The BFSI sector is finally seeing the feasibility of looking beyond MMR. Cities with sub dollar (under USD 1/sq/ft.) office rents and enough relevant talent pools are now gaining momentum.
Author: Prashant Thakur
Between 2016 and the first half of 2021, corporate and national developers like Godrej Properties Ltd., TATA Housing, Hero Realty, Sobha Ltd., Shapoorji Pallonji Group, Birla Estates and Mahindra Lifespaces took centre-stage.
NCR has maximum stalled stock of approx. 1,13,860 units (approx. value INR 86,463 Cr) or 66% of the total across the top 7 cities. Of the total stalled units in the region, 50% is in the mid-segment, followed by 24% in the affordable segment, 20% in the premium segment and 6% in the luxury category.
COVID-19 has driven a lot of latent demand into tier 2 and 3 cities. This demand is driven by the improved economic growth, infrastructural developments, lower cost of living and more attractive real estate prices in these cities.
As many as 58,290 homes were sold in the top 7 cities in Q1 2021 in comparison to 45,200 units in Q1 2020 - effectively breaching pre-COVID levels. MMR and Pune together accounted for 53% of housing sales in the quarter –
Fractional ownership platforms attract investors interested in not just building future income (in case of commercial or even residential properties) but also in accessing the property (resorts or vacation homes) personally for a specific period
The combination of GST exemption, reduced stamp duty and the lowest home loan interest rates in almost two decades are a strong argument now favouring ready-to-move-in homes.
India's residential real estate segment is witnessing a decisive return of serious enquiries, which are now at 50% of pre-COVID-19 levels in the top cities. Recovery is fastest in Bengaluru, where current enquiries have reached 70% of the January-February period, followed by Gurugram with nearly 65%.
In a market where tenants have the leeway to bargain, property owners need to go the extra mile to attract tenants at good rentals. This helps them to let out their property faster while also justifying higher rental asks.
As per ANAROCK research, average property prices in the top 7 cities in the last decade (2010-Q1 2020) saw a close to 38% jump. The average price of a home in the top 7 cities rose from approximately INR 4,063 per sq. ft. in 2010 to INR 5,599 per sq. ft. by Q1 2020.