During the boom, many developers dreamed 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 percent interest was cheap by Indian standards.
The operational inexperience of the developers’ is also being sewn up through strategic tie-ups with the majors in the hotel industry. An improving economic scenario and demand for more hotel rooms across categories is persuading international hotel chains to sign new management contracts with Indian developers and property owners, according to analysts. The industry will witness the announcement of a number of new hotels in the year ahead.
Realty sector may appear to be bullish and project that downside is over with rosy forecast ahead, yet the decline in fortune is far from being over. As a matter of fact, the learning in the last four years has made most of the leading players to restructure their project portfolio and shed the flab.
The first half of 2012 recorded total absorption of approximately 13.4 million sq ft of office space in India registering a decline of 21 percent compared to same period last year which was 16.9 million sq ft.
Some developers believe in the age when everybody is constantly looking forward to upgrade, luxury residences should not be seen just in the premium super category. As a matter of fact, Purvankara has successfully initiated the concept of luxury affordable as well. According to him there is no dearth of buyers; rather the challenge is for the developers to execute a luxe living.
Singapore-listed technology park developer Ascendas is close to acquire an IT Special Economic Zone of Shriram Properties in Chennai for about Rs 500 crore, said banking sources close to the development. Ascendas, which owns a string of business parks in India, is said to have pipped competing offers from other global investors Tishmen Speyer, Xander Group and Mapletree, a real estate arm of Temasek.
Godrej Properties (GPL) has announced creation of a residential development platform with Rs. 770 Crore of equity commitments comprising of a group of global investors led by Dutch pension services provider APG, one of the largest pension fund managers and real estate investors in the world. The investor group also includes Sparinvest Property Fund II, a global real estate fund-of-funds managed by Sparinvest Property Investors.
In India, considerable improvement has definitely taken place over the years with respect to the legal framework which encourages inflow of foreign capital. But, despite significant progress, issues such as liquidity and title ownership continue to act as constraints to cross-border investor activity, along with high transaction costs which have resulted in keeping direct investments at bay.
Does it reflect a disconnect in the luxury housing where demand of high-end units is 16% but supply is as high as 80%? “Not Really.” says Anmol Haval DGM, Sales & Marketing of City Corporation Limited (CCL) which has launched ‘Sweet Water Villas’, an exclusive project of limited edition villas at ‘Amanora’, the first integrated township being developed under the special township policy of Government of Maharashtra.
DLF and HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority) on Thursday, June 28, announced the commencement of work on the 8.3-km, 16-lane signal-free road being built at a cost of Rs 550 crore in the city.