Track2Realty Exclusive: FICCI has recently released Real Estate Sentiment Index for Q3-2014. The report is also supported by sensitive data being put forth by one of the world’s leading independent real estate consultancy, Knight Frank. The index or a very formal survey conducted by the joint efforts of these two independent organizations revealed a lot about Indian realty market.
Track2Realty-Agencies: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has ordered an Income Tax department investigation against a number of real estate developers who were recently shown by an investigative portal to be willing to accept alleged black money in property transactions.
Track2Realty: The completion of several large transactions—including a couple of deals worth overUS$ 500 million each—pushed up the total real estate investment volume in the Asia Pacific region in the June–September period to US$ 35 billion, a quarter-on-quarter increase of about 40% (as per the CBRE APAC Capital Markets MarketView Q3 2014 report).
Track2Realty: Despite overall retailer demand remaining generally subdued for retail real estate space in the Asia Pacific region during the July–September period of the year (Q3 2014)—major global mass market fashion brands continued with steady space transactions in India and emerging markets of Southeast Asia.
Track2Realty: With BJP controlling the Centre and the two biggest real estate markets in India – Mumbai and Gurgaon – the government has to focus on 3 I’s – Infrastructure, Interest reduction and Income generation. With the BJP’s remarkable show in Maharashtra, the state will give a new lease of life to its infrastructure projects across all sectors.
Track2Realty: The month of October saw the government easing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms to boost India’s construction sector. The announcement is expected to widen the sector’s investor-base by allowing FDI in smaller projects of 20,000 sq. m. instead of 50,000 sq. m. from firms with capitalization of US$5 million instead of US$10 million.
Track2Realty: A few years back, Hyderabad was offering the likes of Bangalore stiff competition for attracting office space investments. Today, the formation of a new state, a new government and a stabilized political environment are yet to instill the confidence that is needed to revive Hyderabad’s real estate fortunes.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Though, a strong branding strategy could help deliver significant economic gains to developers, too much branding must be avoided as it doesn’t add any value. Developers should avoid excessive branding such as branding every single building or every single aspect of a project.
Track2Realty: India’s economy grew 5.7% y-o-y in Q1 2014–15 (April–June) belying market forecasts of 5.3%, and showing signs of recovery following annual growth numbers of between 4.4% and 5.2% in each quarter between Q1 2012–13 and Q4 2013–14.
Track2Realty Exclusive: An assessment of business confidence index of Pune real estate post the formation of a stable Government at the Centre is not as easy as gauging the mood of the developers across any other city. The precursor to the very assessment is fraught with a question mark that why will the business sentiment change overnight with the change of Government at the Centre.