Track2Realty Exclusive: The Indian real estate sector, often perceived as a sector with problems, is currently witnessing some sort of transformation. While the sector is now witnessing policy reforms, though at a slow pace, it is also witnessing increased professionalism in the way businesses are done in the country.
Track2Realty: According to recent CBRE report—How Global is the Business of Retail?—new trends identified in the global retail market saw retailers focusing on larger markets in 2013, with 83% of the survey cities witnessing at least one new entrant in the year (compared to 81% in 2012), while the top target markets saw a 28% rise in new entrants.
Track2Realty: Pune’s Grade A commercial office real estate market has been increasingly attracting the attention of major office space occupiers as a second option to Mumbai, because of its freshly available quality space options, comparatively affordable rental rates, as well as its proximity and excellent connectivity with India’s financial capital.
Track2Realty: Omaxe Limited has launched Omaxe Royal Residency – a futuristic residential apartment in the proposed approx. 50 acres mixed land use development project Omaxe City Centre, Sector 79, Faridabad. Sector 79 in Faridabad has been earmarked by the Haryana Government as a Commercial Business District (CBD). Spread over approx. 450 acres, this is one of India’s largest CBDs.
Track2Realty: Buyers remained cautious but searched well for aspirational homes. Developers remained restrained but projects reached completion stages as all segments of the market prepared for a growth phase in Indian property market, aligned to the political optimism in India.
Track2Realty: With the coming of the new government already having improved sentiments in the realty market, as a next step the sector expects India’s economic fundamentals to be tackled on a priority basis before any major changes may be anticipated at an industry-level. Infrastructure projects need to be implemented with a sense of urgency, and more income tax incentives for home loans have to be introduced before we can expect to see any significant impact on the real estate sector.
Track2Realty: Approximately 8 million sq. ft. of office space was leased across eight major cities during the quarter. Bengaluru, Chennai and Pune topped the chart in the total office market absorption.
Track2Realty: The biggest announcement for the real estate sector proposed by the newly elected Government in its Union Budget 2014–15 was the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) being directed to introduce Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts in India.
Track2Realty: Many developers are trying their best to create new zones and addresses across India that can appeal to HNI property buyers. This endeavour has met with varying degrees of success on the ground when it comes to swaying the ultra-rich clientele.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Critics who had till very recently criticised the projection of Noida as a corporate city on the grounds that the city lacks commercial activity and an international airport may soon have reasons enough to eat their own words. Scaling up from just being an affordable destination the seemingly poor cousin of Delhi-NCR is today giving its superior peer markets a tough competition in its march to emerge as a landmark corporate hub.