It is an established fact that scheduled infrastructure projects tend to increase the value of properties in the adjoining areas. This occurs because the infrastructure project becomes a part of USP for the developers or property owners. There have been instances where property prices have increased 50-70% from the announcement of an infrastructure initiative until the operational phase.
At a time when there is a mad rush to launch new projects in & around the airports across the cities of India, a developer in Bengaluru opted to go in the diametrically opposite direction. Prima facie, what appeared to be a case of finding a better or affordable land parcel in that given location of South-West Bengaluru had a strategy that very few adopt in the business of Indian real estate. The strategy to define demand through scientific research. The demand in the market was assessed with consumer psychograph study – what consumers want; what they need; where are the gaps; and how a new housing project could fill in that gap.
Equity capital inflows touched USD 8.9 billion between January and September, registering a 46% Y-o-Y growth. The strong momentum in deal volume continued, with about 200 deals reported during this period, compared to 151 deals in the same period last year. The average deal size also increased to nearly USD 45 million in the first nine months of 2024 from about USD 36 million in 2023. Mid-sized deals, ranging between USD 10-50 million, represented 56% of the total investment inflows during this period.
RERA is yet again under the scanner after the Supreme Court of India questioned whether it is a rehabilitation center of ex bureaucrats. The functioning and performance of RERA, or rather lack of it, has been challenged at each and every level in now nearly 8 years of its existence. A Track2Realty report. Wait! I am not giving any opinion. My opinion is already there in the public domain. Now the Apex Court in the country, the Supreme Court of India is saying so. I have always maintained that the very purpose of RERA was defeated when the ex-Bureaucrats were made the Chairman and members.
India continues to exhibit strong economic growth prospects and business optimism is reflected in the increasing number of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in recent years. The traction in the number and volume of public issues lends credibility to an environment of higher corporate earnings, rising participation by retail and institutional investors, and availability of adequate liquidity in the market. With 123 fresh issues (As of 20th October 2024) across multiple sectors, 2024 has already surpassed the total number of IPOs witnessed in 2023.
As the education sector evolves, factors such as technology permeation, revamped building designs, and focus on health & safety are likely to define education real estate. Besides, modern educational building design must prioritise flexibility so that spaces can be reconfigured to adapt to various teaching methods and activities, developing a dynamic learning environment. To address this and move away from traditional classroom setups, educational buildings now include collaborative spaces to encourage teamwork and group learning. Moreover, sustainable, and eco-friendly design elements, such as energy-efficient systems and natural lighting, are becoming increasingly common to reduce the environmental impact of educational buildings.
The western cities of Ahmedabad and Mumbai, along with the southern tech hub of Bengaluru, all experienced healthy price appreciation in the 15-21% range whereas Chennai in south and Kolkata in east saw robust growth of 22% compared to the previous year, indicating strong economic activity and housing demand in these metros. This trend points to sustained demand in these economically vital centers. Pune, often seen as a more affordable alternative to Mumbai, also saw an 18% increase, suggesting it’s maintaining its appeal for homebuyers while still seeing significant price growth.
Residential assets were the first preference for domestic investors during Q3 2024 whereas foreign investors accounted for 64% of the commercial deals. Growing prominence of work-from-office mandates and GCCs (global capability centres) lured foreign investors, leading to an increase in the share of commercial investments from 24% in Q3 2023 to 71% in Q3 2024. On the other hand, the share of residential sector reduced to 19% in Q3 2024 from 44% in the same period a year earlier. However, investment in residential assets is expected to grow in the coming quarters as niche asset classes such as co-living, senior housing, and serviced apartments are gaining traction.
The surge in demand for luxury housing has been primarily attributable to a growing preference among affluent buyers for enhanced amenities and more spacious living areas that complement their multifaceted lifestyles. Moreover, the increasing aspirational class has significantly contributed to the increased demand for luxury properties. Furthermore, the rise in NRI and astute domestic investors in the Indian real estate market has considerably fueled the heightened demand for luxury residences.
The Indian economy continues to grow at a healthy pace, with the World Bank raising its growth forecast for India’s economy to 7% for FY 25, up from an earlier projection of 6.6%. The India Development Update (IDU) observes that India remained the fastest-growing major economy and grew rapidly at 8.2% in FY23-24. Growth was boosted by public infrastructure investment and an upswing in investments in real estate.