“For the real estate and housing sector, this years’ budget has exceeded expectations given the pressure on fiscal situation. Most importantly, it has taken into account the crying need to focus on affordable housing sector by allowing ECB for low cost housing, road as well as construction. Withholding tax on ECBs for affordable housing has been reduced from 20% to 5% for 3 years and this move will help ease the liquidity in the sector.
The Union Budget 2012-13 has left the Indian real estate sector grope with the indecision yet again and everyone is wondering whether the Finance Minister’s offer is glass half full or half empty for them.
The Economic Survey, while recognising the importance of the services sector (it accounts for 59 per cent of gross domestic product), has raised concern over the second largest economic activity–housing & real estate. Three months after the government rolled back its decision to allow 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, the survey referred to it as a major challenge before the sector.
Pranay Vakil: Let’s start by introducing ourselves. I am Pranay Vakil, Chairman of Knight Frank India. We are a brokerage and consultancy group, positioned as second in the business.
The recently tabled Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement Bill, 2011 in Parliament is meant to replace the 117-year-old Land Acquisition Bill of 1894.
The Company Law Board (CLB) has asked real estate company Unitech to decide by Monday if it wanted to buy its joint venture partner Telenor’s 67 per cent stake in telecom company Uninor or sell its 33 per cent stake to the Norwegian firm.
Fearing share price manipulation with the help of certain ‘independent’ research reports onIndian companies, market watchdog Sebi may soon bring all kinds of research analysts under its regulatory ambit.
Netscribes, a knowledge consulting solutions company, announces the launch of its report Facilities Management Services Market in India 2012.
Residential property buyer sentiments in Hyderabad have improved considerably over the last three quarters. There has been a gradual but certain increase in residential demand and absorption. That said, the market is still a long way from touching the 2007- 2008 levels.
During the economic downturn of 2008, while the other neighbouring and glamorous property market of Bangalore and Hyderabad fell by 24-29 per cent, the Chennai market fell only 8.3 per cent. Limited supply of land and pent-up demand is how NHB’s Residex defines Chennai property market.