If you can't figure out that the value of a property is in the land/location and not the building itself, then I would tend to agree that you'd be better off renting. Nice to own = profitable. Nice to live in = comfortable.

Furthermore, disagree that renters are unwilling to shell out $$$ to live in a crappy apartment in an urban area. Take NYC for example, or most other developed major cities not in America.

Anything you buy in China that is "nice" is going to look like a garbage dump in 10 years anyway, which is why I suggest buying based on location. Buy something nice to own, not necessarily something nice to live in. You can always use the rental income to live elsewhere.

Also regarding the policy of halting building demolition, it most likely only applies to the downtown area. I only heard this a few weeks ago, but like anything else in China the rules are constantly subject to change.

I agree with Vicar. Buy inside the first or second ring roads. Buy based on location (maybe near a subway stop would be good). I bought a two bedroom second hand dump 2 years ago for 400k. I don't think prices for second hand properties have gone up since then. I plan to be around for a while though, so I can afford to wait until they tear it down. BTW, I think I heard KM city halted destruction of old properties for a while because they can't afford to compensate the owners.

Wait, are you telling me that in Zimbabwe you don't have US sitcoms? Maybe I should move there. The worst part isn't the fact that they're on TV, but that people actually watch them and discuss them around the water cooler. In America if you don't watch teevee on a regular basis and don't know what's been going on in the lastest episode of Desperate LGBT Housewives in the City, people treat you like you come from another planet.

You're bettery off just buying 1L of Anchor brand cream, adding some lemon juice/vinegar +salt and using a hand mixer.