Track2Realty Exclusive: That small builders and fly-by-night operators in the business are the reason why the government is so concerned with the misleading advertisements. Often they advertise the project launch without even getting the mandatory license and in some cases home seekers hard earned money is lost.
Track2Realty: In a major setback to attempts of Maharashtra government to improve infrastructure in the Mumbai, none of the five shortlisted firms put in tender for the ambitious Mumbai TransHarbour Link (MTHL) project, the bids for which opened on Tuesday, Aug 6. It is also seen as a major blow for the Mumbai real estate market which was expecting a turnaround post this Rs. 10,000 crore ambitious project.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The realty sector may call it freeze of creative liberty but the proposed penalty clause in regulator bill on misleading ads can also bring much-needed facelift to the sector. Track2Realty takes up the issue with the industry representatives to understand why they are scared with the misleading ads clause in the proposed bill. Is it really about curbing the creativity or an attempt to rationalise over promises by the developers?
Track2Realty-Agencies: With real estate in East Africa fast emerging as a big opportunity, Reliance Industries, in a joint venture with Delta Corp, has purchased land worth Rs 200 crore in Kenya for development of housing and office properties and is already making good profits.
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 Exclusive: The multiplier effect of real estate sector and its capacity for generating employment is well recognized. It is estimated that the sector contributes close to 6 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) of India and is estimated to be growing at 20 per cent per annum.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The TINA factor also poses the biggest risk for investors in real estate at current level. The fact that real estate prices are all time high at a time when the economy is faltering with GDP growth coming off from a 8.4 per cent in 2010-11 to level of 6.5 per cent and below forecast ahead should ring a warning bell for investors.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Realtors are also increasingly smarting to deal with the criticism as digital media is proving to be a deadly two-way weapon. Ravi Saund, COO of CHD Developers asserts it has not deterred them in any way; it has only helped in getting closer to the customer base and understand their needs and expectations from a developer in today’s market.
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.