Track2Realty Exclusive: Land as the major input of real estate business is still attracting a premium though land assembling at the cost of project execution has backfired on the fortunes of many realty companies in India.
Track2Realty-Agencies: The Finance Ministry has expressed the view that the Reserve Bank should allow real estate companies and broking firms to set up banks as adequate safeguards will be there to prevent exposure of promoters to related entities.
Track2Realty: Today there is no entry barrier in the sector for any fly-by-night operator with black money to back his initial pomp and show to lure customers. But for a serious start-up there are many perils that plague. Problem is all the voices are being raised to ease only a section of the developers with often myopic vision with regard to the future of the sector.
Track2Realty Exclusive Yearly Analysis: The cash in the industry is fast drying up. Not because banks are reluctant to finance projects but because investors are now shying away as realtors are not being able to deliver on the high returns they promised to investors.
Track2Realty: The commercial property market has slowed down, considering it has a strong correlation with global and economic factors and performance. The office segment has seen a pronounced dip, with absorption levels in the two major markets of Mumbai and Delhi-NCR seeing a year-on-year slump of 47% and 26% respectively, as per industry sources.
Track2Realty: India Ratings has revised its outlook for the Indian real estate sector to negative to stable for 2013, from negative in 2012. Demand remains subdued and EBITDA margins low, leading to weak credit metrics for companies in the sector. The agency however sees signs of improvement, in terms of stability of margins and the easing of liquidity pressures, with free cash flows turning positive since H2FY12.
Track2Realty-Agencies: The fate of the Real Estate Regulatory Bill hangs in balance even after PMO steps in to resolve differences between two ministries—Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Urban Development— threatening to further delay the long pending Bill. The PMO has reportedly stepped in and directed the warring ministries to quickly resolve their issues over the bill which aims to protect property buyer’s interest from unscrupulous realtors.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The capital city is witnessing a face lift with various infrastructural initiatives, increasing prominence of satellite towns and emergence of new business districts. The Master Plan 2021 aims at making Delhi “a global metropolis and a world class city” for which necessary initiatives are being undertaken by both the Government and the private sector.
Track2Realty: Amidst a global economic slowdown as a consequence of the US fiscal cliff and Eurozone debt crisis, India’s growth forecasts too have been revised downward over the last three quarters of the year. Even in 2013, it is unlikely that we will see a spurt in growth given the existing inflationary pressures and large fiscal deficit which could adversely impact the scope for policy stimulus in the country.
Track2Realty-Agencies: CCI’s decision to modify realty major DLF’s apartment buyers agreement in relation to a case involving Rs 630 crore penalty on the firm has sparked a debate about the fair-trade regulator’s jurisdiction and other matters concerning the real estate sector.