Beijing will release its long-awaited property price control target in two days, a senior official revealed on Tuesday.

Part of nationwide efforts to cool the overheating housing marking, the target will cap the percentage increase for homes this year. It will be based on an evaluation of Beijingers' average income and spending power.

"We have organized related departments to do a lot of research," said Sui Zhenjiang, director of the capital's commission of housing and rural-urban development, during an interview on Beijing Public Service Radio. "The target has almost been fixed but needs some improvement."

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Central authorities on Jan 26 launched a series of measures to cool the real estate market, including price caps and requirements that all local governments set annual price control targets by the end of March. However, statistics show so far just 39 of China's 600 cities and municipalities have set goals. Although most are yet to reveal possible price reductions, a hot topic among millions of potential homebuyers, any hikes are likely be set at about 10 percent.

"The target is to sustain the stability of the real estate market and provide more affordable housing, as well as curb skyrocketing housing prices," said Sui. According to official data, property prices in Beijing rose 11.5 percent in 2010.

Asked if the target will be pegged to the 7-percent average per capita disposable income growth in Beijing, Sui said it will be more flexible to account for varying products on the markets. "Affordable housing targets low-income families, so that isn't related to the average income," he said.

He said the government will provide 10,000 public rental homes to low-income families this year and focus on prices affecting mid-income groups.

However, some insiders predict the target will be lower than most cities. "The figure may be set at around 7 percent, which will be lower than second-tier cities," said Zhang Yue, a Beijing market analyst for real estate agency Homelink. "Authorities may need other policies to help stabilize prices."

Li Ye contributed to this story.