Track2Realty Exclusive: Media creates perception in the collective consciousness that realty debts are a cause of concern. It is generally assumed that a debt-ridden company is not the right one to invest. However, business cycle of some of these over leveraged companies is not just better than peers, but also high in terms of brand equity. Track2Realty finds that over projected magnitude of realty debt may or may not be a reality.
Track2Realty: Real estate has expressed disappointment over the decision to hike key policy rate by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The developers and analysts say this would lead to increase in finance cost and also affect housing demand during the festive season.
Track2Realty Exclusive: A Crisil Research report maintains that absorption of new residential units across six key cities is likely to increase at a compounded annual growth rate of 7 per cent in the next two years, with Mumbai registering the highest CAGR of 14 per cent in the next two years due to huge pent-up demand. Meanwhile, the Bangalore realty market is likely to see a stable rise in sales with firms such as Sobha Developers Ltd and Prestige Estates Ltd benefiting.
Track2Realty Exclusive: As more and more real estate companies are getting bullish over branding in a cut-throat market, adapting to emerging business models and today’s Facebook culture, this survey tried to figure out whether they are being forced to transform their image or is it just a natural evolution of the sector on holistic branding parameters.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Not all stories are such fairy tales in the covert clash of mindset between the second generation and their predecessors. When Ratnesh Shah (name changed on request) joined the real estate business that his father had raised from the scratch after a long stint as broker, he had pretty discomfort, not just with the unorganised and unregulated nature of the business, but even more with the opaque way his own organisation used to operate.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Experience suggests there is an increasing inclination and though selectively but older unintelligent homes are giving way to their smarter versions. The advantages of smart home technology are changing the realty scene.
Track2Realty: The real estate sector has been hoping against hope that the rates will be marginally cut in order to keep the sentiments bullish. Reports of foreign funds warming up and the substantial contribution of the sector, 6 plus to the Indian GDP was also being seen as an indication of why the policies would be eased.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The TINA factor also poses the biggest risk for investors in real estate at current level. The fact that real estate prices are all time high at a time when the economy is faltering with GDP growth coming off from a 8.4 per cent in 2010-11 to level of 6.5 per cent and below forecast ahead should ring a warning bell for investors.
Track2Realty Exclusive: There are analysts who believe the retail investors need to be exposed to this asset class through an institutionalized vehicle, which would be regulated. REITS is the ideal solution.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The question is why have not they blocked the mutual funds then? Pranay Vakil, Chairman of Knight Frank India has a simple take, “Because the mutual funds lobby is larger than the bankers’ lobby. They could not do anything about it. The companies into mutual funds are so large; they might just foray into banking.”