Track2Realty-Agencies: Housing prices have risen in 18 major cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, by up to 9.6 per cent during the October-December period 2012 compared with the previous quarter, according to National Housing Bank (NHB).
Track2Realty: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released final guidelines for issuing new bank licences on Friday. This will pave a way for corporate houses to enter the banking sector.
Track2Realty Exclusive: West Zone Analysis–The cumulative take-up levels recorded between Q1-Q3 2012 in Mumbai and Pune were the lowest when measured up against transaction activity recorded during similar time frame since 2009. In Mumbai, the first three quarters of 2012 witnessed a total take-up of 2.4 million sq ft which was approximately 44% lower when compared to 2011. Similarly, transaction activity registered in Pune were in 2012 were down by 36% during the same time frame.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Reforms as the very philosophy of a sector demands that all stake holders agree to function in a transparent manner. With the growth of real estate over the last decade, while it is heartening to note that both the developers and the government have realised the importance of transparency in the sector, there are still challenges galore.
Track2Realty: Despite an 83% drop in supply of organised retail space across key cities in the country, 2012 continued to witness an increase in transaction activity and retailer expansion. According to the findings of CBRE’s latest report “Indian Retail Market View H2, 2012”, approximately 2.5 million sq.ft. of fresh retail space entered the market in 2012, mainly concentrated in Bangalore, Kolkata and Pune, as against over 15 million sq.ft. in 2011.
Track2Realty: Omaxe has reported nearly 50 per cent increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 28.85 crore in the third quarter of this fiscal.
Trck2Realty Exclusive: Western suburbs of Mumbai are bursting at its seams, and its infrastructure facilities are outdated. Draining systems built in the times of the British era are still prevalent in the city. There is a dire need to overhaul this system.
Track2Realty: The real estate sector has welcomed the Union Housing Minister Ajay Maken’s move to accord infrastructure status to affordable housing on expected lines. The industry body CREDAI has nevertheless called for extending similar treatment to the entire housing sector again on expected lines. However, the market dynamics defy any dreams of mass housing or cheap housing even for the economically weaker sections.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Slow economic growth affecting housing market
The recent Indian economic growth has been hampered by several domestic and global factors, resulting in the GDP growth plunging to 3 years low at 5.3% in 2QFY13[1]. Factors such as weak global economy, high interest rates, high inflation, high fiscal deficit, and lack of reforms were the primary reason affecting the GDP growth.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Come budget and the real estate in the last few years seems to have been repeating the rhetoric of industry status. As a result, year after year it has been a case of realty proposes and the Finance Minister disposes. However, the sector on the eve of 2013-14 makes a strategic shift to be more realistic with its causes and concerns.