The essential of this, promoting investment in real estate for income ... on a retail basis.

Now, I have already disliked real estate. Stones. blah. But can be a good income stream one must admit, from time to time. However, I don't think small time investors are sane to try to invest in rental properties in emerging markets (well ones they don't personally know well, if one has connexions, its another story). The boosterism in the following note borders on insanity (above all in the current climate:

But why confine your search to Europe? Egypt and Morocco both offer low entry prices: you can pick up a studio in the Lotus Breeze development in Hurghada on Egypt’s Red Sea coast for as little as £14,500 and a one-bedder for £22,500 through Egypt Venture (www.egyptventure.co.uk) — although the sheer amount of construction underway in both countries could hit rental income and constrain capital growth.

Such oversupply has already cast a shadow over parts of the market in Dubai — prices increased rapidly earlier this decade, providing huge profits for speculators who bought and sold on their properties even before they were finished. Things are a lot calmer these days and the prices of flats in some developments are expected to fall back as more projects are completed. Rents, though, are strong and even rising in some cases. The smart money, meanwhile, is moving to neighbouring emirates such as Abu Dhabi or Ras al Khaimah trying to emulate Dubai’s success or slightly further afield to Oman and Qatar.

Emphasis added. The pricing there is mad

India, too, is finally coming onto the radar of British buyers keen to benefit from the country’s huge economic potential that looks set to transform it into a global superpower. Prices are still extremely low by international standards — David Stanley Redfern, for example, is selling two-bed, two-balcony 1,060sq ft flats in a newly established special economic zone at Rudrapur, in Uttarakhand in northeast India, starting at just £29,000 (0800 634 2377, www.davidstanleyredfern.com). Although people of Indian origin can buy freely, those without a connection to the country may need to set up a company and buy through that.

Not exotic enough? Then what about Mongolia, a country rich in copper, gold and oil, which is benefiting from the global commodity price boom? “The capital, Ulan Bator, has a unique property market, and one that should appeal to any sophisticated property investor,” says Emma Holifield, a marketing executive with Property Frontiers, which is selling flats in The Temple development there, with prices starting at about £85,000 for a 1,410sq ft two-bedder.

“With half the population of the city living in the traditional mountain tents known as gers and the other half in old buildings with bad insulation, demand for good quality accommodation for locals is vast,” she says, going on to claim that rental yields are still as high as 13%, thanks to a supply squeeze in the middle market.

Investment in rental properties in Ulan Bator...