The Fitch Ratings 2011 outlook for the Indian real estate sector seems to contradict itself. While it says the realty market is stable in the year, it also warns of a negative bias. The negative forecast of Fitch Ratings is, however, based more on the sentiments than the emerging market reality.
Kumari Selja, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation & Minister of Tourism, has categorically blamed the banks for not facilitating the affordable housing. Inaugurating the 10th National Convention of National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) at New Delhi the minister said the housing finance sector has witnessed a boom in the recent past due to favorable government policies.
8 out of every ten home buyers in the Indian cities are sulking with the unfair trade practices of the real estate developers. Only 20 per cent of the buyers said they received a defect-free home and timely possession. The low customer satisfaction index was as much evident with developers offering affordable housing as with luxury housing.
In a decisive display of undisputed market leadership, international property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle India swept up all four awards in the IPC segment at the Property World Awards function on December 15, 2010. The star-studded event took place at the Hotel ITC Maratha in Mumbai.
While the foreign direct investment flows (FDI) dependent Indian realty market is awaiting a good fortune, a World Bank report brings cheer to the industry. It says the FDI into developing countries including India is expected to recover over the next couple of years and is projected to increase by 17 per cent in 2010.
Keys Hotels, one of the leading players in the mid-market brand of New York-based Berggruen Hotels, has announced plans to develop 15 hotels across India in the next three years with a total investment of Rs 550 crore.
Most banks lending for homes are only interested in providing mortgages to people who have a fixed annual or monthly salary and their important criteria for assessment is based upon the amount that is earned. The presumption is that only these people are capable of meeting their repayment options without default.
Capital market regulator the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has apprehensions over the feasibility of real estate investment trusts (REITs) in India. The regulator had issued draft guidelines for REITs a couple of years ago, but may drop its plan to introduce it now.
A study by Assocham last year on the real estate scene in India indicated that the large Malayali and Punjabi NRIs are buying the houses of their liking. The study was based on the fact that Malyalis and Punjabis have migrated in hordes over the years. Some of them are also buying commercial space, it claimed.
Indian retail today stands at an inflexion point where the sector is poised to take a giant leap. Jones Lang LaSalle’s latest research offering ‘India Retail – Opportunities in a Revolution’ explores the potential in the Indian retail real estate in the coming years.