Track2Realty: A high-rise is a tall or multi-storied building equipped with elevators, but various bodies have defined the term ‘high-rise differently. For instance, the International Conference on Fire Safety in High-Rise Buildings pessimistically defined a high-rise as a structure where height can seriously impact evacuation, while the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary merely refers to high-rises as buildings having many stories.
Track2Realty: Earlier in October, the US National Association of Realtors published a report which stated that buyers from India purchased residential properties in the US estimated at $5.8 billion in value during the one-year period ending March 2014.
Track2Realty: Technically speaking, retirement home projects are developed keeping in mind certain age groups, and should ideally be designed with special facilities to make life more comfortable for senior citizens. However, the on-ground interpretation in India has for the longest time been that any project and location that fits a certain budget and requirements is potentially a suitable ‘retirement home’.
Track2Realty: Affordable housing is not only essential to the well-being and health of the people but also for the smooth running of economies. Yet all over the globe, in advanced and developing economies alike, a majority of the cities are struggling to give their citizens decent, affordable housing.
Track2Realty: Less than ten years ago, the concept of luxury homes was firmly tied to a city’s most expensive inner locations. ‘Pin code value’ was the watchword, and developers focused on the luxury segment operated within those boundaries.
Track2Realty: A few years back, Hyderabad was offering the likes of Bangalore stiff competition for attracting office space investments. Today, the formation of a new state, a new government and a stabilized political environment are yet to instill the confidence that is needed to revive Hyderabad’s real estate fortunes.
Track2Realty: Despite the significant residential unit inventory and fresh housing supply, most of the urban housing projects across major Indian cities are unaffordable for our economically weaker sections (EWS). This is primarily because developers are by-and-large focused on launching luxury, high-end and mid-end housing projects that are considered ‘safe’ from the perspective of risks and returns in the capital market.
Track2Realty: It is increasingly being observed that standalone luxury hotels are becoming unviable in the country, especially in the case of owned, built projects where the land is acquired, and typically comes at a high cost exceeding 40% of the total development cost.
Track2Realty: It is usually believed that any sort of affordable housing reduces the property values of the neighboring properties as well. In the Indian market context, however, various studies as well as on-ground experiences in India reveal that this age-old preconception does not hold true.
Track2Realty: During 2013, the investment potential for residential properties in the financial capital of Mumbai remained largely flat and unexciting. Most serious property investors in Mumbai who chose residential property are now content to exit with moderate profits.