Shares in developer DB Realty hit a record low on Monday after its Managing Director Shahid Balwa, embroiled in a widening telecom corruption investigation, resigned from his position.
Tata Realty Initiatives Fund-I, managed by Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd, has bought over Kotak India Real Estate Fund-I, a $100 million (Rs.450 crore) fund managed by Kotak Realty Fund in Peepul Tree Properties Pvt. Ltd for Rs.385 crore.
The vision of owning a house is slowly getting clearer for buyers as residential real estate prices are beginning to see the promised correction on the back of hardening interest rates and poor transaction volumes.
A mammoth increase in planned supply of retail malls in India will increase retail companies’ bargaining power vis-à-vis real estate developers.
The budget speech indicated further progress on the Direct Tax Code (DTC) as well as the GST – both critical measures, which is a welcome move. Though, I feel that it would have been better for the industry if GST was also rolled out along with the DTC.
At least four firms, Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd (Ansal API), Emaar MGF Land Ltd, Kumar Urban Development Ltd and Paranjape Schemes Constructions Ltd, have received fresh sanctions from banks, although overall lending to the sector remains subdued.
The Finance Minister seems to be getting more appreciation than brickbats for renewing focus on the housing needs of Aam Aadmi. Even the real estate sector is divided and while the long awaited demands have not been fulfilled, a section of the realtors with affordable housing projects have appreciated the efforts.
For the Union Budget 2011-12, rising inflation, tight liquidity, high interest rate, industrial slowdown, delayed reforms and negative market sentiment were some of the key concerns to address.
Real Estate developers across the country have termed the Union Budget 2011-12 as a tie cricket match which can’t be termed as won or lost. However, they are all unanimous that it is not a game changer budget for the sector.
It would seem that the Union Budget 2011 pointedly ignored the larger issues affecting the Indian real estate sector at this sensitive stage of revival and growth.