Track2Realty Exclusive: It was in the July last year that Rohit Arora, an NRI returned from New Jersey to settle in Mumbai and set up his consultancy business over here. Looking for an office space, he was so carried by the reports of a price correction that he preferred to defer the office acquisition, either on rent or purchase.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Mumbai real estate has historically been the red hot property, something worth aspiration of millions. The island city with less supply and more demand with ever increasing migration only meant that even if the market deviated from the conventional wisdom of economics in demand & supply dynamics, it still would be a sellers’ market.
Track2Realty Exclusive: As the country heads towards the General Elections with policy uncertainties expected to get clarity ahead once a new Government assumes office, it seems Indian real estate is yet again high on the wish list of the investors, both domestic and international. If the investments and the policy announcements since the second half of 2013 are any indication, there has been a clear indication that the phase of over-cautious market sentiments is getting over.
Track2Realty: The slowdown in the Indian economy continued as the Reserve Bank of India revised the real GDP growth rate forecast for 2013-14 downwards to 5.0% from 5.7%. Economic slowdown has had an impact on the end user sentiments that has impacted the absorption of residential units ultimately leading to a slowdown in the values.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Funding, or rather lack of it, has been one of the key concerns of the real estate developers throughout 2013, yet if some of the key policy decisions that have been taken in the year it seems 2014 is all set to get big ticket funding. The money is poised to be invested in the sector and if not as private equity, the biggies will put in money through Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).
Track2Realty Exclusive: If you think buyers’ market is a myth in Indian real estate, probably you have not been exposed to Coimbatore real estate. Furthermore, if you feel buyers’ market is an off shoot of crisis in the property market where the developers have gone belly up to go for distress sale, again experience this as a myth and not reality in Coimbatore property.
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: 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: 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 Exclusive: The debate of promoter versus professional driven realty companies gained momentum in the year 2012 because high attrition at the top level of realty sector has been in the news throughout the year. The Managing Directors of Indiabulls Real Estate and Peninsula Land quit in the month of October. So did the real estate heads of two property funds, Indiareit and Everstone Capital. Most of them either moved to other realty companies, starting their own ventures or shifting streams to join consultancies.