According to some reports, some developers are now offering discounts of up to 35% on new properties. This has led to some discord as previous investors have paid much higher prices and have not been able to benefit from these new buyer discounts.

Some analysts have warned that property prices may drop by a massive 20pc over the next two years as current prices are unsustainable and unrealistic.

A decade ago, China’s property market started to boom after authorities privatised a large percentage of housing stock across the country. According to state media, in 2000 there were just 1,000 second-hand home sales in Beijing; last year saw well over 200,000 sales. As prices increased, many people saw property as a wise place to invest money and this pushed price and demand up even further.

However the writing has been on the wall for a while. Authorities took measures last year to try and cool the property market down by introducing things such as restricting the number of properties people could own and increasing the minimum downpayment required for property purchases. Partly, these measures were introduced to help ensure that housing was more affordable for more people – and to stop property investors adding to their already large portfolios.

These measures are now starting to take effect and many believe that property prices in China will now start to decrease to a more sustainable, affordable level.

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The report, which charts the level of interest in the overseas property portal’s listings, saw a condo in Pattaya attract the most enquiries In October. What was it about the luxury Thailand apartment that triggered such a torrent of attention?

The popularity of Pattaya’s property may seem surprising after Thailand’s extensive flooding, but investors were attracted to the resort a matter of days before the tragic event took place. The demand for the luxury coastal condos, located 600 metres from the beach, actually foreshadowed industry predictions, as Colliers International Thailand suggested that the water-damaged homes would lead to a rise in interest in condominiums.

Indeed, apartments attracted the most attention from investors in October, accounting for 6 out of the 10 most popular properties on the site. Closely following Thailand’s condos were flats in Cumbria and new apartments in Spain, but each were driven by different investment needs.

The Spanish apartments show the continuing demand for seaside property in the popular region of Murcia. The new build properties, located close to Murcia’s airport and the upcoming Paramount Theme Park, are a traditional lifestyle buyer choice, eligible for a 50 per cent discount in VAT until the end of the year.

But apartments are also strong opportunities for buy to let investment. Cumbria’s two-bedroom flats (promising 9 to 11 per cent gross yields) were a familiar runner-up to Thailand, dropping one place in popularity after drawing the most enquiries on TheMoveChannel.com in September.

As rents in the UK are revealed to be the highest in Western Europe, buy to let apartments remain a secure form of investment. London-based accommodation, in particular, has the highest rental rates on the continent, with Westminster hotel units holding a firm fourth position in October’s chart.

Istanbul also had apartments to offer investors last month, as Turkey’s booming economy and high student housing demand combined to attract the sixth-highest number of enquiries for Kucukcekmece’s one-bedroom flats. Other non-eurozone markets also demonstrated their appeal, as investors considered properties as diverse as Hungary homes in the heart of Budapest to apartments in Bulgaria’s cheap ski resorts.

Half-price apartments in Egypt’s Hurghada resort were equally popular in seventh place, providing below market value real estate to investors tightening their purse strings. But with buy to let opportunities both in the UK and overseas and new condos in Thailand cheaper than repossessed homes, October proved that apartments remain a popular form of investment, come hell or high water.

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These announcements are in addition to those made in April and are aimed at bringing Chinese real estate prices down to more affordable levels.

Before the announcement, property purchasers had to raise a 20% deposit on new home loans, or 30% if the property was larger than 90 square metres. The new measure sees all properties now having to have a 30% deposit on new home loans. Mortgages for third properties are currently banned and banks must ensure that other loans are not being used to fund property purchases.

The Chinese Government’s new measures are not unexpected as reports showed that property prices were buoyant in August and September meaning the April measures had little effect on the Chinese property market.

Some analysts also believe that more changes to the property market rules may be in the pipeline – there is currently an annual tax on commercial properties although residential property is exempted. It is understood that some local authorities are in talks about possibly removing the exemption for some classes of residential property.

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Singapore properties are amongst the most expensive in Asia with prices rising 5.3% quarter on quarter in the second three months of the year and 5.6% in the first three. Even during the global financial troubles, the Singapore property market continued to grow, bucking the trend of many other nations.

The new measures mean that owners who sell properties less than three years after buying them will be subject to a duty of 3% of the resale value – this measure only previously applied if the property was sold within a year of purchase. For Singapore property buyers with at least one outstanding loan, the minimum cash down payment has been increased from 5% to 10% of valuation, with the maximum amount a bank can lend capped at 70%, down from 80%. All these measures have been announced with immediate effect.

It is hoped that the new measures will discourage property ‘flipping’ where a property investor will buy one or more properties with a low cash downpayment and a high loan percentage and then sell the property on quickly for a fast profit.

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The Singapore Ministry of Finance have stated that there will be no tax on the gains from an individual who sells a property after 1 January 2010 if they have not sold any other properties in the previous four years. Experts are calling for clarification as the wording leads some to believe that individuals who sell more than one property over a four year period look set to pay more tax.

The MoF have denied such claims stating, “The proposed change is not an anti-speculation measure. It does not mean that individuals will automatically be subject to income tax.”

However clear statements over the new tax regime have not yet been forthcoming and many believe that real estate investors in Singapore may well be put off from buying properties and real estate until there is a firm grasp of the implications of the new rules.

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The new bill on land and property tax in Thailand is aimed at helping property owners make better use of their real estate and properties, especially if they own land and property which is currently not in use. Some fear that the new proposals would see land grab opportunities where unused pieces of land would be leased to farmers for agriculture, particularly given the Thai government’s current drive to increase crop growth and to increase the amount of alternative energy sources.

In particular, residential owners believe that the Land and Construction Tax Bill may mean that Thai property owners will no longer see a tax exemption that they currently enjoy under current tax laws. Thailand property owners also believe that there may be an increase in property taxes as the current amount of tax collected through property is less than 10% of the total Thai government budget and it is believed that officials think property is an easy way to boost tax revenues.

There are plenty of other questions and issues which have Thai property owners worried. Apartment owners are currently unclear as to whether the new property proposals would have any affect on them. There are also queries as to how real estate and properties will be valued under any new tax laws, particularly if the real estate is split into part residential and part agricultural. If the law is not written clearly, there are concerns that some property owners will declare their real estate as different usage purposes or will deliberately split their land up to ensure they lower their property tax bill.

The law, will, however clear up some problems in the current system for example the way that the term ‘construction’ is defined. At present, the law is fairly unclear as to what the term construction defines and has led to the Thai Tax Court considering small buildings such as telephone booths as a construction.

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The first choice of many property investors has to be China’s capital city Shanghai. Many multinational companies have already started locating their regional HQs in the area, and home to 21 million people, there are many different properties to choose from. Shanghai is also undergoing strong infrastructure and development improvements meaning it should be a strong place to invest in property.

Overseas property buyers are often shown the luxury, high-end properties in the city which sell for around $1.5 million. However this has a small rental market therefore it is advisable to seek out properties on a small budget, perhaps those around the $250,000 mark as this means that the property can be rented not just to tourists but also to locals.

There are plenty of styles of property to choose from in Shanghai – from old villas through to art-deco style buildings, so there is sure to be something there that catches every property investors eye.

Chinese Property Mortgages

When buying in China, it is advisable to factor in 10% costs for taxes and agents fees. Mortgages are generally only really found through Chinese banks. Mortgages tend to be for a maximum of 60% of the property price, on a repayment basis only. Make sure all your paperwork is in order as banks will scrutinise all your papers carefully.

Taxes on Chinese Properties

A 5% tax will be levied on gross rental income. A 5% tax is imposed on anyone who buys or sells within two years of purchase. You may also be liable for taxes in your home country.

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The Chinese government have vowed to help boost the property market’s growth rate back up again by investing in even more infrastructure projects including roads, airports, nuclear power plants and hydro-electric power stations. Taxes on residential properties purchases will also be lowered.

The outlook for Chinese real estate and property still looks fairly healthy with over 70 Chinese cities showing year on year increases, with new property prices showing an increase of around 4 percent compared with the same price this time last year. Several cities continue to shine with high property price growth – Haikou has seen a growth rate of 15 percent, Yinchuan 12.7 percent, and Yichang 10.3 percent.

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The government is looking to ban all foreign investors and non-permanent Chinese citizens from buying property and real estate in Shanghai, whilst simultaneously working on a new property purchase system for non-permanent residents, although it is understood that workers on temporary permits would be exempt from the restrictions.

Shanghai’s plans are a direct response to the State Council of China’s orders that local authorities must do more to try and help China’s low income families find affordable housing throughout the country. In a time where property prices in the country have rocketed, more and more families are finding that they are unable to get a foot on the ladder and many are welcoming the ban on foreign investors.

It isn’t the first time that foreign investors in Chinese property have found obstacles in their way – the SHLRB has recently introduced laws which restrict buyers of residential and commercial land to using only yuan in an attempt to remove many foreign speculators from the Chinese real estate market.

It is hoped that the moves will stabilize property prices in Shanghai, reduce property inflation, and allow more Chinese families to afford a house of their own – in the last 12 months, the average property price in the city has grown by 7.9%.

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Indian property is generally fairly low priced – you can snap up a beachfront property for as little as $10,000. With prices this low and a healthy rental market, it is no wonder that Goa has caught the eye of so many investors.

However, there are certain things that must be considered before you take the leap. Consider buying a property with a five-year leaseback – this is a scheme where the property is leased back to the developer ot management company and they handle the rental of the property instead. It is also worth investigating whether you can setup an Indian Limited Company to hold your property as this may prove more beneficial financially than holding the property in your own name.

Goa is the hottest area in India to buy right now with many new developments springing up. As with any property, it is worth investing either along the beachfront or in the tourist areas as these will have the best rental market around meaning your property will hopefully be rented out all-year. Be prepared to spend from $10,00 upwards on your property for a one bedroom apartment in a gated complex.

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