It is a highly disappointing budget. The Finance Minister has miserably failed in highlighting the importance the role of Housing in economy, employment generation, apart from the very need of housing. The announcements on ECB for affordable housing is a minor respite but still meaningless.
The Union Budget 2012-13 has left the Indian real estate sector grope with the indecision yet again and everyone is wondering whether the Finance Minister’s offer is glass half full or half empty for them.
Pranay Vakil: Let’s start by introducing ourselves. I am Pranay Vakil, Chairman of Knight Frank India. We are a brokerage and consultancy group, positioned as second in the business.
Ahmedabad stands out as a city that weathered the market slowdown most smartly and the property market of the city was the first in the country that showed signs of recovery by June 2009 itself. Since then realty in Ahmedabad is back and booming, with nearly 35% appreciation.
In commercial real estate there is a general marketing strategy to showcase brands that book the space. Will SMEs cluster give the developer that cutting edge?
There is no doubt that the property prices in almost all the micro market of eastern city is going northwards, yet uncertainty looms large over Kolkata realty. There have been less transaction and even lesser new launches in the city, even when the state chapter of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI) demands ten satellite towns in the state.
The office market is likely to observe steady demand, especially in prime locations in leading cities like NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Residential property buyer sentiments in Hyderabad have improved considerably over the last three quarters. There has been a gradual but certain increase in residential demand and absorption. That said, the market is still a long way from touching the 2007- 2008 levels.
Replicating global trends, the Indian economy is looking towards an impending slowdown in growth due to decline in consumption expenditure, repeated hikes in interest rates and consistently high inflation.
During the economic downturn of 2008, while the other neighbouring and glamorous property market of Bangalore and Hyderabad fell by 24-29 per cent, the Chennai market fell only 8.3 per cent. Limited supply of land and pent-up demand is how NHB’s Residex defines Chennai property market.