Forget about U.S and E.U, everyone is tired about the gloom and doom there.

Better shape countries like Taiwan (don't argue, is a sovereign country and maintaining its own military), China, Korea and Australia face difficulty to maintain economic growth. For example, Australia coal, iron ore and copper export has slumped. For the past 6 months, Australia total home sale has dropped and recorded the widest drop in July 2012. Price in some second tie markets for high end sector (>AUD1m) has dropped significantly as much as -40% or more.

China fresh grad unemployment rate reached double digit this year (check Al-Jazerra latest documentary on China graduate). ZhuShanJiao 珠三角, Guang Dong Province (the locomotive of manufacturing hub in southern China), area like Dong Guan registered NEGATIVE -11 GDP contraction due to large numbers factories closure.

Though China official GDP is 7.1% but the reliability is quite questionable. China financial market is not reflective the entire picture because shadow banking plays a large part for the medium/small enterprises. Last year reports of massive shadow banks run begin to surface from WenZhou, ZheJiang Province which has alerted Wen to intervene. Australia, Korea & Taiwan export to China begin to contract in 2012 and China electricity production did not grow from 2Q, 2012. It tells us the situation there is not good at all. 

Those in Malaysia who believe the property price can be sustained and grow (maybe slower) despite the economy gloom and doom around the world is living in fantasy.

Property price can only be sustained if you and me, brother/sister, your friends and enemies, good or bad neighbor, untie and uncle.... ALL, is able to continue paying the installment and rent on time to bank/landlord regardless of how bad the economy will become. The market really don't need many people failing to do their commitment for destruction the working of the financial chain.

Fictitious case. Just for illustration. A 3 years old condo with 400 dwellings. All in one size 1000sf, bought all in one price RM350k (now market price is RM500k) and 80% of them bough with 90% bank loan. When recession hit, 2% of them losing job and 3% of them have pay cut. So, 5% of them have problem to repay installment. 1% of them have saving while 1% of them, family can help out. Then left the 3% under water and foreclosure is inevitable. 3% is equal to 12 units of houses, is now on lelong. Let's say the lelong price is RM500k and under such economic downturn and large number of lelong is available, finding taker posses its difficulty. So, auction price has to be reduced, say, -10 to RM450k. If a different owner, financially better shape, want to sell his property now in an open market, he is not likely to find buyer at RM500k. Like it or not, RM450k is the realistic price (if there is taker of the auction price at RM450k. If not, further reduction is expected). When only half of the auction houses are able to sell, the remaining 6 will be further reduced. What if after further reduction, still no taker? Well, banker has to shoulder the liability without cash flow. When the vicious circle spread, it will force the market to raise interests rate as bankers now is facing reduction of cash flow. When interests rate adjusted upward, we can imagine the the ugly picture followed  

To believe the property price can be sustained or rise is equal to believe all the parties in the chain can do their part without failing. All of us know very well, it's not possible.

When the export drop which is happening now, the affected companies is going to bite the bullet and under such circumstances, the problem of laying off surplus labors and suppliers is inevitable in order to survive. Chain effect: our neighbor working in those companies and friend who is supplying the material to the companies and our government who collects tax from those companies. People spend less and ..... 

It is a tough time ahead, friends.

Obama is trying hard to reelect in Nov 2012 and he, as well as Mitt Romney will try their best to win voters than curing the economy (U.S has just reached 16 trillion deficit 2 days ago but who is talking it now? Still remember all the huhu-haha in Aug 2011 when deficit hit 15 trillion mark?). Angela Merkel will face the same as Germany election going to take place by latest of next year. China, just settled the recent largest political scandal involving the influential Bo Xilai, make no difference. China main focus now is the 18th National Congress of Commuinist China soon to be held. Who will take charge after Hu/Wen will be decided. Thus, it can be speculated that those politicians are buying time time for the moment.