During the boom, many developers dreamed 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 percent interest was cheap by Indian standards.
The operational inexperience of the developers’ is also being sewn up through strategic tie-ups with the majors in the hotel industry. An improving economic scenario and demand for more hotel rooms across categories is persuading international hotel chains to sign new management contracts with Indian developers and property owners, according to analysts. The industry will witness the announcement of a number of new hotels in the year ahead.
The first half of 2012 recorded total absorption of approximately 13.4 million sq ft of office space in India registering a decline of 21 percent compared to same period last year which was 16.9 million sq ft.
Understanding cultural differences is the key to successful workplace change programs in Asia, according to a new report from Jones Lang LaSalle.
Some developers believe in the age when everybody is constantly looking forward to upgrade, luxury residences should not be seen just in the premium super category. As a matter of fact, Purvankara has successfully initiated the concept of luxury affordable as well. According to him there is no dearth of buyers; rather the challenge is for the developers to execute a luxe living.
Singapore-listed technology park developer Ascendas is close to acquire an IT Special Economic Zone of Shriram Properties in Chennai for about Rs 500 crore, said banking sources close to the development. Ascendas, which owns a string of business parks in India, is said to have pipped competing offers from other global investors Tishmen Speyer, Xander Group and Mapletree, a real estate arm of Temasek.
Revenues of top-25 realty companies declined 9.30% in Q4FY12, mainly on account of low sales off-take due to higher prices and higher mortgage rates, says a Knight Frank India Research on Economy and Realty at glance. The study says the Realty Index on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has dropped by more than 26% during the last one year compared to a 10% fall in the Sensex during the last fiscal year.
Godrej Properties (GPL) has announced creation of a residential development platform with Rs. 770 Crore of equity commitments comprising of a group of global investors led by Dutch pension services provider APG, one of the largest pension fund managers and real estate investors in the world. The investor group also includes Sparinvest Property Fund II, a global real estate fund-of-funds managed by Sparinvest Property Investors.
It is not just real estate developers and national & international hospitality majors, but several high net worth individuals and business groups from sectors like auto, petroleum and telecom have grabbed hospitality assets, marking a strategic trend shift. Track2Realty analyses how opportunities and roadblocks co-exist in the hospitality, thus making it an interesting sector where there is room for everyone to grow.
In India, considerable improvement has definitely taken place over the years with respect to the legal framework which encourages inflow of foreign capital. But, despite significant progress, issues such as liquidity and title ownership continue to act as constraints to cross-border investor activity, along with high transaction costs which have resulted in keeping direct investments at bay.