
2012: Year of cautious optimism for real estate-III
With benefits under STPI scheme gone and deadline to fully avail SEZ benefits set for March 2014, demand for SEZ space is expected to witness some momentum in 2012.
With benefits under STPI scheme gone and deadline to fully avail SEZ benefits set for March 2014, demand for SEZ space is expected to witness some momentum in 2012.
India has the second largest population in the world and is expected to overtake China by 2025. Fulfilling the housing needs of the Indian population which is growing at 1.41% annually is a tremendous challenge for the government today.
As the real estate sector in the country stands at a critical juncture, the performance of this sector will be largely governed by the following drivers.
Economic growth and real estate performance are two significantly intertwined characteristics. It is widely accepted fact that demand for real estate space is drawn and influenced from economic environment.
The Indian realty estate companies reeling under plunging sales and liquidity issues have something more challenging to negotiate-the piling debt in their balance sheet and the banks’ deadline to repay coming close.
The anticipated demand is likely to exert an upward pressure on property prices especially in markets like NCR, Mumbai and Bangalore where the demand-supply gap is high.
Now at the year end it is time we conceptualized the idea of a compendium of yearly handbook that could serve as a ready reckoner to the sector, the media, HNIs and the investors who have keen interest in the Indian realty market.
One of the biggest problems afflicting the sector is its high level of debt. The debt load of 11 listed real estate companies stands at Rs.38,500 crore.
In the absence of any serious academic research, the sector in terms of brand presence & cutting edge competitiveness has been lacking, to say the least.
For how long can Indian real estate remain in a state of denial? It is time to get realistic with the ground realities that suggest pre-2007 days are over.