With overall vacancy increasing and business and investor sentiment low, why are office rents in many micro markets in Mumbai still increasing? In the recent past, many corporate decision makers have been wondering aloud why the rents and capital values in markets such as Lower Parel and BKC have risen in the last 4-5 months.
The Centre has responded positively to the Delhi Government’s appeal to regularise more than 1600 of the city’s unauthorised colonies. However, the truth is that even after this notification, the ground reality in that these colonies are unlikely to change for now.
The Noida Extension land acquisition fracas was all about the authorities allowing developers to acquire land at considerably low prices from farmers and also changing the planned use pattern from industrial to residential. Farmers revolted and were able to gain wide support from different quarters.
In the biggest realty deal in the country this year, DLF Monday announced sale of 17 acres of prime land in Mumbai to Lodha Developers for Rs 2,700 crore, almost four times higher than the price it had paid in 2005.
Chennai is known for its conservative mind-set, which reflects visibly on its residential property market trends, as well. For instance, home buyers in Chennai have historically been driven by location over and above most other considerations, and this had put definite limits on the demand and potential for community living in the city.
Shares in DLF, India’s biggest real estate developer, traded higher in-line with the broader BSE realty index Tuesday, Aug 7, morning. At 11 a.m., the stock traded 1.3 per cent higher at Rs 214 on the BSE. The shares, up 15.4 per cent this year, are lagging a near-21 percent gain in the real estate index.
Despite buyers’ expectations of a likely fall in city property prices, this possibility seems limited as developers continue to hold on to their prices across sub-markets on the back of the DCR amendment. This policy, along with the increase in construction costs, has led to greater pressure on developers’ margins. Post the new DCR, the saleable areas are expected to reduce and carpet areas are likely to increase. It is interesting to note that while there have, in fact, been marginal price increases across many projects in MMR, registration data reflects that absorption levels have also increased.
Pune has been a favoured industrial destination for a very long time. In fact, manufacturing has been a major development focus for the city since the inception of PCMC in the 1960’s. Since then, there has been a massive influx of European companies who were and continue to be keen on setting up manufacturing facilities there.
If you think prime locations in the NCR have hit the roof and you missed the dream rally in having a reasonably priced home, there is no reason to look at the secondary locations. In an expanding National Capital Region (NCR) while some of the locations deter you due to its less appreciation potential or controversies galore, then probably your property hunt has not led you to the destination next of the region—New Gurgaon.
The real estate sector accounted for a sizeable proportion of total investment, as of December 2011, in seven of the top 20 States, an Assocham study said on Monday, July 16.