Track2Realty: Pune is no longer the small city whose only claim to fame was its proximity to the country’s financial capital, whose real estate market survived on rural demand emerging from the hinterlands of Maharashtra. Today, the perfect blend of its manufacturing and services sectors make Pune a standalone economic powerhouse in all respects, with a rate of job generation that is hard to match.
Track2Realty: It is commonly believed that the Indian festive season induces property purchase solely because religious sentiments are high during this period. Likewise, it is a commonly accepted notion that the attractive schemes and freebies that Indian developers offer during the festive season have something to do with the increased sales. Apart from and creating an unduly negative impression in the eyes of global observers of Indian markets, such an assumption does not give Indians the benefit of intelligence.
Track2Realty: In Mumbai, the residential property prices per square foot have seen a minor increase in Q2-14 as compared to Q1-14. Annual comparison (Q2-14 with Q2-13) shows a 7% increase in capital prices. Rentals of a 3 BHK house have also witnessed northward movement with yearly comparison showing a 3% growth in Q2-14 as compared to Q2-13.
Track2Realty Exclusive: It may sound like a paradox but the rental market of Gujarat city is showing bias in two directions when it comes to the property acquisition on rent. While the housing market is showing rental bias in the negative direction, the same property index is going northwards in the commercial vertical of property.
Track2Realty: The residential real estate market across leading cities of the country is unlikely to see any traction before the upcoming festive season, when demand is expected to improve. While buyers have held off purchase decisions in anticipation of lowering interest rates, developers have been waiting for the festive season before launching special schemes and discounts to boost housing sales.
Track2Realty: The home buyers expect real estate prices to rise over the next six month, says the Housing Sentiment Index (IIMB-MB-HSI) by IIM Bangalore and Magicbricks. It forecasts the trend across 9 of the 10 cities surveyed.
Track2Realty: The formation of REITs – funds that own real estate but have shares that are listed on the stock market – will encourage the creation of big-ticket institutional-grade buildings, and will give developers a ready outlet for development projects.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Rajeev Dash, a textile exporter from Chennai was on the lookout for a plot in Coimbatore from where he could procure the textile stuff. However, his search for an easy entry to the local market with anticipation of availability of low cost property met with a surprise. The brokers in the local market showed him a number of properties, but none below the not-so-believable crore plus figure. This made him wonder whether he is negotiating in the Coimbatore market or the property agents are taking him for a ride.
Track2Realty Exclusive: IT driven locations across the country has been witness to the migration of large educated workforce, be it Bangalore, Gurgaon or Pune. This upwardly mobile, well-earning and lifestyle driven class hence becomes a key demand driver of property in the given city. In Pune the expat Indians have thus emerged as the key demand driver of property.
Track2Realty: In most metros such as Mumbai, redevelopment of old residential buildings is a normal and desirable occurrence. Without redevelopment, there would be no new supply in the fully developed city centres. Also, redevelopment is necessary because every building has an inbuilt shelf-life, after which it becomes unsafe, unattractive to the market and difficult to maintain.