Meantime, slow-but-steady transit improvements to the area and policy changes under the new mayor made Moscow City one of the few new developments allowed to continue in the city center, say industry experts.

WSJ: Moscow Business Complex Sees Rebirth

Co-founder Minoru Mori is behind some of the city's tallest developments, like Roppongi Hills and ARK Hills.

WSJ: Pampered in Tokyo

Of the property stocks, Ang likes City Developments, which has a strong balance sheet and a land bank acquired at cheap prices.

CNN: CHOICE CUTS IN SINGAPORE

Families looking for houses, not apartments, might want to consider Hongqiao or Songjiang west, and south of the city centre for their Western-style developments with green space.

BBC: Living in: Shanghai

Other planned projects which have fuelled a demand for building workers include a proposed 30-turbine offshore wind farm at Scarweather Sands, off Porthcawl, the proposed development of film studios at Llanharan, near Bridgend and city centre developments in Swansea.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Wales | Warning over tradesman shortage

Notable swings and misses include monster cases in Manhattan (the city was seeking payback for lead-abatement costs in hundreds of housing developments), Louisiana and Texas (suits were filed by school districts in both states for damages related to lead in schools).

FORBES: Chip Thrills

Major developments under way include one of Scotland's largest urban regeneration projects at Raploch and Forthside, the new 40-acre city centre quarter under construction on the waterfront, as well as a new sports village at Forthbank.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Scotland | Tayside and Central | City launches new marketing drive