Track2Realty: Concerns over cost reduction and a cautious approach by occupiers had a negative impact on leasing activity across key markets in India. With major corporates continuing to review expansion plans and focusing on improving existing space utilization to control costs; key markets across India witnessed almost 26% decline in absorption of prime office space during 2012.
Track2Realty: New real estate launches in 2012 declined by 30% in 2012, versus a 7% decline seen in 2011. Slowdown in bank credit to real estate amid economic slowdown was attributed to the stagnancy in new ventures, a Knight Frank report said.
Track2Realty-Agencies: CCI’s decision to modify realty major DLF’s apartment buyers agreement in relation to a case involving Rs 630 crore penalty on the firm has sparked a debate about the fair-trade regulator’s jurisdiction and other matters concerning the real estate sector.
Track2Realty Exclusive-Yearly Analysis: The biggest question for the realty sector today is whether 2013 will help them get out of the vicious circle, which came disguised as the pipeline visibility over the years. Many believe everyone is getting ready with own respective strategy and the year ahead holds promise. Some of the leading companies are already selling their land bank at discounted prices to turn the tide.
Track2Realty: The year 2012 witnessed subdued interest in real estate due to inflationary pressures and rising interest rates in the country, coupled with the on-going economic crisis in the Eurozone and US.
Track2Realty-Agencies: Competition Commission of India (CCI) is working on a model framework for commercial agreements between real estate developer and the property buyer, which it expects to serve as a benchmark for the industry.
Track2Realty: Opposing the Maharashtra government’s decision to hike stamp duty and other taxes related to property, CREDAI has cautioned against capital flight from the State to neighbouring Gujarat and even to Jakarta.
Track2Realty Exclusive-Yearly Analysis:During the boom, many developers dreamt of transforming the urban landscape with millions of square feet of homes, offices and malls and set off on an aggressive expansion financed with debt that at 6 per cent interest was cheap by Indian standards. When the going was good, they went overboard with over ambitious big-ticket projects in various cities, many of which still remain stalled.
Track2Realty Exclusive: We all dream of living in a house of our own and often enough put in our lifelong savings investing in a home that has the best of both comfort and location. However, it can be a nightmare if your house is in a locality that requires a lot of effort in getting access to even the things of daily use or makes commuting to your workplace an ordeal. Even the posh areas of a metropolitan city are not free from this problem where you might have to walk quite a distance to get to the supermarket, travel from one corner of the city to other to reach malls and multiplexes, start early for workplace or drive for long to access a hospital in emergency.
Track2Realty: Across micro-markets, investor sentiment has been impacted due to inflationary pressures and rising interest rates through the course of 2012, which have only come down marginally with a few policy revisions by the apex bank in the second half of the year.