By allowing external commercial borrowings (ECBs) in the low-cost housing segment, the supply of affordable housing projects will increase in the outskirts of Mumbai in areas such as Karjat, Boisar, Nalasopara, Virar, Dombivili etc. on the heels of increased liquidity for budget home projects.
It is a highly disappointing budget. The Finance Minister has miserably failed in highlighting the importance the role of Housing in economy, employment generation, apart from the very need of housing. The announcements on ECB for affordable housing is a minor respite but still meaningless.
“For the real estate and housing sector, this years’ budget has exceeded expectations given the pressure on fiscal situation. Most importantly, it has taken into account the crying need to focus on affordable housing sector by allowing ECB for low cost housing, road as well as construction. Withholding tax on ECBs for affordable housing has been reduced from 20% to 5% for 3 years and this move will help ease the liquidity in the sector.
The Union Budget 2012-13 has left the Indian real estate sector grope with the indecision yet again and everyone is wondering whether the Finance Minister’s offer is glass half full or half empty for them.
Property consultants and real estate developers have demanded industry status to the realty sector in the forthcoming Budget.
The implementation of the revised DTC will have strong implications on SEZs. The industry requires clarity on the issues that may emerge, and how businesses would be promoted in Special Economic Zones.
It may surprise to many, but the fact is that the housing finance sector has steadily and consistently been posting impressive growth, despite the numerous challenges in the sector.
More than half a dozen builders, including Ahmedabad-based Bakeri Group, Lodha Developers and Indiabulls Real Estate, have either pulled out of the affordable-housing segment or have changed their offering.
While the real estate market in India is far from satisfactory, a section of real estate developers are exploring opportunities in neighboring nations including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as the governments, seeking to boost economic growth, are providing incentives to develop infrastructure.
Real Estate developers across the country have termed the Union Budget 2011-12 as a tie cricket match which can’t be termed as won or lost. However, they are all unanimous that it is not a game changer budget for the sector.