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Property markets in Asia Pacific are expected to outperform the global average.

According to CBRE's 2015 APAC Real Estate Markets Outlook survey, Asia Pacific's economic growth will continue to outpace the global average in the coming years, owing to rapid urbanization, demographic growth, an expanding middle class, and increasingly wealthy households. Qatar For Sale - Property Hunter

These trends result in increased demand for high-quality real estate, especially suburban shopping malls and residential housing. In 2015, Asia Pacific will continue to outperform the rest of the world, with Oxford Economics forecasting 4.4 percent economic growth versus 2.9 percent globally. In the meantime, CBRE predicts that total investment turnover in Asia Pacific will rise 5% year on year to US$118 billion in 2015. According to Dr. Henry Chin, Head of Research, CBRE Asia Pacific, a range of factors are supporting the region's investment growth, including newly raised private equity real estate funds, a rise in institutional investors' allocations to Asia Pacific, increasing activity by Asian institutional investors, and adequate debt financing.

Due to the continued QE program introduced in the Eurozone and Japan, CBRE does not expect most markets to face major upward pressure on interest rates this year. The recent sharp drop in oil prices has also reduced the pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise short-term interest rates. With notable recent examples in China, India, South Korea, and Australia, policymakers are more likely to lower interest rates to boost their economies. Obtaining low-cost financing would provide investors with a plethora of real estate investment opportunities "Dr. Chin said.

"Furthermore, the combination of high liquidity and a reduced likelihood of interest rate hikes provides protection to landlords holding prime properties, allowing them to sustain current pricing. Landlords will be reluctant to sell their properties at a loss "he continues.

Corporate and consumer confidence in the area is still high, resulting in strong demand from both occupiers and investors for real estate. In 2015, CBRE anticipates rental and capital value growth of 2-4 percent in the workplace, retail, and industrial sectors:

Office: Driven by the markets in Tokyo, Bangalore, and Singapore, office rents in the area will continue to rise steadily, but at a slower rate of 3.2 percent from 3.6 percent. Cost management will continue to dominate corporations, resulting in cautious expansion in the country. Companies are able to accept opportunistic enhancements and activity-based workplaces as part of their long-term portfolio plan and workplace development.

Rents will continue to rise, but at a slower rate—rental growth is expected to slow to 2.4 percent from 5.4 percent this year. Tokyo will be the best performer in the city, with rents increasing by 10%, followed by Beijing and Shanghai. With growing operating costs and increased competition, retailers in the area will concentrate on leasing prime space in key growth markets.

Industrial: Stronger logistic rents will be seen in 2015 as a result of strong demand, especially in Hong Kong, Osaka, and Shanghai. The rapid growth of e-commerce and the need for greater operational efficiency would result in strong demand for logistics space in most markets, with Asia Pacific's overall logistics rental growth projected at 2.9 percent.

Markets will continue to experience various economic cycles, causing growth to diverge across the globe. Japan, for example, joins 2015 at the start of an upward cycle thanks to the weakening of the Japanese yen. In 2014, a boom in tourist arrivals aided export growth—industrial output is expected to rise, and office and retail rents are expected to rise as well. Corporations in Japan are even considering relocating output from overseas to Japan, which would improve the economy even further. On the other hand, China's economic growth has slowed to 7% and is projected to slow even further to about 5% by the end of the decade. The government is mostly to blame for the downturn, as authorities work to restructure the economy. Despite this, this sector will continue to be the primary target of corporate expansion in 2015.

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