Track2Realty-Agencies: Chennai-based real estate firm Real Value Promoters Private Limited plans to raise Rs 100-200 crore from private equity (PE) players for its projects.
Jhumur Ghosh: I am a little curious. In 2008, all the funds of the world were lining up for real estate and signing and today we are having this discussion, in just four years. How does that happen?
I would like to ask the developer friends here when they say there is an ambiguity as far as ECB is concerned. Which are the funding routes that you find without ambiguity—whether it is private equity, QIP, IPO or any other route to raise money?
Gaurav Gupta: I would say there are multiple challenges for the sector.
Atul Modak: The perception that you are talking about is true. On that we had a meeting with the members of MCHI-CREDAI and the focus was this poor perception that builder is chor (thief), not interested to give possession and he will take away your money. But that is not the case as in majority of the cases developers’ intention is good. They want to deliver project on time, but because of delays in approvals, added to the funding gap and he has nowhere to go once he has launched the project.
Pranay Vakil: As a developer if someone wants to come and tell you Atul that instead of borrowing at 11.5 per cent or 12 per cent, whatever the rate lender gives you, you will get this money at 3 per cent, how do you react?
Ravi Sinha: But if we go by that yardstick, my question is that in the major real estate markets across India do we have that kind of projects where ECB would be viable?
Ravi Sinha: Even in the Indian context, if you look at the places like Gurgaon. Had there been no infrastructure no one would be living over there and that is how NCR has evolved as a case study in satellite towns. But the disconnect is with the funding.
Track2Relty-Agencies: Dubai-based private developer DAMAC Properties has said it is launching phase two of a $1 billion project of luxury hotel and serviced residences to Indian investors, following a sell-out event in Dubai.
Track2Realty-Agencies: Indian expatriates are among the top investors in Dubai’s property market, which is expected to grow 10-12 percent this year, company officials and analysts say.
Pranay Vakil: Good afternoon everyone. We are indeed sitting in one of the most interesting market of real estate when I feel the developer is confused, the buyer is confused and the government is confused.
Jhumur Ghosh: The most confused.
Pranay Vakil: You said it, I didn’t. The buyer is confused because every day he is reading in the newspapers that prices are going down, but when he goes out to buy a house he finds that prices have actually gone up. I think the lender is confused because he is lending money and the developer is making all kinds of commitment and things are not working out the way it was promised and he is unable to understand why it is not happening.