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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Developers on the edges of big cities have found the past couple of months difficult, with prime locations within city centres holding their prices best. An example of this is Khargar, on the edges of Navi Mumbai. The prices here have declined by up to around 20%, however the prime location hotspots of the Palm Beach Road Promenade and the land around the proposed new airport have not seen any declines in prices.

Part of the problem has been the confusion over zoning and FAR (the floor are ratio or FSI) as well as a rising rate of interest for home loans. This has lead to buyers holding back from buying any property, and so prices in non-prime areas have dropped. However, high-end properties in mid-town locations as well as good quality commercial property has not seen any effects due to over-demand and under-supply.

The lack of buyers has hit loan companies and banks the State Bank of India saying that their current growth of about 25% was unsustainable in the current market, and they were settling for growth of 20% instead.

It’s not all bad news for homeowners though – the drastic drop in sales is pushing up the rental market. So if you are looking to invest, housing in city centres is prime for excellent rental yields. And if you are in it for the long run and are happy with something high risk, there is some excellent, cheap land around the outskirts of most major towns which could potentially reap rewards in the future.

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Thailand is famed for it’s food, culture and beaches, making the country a tourist magnet. The cost of living is so low that it is a popular destination for many European tourists as well as backpackers from around the World. Offering some of the most stunning scenery in the World, buying property in Thailand could be a great move and investment.

Because Thailand is so popular, it has become one of the World’s major tourism hotspots. If you choose to invest in Thailand, buying properties near one of the hotspots in the country could prove a wise investment as the tourist trade is year-round and there is excellent rental potential. Coupled with a growing economy, in the long-term, you could see huge return on your real estate investment.

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Critics of the proposal have claimed that the changes were a political move by the post-coup government and were proprosed because they would hurt the ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Shinawatra was ousted from office in September 2006. The military justified the take over saying that he had been using his political position to enrich his business empire – the largest example being his sale of $1.9 billion Shin Corp shares to Singapore’s Temasek Holdings. If the proposed changes went ahead, Temasek would have to restructure the deal or sell some of their shares on.

Foreign investors said the propsed changes to the law are unclear and that any changes would undermine their confidence in Thailand. Predictable regulations are liked because investors can make investment plans. Uncertainty causes unrest and potentially could mean many foreign investors losing interest in investing in the country. The change is also sending confused signals as to whether Thailand is trying to move towards market liberalisation or highly-regulate market conditions.

The government has tried to calm fears by saying that many companies would be exempt from the new rules anyway – in particular exporters and manufacturers, however this could be bad news for foreign property investors as they were not mentioned and may be affected by the proposal.

Even so, foreign investors have refused to be reassured and are beginning to worry about more future, abrupt changes. In mid-December, the Bank of Thailand imposed some draconian capital controls. This created a huge stock market crash and forced a backtrack on some of their changes.

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