Track2Realty-Agencies: RBI has asked banks to link the disbursal of home loans to stages of construction to protect the interests of buyers and contain the fallout of “innovative” housing financing schemes.
Track2Realty: Kolte-Patil Developers Ltd. has reported a jump of 115% in its net profit to Rs.26.40 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2013, compared to Rs.12.26 crore for the first quarter last fiscal. During the same period its revenue increased by 112% to Rs.219.43 crore from Rs.103.29 crore.
Track2Realty Exclusive: A recent commerce ministry discussion paper highlighted that there is a perception that many developers do not set up the proposed SEZ and continue to hold on to large parcels of land with the intention of benefiting from its alternative usage and land price escalation.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Signs of consumer activism backfiring have already started appearing. For instance, visibly upset with the increasing instances of protests by Noida Extension home buyers, which often obstruct traffic and law and order arrangements in the city, the district administration in November, 2012, asked the buyers’ association to not to protest in groups.
Track2Realty Exclusive: When the issue of Maharashtra Government levying 5 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT) surfaced and the MCHI-CREDAI and a couple of other developers’ and trade associations moved to the court, a consumer group called FORAM–Flat Owners’ Rights protection Action committee in Maharashtra – was formed with consumer interest groups coming together and seeking to fight the vexed VAT issue on flats in Maharashtra.
Track2Realty Exclusive: In Noida Extension buyers took to streets against the developers for allegedly using all available options to ensure that the original set of buyers were divested of their flats, which could then be resold at a higher rate. In a majority of the cases, the consumers were faced with a Hobson’s choice.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Cause of the dissatisfied home buyers may be legitimate, ways to get means may not be. Home buyers overt activism, often to the extent of blackmailing the builders, taking to the streets and media trial before even the case is filed in the court has not gone down well with the system. So much so that even Competition Commission of India (CCI) has become careful in its order to investigate the frivolous complaints against the developers.
Track2Realty: In a bid to strengthen its presence in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), developers body MCHI-CREDAI has decided to set up its Youth Wing and increasingly involve the generation next.
Track2Realty-Agencies: After making her foray into cricket with IPL Rajasthan team, Shilpa Shetty is once again entering a field dominated by men – real estate development. The actor has launched a company, Groupco Developers, in partnership with her friend and first generation entrepreneur Hem Tejuja, to develop housing projects in collaboration with land owners across the country.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Manoj John, VP, Corporate Planning & Strategy, RNA Corps maintains there is a correlation between cost of FSI and the nature of development that is viable given the high cost of land with limited development potential. If more can be built on the same land, the cost of land attributable to the project, which is as high has 50 to 80 per cent of project cost would come down. Hence, it would be viable for the developer to build residential projects at lower cost and hence make it more affordable.