Thanks to population growth and a better standard of living which has led to a substantial increase in per capita wealth, Asian countries have focused on providing the housing, infrastructure and commercial buildings needed for the millions of new citizens who flock to them, every year in the city from the countryside.
The boom was so massive that the governments of several Asian countries had to take extraordinary measures to "cool" their real estate markets. But after the Asian financial crisis of 97-98, the continent's politicians still remember the role and importance that the real estate sector played in dragging their countries' economies up.
Above all, China is teetering more and more on the brink of a real estate bubble, thanks to its monetary policy (keeping the yuan low to encourage exports) that focuses firmly on real estate investment capital, but also because its growing middle class wants to have a piece of the cake. For those looking at land for sale, I suggest these cities:
1. Singapore (Singapore)
2. Shanghai (China)
3. Hong Kong (China)
4. Beijing (China)
5. Guangzhou (China)
6. Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
7. Tokyo (Japan)
8. Taipei (Taiwan)
9. Jakarta (Indonesia)
10. Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
First that that you may have noticed is all these countries are in East Asia. That is not to say that there are no opportunities in countries like India. India has a huge tourism economy, especially in the south. States like Goa represent a great investment opportunity if you are looking to invest there.
If you move further to the west of Asia you have UAE and rest of the middle east. While technically part of Asia, they have so much investment potential that they require a whole article of their own and that is why no city from there is included in this list.
Conclusion
Those who like real estate investments should keep their expectations low when it comes to raising the price and return on investment in these cities. Governments have a vested interest in keeping the housing market quiet, so as to avert any possible inflation or the bursting of a property bubble.
Even with strong demand in countries like China, some Asian markets are becoming increasingly mature and less likely to be subject to sharp price swings. The days of double-digit rates may be over but, compared to Western real estate markets, investors can still bet on Asia for real estate