Track2Realty: Western suburbs of Mumbai are set for a facelift through redevelopment post the new Development Control Rule (DCR). Ravi Sinha speaks to Lalit Kumar Jain, CMD, Kumar Urban Development and CREDAI President to understand whether it would add more pressure on the existing crumbling infrastructure of the suburbs. Excerpts of the interview:
Track2Realty: Uncertainties prevailing in the real estate market since the past few years have resulted in the country no longer being an attractive investment destination for international investors, says a recent survey.
Track2Realty: In the annual report by global real estate consultants Cushman & Wakefield, “Main Streets across the world”, Mumbai witnessed the highest rental growth globally. Colaba Causeway in Mumbai recorded a rental increase of 75% over last year, on the back of strong retailer demand and continuous preference for prime high street properties in the city. Kolkata – Park Street (5th) at 53.8% and Chennai – Khader Niwaz Khan Road (10th) at 36.7% were among the global top ten cities to register highest annual rental growth.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The best part is that the banks are now a party to revive the property drive in the city. They are also hosting property exhibitions, introducing combo products that offer further interest rate reduction on a car loan if a customer has already taken a home loan and are sugar coating home loan products, besides cutting interest rates and waiving processing fees to pep up demand for home loans.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Mumbai real estate is on its way to bounce back to normalcy this Diwali after a couple of years of turmoil where many economists were clueless as to how a demand-supply product can challenge the conventional wisdom of economics where prices are going northwards and transaction the other way.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Many believe the current level of housing inventory is limited and hence many of the companies are launching their projects in phases. The current spate of launches in Mumbai has opened up an inventory of 5,000 plus premium residential apartments aggregating Rs 7,200 crore at market average of Rs 12,000 per sq ft. A majority of the inventory on offer is for the premium residential segment.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The Mumbai property market seems to be determined to break the jinx this festive season with new launches, offers, changed marketing formats and even price correction. If the market trend so far is any indication, it is quite apparent that the developers have gone through the learning curve in the last 2-3 years and are now determined to break the jinx. In this endeavour to bounce back, buyers are smiling all their way to property search and in the process the city property market is defying the collective consciousness of being an over-heated realty market.
Track2Realty: Raising alarm over Mumbai and Maharashtra becoming increasingly “investor unfriendly”, developers apex body CREDAI has said the State Government’s policies will end up being its gift to Gujarat’s upcoming Gift City.
Track2Realty: Mumbai region has seen prices appreciate by double digit percentages over the last two years. It is interesting to note that some areas have witnessed over 50% price rise when we compare per square feet prices (PQSF) of Q3-12 (Jul-Aug-Sep) over Q3-10(Jul-Aug-Sep). This clearly reflects that capital values in and around Mumbai region has been continuously moving at a steady pace year on year, says a report by property portal 99 acres.com.
Track2Realty: The Maharashtra government has revised lease rentals of a total of 1,577 lands situated in Mumbai city and suburbs. The revised lease rentals, which are fixed on ready recknor rates, would be effective from January 1. State cabinet chaired by Prithviraj Chavan gave its approval at its meeting held on Tuesday, Oct 9.