Track2Realty: New real estate launches in 2012 declined by 30% in 2012, versus a 7% decline seen in 2011. Slowdown in bank credit to real estate amid economic slowdown was attributed to the stagnancy in new ventures, a Knight Frank report said.
Track2Realty: The year 2012 witnessed subdued interest in real estate due to inflationary pressures and rising interest rates in the country, coupled with the on-going economic crisis in the Eurozone and US.
Track2Realty: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has modified the agreement between DLF group and apartment owners in its two projects in Gurgaon for abuse of dominance, sending a strong message to realtors indulging in such practices.
Track2Realty Exclusive-Yearly Analysis:During the boom, many developers dreamt of transforming the urban landscape with millions of square feet of homes, offices and malls and set off on an aggressive expansion financed with debt that at 6 per cent interest was cheap by Indian standards. When the going was good, they went overboard with over ambitious big-ticket projects in various cities, many of which still remain stalled.
Track2Realty Exclusive-Yearly Analysis: Realty sector may appear to be bullish and project that downside is over with rosy forecast ahead, yet the decline in fortune is far from being over. As a matter of fact, the learning in the last four years has forced most of the leading players to restructure their project portfolio and shed the flab.
Track2Realty-Agencies: After some neglect in the past several years, the realty industry in India finally saw some reforms that had a direct and indirect impact on its fortunes and which led to the some development of the sector in 2012. The prospect of a revival looks brighter once the central bank keeps it promise of cutting interest rates to spur overall growth.
Track2Realty: Mumbai-based Omkar Realtors & Developers has partnered with ESPA International to create the first global onsite spa at its upcoming ultra-luxury residential project at Worli, Mumbai.
Track2Realty: A cautious RBI decided to keep key policy rates untouched, and the sector reacted insipidly to the RBI’s decisions, which were taken after its mid-term quarterly policy review. While many financial analysts termed its move as “over cautious” one and said that they were expecting a cut in key rates, realty reeling under a whole lot of issues and living on a wish of market revival in the year ahead said the decision to leave policy on hold has no immediate implications for the real estate sector.
Track2Realty-Agencies: The Reserve Bank of India has allowed real estate developers and housing finance companies to raise funds overseas for low-cost housing projects.
Track2Realty: The National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) has requested the government to extend the computation period for availing itself of income tax benefits by one more year. This period is going to end on March 31, 2013.