Track2Realty: In India, labour shortage is pegged to go up by 65 per cent by the next decade with more workforce moving from traditional brick and mortar industry like the construction and real estate sectors to more lucrative industries such as IT, ITeS, Banking and Telecom.
Track2Realty: The real estate sector has welcomed the Union Housing Minister Ajay Maken’s move to accord infrastructure status to affordable housing on expected lines. The industry body CREDAI has nevertheless called for extending similar treatment to the entire housing sector again on expected lines. However, the market dynamics defy any dreams of mass housing or cheap housing even for the economically weaker sections.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Slow economic growth affecting housing market
The recent Indian economic growth has been hampered by several domestic and global factors, resulting in the GDP growth plunging to 3 years low at 5.3% in 2QFY13[1]. Factors such as weak global economy, high interest rates, high inflation, high fiscal deficit, and lack of reforms were the primary reason affecting the GDP growth.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Vidya Basarkod, President, Sales and Marketing, Jaypee Greens believes though the Indian economy has gone through turbulent phase of slowdown, demand for housing has kept the momentum for residential real estate. In an exclusive interview with Track2Realty she asserts though liquidity has been a concern for both the buyers as well as developers, there are more pressing issues hampering the growth of the sector, like delays in approvals, infrastructure bottlenecks and skilled manpower.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Come budget and the real estate in the last few years seems to have been repeating the rhetoric of industry status. As a result, year after year it has been a case of realty proposes and the Finance Minister disposes. However, the sector on the eve of 2013-14 makes a strategic shift to be more realistic with its causes and concerns.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The real estate clan in the NCR region has come a long way ahead particularly with the housing sector most likely to witness a notable recovery, by the second half of 2013. The rising prices and high interest rates of the RBI have caused a drastic slash in sales. Adverse market dynamics such as high debt, piled up inventory and depressed market conditions took the sector for a rather harsh toll.
Track2Realty-Agencies: After fashion weeks and wedding exhibitions, India is now set to welcome a first-of-its-kind Real Estate Luxury Show (RLS India 2013), which will serve as a platform for showcasing the properties of the country’s real estate giants.
Track2Realty Exclusive-Yearly Analysis: DLF is raising funds by selling non-core assets, Godrej Properties raised funds through a QIP and HDIL is generating funds by selling transfer of development rights (TDR) and floor space index (FSI) — all to lighten the debt burden. Earlier, companies were building land banks and were rewarded for it in the stock market. Now, they are conserving cash to payback creditors.
Track2Realty Exclusive Yearly Analysis: India has led the list of top-performing housing markets globally with a 284 per cent real rise in prices since 2001, which is equivalent to an average annual rise of 14 per cent, according to the Lloyds TSB International Global Housing Market Review.
Track2Realty: Today there is no entry barrier in the sector for any fly-by-night operator with black money to back his initial pomp and show to lure customers. But for a serious start-up there are many perils that plague. Problem is all the voices are being raised to ease only a section of the developers with often myopic vision with regard to the future of the sector.