Nearly all the developers in the Indian real estate are chasing the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) but very few have succeeded in attracting the investment of expat Indians. Reason: They have tried to hard sell the properties without actually understanding what these fellow Indians living abroad want.
The project is expected to deliver a Sales Volume of close to INR 1000 crores over the next 5 years or so. As part of its marketing strategy, the company has a dual strategy of attracting the local home buyers in Goa, as well as position it as a Vacation Home to those who live in other parts of India yet love Goa for what it is.
It is here that the project SOBHA HRC Pristine in Jakkur, Located off-Bellary Road comes as a welcome break. It is a low-density project but the price point is lesser than many other villa projects in and around North Bangalore. What is all the more interesting is the fact that as per a study, the air quality of Jakkur is the best in the city.
Investing in relationship management to earn the trust & goodwill of the homebuyers is something that the Indian real estate has not adopted as an industry practice. CRM or Customer Relationship Management is something that every developer today boasts of, but this relationship hardly goes beyond attending phone calls of aggrieved buyers and online registration of grievances.
Sobha Limited has reported a 6% quarter-on-quarter increase in its net profit during the Q3 FY18. Its profit after tax (PAT) increased from INR 50.3 crore in Q2 FY18 to INR 53.4 crore in the quarter ending December.
I am also conscious of the fact that a large number of developers are hoping against the hope that once the tide is over and investors return to the market their ordeal would be over. I may sound to be disappointing gentlemen but the era of investor driven real estate business is over.
As I enter inside the under-construction project with less than 6000 apartments spread over 60 acres to be built in four phases, the first visual impression is that the project is a premium or luxury housing. The sports theme-based landscaping, elevated walkways and greenery beneath does not give the impression that the ticket size in this project starts with INR 55 lakh only.
The slowdown was predicted much ahead to the introduction of GST and RERA and we were prepared for it. Whenever there is a new law or regulation, changes are bound to impact any market and we must cautiously tread the transition phase. At the same time, the impact usually does not last long as people adapt to changes quickly. We continue to see good traction in our business despite these market challenges. Our business is based on certain core values, which we amplify to face tough challenges.
An outside view on the Indian real estate market may get confused with the fact that mismatch in delivery and performance is lesser in luxury projects than even affordable housing. Isn’t it a fact that buyers in low income housing are more price conscious and more concerned to check & cross check than those nouveau riche who have enough money to splurge?
The real estate industry stakeholders are elated with such a prospect since the tax slab being discussed at 5% & 12% is lower than the present taxation. Niranjan Hiranandani, President, NAREDCO said the move would benefit the consumers who will only have to pay one ‘final tax’ on the whole product. This is obviously a good thing to happen, and the real estate industry will welcome the move.