Track2Realty: Even in these times of gradual revival, many developers continue to battle the problems of curtailed liquidity. Many developers with large land holdings are not able to launch projects on these land parcels solely with their own capital, and therefore look to either partner with better-capitalized developers or those looking for development opportunities in an asset-light model by giving them development rights in such projects.
Track2Realty-Agencies: Fair trade regulator CCI has rejected a plea alleging that real estate company BPTP abused its dominant market position with respect to a residential project in Gurgaon.
Track2Realty Exclusive: In 2014, India elected a new Central Government with absolute majority after three decades. The absolute majority helped in the formation of the strong government capable of taking decisive steps without much opposition. Likewise, several pro-business reforms were introduced to propel the infrastructure growth and to infuse a positive sentiment for the future of the real estate sector including revitalising Special Economic Zones (SEZs), development of several industrial corridors, creation of 100 smart cities, relaxation in FDI norms in real estate, supporting affordable housing sector, introduction of REITs and InVITs etc
Track2Realty: Currently, tier 2 and 3 cities account for a smaller proportion of operational shopping malls in India. However, with rising consumer aspirations and demand, the potential of these cities in terms of retail real estate is increasing. Both national and international retailers are expanding businesses in these cities, and this is fuelling demand for organized shopping spaces. While the major metro cities are continuing to launch bigger, international-standard malls, tier 2 and 3 cities are currently graduating to next level by initiation of shopping mall developments. There are notable exceptions to this – Lulu Mall in Kochi is, in fact, the largest mall in India as of today.
Track2Realty: Enhanced levels of activity in corporate real estate transactions led to a total office space take-up of more than 33 million sq. ft.during 2014. This activity was led for the most part by Bangalore(37%) and the National Capital Region (NCR)(24%).
Track2Realty: Prabhat Ranjan, co-founder of Brick Eagle, a financial services platform for the affordable housing industry, has forayed into real estate development, incorporating a new venture Olympeo Infrastructure. The company has launched its first project Olympeo Riverside, an integrated township spread across 25 acres on the banks of Ulhas River, in the Neral-Karjat belt, an extended Mumbai suburb.
Track2Realty Exclusive: It has indeed been a busy year and 2014 can well be described as the year of roller coaster emotions where the business confidence index was exposed to two extreme ends of swing. In an otherwise flat year, the real estate sector may not have been witness to transactions on ground but the poetic engagement has definitely been at the emotional level.
Track2Realty Exclusive: 2014 was an eventful year for the commercial real estate market in India. The economic outlook in the first half of the year was uninspiring. Coupled with political uncertainty this resulted in investors and occupiers stalled making any real estate decisions. Business confidence was at its lowest. The sentiment changed dramatically in the second half post the national elections as it became clear that there would a ‘new’ stable government.
Track2Realty: The year 2014 has been quite fruitful for the real estate sector in terms of business sentiment, although the real effect of many of the policies and amendments announced in 2014 will take effect only in 2015. Starting from Union Budget FY2014-15, where affordable housing was considered on par with infrastructure, to relaxation of rigidities in the Land Acquisition and Real Estate Regulatory Bill, India’s new Prime Minister has been offering the India real estate sector consistent doses of energy.
Track2Realty: In recent years, the Asia Pacific retail market has boomed on the back of strong economic growth, rapid urbanization and the emergence of a large and prosperous middle class population, CBRE’s latest report The New Age of the Asia Pacific Retail Market reveals. As a result, Asia Pacific is now experiencing an upsurge of new retail construction to meet demand as international retailers flock to the region.