Track2Realty Exclusive: Now that some progress towards bringing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) has been made it paves way for a positive investment climate in the country. The decision to allow listings of REITs in India as an investment product will boost the liquidity situation of cash starved developers, who are struggling to find funds for their construction activities.
Track2Realty Exclusive: 100 days of governance may be too short a time to evaluate or judge the performance of a government or its impact on any given business. But the Gujarat real estate is so euphoric with the new government at the Centre that it seems they have not only regained some of the lost ground but also carry 100 new hopes ahead.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Analysts believe most capital in Indian real estate was invested at the exchange rate of around Rs 40-45 to a dollar with the expectation of 25 per cent returns. The currency depreciation has impacted the sector adversely as foreign investors would wait for the full cycle to play out and exchange rate to settle down before taking any fresh investment calls. Even if rupee comes down to below Rs. 60 an exit would mean a loss of around 30 per cent.
Track2Realty: Pune is no longer the small city whose only claim to fame was its proximity to the country’s financial capital, whose real estate market survived on rural demand emerging from the hinterlands of Maharashtra. Today, the perfect blend of its manufacturing and services sectors make Pune a standalone economic powerhouse in all respects, with a rate of job generation that is hard to match.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Tapping NRI money is a wish that kept the developers driving throughout the year with the depreciation in Indian rupee. However, any wishful thought of fall in the currency would be suicidal for the sector in the year ahead as this rupee depreciation would not benefit them as much with NRIs investment as it would affect the foreign private equity (PE) funds which have been the project rider for many of the developers.
Track2Realty: It is commonly believed that the Indian festive season induces property purchase solely because religious sentiments are high during this period. Likewise, it is a commonly accepted notion that the attractive schemes and freebies that Indian developers offer during the festive season have something to do with the increased sales. Apart from and creating an unduly negative impression in the eyes of global observers of Indian markets, such an assumption does not give Indians the benefit of intelligence.
Track2Realty: In Mumbai, the residential property prices per square foot have seen a minor increase in Q2-14 as compared to Q1-14. Annual comparison (Q2-14 with Q2-13) shows a 7% increase in capital prices. Rentals of a 3 BHK house have also witnessed northward movement with yearly comparison showing a 3% growth in Q2-14 as compared to Q2-13.
Track2Realty: Pune’s real estate market is constantly growing, and one of the hallmarks of this growth is the rapid development of new locations that are becoming increasingly attractive to home buyers.
Track2Realty Exclusive: It may sound like a paradox but the rental market of Gujarat city is showing bias in two directions when it comes to the property acquisition on rent. While the housing market is showing rental bias in the negative direction, the same property index is going northwards in the commercial vertical of property.
Track2Realty: The residential real estate market across leading cities of the country is unlikely to see any traction before the upcoming festive season, when demand is expected to improve. While buyers have held off purchase decisions in anticipation of lowering interest rates, developers have been waiting for the festive season before launching special schemes and discounts to boost housing sales.