The Union Budget 2012-13 has left the Indian real estate sector grope with the indecision yet again and everyone is wondering whether the Finance Minister’s offer is glass half full or half empty for them.
Our reaction to Union Budget 2012-13 is mixed at best. It seems fair to state that the Indian real estate sector does not have much to cheer about.
IIFL Venture Capital Fund, the private equity arm of the India Infoline group, is reportedly raising Rs.500 crore for investing in real estate.
Fitch Ratings’ outlook for 2012 for the Indian real estate sector is negative due to weak overall demand and higher construction costs, which are likely to continue to squeeze margins.
Indian developers will borrow about $1 billion from private equity funds this fiscal year at rates higher than banks, which are cutting loans to builders, Knight Frank assessment suggests.
Rising cost and falling transactions are taking their toll on the property market in both the Delhi-NCR and Mumbai.
Macro level forecast suggests Asia in general, and China and India in particular, will continue to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) despite the slowdown as Europe and the US continue to grapple with economic problems of their own.
In India, investor interest is also seeing a slowdown on account of the lower absorption of new developments and the disparity between investment returns and capital values.
Analysts believe that further price correction may not happen in the metros and suburbs due to the holding capacity of the bigger developers, but lack of funding options may force some standalone local builders to drop prices.
Now at the year end it is time we conceptualized the idea of a compendium of yearly handbook that could serve as a ready reckoner to the sector, the media, HNIs and the investors who have keen interest in the Indian realty market.