The Indian realty estate companies reeling under plunging sales and liquidity issues have something more challenging to negotiate-the piling debt in their balance sheet and the banks’ deadline to repay coming close.
In view of the adverse publicity and shaken customer confidence arising out of significant delays in delivery of projects across the states, there is a strong acceptance of this matter by top management of the developers and investors alike.
Year 2011 was a challenging year for the Indian real estate sector. It was a year which brought to the mainstream need for policy level changes.
One of the biggest problems afflicting the sector is its high level of debt. The debt load of 11 listed real estate companies stands at Rs.38,500 crore.
It may be momentary down because of rising interest rate, macro economic hue, affordability issues borne out of demand-supply mismatch and overall market sentiments, but forecast for the residential real estate is definitely robust.
A Knight Frank report suggests revenues of real estate companies have dropped by 19 per cent and profits have declined by 70 per cent, over the past four financial years, since 2007-08.
In the absence of any serious academic research, the sector in terms of brand presence & cutting edge competitiveness has been lacking, to say the least.
For how long can Indian real estate remain in a state of denial? It is time to get realistic with the ground realities that suggest pre-2007 days are over.
Market forces of demand and supply are the most potent determinants of price and the developments in the real estate industry during year 2011 is the latest example.
Realty major DLF on Wednesday, Dec 28, announced sale of its information technology special economic zone (IT SEZ) in Pune to Blackstone Group.