The government’s decision to operationalise FDI in multi-brand retail would help the realty sector as the move would create demand for retail space and boost mall development in the country, real estate developers and property consultants said.
Declining property sales coupled with stretched balance sheets is bound to remain a concern in the short-term, leading to a moderation in property prices in some markets, says a report by market research firm Knight Frank.
Banking institutions have cut down on their lending to the real estate sector, according to a report put out on Wednesday by real estate consulting firm Knight Frank India.
Interest from international real estate investors in Indian real estate has been limited in 2012. India has witnessed 6% q-o-q growth in direct commercial real estate in Q1 2012, as compared to China which has seen negative growth of -45%, however China performed better in Q2 2012 on the back of one mega deal. In Brazil, investment volumes seem to be reaching a more ‘normalised’, sustainable pace following the supercharged 2010-2011 period.
Seeking to fight the vexed VAT issue on flats in Maharashtra, a consumer group called FORAM–Flat Owners’ Rights protection Action committee in Maharashtra – has been formed with consumer interest groups coming together.
Price rationalisation has always been a tricky issue in real estate business where demand and supply dynamics drive the market more than any other parameter. The fact that real estate is not a perishable commodity and mostly a business of deep pockets, holding of inventory many a time makes more sense than hard sell keeping in mind the pipeline visibility.
CREDAI has reacted sharply over the Finance Minister’s asking chiefs of public sector banks to put pressure on real estate developers to lower property prices and not hold invetory. CREDAI has said in a release that instead of asking realtors to download unsold stock at discounted prices, the Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram should take immediate steps to boost to housing stock supply through special incentives to the affordable segment.
Shares in DLF, India’s biggest real estate developer, traded higher in-line with the broader BSE realty index Tuesday, Aug 7, morning. At 11 a.m., the stock traded 1.3 per cent higher at Rs 214 on the BSE. The shares, up 15.4 per cent this year, are lagging a near-21 percent gain in the real estate index.
Runwal Group, has reportedly purchased Neosym Industry Ltd, a metal manufacturing company located on LBS Marg in Bhandup owned by Kolkata industrialist C K Birla’s family.
Despite buyers’ expectations of a likely fall in city property prices, this possibility seems limited as developers continue to hold on to their prices across sub-markets on the back of the DCR amendment. This policy, along with the increase in construction costs, has led to greater pressure on developers’ margins. Post the new DCR, the saleable areas are expected to reduce and carpet areas are likely to increase. It is interesting to note that while there have, in fact, been marginal price increases across many projects in MMR, registration data reflects that absorption levels have also increased.