Track2Realty: Mumbai’s residential segment witnessed mixed sentiments during the first six months of the year. While the city’s leasing market displayed signs of weakness during the review period, the sales market managed to hold its ground with limited capital appreciation in a few locations. These are the findings of CBRE’s latest research report on the residential sector, ‘India Residential Market View H1 2013’.
Track2Realty: Mumbai witnessed the launch of approximately 18,000 real estate units during the first half of 2013; representing an increase of 30% compared to the first half of 2012. Of the total launches, 30% were witnessed in the western suburbs of Mumbai which had the highest share in new launches at locations like Andheri, Bandra, Malad and Goregaon. Navi Mumbai contributed 24% of the overall launches with the second phase of a large township project launched in Panvel.
Track2Realty-Agencies: Seeking to attract real estate investors to the capital market, SEBI has revived an over five-year old proposal to allow listing and trading of REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) as an investment product.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Subvention schemes have gained popularity with developers in the North India, particularly after the economic slowdown. The scheme conceived by developers in conjunction with banks, allows the home loan applicant to defer EMIs and interest payments, on a property under construction, for the first two years of the loan period.
Track2Realty: Retail leasing activity continued to be subdued in Q2 2013, as most retailers remained cautious due to the weak economic conditions that are currently prevailing in India. Several retailers started to employ new service delivery models by closing down loss making stores, especially in non-core markets.
Track2Realty Agencies: Expressing hope that Parliament will pass the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill in its Monsoon Session, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) Minister Girija Vyas said that the legislation aims to protect consumer interest but was not against the industry.
Track2Realty: Sentiments towards commercial real estate investment remains favourable, as India’s economy shows itself to be less vulnerable to the overall slowdown as compared to other Asia economies.
Track2Realty: The real estate sector has been hoping against hope that the rates will be marginally cut in order to keep the sentiments bullish. Reports of foreign funds warming up and the substantial contribution of the sector, 6 plus to the Indian GDP was also being seen as an indication of why the policies would be eased.
Track2Realty: USD 2 Billion (INR 11,854 crores) is available with private equity firms ready to be deployed in real estate, despite a drop in the PE investment in the first half of 2013, says Cushman & Wakefield’s latest report on the private equity (PE) in real estate investment.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Data for the past few years show that real estate has been a rewarding asset class. For example, in 2011, one of the worst years for equities when the Sensex fell nearly 25 per cent, prices of homes in most Indian cities remained firm despite the overall economic uncertainty, both in global and domestic markets.