Developers in the past year have restructured debt, sold non-core assets and tweaked the product mix, helping push up sales. This has encouraged investors to buy stocks of real estate companies and motivate analysts to revise price targets and upgrade the outlook on the sector. Reflecting the positive sentiment, the Bombay Stock Exchange Realty Index rose 58 per cent in the past month, outpacing the benchmark Sensitive index's gain of 27 per cent.
Developers who are launching new projects are opting for this route, as they need not pay the entire amount in one lot and owners need not forego the potential rise in value. As much as 70 per cent of land deals in the country take place through this model now, against 40-45 per cent a couple of years earlier, say property consultants.
Even as the outbound tourism sector is feeling slowdown jitters, cruise tourism is becoming popular with Indians. Bookings for April went by 20 per cent.
Developers such as DLF, Unitech and Orbit are in the process of raising around Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) in the current fiscal after they rolled over nearly Rs 9,000 crore (Rs 90 billion) debt subsequent to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowing banks to restructure loans to developers.
Most developers charge 18 per cent annual penalty from defaulting customers. Over the past year, many people who had booked a home on installments have lost jobs or taken salary cuts. The past 6-9 months have seen many of them defaulting on payments. "The move to waive penalty on late payment is a smart move. This will provide customers the much-needed cushion at a time when a lot of them may want to back out due to their financial condition," said a real-estate consultant.
Jamshedpur gave birth to Telco (now Tata Motors) which has just launched the low-cost Nano; Jamshedpur, according to the 35-year old Tata Housing Development Company managing director Brotin Banerjee, is what inspired Tata Housing to launch its Shubh Griha low-cost housing project in Mumbai.
Tata Housing Development Company, a unit of Tata Sons, expects to earn Rs 700 crore (Rs 7 billion) in revenue from low-cost housing in the next four years, a top company official has said.
In May last year, Peninsula forayed into the hospitality sector with a joint venture with textile maker and real estate developer, Arrow Webtex. The JV planned to build hotels in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nasik and Kolhapur in Maharashtra. There were also plans to develop hotels in Ahmedabad, Surat, Jamnagar, Mundra port, Goa and Kerala.
In addition, it is banking on Rs 20 billion of additional inflows from group company DLF Assets. The move follows 33 per cent growth in DLF's gross debt to Rs 163.58 billion at the end of March 2009 from Rs 122.77 billion a year ago. In addition, DLF's revenues fell 28 per cent to Rs 105.41 billion as home buyers deferred purchases and it offered discounts to lure buyers. As a result, its revenues were hit to the tune of Rs 6.88 billion.
Store 99, which sells apparels, accessories, cutlery and other items for Rs 99 or below in its 14 stores in North India, is buying merchandise from firms that went into liquidation in the US and Europe to keep prices low, said Shiraz M Javed, a director of the group.
It will also close 30 unviable stores. The company's move comes after its net loss widened to Rs 141.2 crore in the March-ended quarter, owing to mounting losses in apparels. The loss was Rs 82.2 crore in the apparel business, against a loss of Rs 4.44 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.
After a dismal 2008, the travel and hospitality industry is set to receive yet another setback, this time due to the outbreak of swine flu, which may curb inbound and outbound tourist movement. The flu spreads among humans through contact with infected pigs.
DLF, the country's largest property developer, might offer another three rent-free months to retailers at its malls in South Delhi, who have begun an agitation against the company.
"The customers had entered into a three-year contract with us. If we have to sell the apartments at a discounted rate, the customers who are backing out should make up for it," an official said. "If DFL tries to re-sell its apartments in the open market, it will have to reduce prices by a further 10-15 per cent. The new buyers know the expected supply is more than demand," said Rupesh Sankhe, equity analyst, Centrum Broking.
DLF, the country's largest property developer, may retrade its apartments at New Town Heights, Gurgaon, and Garden City, Chennai, at a discount. This is to refund buyers who want to exit the projects, according to a senior company official.
Developers remain cautious on property deals as customers expect further price cuts.
Developers remain cautious on property deals as customers expect further price cuts.
Indian Hotels, which owns the luxury Taj brand of hotels, may see its profit decline 47 per cent to Rs 200 crore (Rs 2 billion) from Rs 377 crore (Rs 3.77 billion) last year for the fiscal ending March. EIH, a part of the Oberoi Group, is likely to see a profit figure of Rs 154 crore (Rs 1.54 billion) from Rs 223.6 crore (Rs 2.23 billion) , a fall of 31 per cent, a survey of analysts has said.
The government has decided to provide Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) liquidity support to Emmar-MGF, the developer of the Commonwealth Games village project, as against the developer's demand for Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion).
Already partnering seven international brands such as Giorgio Armani and Salvatore Ferragamo, it also plans to tie up with 12-15 global brands in the next five years. The company plans to fund its expansion through a mix of equity and debt and go in for tie-ups through joint ventures and franchise routes. The focus of expansion would be in metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai in the initial phase, the official said.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances