Track2Realty: Real estate sentiment remained fragile through a major part of 2012, as the global economy continued to face strong and persistent headwinds. Economic activity in Europe is seen to be contracting, while growth in the US has been modest.
Track2Realty: Across micro-markets, investor sentiment has been impacted due to inflationary pressures and rising interest rates through the course of 2012, which have only come down marginally with a few policy revisions by the apex bank in the second half of the year.
Track2Realty: MCHI CREDAI has appealed to the Maharashtra Government to slash the ready reckoner rates that form basis for stamp duty.
Track2Realty: India continued to feature in the list of World’s most expensive office markets, with New Delhi (Connaught Place – CBD) moving up from 9th position to 5th position (with an overall occupancy cost of US$ 183.30)according to CBRE Global Research and Consulting’s semi-annual Prime Office Occupancy Costs survey.
Track2Realty: Subdued economic growth on the domestic front and persistent concerns about the economic outlook in USA and Euro Zone moderated business confidence among office space occupiers in 2012. As a result, the major seven cities in India witnessed restrained office space take-up in 2012.
Track2Realty: Provident Housing Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Puravankara Projects Limited, is set to launch India’s largest residential township project. This gargantuan project, ‘Provident Sunworth’, is a 6 million square feet project spread over 60 acres , strategically located off Mysore Road near the NICE ring road junction in Bengaluru, within driving distance from Electronics city, Industrial hubs and the IT corridor.
Track2Realty: Responding to Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s suggestion for reducing the price of housing stock, Confederation of Real Estate developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) has asked its 8,000 plus members across the country to seriously consider the proposal to sell in maximum numbers.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Some property analysts have been critical about such group-buying websites, stating that they have an unsustainable business model. “Considering the nature of the Indian realty sector, which had tainted its image in numerous corruption scandals—and the rising interest rate regime, which has kept consumers away from buying such properties, such sites are expected to generate very little offtake from a consumer. Again, a prospective costumer may get some deals and discounts through one-on-one direct physical negotiations as well,” says Kamal Kapoor, a property advisor.
Track2Realty: In the annual report by global real estate consultants Cushman & Wakefield, “Main Streets across the world”, Mumbai witnessed the highest rental growth globally. Colaba Causeway in Mumbai recorded a rental increase of 75% over last year, on the back of strong retailer demand and continuous preference for prime high street properties in the city. Kolkata – Park Street (5th) at 53.8% and Chennai – Khader Niwaz Khan Road (10th) at 36.7% were among the global top ten cities to register highest annual rental growth.
Track2Realty: Cushman & Wakefield has expanded into the Philippines with a new office in Manila, its 5th new office in Asia Pacific so far in 2012.