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 Exclusive-Yearly Analysis: The unprecedented restructuring of project portfolio, selling of land bank, exiting non-core business and the job cuts have yet not led the Indian real estate into the desired comfort zone. The realization to shed the flab has on the contrary left some of the developers to outsource the project execution and pay more.
Track2Realty Exclusive-Yearly Analysis: Indian banks lending to real estate sector grew by 10.4% in the fiscal year ended March 2010 to Rs.5.8 trillion, contributing nearly 17% of their loan book, according to RBI data. Since then it has nosedived and now the government also wants public sector banks to focus more on home loans and to streamline lending norms to the real estate sector.
Track2Realty Exclusive-Yearly Analysis:During the boom, many developers dreamt of transforming the urban landscape with millions of square feet of homes, offices and malls and set off on an aggressive expansion financed with debt that at 6 per cent interest was cheap by Indian standards. When the going was good, they went overboard with over ambitious big-ticket projects in various cities, many of which still remain stalled.
Track2Realty-Agencies: After some neglect in the past several years, the realty industry in India finally saw some reforms that had a direct and indirect impact on its fortunes and which led to the some development of the sector in 2012. The prospect of a revival looks brighter once the central bank keeps it promise of cutting interest rates to spur overall growth.
Track2Realty: Uncertainties prevailing in the real estate market since the past few years have resulted in the country no longer being an attractive investment destination for international investors, says a recent survey.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The best part is that the banks are now a party to revive the property drive in the city. They are also hosting property exhibitions, introducing combo products that offer further interest rate reduction on a car loan if a customer has already taken a home loan and are sugar coating home loan products, besides cutting interest rates and waiving processing fees to pep up demand for home loans.
Track2Realty: The top six cities of India are expected to see a total of 50,000 new hotel rooms across categories in the next 5- 6 years. This is in response to the steady growth the hospitality sector has recorded over the last few years. 2012 alone is expected to see 14,800 fresh keys by the end of the year. Out of the total expected supply for 2012, 2000 new hotel rooms have already entered the market. These are the findings of a report by Cushman & Wakefield (C&W)and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).
Realty sector has welcomed the the RBI’s decision of slashing the CRR rates by 25 basis points to 4.50% with a guarded optimism. The statement from the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) that the RBI move to infuse liquidity in the system is “more potent” than a cut in interest rate and it will help banks expand credit portfolio seems to have few takers in the sector.
Further insight on the current state of the Indian economy will be provided with the release of July industrial production data on Wednesday 12th and August WPI (inflation) on Friday 14th. Recent news flow has generally been a little downbeat but the picture is not a uniform one.