BEIJING– Experts predicted that house prices in China are likely to drop 10 to 15 percent this year, saying a correction will happen in the second half of the year.

Nie Meisheng, director of the Chamber of Real Estate Developers at the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, said the government restriction on house purchase is one of the reasons to prompt the drop.

"The property trading volume has decreased significantly since the government imposed tightening measures. I believe the price of real estates will drop by 10 percent,” Nie said.

Dong Fan, a professor at Beijing Normal University, expected a 10 to 15 percent price decrease in the second half of the year.

Property prices in April rose year-on-year in 67 of the 70 major cities, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Smaller cities recorded higher increases than larger cities.