Track2Realty: Transactions in India’s real estate space might have slowed down over the last two quarters, but the sector has not been overwhelmed by the state of the wider economy. Despite the subdued pre-election economic scenario, in fact, the period observed an increase in private equity activity.
Track2Realty: The total the net office space absorption across 8 cities is recorded at 5.9 million square feet (msf) which is 58% higher than same time last year, says the quarterly office market report (Jan–Mar 2014) by Cushman & Wakefield. Among the 8 cities, Ahmedabad and NCR recorded a 3 times increase in net absorption over the same period last year. However, there was a decline in net absorption of approximately 22% over last quarter (Q4, 2014) in all cities.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The current economic environment is indeed one of the most challenging in recent history. The headwinds of inflation, interest rates, construction costs, and subdued consumer demand have constrained real-estate growth in many micro-markets across the country. Economic volatility aside, I am optimistic about long-term real-estate sector prospects. My optimism is founded in irrefutable realities – the rapid urbanization of India, burgeoning segment of upwardly mobile Indians, limited availability of urban residential housing and unabated aspiration of home ownership.
Track2Realty Exclusive: A stable property market that has done reasonably well in 2013, why should the developers in down town south be bothered about the General Elections ahead, asks a property analyst. Well, the answer can not be in straight yes or no but the market trends indicate Coimbatore definitely will be less susceptible to the elections than many other property markets across the country.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Real estate market in India is growing fast because of the increasing demand for planned development, relatively less congestion and pollution, better hygiene and sanitation etc. that is giving way to new opportunities to grow. Investors are not restricted to one category and buyers looking to buy commercial as well as residential properties are angling towards the smaller cities such as Vizag, Pune, Nasik, Ahmadabad etc.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Noida seems to be on a highway of growth corridor and is fast emerging from the shadow of being poor cousin of NCR’s glorified market of Gurgaon. If the spate of luxury and other high-end launches are any indication, already Noida is in the process of an image makeover where the investors’ confidence is increasingly tilting in its favour. The price appreciation in the last over a year across the Delhi-NCR region suggests that Noida has been witness to the best ROI to the investors.
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 Exclusive: Has populism been behind the Maharashtra Government notification on affordable housing is the question that everyone within the built environment of real estate is today asking. There is a general feeling among the developers that the Maharashtra Government notification for the builders developing a housing project on a 4,000 sq m (acre) plot to reserve 20 per cent of the area for affordable housing is not in sync with the market reality.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Call it migration or mere attraction, the Indian Real estate is spreading its roots into cities-in-making. Though fact remains that this sector has lots to thank the tier I cities for its large scale investments, but the winds of change are here to stay. The recent economic and investment policies, initiated by the government are giving a boost to the less known lands across the Indian sub-continent.
Track2Realty: To improve responsible business practices in the land, real estate and construction industry, the United Nations Global Compact and RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) will jointly develop a best practice toolkit for the sector. The collaboration marks the UN Global Compact’s first initiative to address corporate sustainability in a specific sector following the recent launch of its Post-2015 Business Engagement Architecture.