The Indian real estate sector has grown rapidly over the last few years, with its stakeholder profile evolving from locally-focused, privately-owned enterprises to increasingly corporatized, professional organizations funded with public capital and having multiple market and product strategies.
In the ‘golden years’ of India’s housing market, property was the default go-to option for big-ticket investment. With real estate’s fading allure, investors began exploring other options and found them to quite rewarding. For instance, they can invest in a start-up with sums as ‘low’ as INR 10 lakhs. Many entrepreneurially-inclined Indians find the potential ROI (as high as 15% in many instances) makes more sense. Mutual funds provide good returns and the entry level is low enough to be affordable to many.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The question is why have not they blocked the mutual funds then? Pranay Vakil, Chairman of Knight Frank India has a simple take, “Because the mutual funds lobby is larger than the bankers’ lobby. They could not do anything about it. The companies into mutual funds are so large; they might just foray into banking.”
Atul Modak: Why did bankers’ lobby not block the mutual funds then?
Pranay Vakil: Because the mutual funds lobby is larger than the bankers’ lobby. They could not do anything about it. The companies into mutual funds are so large, they might just foray into banking.
The limit of funds to be invested by foreign investors in the Indian infrastructure sector has been raised with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also allowing mutual funds to accept foreign funds in the national budget presented on Monday.
Fractional Ownership is an evolving concept, on the lines of REIT but very different from REIT. Unlike REIT, which is a listed entity owning income producing real estate, Fractional Ownership is coming together of investors to pool their funds and jointly purchase real estate. Though in its very essence, the idea is to rent it out and earn the equitable rentals, many ‘office for a limited purpose’ investors are also getting into Fractional Ownership for convenience. A Track2Realty analysis.
Ever since the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has cleared the fractional ownership framework for realty assets, there is an euphoria among the stakeholders. The built environment of Indian real estate that is always looking for new and exciting avenues to attract the investors. It has hence carried home the message that the “Next Big” investment basket has arrived. A Track2Realty report.
Beyond the pessimism & optimism and, to some extent, more than expected recovery post the Covid-19 lockdown, the fact remains that 2020 has been by and large the most unforgettable year for the economy in general and the real estate market in particular. The old timers in the business even maintain that this has been even worse year than the global economic collapse after the Lehman crisis in 2008.
While the COVID-19 has by and large dented the confidence level of the real estate developers, Aditya Kushwaha, CEO & Director of Axis Ecorp believes there are silver lining for the players who are forward looking in their approach. In an exclusive interview with Track2Realty, Kushwaha asserts that the Work From Home trend would shift the focus from top metro cities to open spaces in and around the tourist destinations. He therefore urges the government to look at the Holiday Home segment as a priority sector.
The success of the Embassy Parks REIT has given global investors strong reason to increase their stake in multiple commercial assets across the country so that these could be listed under REITs in the future. Some of these global institutional investors who are eyeing the country’s real estate market via REITs include Japan’s NikkoAm StraitsTrading Asia, US’ North Carolina Fund, Taiwan’s Eastspring Investments, Malaysia’s Hwang Asia Pacific REITs and Infrastructure Fund, and Canada-based Sentry Global.