The long-awaited housing market revival is underway even before the pandemic is fully subdued. Whether it will last well into next year and beyond remains to be seen.
Author: Anuj Puri
Anuj Puri is Chairman, ANAROCK Property Consultants. He has over 30 years of experience in multi-disciplinary advisory and transactions ranging from real estate to social development projects. Expertise in planning, undertaking demand assessment studies and transaction services including marketing strategies based on technical real estate market analysis, feasibility studies, program requirement derivation and fund and investor sourcing.
Redevelopment projects in Mumbai may begin picking up pace again. There are no real alternatives - the biggest problem for real estate development in Mumbai is land scarcity. There are very few opportunities for greenfield developments in the more valuable city centre areas.
Premium Homes Launches at 36% in Q2 2021, Affordable Housing Share Dips to 20%
- Of 36,260 units launched in Q2 2021 in the top 7 cities, the premium segment (priced b/w INR 80 lakh to INR 1.5 Cr) had the highest share (approx. 13,130 units); mid-segment (INR 40-80 lakh) had a 32% share (nearly 11,760 units)
- Hyderabad, Bengaluru & Chennai together comprised a 72% share of total new premium supply in the second quarter
- Covid-19 dents affordable housing supply share – reduced to 20% (approx. 7,230 units) as of Q2 2021
- In the pre-COVID-19 period, affordable housing supply share dominated; post-pandemic, share drops dramatically from 40% in 2019 to 30% in 2020 – at 20% in Q2 2021
- Developers strategically following trends – buyers of affordable homes most affected economically by COVID-19; high unsold affordable housing stock another concern at 33% of total 6.54 lakh unsold units in top 7 cities by Q2 2021-end
The pandemic has significantly altered previously dominant trends in the Indian residential market. Notably, it has dented the overall new affordable housing supply share across the top 7 cities. Latest ANAROCK research indicates that out of the total new launches of approx.
MMR housing sales exceeded new launches in the last one year. The region saw total housing sales of approx. 58,170 units in the pandemic period between Q2 2020 to Q2 2021, while new launches stood at approx. 41,500 units.
The previous desire to live in city centres - closer to workspaces, children’s school, etc. - has reduced markedly with the advent of WFH and e-schooling options in the post-pandemic world.
ANAROCK has signed a formal agreement with U.S.-based Upflex Inc. to deploy Upflex’s services across tier 1, 2 and 3 cities in India. The agreement combines Upflex’s technology, processes, and corporate mandates with ANAROCK's national distribution platform to offer a highly customizable workspace program.
Union Budget 2021-22 was broad-based with special emphasis on building robust healthcare infrastructure, physical infrastructure and affordable housing. It will result in job creation in the informal sector, which was severely impacted by the pandemic
Union Budget 2021-22 presents several opportunities to give the sector a shot in the arm. Given that real estate contributes more than 8% of the Indian economy, it has justifiable expectations.
As on 2019-end, 1,322 projects comprising ~5.76 lakh units (launched in 2013 or before) were stuck in various stages of (non) completion in top 7 cities; by 2020-end, this reduced to 1,132 projects comprising ~5.02 lakh units
The housing industry needs focused measures to further bolster demand in 2021. This year, the demands go beyond the usual suspects of single-window clearance and industry status.