Track2Realty: RICS, along with 61 professional bodies from around the world, has called for setting uniform measurement standards for residential sector globally (including India) to bring clarity on measuring various aspects of property measurement such as super built up area, built up area and carpet area.
Track2Realty: Residential sales declined by approximately 30% y-o-y by the end of 2014 in the seven leading cities of the country, largely due to high price points, sticky interest rates and cautious buyer sentiments. The decline, which was noted across all major cities, was particularly steep in the DelhiNCR (National Capital Region).The slowdown was reported in the premium/luxury as well as the high-end/mid-end housing segments.
Track2Realty: Almost 25% of the total warehousing/logistics space uptake across the country in 2014 was by e-retail players, while the uptake of logistics space rose by more than seven times over that of 2013. India’s online retail sector saw exponential growth, as a number of local market-specific services—such as cash on delivery (COD), multiple payment options, and EMI options—assisted in developing the growth curve of e-commerce in the country—according to the findings of CBRE’s latest special report, India Online Retail Driving Realty.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The built environment of Mumbai real estate for long has been busy with fixing the shortfall of the affordable housing. The debate has more often than not been centered on the three key processes that could lead to the availability of mass housing in a peninsular city where the availability of land remains the primary concern.
Track2Realty: The definition of affordable means different for different people depending on the socio-economic class, income levels etc. In India, the term applies most pertinently to housing created for the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) of society so that they, like the middle class, can also benefit from the financial and emotional security of home ownership.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Affordable housing has always been a wishful thought in Mumbai real estate and the call for the same has been reignited post the Government of India calling for a vision document to ensure houses for all by 2022. However, Mumbai is not like the rest of the country and the sky high land prices due to unavailability of developable and licensable land calls for a rethink over what precisely is feasible to create affordable housing stock in the city.
Track2Realty: Affordable housing is not only essential to the well-being and health of the people but also for the smooth running of economies. Yet all over the globe, in advanced and developing economies alike, a majority of the cities are struggling to give their citizens decent, affordable housing.
Track2Realty: Pune’s rapid growth as a city is constantly pushing the envelope for real estate development. Suburbs that were considered ‘upcoming’ less than two years ago are now established destinations, with increased property price appreciation creating a challenge for budget home seekers.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The real estate has by and large welcomed the move to bring the slum redevelopment and rehabilitation projects under the ambit of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It has been a wish that hat was granted even before the sector could get vocal with the wish list. It is hence no surprise that some of the adjectives that the Finance Minister’s announcement could earn have been ‘a game changer’ or ‘a corporate catalyst’ and ‘investment magnet’.
Track2Realty: The logistics and warehousing market in India attracted steady transaction activity, with large sized transactions of around 100,000–250,000 sq. ft. reported during the first half of 2014. The Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), Chennai and Mumbai accounted for the bulk of leasing activity during H1 2014. The automotive, FMCG, commerce, and third party logistics sectors were the principle drivers of demand for warehousing space in the country during the first half of the year, according to the CBRE report, India Logistics MarketView – H1 2014.