Track2Realty Exclusive: A stable property market otherwise, Pune like any other city has also been witness to the slow sales in the last few years. The overall macro-economic slowdown had taken its on the psyche of the home buyers who were sceptical about the fortunes of the city property market. Even the buyers who had no affordability issue were also not unaffected by the bearish sentiments.
Track2Realty: US-based realty firm Hines has announced a tie-up with a global fund to invest US$ 250 million (over Rs 1,500 crore) in various housing projects in India.
Track2Realty: It is increasingly being observed that standalone luxury hotels are becoming unviable in the country, especially in the case of owned, built projects where the land is acquired, and typically comes at a high cost exceeding 40% of the total development cost.
Track2Realty: The draft guidelines for trading in REITs in India have been introduced and allowed. For the very first time, there exists a tool to channel small savings into the Indian real estate sector. Not surprisingly, several owners of income-generating properties are now considering setting up REITs.
Track2Realty: While buying a home in India, stamp duty and registration charges are the most significant additional costs above the base price of the property itself. Close on the heels of this expense come the costs involved in registering with the local electricity board and having a meter fitted.
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.
Track2Realty: CommonFloor.com has received USD 30 million in a new round of funding from their existing investor, Tiger Global. The current round of funding comes within months after it raised Rs 64 crores in last round from Tiger Global and Accel India.
Track2Realty: High profitability is driving growth of new main streets, says Cushman & Wakefield’s report, ‘New Retail Frontiers: Emerging Main Streets in India. The report analyses the potential of new locations, which are emerging as retail hotspots in the seven major cities of Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune and Hyderabad.
Track2Realty: Demand for housing across leading cities remained subdued in the first half of 2014. Owing to high pricing and lending rates, buyer preference remained focused on secondary and emerging markets of leading cities; while developers began to offer discounts to boost sales ahead of the festive season. This general slackness in housing sales has been primarily triggered off by the Affordability Index going down in certain cities; although home buyers have been investing in markets that they perceive to be offering value for the product, as well as the preferred location.