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 Exclusive: The Union Cabinet has cleared the Land Acquisition Bill, the realty sector is debating its pros & cons but the home buyers are apprehensive whether the house prices will shoot up in proportion of the higher cost of fresh land acquisition. The Bill cleared by the Union Cabinet makes the consent of 80 per cent of owners mandatory for private projects.
Track2Realty: Mumbai-based Omkar Realtors & Developers has partnered with ESPA International to create the first global onsite spa at its upcoming ultra-luxury residential project at Worli, Mumbai.
Track2Realty Exclusive: What are the challenges for redevelopment of a project in the urban centres? Ram Makhecha, Director, Vakratunda Group believes 80 per cent of the buildings in a city like Mumbai are dilapidated. Most of the other 20 per cent new buildings are better because that got constructed under the redevelopment scheme in recent years.
Track2Realty: MCHI CREDAI has appealed to the Maharashtra Government to slash the ready reckoner rates that form basis for stamp duty.
Track2Realty: A cautious RBI decided to keep key policy rates untouched, and the sector reacted insipidly to the RBI’s decisions, which were taken after its mid-term quarterly policy review. While many financial analysts termed its move as “over cautious” one and said that they were expecting a cut in key rates, realty reeling under a whole lot of issues and living on a wish of market revival in the year ahead said the decision to leave policy on hold has no immediate implications for the real estate sector.
Track2Realty-Agencies: The Reserve Bank of India has allowed real estate developers and housing finance companies to raise funds overseas for low-cost housing projects.
Track2Realty Exclusive: With most of the urban centres across the country having depleted buildings in prime localities, redevelopment is the only way forward. However, policy hurdles added with resistance by some vested interests causing developers’ reluctance comes in the way of an urban makeover. Track2Realty noted that the collective consciousness of the policy makers, developers and majority of residents is increasingly shaping up for redevelopment and that spells a new business opportunity for realtors across the country.
Track2Realty: Western suburbs of Mumbai are set for a facelift through redevelopment post the new Development Control Rule (DCR). Ravi Sinha speaks to Lalit Kumar Jain, CMD, Kumar Urban Development and CREDAI President to understand whether it would add more pressure on the existing crumbling infrastructure of the suburbs. Excerpts of the interview:
Track2Realty-Agencies: Land prices will escalate leading to rise in housing price if the Land Acquisition Bill is passed by Parliament, real estate developers and property consultants have said.