Bangalore’s luxury residential market seen a major transformation in the recent past, with the Kingfisher Tower setting a new capital values benchmark (northwards of Rs. 30,000/sq.ft) in the super luxury category. The new dynamics being seen now have been referred to as the ‘coming of age’ of Bangalore’s residential market, and I agree with this definition. We are certainly witnessing a remarkable maturing process here.
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The recent decision by the Government to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail is understandably the talk of the town. There are various points of view regarding the impact it will have on the retail sector in specific and the Indian economy in general, but the decision is a big step in the direction of strengthening organized retail in the country. To get the complete picture, it is important to understand the situation which exists currently and how the new regulations are going to change the retail landscape.
Despite buyers’ expectations of a likely fall in city property prices, this possibility seems limited as developers continue to hold on to their prices across sub-markets on the back of the DCR amendment. This policy, along with the increase in construction costs, has led to greater pressure on developers’ margins. Post the new DCR, the saleable areas are expected to reduce and carpet areas are likely to increase. It is interesting to note that while there have, in fact, been marginal price increases across many projects in MMR, registration data reflects that absorption levels have also increased.
In the past, Ahmedabad – the largest city of Gujarat – was largely thought of as a trading hub with localized market drivers. Today, we can confidently state that nothing could be more further from the truth. Jones Lang LaSalle India made a well-researched move when it launched operations in Ahmedabad in 2009. The decision to enter the city was based on its unmatched promise as a potential real estate investment destination, which factored in the city’s healthy local demand, as well as its outstanding industrial story.
India is reeling under the continued onslaught of inflation, petrol price hikes and generalized insecurity about where the economy is headed. Against all expectations, property prices in our metros have held firm and even show signs of upward movement. While the man on the street continues to wonder when he will be able to buy a modest home of his own, India’s super-rich are raising palatial homes at truly astronomical expense.
Real Estate is at the epicenter contributing to shape up today’s world. The construction industry is also treated as the backbone in a developing country like ours but in recent times it has been seen slowing down by low margins, negative cash flow from operations, rising interest costs on high working capital , execution delays and poor corporate governance.
Despite the market slowdown and high competitiveness among the ‘Big Boys’ in the Indian residential real estate business, smaller builders of residential projects can still corner a healthy market share. It is all a matter of knowing which league to play in, and how to play.
The building approval process in India is relatively slower and more expensive in comparison to several other countries as indicated by a recent World Bank assessment. The report highlights that an average 37 procedures over a period of 195 days are needed for obtaining construction permits in the country vis-à-vis 15 approvals over an average 157 days in the OECD region.
Just over a decade ago nobody would have even thought about the redevelopment. What then changed in the last two decades? Well, almost about everything changed as far as vision about the urban infrastructure and living is concerned.
The proposed revision of the stamp duty in Maharashtra for leave-license would definitely impact the rental market in the residential, commercial and retail asset classes. The corporate commercial property market would be less affected, since this asset class typically operates on leases locked in for longer tenures which can extend up to 3-5 years. However, retail property leases would feel the pinch, since this sector typically works on annual leases in the form of leave and license.