Category Archives: India Real Estate News

HDFC Cuts Home Loan Rate Again

India’s largest housing finance company HDFC has reduced home loan rates by as much as 150 basis points (ie 1.5%).

So now, the floating rate for home loans has come down from 11.25% to 9.75%, which is the same level as in 2006.

Real estate advisers say the maximum benefit from this rate cut will be for those people looking for home loans between Rs 20 to Rs 30 lakh.

For home loans below Rs 20 lakh, the reduction is 50 basis points as the earlier rate was 10.25%.

This home loan rate cut by HDFC comes on the back of two successive 50 basis point cuts in deposit rates in recent weeks.

This development is also likely to help the troubled real estate sector by getting them some much needed liquidity.

Foreign Institutional Investors Reduced Investment In Indian Real Estate Companies

BSE reports indicate that Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have reduced their investment in real estate companies, particularly Parsvnath Developers and Unitech by 0.8 and 2 percent respectively, year-on-year.

According to shareholding data available on BSE, the domestic financial institutions and banks have increased their inevstment in Unitech Ltd by over 1.5 percentage, while Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have reduced their stake.

In the case of Parsvnath, there were marginal changes in the institutional shareholding (mutual funds/UTI and financial institutions and banks) within the non-promoter category, even as the ‘individual’ holding rose by just less than a percentage point.

“The FII stake in Parsvnath had almost doubled between June 2007 and December 2007, but came down subsequently, in line with market trend,” a market observer said.

In the case of Unitech, the stake held by various mutual funds and UTI stood at 0.51 per cent on June 30, 2008 — a bit higher than 0.25 per cent in 2007.

According to market sources, while FIIs have trimmed their holding in Unitech, the shares sold by them may have been picked up by private Indian insurance firms.

So there is capital in the market that is willing to pick-up whatver real estate equity becomes available. Whether the current Indian Real Estate Stock P/E is good for buying now, is the big question.

Obviously, different people are seeing things differently!

Indian Real Estate Trends 2008

Indian Real Estate Trends 2008

  • Cost of real estate has risen considerably over the last 10 years. In fact, Investment in a property has turned into a productive option for majority of people. In most cases, the prices have only gone up.
  • We’ve got property developer billionaires in this cash rich sector. The driving force behind this Indian real estate boom is the steady extension of ITES, BPO, KPO, and Outsourcing services and the subsequent development of the middle class status.
  • Both commercial and residential growth are running at a marathon pace.
  • The most favoured cities for investors are Bombay, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Madras, Gurgaon, New Delhi, Pune, Chandigarh, Calcutta and Jaipur.

Reasons for Growth

One of the main reasons for this boom is that in the year 2006, Indian government give consent to 100 percent foreign direct investment. This has enabled foreign residents maximize their profits through bidding for Indian real estate along with their local associates.

The growth may be also attributed to several factors such as economic reform and liberalization, increased globalization, increase in business opportunities, heightened equity market activity, increasing demand, enhanced transparency, legitimized funding and favourable demographics.

Real Estate Venture capital funds have propelled Indian Real Estate industry to become one of the highest investment generating avenues. Also the fact that India’s seven Real Estate powers like DLF and Unitech are their in the Forbes list of 54 Indian billionaires crystallizes the sector’s strength. Industry was able to attract significant interest from domestic and foreign investors keen to be a part of the real estate growth

The Future Trends

The real estate industry is estimated to reach $60 billion by 2010 with a growth rate of 30 per cent. The industry entered the Dalal Street in a big way and floated 12 public issues in the year, making it a leading sector in terms of fund raising. Currently, private property developers are largely focusing on constructing housing units for middle class and poor. Rising disposable income and the trend towards nuclear families are the significant factors pushing the demand for residential properties in the country.

Many eminent foreign builders like Dubai-based Emmar Properties have shown keen interest in Indian real estate and have joined hands with Indian constructors for investment. Other major foreign players in Indian realty market includes Japan’s Kikken Sekkel, UK’s High Point Rendel , Cesma International and Lee Kim Tah Holdings from Singapore, etc. It is expected that all these foreign investors will exercise latest technology, management skills and regulation policy to make it big in Indian real estate market

Another factor that plays a critical role in the current trend in the Indian Real Estate industry is the development of physical and social infrastructure. Residential, commercial offices, retail and hotels have their own place in the market. The presence of real estate majors from within India as well as abroad have ensured constant supply of capital which is absolutely necessary for the large scale of development that has been undertaken, especially in the infrastructure expansion of roads, airports, ports and SE’s that require large funding India’s biggest realty developer, DLF continued its supremacy over others. The firm launched the a mega IPO of over Rs 9,000crore, followed by HDIL’s Rs 1,700 crore and Puravankara Projects’ Rs 850 crore.

About the Author: Rahul Boss is working as an architect in India has developed trustworthy commercial apartments.

Indian Real Estate Overview & Trends

Introduction

Indian real estate is witnessing a boom and the scenario keeps evolving with every passing day. Indian real estate is heating up big time no doubt. It is estimated that Indian real estate is presently growing at 30 % per annum and the property industry boasts of a wide range of products that includes property prices which would suit even the people of the low-income group. Indian real estate industry is expected to grow beyond $100 billion in the near future.

A key point to note is that the Indian real estate is mostly privately owned, and is a highly unregulated, unorganized market with huge potential.

Indian Real Estate is certainly zooming away in the wake of current scenario witnessing its being riding on high growth wave. Indian real estate is happening, and a number of non-real estate companies are entering the sector to leverage the opportunities. Indian real estate is a growing sector for both investors and people who are looking for a home. Indian real estate is making rapid strides oIn the back of country’s surging economy.

After a slow start, FDI in Indian real estate is poised for rapid investments of over USD 10 billion likely in the coming near future. The attraction of Indian real estate is now in no doubt after an international investor pledged to put millions of pounds into the Indian real estate sector. From consultants to financiers to developers and construction companies, Indian real estate is witnessing a sea change in terms of operations.

For Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), investment in Indian real estate is monetarily rewarding and emotionally gratifying, as it helps maintain bonds with their homeland.

Indian Real Estate Investments

Policy changes introduced by the Government in February 2005 allowed 100 per cent foreign investments in construction projects with fast-track approvals. But the real attraction for foreign investors is potential investment returns of 25 per cent and more in Indian projects that might be hard to come by in the US and in Western Europe today.

Kishore Gotety, ICICI Venture Funds’ director of investments, says the internal rate of return net of developer margins and fees could be between 25% and 28%. Vornado’s investments through this partnership are primarily in the booming market for information technology parks in cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Navi Mumbai.

Vornado’s president Michael Fascitelli declines to detail the company’s investments in India, but says that it plans to create a fund that will co-invest with its Indian partner. ” He adds that while his company has targeted China and India as the top destinations among emerging markets for real estate investments, India scores higher marks. “Vornado’s Fascitelli says he expects high returns from investments in India “because of the risks.

Various authors have published tables showing 30 to 100 percent gains in a year through real estate investments. What the Indian Real Estate investor needs to be doing is deliberately evaluating if he is making the right investments, not by getting carried away by glossy advertisements but getting relevant provisions endorsed in the buyers agreement.

If you intend to add real estate investment in your overall investment portfolio or looking for the most productive commercial property, residential property or any other form of investment property, now is indeed a great time.

We intend to showcase the developing India which is open to investments and offers world class environment for work, luxury, relocation and retirement. This has been one of the most crucial factors for India gaining its status as a highly favored investment destination through FDI and funds. Property investment doors open for NRIs The policies set out by the government regarding property investment and repatriation, has made opportunities of investments in India even more favorable.

Approximately 94% of the capital investment being made in property is in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. From Singapore, Lee Kim Tah Holdings is putting down its investment of US$115 million in a 100-acre township, with commercial and social infrastructure adjoining, near Mumbai. Nevertheless, the high profile investments which have arrived would have been unheard of as little at 10 years ago.

Real estate experts believe the country will need an investment in the order of US$75 billion to US$90 billion to bridge the expected deficit in housing, with only about 25% of that total being expected from banks and other institutes, as well as central and state governments.

Real Estate Growth in India

Real estate maturity in India focuses on three primary areas: commercial, retail and residential. Commercial Real estate refers to Office space; IT, BPO, KPO space leasing continues to boom with 12 million sft leasing across India; with 6 million square feet in Bangalore, and 7 million square feet Mumbai.

Growth in commercial office space requirement is led by the burgeoning outsourcing and information technology (IT) industry. One is a $200-million project for residential and commercial development on 42 acres in Bangalore’s prime Whitefield suburb. Industry experts believe that Indian real estate has huge demand potential in almost every sector — especially commercial, residential and retail.

As an indication of global interest in Indian real estate, LaSalle Partners, a major commercial real estate firm with headquarters in Chicago, last month announced the opening of an office in New Delhi, India. In India, banks had never thought of funding a commercial or residential real estate property a decade or two ago.

Some relevant regulations

Acquisition by way of gift: An NRI or a PIO may acquire residential/commercial property by way of gift from a resident of India, an NRI or a PIO. However, a foreign national of non-Indian origin resident outside India cannot acquire residential/commercial property in India by way of gift.

Sale of immovable property: An NRI can sell residential/commercial property in India to a person resident in India, an NRI or a PIO. However, a PIO can sell residential/commercial property in India only to a resident of India.

Furthermore, the commercial real estate sector promises better results with the demand for office space in the top seven cities shooting up to 70million per square foot, within the next three years. Another factor pushing the average rentals in the commercial business district (CBD) areas is a sharp increase in value of rupee. The demand for commercial property is steadily on the rise, especially in the retail sector.

Conclusion

The Real Estate explosion in the Indian real estate is in large part due to the by the burgeoning outsourcing and IT and BPO industries, which are bringing large amounts of cash. The underlying reason for all these moves is that the Indian real estate is tremendously attractive, because of basic demographics and a supply shortage. Truly Indian real estate is having a dream run for last five years.

Though there is a sort of saturation in the Tier 1 cities but the good news for Indian real estate is that Tier II cities started growing with the IT Sector and the industrial sector investing in such places. Thus Indian real estate is poised for a boom, taking the rest of the economy with it.

The notion that Indian real estate is expensive is based more on the cost of undeveloped land, which is becoming a scarce commodity, than finished residential or office space, which is still available at reasonable prices in most places, except maybe places like Marine Drive in Mumbai or Connaught Place in Delhi. Indian Real Estate will remain bullish for the foreseeable future.

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