Macro level forecast suggests Asia in general, and China and India in particular, will continue to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) despite the slowdown as Europe and the US continue to grapple with economic problems of their own.
Economic growth and real estate performance are two significantly intertwined characteristics. It is widely accepted fact that demand for real estate space is drawn and influenced from economic environment.
One of the biggest problems afflicting the sector is its high level of debt. The debt load of 11 listed real estate companies stands at Rs.38,500 crore.
A Knight Frank report suggests revenues of real estate companies have dropped by 19 per cent and profits have declined by 70 per cent, over the past four financial years, since 2007-08.
Market forces of demand and supply are the most potent determinants of price and the developments in the real estate industry during year 2011 is the latest example.
Through the course of 2010, the realty sector evened out into a level playing field, with enough traction in the market to hold investor interest, with several on-going projects being delivered and others being launched.
Morgan Stanley has named Shirish Godbole as the head of its global real estate investment fund in India.
The level of FDI in the real estate sector is unlikely to show a quantum jump this year, courtesy a slow GDP growth rate, high debt levels of the real estate developers, labour shortage and economic crisis in the US and Europe.
Jaiprakash Associates (JPA), the Jaypee Group flagship, is on the look out for a strategic partner for its cement business, the third largest in the country.
A report by real estate firm Knight Frank says worldwide mainstream house prices marginally avoided falling into negative territory with prices rising on average by 0.1% in the three months to June 2011 and by 1.7% over a 12-month period.