The concerns about soaring rentals and unaffordable housing in Mumbai notwithstanding, the surprising fact is that residential property prices across Mumbai city and its suburbs increased only by 7% in 2014, and by a negligible 0.3% in 2013.
It is an interesting reality that most developers will not consider a purchase inquiry as legitimate unless the lady of the house in attendance. This fact speaks volumes, and deserves in-depth analysis. The plain fact is – when it comes to choosing and buying a home, the ‘male prerogative’ – in any case a rapidly dying concept in today’s world – takes the back seat.
Following a particularly strong fourth quarter of 2014, the first quarter of 2015 reported comparatively slow activity on the office market front across leading cities. This apparent demand drop was largely because most corporate space occupiers were still strategizing their real estate plans for the year during the period, with fewer transaction decisions being implemented in the first quarter.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has appointed Devina Ghildial as Managing Director – South Asia with effect from March 9th, 2015. In this role, Devina has been entrusted with leading the RICS in the South Asia region with a focus on growing the professional qualification, driving commercial growth, influencing policy, growing the training business and promoting professionalism and standards in the sector.
Mahagun has launcheded the unique concept of luxury housing – The ‘M Collection’. Each of the properties of Mahagun will have a select number of units set aside for the high net-worth individuals and customers looking forward to a lifestyle and living in a home, which is designed in accordance with the standards of luxury living and exuberance worldwide.
Supertech Limited has launched a township project, Hill Town at Sector 2, Sohna Road, Gurgaon. The company is investing Rs. 1,000 crores in this township project and Rs. 4,000 crores in all its projects in Gurgaon.
The stock market is not only showing the investors’ confidence index going up. It is also indicating the way forward for the Indian real estate. After all, investor sentiment on the bourses have often led to the recovery of the real estate market as the investment grows to the next level of confidence for a long term investment. It may be too early for concluding whether the stock recovery is here to stay and lead to revival of the fortunes of the real estate, yet Track2Realty finds the debate has gained ground. While the developers are optimistic about the money sooner than later coming into the sector, the critics have their own reasons to advice wait & watch policy, if not outright denial.
What needs to be done to ensure that Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) get to be the game changer? In India, we have seen ‘pious thought’ and ‘positive thinking’ not always being supplemented by positive action on part of the ‘powers that be’; be they regulatory authorities or the taxation authorities. Challenges which need to be addressed include different rates at which stamp duties are levied, for purchase and sale of assets across various states in India. Potential exists; making it a reality is the challenge.
Pune continues to draw massive lot of interest from luxury home seekers, both from within the city and from Mumbai and beyond. The reasons are not to arrive at find:
Sobha Limited has launched Sobha Halcyon in Whitefield (East Bengaluru). The 3 acre project will have just 1 tower of Ground+21 floors consisting of 175 exclusive luxurious apartments, divided into 2 wings. The project will have 3 BHK units in the range of 1,536 to 1,865 sq. ft. Even though the project is located in one of the busiest areas in the city, it is designed to provide peace and tranquillity throughout the day.