Track2Realty: Top eight major cities witnessed a total mall supply of 2.94 million square feet (msf) (3 malls) during the first half of 2013 with over 64% (13 malls) of the total expected supply deferred, says a report by Cushman & Wakefield.
Track2Realty: Real estate has expressed disappointment over the decision to hike key policy rate by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The developers and analysts say this would lead to increase in finance cost and also affect housing demand during the festive season.
Track2Realty-Agencies: RBI has asked banks to link the disbursal of home loans to stages of construction to protect the interests of buyers and contain the fallout of “innovative” housing financing schemes.
Track2Realty: The much debated Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2012 (LARR Bill) was cleared by the lower house of parliament in the first half of the Budget session. This crucial Bill that seeks to replace the antediluvian Land Acquisition Act, 1894 with a fresh legislation wherein the component of compensation for resettlement and rehabilitation of the project affected families is added.The Bill covers land acquisition including for infrastructure and industrial developments bringing in government, quasi- government and other.
Track2Realty Exclusive: In India the regulation bill has been contemplated for a few years, but it is only now being actively pursued through multiple rounds of industry consultation. As a tool to drive this initiative, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA), has drafted a regulation bill laying down the necessary provisions to set up a regulatory body, defining its powers and functions, responsibilities of the developers and penalties for violations and RICS appreciates the initiative to further improve upon and facilitate a smoother introduction of the regulatory authority within the purview of the revised regulation bill.
Track2Realty: India has witnessed the sharpest appreciation in real estate prices in the last couple of years, according to data from the Global Property Guide, an organization which collates real estate data from across the world.
Track2Realty: The real estate sector has been hoping against hope that the rates will be marginally cut in order to keep the sentiments bullish. Reports of foreign funds warming up and the substantial contribution of the sector, 6 plus to the Indian GDP was also being seen as an indication of why the policies would be eased.
Track2Realty: USD 2 Billion (INR 11,854 crores) is available with private equity firms ready to be deployed in real estate, despite a drop in the PE investment in the first half of 2013, says Cushman & Wakefield’s latest report on the private equity (PE) in real estate investment.
Track2Realty Exclusive: We are all well aware that the Indian real estate and construction sector is predominantly unorganized and fragmented and lacks professionalism. Given the free reign provided to stakeholders, consumers have often been at the receiving end of misconduct and malpractice indulged in at the hands of both developers and brokers with no mechanism available for redressal or recourse.
Track2Realty: Office markets in India registered a downward trend in absorption in the first half of the year (Jan–June 2013), according to the latest report by Cushman & Wakefield. The total net absorption across top eight cities in H1 2013 was noted at 10.9 million square feet (msf) which denoted a decline of 15% compared to the same period last year.