China will not relax curbs on property speculation in 2011 and will reinforce the implementation of measures to contain rising home prices, according to officials. At the Housing Ministry’s New Year meeting they remained committed to cooling what they regard as overly fast property price rises in 2011.

Property rental rates in Abu Dhabi have been declining at a fairly fast pace as two real estate reports show that new supply is affecting the market.

China will tighten its restrictions on foreign real estate investment in 2011 with local authorities being asked to increase supervision. According to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) foreign funded developers will not be allowed to make profits through buying and reselling real estate projects.

Residential property prices in some parts of India are close to the peak levels of 2008 but could fall by 10 to 15% in some areas in 2011 as buyers refuse to pay higher prices, according to analysts.

Property auctions in Singapore are becoming an increasingly popular way of buying and selling real estate with the sale value increasing by 33%. The total sales at property auctions in Singapore have shot up in 2010 to S$223.9 million, according to international property consultant Colliers International.

The retail real estate outlook for Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait is looking encouraging going into 2011, according to a new analysis. Egypt has a massive under supply situation, says Matthew Jay, senior retail analyst at CB Richard Ellis Middle East. He points out that Cairo has around 400,000 square meters of gross lettable area (GLA), which reflects ‘massive under supply relative to the market’s potential and has spawned a major building programme’

Residential property prices in Dubai could keep falling for another two years if new units are built as planned, experts are warning.

Successful property management is the key to 100% occupancy levels in the United Arab Emirates going into 2011, it is claimed. A short term view will lead to falling standards and loss of income and it is cheaper to maintain a building well than make repairs in the future, according to a report from Cluttons Middle East.

Taiwan is considering a new property tax on real estate sold within a year of purchase and plans to revise land valuation rules to further quell the risk of overheating in its property market.

It may not be the most obvious place to buy property, more associated with unrest and war, but the real estate market in Beirut is buoyant and set to grow by 15% in the next three years, according to industry professionals. ‘Lebanon has gone against the current of the international financial crisis in the real estate sector,’ Fuad Fleifel, director general of the economy ministry told the Beirut International Property Fair.