Osaka, Shanghai, and Tokyo are considered top Asia Pacific cities in terms of real estate investment and development prospects, according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2007, just published by the Urban Land Institute.
"Development is now a preferred way to invest capital in the Asia Pacific region, and many investors believe that it offers better risk-adjusted returns than core; it also allows investors to acquire new, high-quality assets on their own terms, albeit with higher risks.
...Investors rank Osaka, Shanghai, Tokyo, Singapore, and Taipei as the top five investment markets; investors are definitely looking to buy in these cities. Strong development markets include Bangalore, Ho Chi Minh City, and Mumbai, and these cities also are high on investors' buy lists. Other solid buy cities include Guangzhou, Bangkok, Beijing, Seoul, New Delhi, and Kuala Lumpur. The relatively mature markets of Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Sydney are viewed as hold markets. Manila and Jakarta are the lowest-ranked cities in the survey."
"...The office sector remains the preferred sector for investors, as it offers the largest pool of high-quality, high-value assets; however, it is not an easy sector to invest in as it is very competitive and prices are quite high. Hotel/resort, retail, and industrial/distribution properties also offer attractive prospects."
A joint undertaking of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers, Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific is a trends and forecast publication launched this year. The report provides an outlook on Asia Pacific real estate investment and development trends, real estate finance and capital markets, property sectors, metropolitan areas, and other real estate issues.
[Editor's note: The article and report are available only to ULI members, or from the ULI bookstore.]
Thanks to Urban Land Institute Newsletter
FULL STORY: Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2007

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

Idaho Data: Unexpected Vehicle Repairs Exacerbate Housing Instability, Eviction Risk
Over 21 percent of clients struggle with transportation barriers.

A Year-Long Investigation On Permanent Supportive Housing
The New York Times reveals what’s working and what’s not in the cornerstone of Housing First.

Survey: US Public Spaces Not Meeting Community Needs
A lack of funding prevents many U.S. parks and public spaces from playing a more significant role in helping residents meet daily needs.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland