Governments in Asia have imposed a number of measures on their property markets in an attempt aimed at slowing them down.

House prices across Asia have in many cases doubled in the past two years and despite various measures taken to calm down the markets, especially in China and Hong Kong, it is almost inevitable that returns will cool next year.

However in Singapore property prices, generally accepted as already being too high, are set to rise again, according to the country’s central bank.

The central bank of Singapore stated: “There is a possibility that transaction activity and prices could pick up again given the current global conditions of flush liquidity and low interest rates. The government will continue to be vigilant in monitoring developments in the property market, and if necessary, adopt additional measures to promote a sustainable property market.”
In Q1-3 of 2010, direct real estate investments in Asia totalled $46bn, doubled that of 2009 according to CBRE. In Q3, investment jumped 53% from Q2, in contrast with Europe where investment fell 6%. About 17% of Asias total investment in Q3 came from outside the domestic markets, up from 14% in the previous quarter.

CBREs executive director Andrew Ness reckons full-year investments will exceed US$60bn (RM189bn), up sharply from the US$37.8bn recorded in 2009.

Ness said: "Its still a very much an Asian-led rebound. The Americans and Europeans are beginning to come in and enquiring more."