Jones Lang LaSalle’s REIS findings are in, and a closer look at the 1H12 data reveals relatively subdued activity during the period compared to 1H11. In 1H12, the top seven cities of India together recorded a 35% dip in absorption compared to 1H11. The contraction in demand caused developers to progress more slowly on their projects thereby aligning the supply with demand.
The RBI, on Tuesday, July 31, kept the repo rate or the rate at which banks borrow from RBI unchanged at 8% and also the reverse repo rate at which, the banks lend to RBI unchanged at 7%. However, it has lowered the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) to 23% from 24% earlier. The realty sector, reeling under liquidity pressure and low demand due to high interest rate, has reacted sharply over this status quo.
India witnessed increased transaction activity and retailer expansion in H1, 2012. Leading brands and retailers pursued expansion plans aggressively, increasing their presence across key retail hubs. In all the seven cities presented in the review, the retail real estate market appears to be promising with an increase in retailer enquiries. These are the findings of CBRE’s latest report titled “India Retail Market view.”
DLF is in advanced stages of negotiation with Lodha Developers to sell its prime land in Mumbai for about Rs 2,700 crore and a deal is expected to be finalised shortly.
Emaar Properties has reported a 44.35% jump in net operating profit of $332 million for the first six months of this year. The company had posted an operating profit of $230 million in the January-June period of last fiscal. However, total income for the first six months of 2012 remained flat at $1.068 billion, Emaar Properties said in a statement.
Despite buyers’ expectations of a likely fall in city property prices, this possibility seems limited as developers continue to hold on to their prices across sub-markets on the back of the DCR amendment. This policy, along with the increase in construction costs, has led to greater pressure on developers’ margins. Post the new DCR, the saleable areas are expected to reduce and carpet areas are likely to increase. It is interesting to note that while there have, in fact, been marginal price increases across many projects in MMR, registration data reflects that absorption levels have also increased.
According to the latest RICS India Commercial Property Survey, sentiment in the Indian real estate market has been adversely affected in the second quarter, as the economic picture in the country continues to remain bleak with the declining value of the rupee and growth forecasts being revised lower, along with a deteriorating global climate.
The Union Cabinet is expected to consider the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill within a fortnight. However, while the Government intends to present the Bill during the monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled to start from August 8, single window clearance to the projects is the only stumbling block in its way.
Four unidentified persons stabbed to death a bookie-turned-realtor on Sunday evening, July 29, in Nagpur. Arvind Kashikar, alias Manju, was dragged out of his home near Ganesh Nagar garden by the assailants who had come on a couple of bikes.
The real estate sector is ready to have its own regulator. Sector is actually craving for a regulator as we have come to understand that a single window will give us a way forward to growth and customer satisfaction. At this moment we are living in a regime of 40 NOC’s to a project and still no permission to function. It has no meaning and it does not give us the freedom to grow.