcoming and completed infrastructural developments are causing changes in the real estate sector, most especially in the residential and commercial market. But whether the long-term plan for PNG’s citizens will reach completion as well has yet to be fully realized and seen.Subscribe to our Newsletter to receive news and updates about New Developments, Free Land Titles News, Real Estate & Housing Demand trends and other programmes to help PNG home buyers!

Image Source: indopacificimages.comThe landscape of the National Capital District in Papua New Guinea has shifted in the few years of development it has gone through. And it seems like surrounding areas are about to experience the same treatment while the government pushes for a more progressive and modern appeal.Parceled-off land in the outskirts are being structured to accommodate more commercial and prime residential real estate developments. But in order to more efficiently utilize resources, the government will be looking towards every direction for potential issues and opportunities. Reading the CompassAs developers close in on the National Capital District, the area’s developments continue to sprawl outward for its expansion. In Moresby East and West, hills have become construction grounds and the horizon has turned into a vision of what is to come.  Although arrangements have been put forward such as the lease-lease-back or build operate and transfer (BOT), the only problem that the National Capital District Commission is worried about are the customary lands that may serve as a roadblock for faster expansion of the city. Despite this, ongoing talks are being made with the customary landowners to streamline the process.Meanwhile in the figurative south, Downtown Port Moresby has seen rapid expansion and growth in the past decade. The once drab and impoverished lands have been transformed into glass-laden structures with foundations of concrete and steel. Without sufficient buildable land, the previous years also saw a vertical expansion in the downtown area – especially in the shoreline.  This has paved the way for the Waterfront commercial zone. This is a major factor that is driving more investments into the capital.Walking on WaterRight now, the multimillion Kina Koki Fish Market structure is suspended on steel struts above the sea as it awaits completion. It is an NCDC project that is aimed to provide long-term benefits to the economy and to the fishing communities of both Koki Point and the Vabukori villages.The project will be constructed alongside a service station with amenities like docks for boats and toilets. This is going to be under a public private partnership with the Oil Search Limited company.Pride of the LandConstruction will go full throttle as the government places particular importance on design. Another shoreline development that will be a testament to this is the upcoming APEC Haus that was launched by the Prime minister Peter O’Neill. It will lay host to the 2018 APEC Summit and will connected to Ela Beach through a land bridge.The APEC Haus will be built on reclaimed land and will take the shape of a Lagatoi Sail that resembles the symbol used in the NCD and Central Province flags. The Lagatoi was an integral craft that was part of lives and culture of the people in the coastal Central area.Similar to the Koki Fish Market, the APEC Haus will be built in partnership with the Oil Search Limited company as well using a National Executive Credit approved tax credit scheme. Once done, it is believed that The APEC Haus will be the Sydney Opera House of Papua New Guinea.”With an increasing demand for new land to build on, the government is seeking to not only expand and discover new land but also to grow its economic competency. At this rate, we may see a whole new Papua New Guinea  few years from now.Subscribe to our Newsletter to receive news and updates about New Developments, Free Land Titles News, Real Estate & Housing Demand trends and other programmes to help PNG home buyers!

Image Source: abc.net.auCustomary landowners may be perplexed and intimidated with the system of registering their land as Incorporated Land Groups through the Voluntary Customary Land Registration. These might be due to either worries of the underlying costs or the complexity of the process itself. But this also might be a good long-term investment.RequirementsRegistering land as an Incorporated Land Group isn’t as complicated as some might think. Application only requires a few forms to be filled out with the assistance of the Provincial Customary Lands Officer and endorsed by Provincial Land Advisor. First of these forms is the Application for Recognition as an Incorporated Land Group. This must be submitted along with the Records of Meeting Decision Form, Certificate on Adoption of Constitution, List of Membership with Birth Certificates, List of Property, Constitution of the Land Group, and a sketch map of all the customary land owned by the group.This is the part of the process where positions for the Incorporated Land Group and designations are clarified and noted for future use.CostsIn addition to the forms, the Department of Land & Physical Planning requires applicants to shoulder the payment for publication fees in the national Gazette and Media. Some costs for the application process such as surveying are determined by market forces. So, costs vary from one application to another sometimes. But as more and more people become familiar with setting up and registering an Incorporated Land Group, fees may lower and become competitive.BenefitsThe process of registering Incorporated Land Groups under the Voluntary Customary Land Group is distinct and is specifically made for registering customary land and incorporating landowning groups. It’s one of the only mechanisms to unlock customary land and opening it to economic growth without having to sacrifice ownership.Acting Executive Director for the Office of Customary Land Development explains that “the ILG/VCLR processes are designed to eradicate land grabbing and pursue natural justice by granting formal recognition to land under customary ownership through incorporated landowning groups.”Changes in Incorporated Land GroupParliamentarians are busy promoting the registration under the ILGs and informing their constituents that a new act will be implemented at the strike of February 17, 2017. ILG groups will need to advertise in the media and renew their ILG certificates. If there are no objections, the ILG will be renewed and will be bound to the new act.Getting to know something new may be a daunting task, but it can sometimes be worth the effort as well. So, if the ILG registration process seems difficult at the moment, it may be worth noting that there may be something valuable buried beneath the clutter you can use for the future. It just takes a bit of patience.Subscribe to our Newsletter to receive news and updates about New Developments, Free Land Titles News, Real Estate & Housing Demand trends and other programmes to help PNG home buyers!