In the last five years of our editorial journey our constant endeavor has been to establish Track2Realty as a constructive critic of Indian real estate. In the process we have also succeeded in setting up a few benchmark along the way where Track2Realty has been accepted as the milestone of high quality journalism.
Track2Realty: At nearly US$160 per sq. ft. per annum, Delhi’s Central Business District (CBD) of Connaught Place was ranked as the sixth most expensive prime office market in the world, according to CBRE’s semi-annual Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs survey. Mumbai’s alternative business district of Bandra–Kurla Complex (BKC) remained at the sixteenth, and its CBD of Nariman Point at the thirty-second positions on the Top 50 rankings for global prime office properties.
Track2Realty: We are currently witnessing a market scenario wherein inflation and interest rates will taper down even as the GDP growth rate picks up, and selective asset classes are becoming increasingly attractive for investment. International market dynamics suggests that gold and crude oil will continue to weaken, and commodities as an overall asset class will continue to display weakness because of easing inflation.
Track2Realty-Agencies: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has ordered an Income Tax department investigation against a number of real estate developers who were recently shown by an investigative portal to be willing to accept alleged black money in property transactions.
Track2Realty Exclusive: To say that the home buyers are coming back to the Mumbai market during the festival season would be stating the obvious. The sentiments driven real estate purchase is already visible with the reported marginal price appreciation of residential real estate across the city. The reports of price appreciation do not just reflect the price trend of the city property market; it does indicate a much larger picture where the recovery of economy and sentiments are all driving the market simultaneously.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The real estate has by and large welcomed the move to bring the slum redevelopment and rehabilitation projects under the ambit of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It has been a wish that hat was granted even before the sector could get vocal with the wish list. It is hence no surprise that some of the adjectives that the Finance Minister’s announcement could earn have been ‘a game changer’ or ‘a corporate catalyst’ and ‘investment magnet’.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The story of the informed buyer and his crucial assistance in real estate has a great history of revolutionary changes in last two decades. The real estate sector has undergone a massive transformation in India in the recent past. The boundaries of metro cities are ever expanding. For instance, the city of Mumbai has expanded into huge Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) today.
Track2Realty-Agencies: The Securities and Exchange Board of India on Sunday, Aug 10, approved final guidelines for setting up of investment trusts for these sectors. This will enable Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvIT) to list on stock exchanges like shares and mutual fund units.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Statistics often only tell half the story and in real estate this old adage is all the more true as the figure are often not the facts and ground realities may juxtapose facts with figure. For instance, a perception is gaining ground that Mumbai property has reached beyond its saturation point and the standing inventory of 48 months is being cited as the evidence.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Elections, real estate and black money have a symbiotic relation. Track2Realty tries to understand this unique and complex relation of the sector and the politicians where cash is king, yet they deny and dismiss it. The colour of currency may be projected as white in public posturing, the cycle of cash transaction with black money starts from entry level itself. Lack of transparency is what keeps the cycle moving.