Realty firms are making a beeline to private equity investors for money to repay mounting debt portfolios. With commercial banks turning cautious about lending to the real estate sector, industry players strapped for cash are seeking equity capital to ease the liquidity crunch.
Banks have experienced strong demand for loans from the real estate sector and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) during the year till February, shows the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India.
The Income Tax department has sent notices to real estate companies, MMRDA, CIDCO stating that all land lease sales or transfers attract a 10% tax, sources said.
This week has been a good one for investors in real estate shares, who had seen their investments lose 30%-55% in value over the past six months in the wake of a number of corruption allegations involving the sector.
Ashiana Housing strengthening its Facility Management arm, has launched resale and rental services for Ashianaites.
The finance ministry has asked the central bank to bar real estate firms from seeking banking licences and alter conditions relating to financial inclusion and stake dilution by promoters.
Indian real estate majors, DLF and Unitech, are set to miss their FY11 sales target, despite prices reaching the highs of 2007. Mid cap names like HDIL, Ackruti City and Sobha Developers are however on track to meet their targets.
Kotak Realty Fund, the property investment arm of India’s Kotak Mahindra Bank, plans to raise as much as USD 500 million by the second quarter of this year, in a bet on the long term case for property in Asia’s third-largest economy, a top official said.
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Absalon Project, a joint venture between affiliates of VP Securities and Soros Fund Management, have launched a feasibility study for a mortgage system in the UAE, based on the principles of the Danish Mortgage Model.
The concept of international, standardized luxury floor space must evolve further before India can absorb the demand. Developers must come up with more imaginative ideas of differentiating their luxury malls from the run-of-the-mill.