Track2Realty: The Union Budget 2014-15 was presented in the parliament under economic circumstances that required tax revenues to keep pace with targets. Considering the state of government finances and the current situation – below-normal monsoons, Middle East tension leading oil price volatility, the weakness of the India rupee etc., there was not much room for populism.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Reeling under compelling economic circumstances that call for financial prudence and tough measures, the first Union Budget of the NDA Government is still reason enough for the real estate sector to exude optimism. It seems the euphoria of a stable government at the Centre is running so deep that despite of the government taking certain tough economic measures before the budget itself and the Reserve Bank of India also not cutting the repo rate down in its recent monetary policy review, the sector is expecting rosy days ahead with the budget being the first catalytic point.
Track2Realty Exclusive: As the country heads towards the General Elections with policy uncertainties expected to get clarity ahead once a new Government assumes office, it seems Indian real estate is yet again high on the wish list of the investors, both domestic and international. If the investments and the policy announcements since the second half of 2013 are any indication, there has been a clear indication that the phase of over-cautious market sentiments is getting over.
Track2Realty: To improve responsible business practices in the land, real estate and construction industry, the United Nations Global Compact and RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) will jointly develop a best practice toolkit for the sector. The collaboration marks the UN Global Compact’s first initiative to address corporate sustainability in a specific sector following the recent launch of its Post-2015 Business Engagement Architecture.
Track2Realty-Agencies: Real estate companies have expressed disappointment over the RBI’s decision to hike the short-term lending rate, saying this could hurt economic growth and adversely impact property demand in the ongoing festival season.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Public Relations or the PR stands for different things to different people in this part of the world. In the business of Indian real estate the philosophy is how much coverage do I get by paying how less. And only developers are not to be blamed for this since agencies understand the psychology of developers and tend to over-promise, thanks to the cut-throat competition in the business.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Neeraj Gulati, MD, Assotech Realty says real estate is akin to two sides of the same coin; at one half you have the developers at the other you have the end users/investors. The point is real estate does throw a negative shade as projected to the stakeholders in terms of realty debt.
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: Some of the companies are using online media for generating sales lead; while others are focused on customer relations. With the medium new and realty more or less reluctant in the initial stages, there are very few who are actually understanding the medium and adapting themselves to what others think as a necessary evil. Tata Housing believes in using the medium for engaging with the customers more than just generating sales leads. Brotin Banerjee, MD & CEO of Tata Housing shares with Track2Realty how they strategise their social media usage. Excerpts of the interview:
Track2Realty Exclusive: With inventory piling up, interest on debt burden squeezing, all tried & tested marketing mantra failing flat and festive season hardly escalating sales drive; the realtors have suddenly woken up to the reality that their marketing format needs a makeover, if not completely to be thrown out of the window.