Chicago-based Vestian Global Workplace Services, an integrated real estate services provider has announced to invest Rs 1,500 crore in India and China over the next 18 months. The company, which raised the fund from global investors, said about 70 per cent of the proposed investment was earmarked for the Indian market.
The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to put in place an escrow mechanism that can ring fence their loans to real estate firms and keep a closer tab on the end use of funds. The RBI has been looking to tighten the lending norms for the real estate sector after last year’s bribery-for-loan scam. The scandal also exposed several unethical practices, such as diversion of funds.
While the realty sector is cribbing for under representation in budget for the last few years, Atul Modak, Head of Mumbai-based Kohinoor City goes a step further to say realty sector not only gets under represented but also it is treated with a bias. He asserts that instead of seeing it as one of the sector responsible for growth of the economy, it is looked with a bias and taxed accordingly. In an interview with Ravi Sinha, he shares his budget wish list and concerns for the sector.
While the Indian realtors have often cribbed on the issue of under representation of the sector in respective budget, they have seldom admitted the fact that the real estate has been a divided house over their wants and needs. Navin M Raheja, MD, Raheja Developers suggests a way out and asserts that tax sops given to real estate will actually increase the government revenue.
While some reports have predicted correction in Mumbai realty market, Babulal Varma, Managing Director of Omkar Realtors & Developers assert that rising demand and low availability of ready-inventory will make Mumbai the most sought-after property market in 2011.
The world’s largest and Mumbai’s oldest Red Light District ‘Kamathipura’ known for its kothas that is brothels engaged in flesh trade is now turning golden with the increasing interest of the real estate developers there. Thanks to the Mumbai police that the increasing pressure on brothels under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act have compelled the operators to shut the brothels and move to suburban area like Navi Mumbai for resettlement; making way for the real estate developers to plan out commercial complexes in the area.
Baring Private Equity Partners India (BPEP), along with some of its international investors, is likely to invest about $75 million, or approximately Rs 350 crore, in the Bangalore-based Century Real Estate. Baring’s individual commitment to the deal is around $53 million, while overseas investors who are backing the fund may bring in a little over $20 million in additional investment.
Real Estate Development, Investment and Advisory firm Netz Realty is launching townships near Mumbai and Bangalore. The Singapore based Netz Capital backed firm Netz Realty is launching Green Township projects on the model of self sustainable living for the 100 acres plus projects being planned near Mumbai and Bangalore.
While there are reports of price correction in Mumbai realty, R Karthik, Chief Marketing Officer of Mumbai based realty firm Lodha Developers believes there will be a positive trend in the year 2011 and the demand will be led by the real buyers.
With liquidity from traditional channels like banks and equity markets drying up for property developers, non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) have raised rates for loans to real estate companies by two-three percentage points (200-300 basis points). The rates have gone up from 15-19 per cent to 17-22 per cent. The rates vary according to the developer, the project and the requirement of the company, say NBFCs and consultants.