Monthly Archives: June 2008

Real Estate Business Is Now Picking Up Again In Hyderabad

Hyderabad : With the rejection by Andhra voters of the Telengana Rashtra Samiti, real estate business is now picking up again in Hyderabad after the recent elections.

The non-residents of India (NRI)’s and the foreign direct investors have started taking interest in the real estate because the demand for a separate State does not seem to be on the cards.

Some believe that if the Telagana state was possible, then the prices would have gone down heavily but now the situation is different and people hope that the separation of the State is not on the cards.

“Some of the people in the coastal regions had withdrawn their investments but now they have come forward and want to invest further which will definitely give a boost to the real estate business,” said E. Peddi Reddy, TDP leader.

Since people are clear that Telangana would not be formed, a number of new ventures has risen in the city. Some builders believe that the Telangana factor was not the reason for the rise in investing. The reduction in the rate of interest by banks and the increasing value of dollar are some of the reasons for boom in the city.

“Two months after the by polls there was a little lull and it was a wait and watch situation. After by polls a lot of NRIs, foreign direct investors are showing interest. The ‘T’ factor impact should not have been there in the first place but for the past few days, we are getting a lot of calls and there is a lot of prospect to buy property,” said Y.Kiron, Suchir India Private Limited.

Unitech Scraps Singapore Reit

India’s second-biggest property firm, Unitech, has scrapped plans to list a US$600 million ($824 million) real estate investment trust here.Its big rival, DLF, which is India’s biggest developer, did likewise in March, announcing it would delay its listing plans. Read More »

Monsoon Likely To Affect Real Estate

There is going to be a major price correction in the real estate market in the subsequent three months. Land owners and builders are holding on to the selling price of their properties due to the ongoing monsoon but post-monsoon, prices would nose-dive 15-20%. Builders and property consultants preach that monsoon season is considered to be a lean season for the real estate market when barely any buying or selling of properties happens. Read More »

Real Estate Sector Facing Major Cash Crunch

The latest battle in the real estate sector has started taking a toll. Almost all large developers are now facing a severe cash crunch and finding it difficult to complete their ongoing projects. In fact, the situation is so bad that most of them have reported a 50-70% cash shortfall. Industry sources said that the liquidity crunch has forced many developers to pick up cash from the unorganized market at interest rates as high as 35% to 50% annually. The lending rate of banks is between 18% and 20%. Read More »

Kumar Builders The Best Real Estate Company Of Pune

Kumar Builders stood tall at the Pune Real Estate Summit & Excellence Awards 2008 presented by Amicus Enviro Consultancy, a Delhi-based environment consultancy firm, at a function at Le Meridien on Saturday evening.
As many as 28 companies vied for honours for the prestigious awards. Amongst the big names in the nominees were Kumar Builders, Goel Ganga Group, Vascon Engineers, City Corporation, Panchshil, Kolte Patil Developers, Naiknavare & Associates, Lunkad Realty, Paranjape Schemes to name some. However, the evening belonged to Kumar Builders who bagged the most prestigious award of the evening, “Best real estate company” award.

Kruti Kumar Jain, executive director, Kumar Builders received the award.

Kumar Builders also walked away with the “Best retail project (built)” award for Pune Central.

“Best environment friendly project” award was bagged by Kumar Sublime and the “yuva entrepreneur” award went to Kruti Kumar Jain.

“Age was no criteria to achieving the best in life, if one has determination,” she said, accepting the award.

City Corporation bagged four awards, while Panchshil and Goel Ganga Group bagged three awards each in various categories. Vascon Engineers and Lunkad Realty bagged one award each.

Dr P S Rana, former chairman, HUDCO, S P Goel, president, Builders Association of India, Surendra Gupta, chairman, Goldsouk, Vinod Behl, editor, Realty Plus, Dinesh Raste, DLF, Rajiv Talwar and R.P. Arora, were prominent among present at the event and gave away the awards.

Vascon Engineers bagged the ‘Best Trusted Brand’ Award, which was accepted by Roopa Mudaliar. Goel Ganga Group was presented the “Best corporate social responsibility” award, which was accepted by Jaiprakash Goel, chairman.

He was also conferred the “mentor” Award. The group also bagged the “Most diversified real estate developer” Award. Lunkad Realty bagged the “Best real estate marketing campaign” award. The awards function was interspersed with entertainment in the form of a variety of dances on popular chartbusters.

Country Club Acquire Properties In Tier-II Cities

Country Club India (CCIL) has pronounced the getting hold of properties in Tier II cities. Driven by its focus on pan India presence, CCIL has added Lucknow, Jaipur, Indore, Surat and Pune to its fold taking the total to forty four own clubs in the two hundred two club network including franchisees.
Y. Rajeev Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, CCIL, told on 11th June that plans were on the anvil to invest one hundred crore rupees in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to strengthen its functions. Elaborating on CCIL’s development plans abroad, Mr. Reddy said the acquisition of Chelsea Hotel (now re-christened Country Club Dubai) was a significant part of its one thousand one thousand crore rupees strategic expansion plan in the next three years.
The Dubai property, acquired at a cost of One hundred seventy five crore rupees, was fully operational, he said. CIIL had made its foray into satellite clubbing under its brand Country Klub 2007 (CK 27), a concept for intra-city penetration. The first one, developed over forty thousand sq. ft. in Surat, was already operational. A 2nd such club in Koramangala (Bangalore) has been announced. The company has also initiated a global card which entitles members to a host of privileges at the newly purchased Country Club Hotel in Dubai and other CCIL properties. CIIL has initiated a project in association with Kairali Group for medical tourism and has lined up more similar projects

Houses On Rent In Chandigarh

Chandigarh is a city with plenty of options available as per the rental market is concerned. The real estate trade has scaled new heights and to attain the break-even to the supply side. Chandigarh is one of well developed cities in India. As a result purchase of an own house to a common man has become a costly affair. This scenario aids the rental market in the city which is already on an upswing. Since this city is capital for both the states of Punjab and Haryana, many people would prefer Chandigarh as the destination for self-upliftment. Many prestigious educational institutions are also present here. Many parents, for sake of better education for their children are now shifting to Chandigarh. All these people need space to live in which again is providing a great feed back to the rental market. Read More »

Leading Real Estate Company Line Up For Affordable Housing In Punjab

Leading real estate players together with DLF, Parsvnath, Omaxe, TDI, Ansals and Unitech have shown interest in joining hands with the Punjab government in its bid to provide ‘reasonable houses costing not more than One lakh rupees each’ in the state.
Real estate and infrastructure players who attended a conference with Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on 12th June to come out with ‘real plans for houses for all scheme. The meeting were attended by several top level management members of Companies like Ambuja cement, Ansal API, DLF and many other.
Badal in the meeting said that the state government’s will give its proper support to the corporate sector for a joint bid to provide every poor and needy person a roof over his head in the state. The real estate developers had come together for the interactive meeting organized by National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO).
The chief minister pronounced the creation of a separate ‘state shelter fund’ to be used completely for the construction of economically weaker section (EWS) houses by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA). All urban development authorities will contribute fifty percent of the license fee collection to the fund. Having an interaction with the stakeholders in coordination with NARDECO prior to freezing the policy on ‘affordable housing for all’, Badal listed a no. of path breaking actions taken in the housing and urban development.

Realty Investors Begin To Challenge Builder Rates

According to experts, the killing in stock markets, where realty stocks have taken a beating along with the rest, may speed up the slowdown in the real estate market over the next six months.
Balaji Rao, managing director, Starwood Capital India Advisers, said, “The market is already slowing as high property prices have affected sales”. Read More »

Ruchi Group Will Construct 796 Luxury Apartments In Kolkata

Ruchi Realty Holdings Pvt Ltd, a business enterprise of the city-based Ruchi group of industries, has embarked on a four hundred fifty crore rupees real estate project for construction of seven hundred ninety six luxury apartments in Kolkata.
Ruchi Realty Vice-President S. Asthana said no 10th june that the project would have the first Sports-based residential condominium here and other exclusive facilities in six towers on seventeen acre on the E M Bypass.
The project’s initial work had started and was projected to be finished by December, 2010.
The highest price of an apartment has been priced at rupees one crore, he said.
Asthana told that other real estate projects undertaken by the company were integrated townships in Bhopal and Indore, in addition residential apartments in Mumbai and business hotels in Bhubaneswar, Jamshedpur and Indore.

Bombay Dyeing Ties Up With Rivoli Group

MUMBAI: The Nusli Wadia-controlled Bombay Dyeing is understood to be stepping up its focus on the textiles business due to sluggish business trends in the real estate market. The company is now looking overseas to set up its retail stores and will open its first 4,000-sq ft concept stores in Dubai soon. The Mumbai-based Rs 1,000-crore major, in which Nusli Wadia has a 43% stake, has tied up with the Dubai-based luxury lifestyle retailer Rivoli Group.

Bombay Dyeing ED SK Gupta will be in Dubai over the coming weekend for the purpose, a company insider said. Rivoli Group directors Adel Zurooni and Abdul Aziz along with fashion designers Sabyasaachi Mukherjee and Wendell Rodricks will be there at the time of inauguration next week.

The store will cater to the mass, premium and designer segments with brands such as Sabyasachi Signature Line, Wendell Whites Signature line, Urban Living, Country Romance, CMYK, Sorbet and the Bombay dyeing evergreen printed collections. When contacted by ET, Mr Gupta declined to divulge details. “Things will be clearer in the next two days, especially about our Dubai plans,” he said. Read More »

Four Premium Residential Project In Pune By Sahil Group

City-based Sahil Group is all set to strengthen its base in construction and hospitality business and has moved a step ahead in both the segments.
It recently unveiled its premium housing project ‘Sahil Sarvadaa’ at Kondhwa.
Based on the concept of stress free homes, the project has been equipped with all the amenities that can contribute towards making your life stress free. Its rejuvenation centre has swimming pool, yoga and meditation room, steam room and an open garden. The possession ceremony of the same was held recently.
Currently Sahil Group has undertaken construction of over 5 lakh square feet mainly comprising residential projects in the city These are 4 premium residential projects in Pune in the areas like Baner, Erandwane, Bavdhan and Kondhwa.
In the current financial year the Group would be undertaking construction of another 15 lakh square feet, which will comprise residential, hospitality and retail spaces. These new projects will come up in Pune and Kandivali, Mumbai. The estimated project cost of the real estate projects being set up by Sahil Group is around Rs.600 crore. In the hospitality business Sahil Group has so far invested Rs.200 crores in setting up two properties at Lonavala and Alibaug. It recently unveiled its five star category Resort and Spa in Alibaug. Radisson Resort and Spa at Alibaug has two strategic operators, it is being managed by Carlson Hotels Worldwide. The Spa here is being managed by Mandara Spa from the MSpa International Thailand. This spa holds the distinction of being the largest spa property in the country having 16 private spa pavilions surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and clear blue waters.
Under the expansion plan of hospitality business Sahil Group is planning to set up a 250 rooms five start business hotel at Balewadi with an investment of Rs.250 crore.

World’s Tallest Building Waiting For Finishing Touch

Construction of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai, has been delayed and will be completed only in September next year, the developer was quoted on Tuesday.

The tower, which is expected to reach a final height of 900 meters (2,953 feet), was due for completion in the bustling city state at the end of 2008.

Developer Emaar said, “The luxury finishes that were decided on in 2004, when the tower was initially conceptualized, are now being replaced by upgraded finishes” .

The Burj Dubai had already become the tallest man-made structure on the planet, when Emaar announced in April that it has surpassed the 629 meter (2,063-foot) KVLY-TV mast in the United States.

Many building projects in Dubai, which are going through a construction frenzy, have been facing delays caused by shortage of building materials and skilled labour.

Software For The Real Estate Industry

Bangalore: Bangalore-based In4velocity Systems, India’s foremost real estate and property development software firm, pronounced that Mumbai-based Kanakia Spaces, a well-known name in the real estate industry, has successfully implemented its market leading ERMS application, In4Suite, across its different construction projects over the period of six months. The overall deal value is expected to be above one lakh dollar.
In4velocity’s unique Enterprise Resource Management System (ERMS) application, In4Suite, is India’s biggest selling and the only integrated end-to-end solution for real estate and property development firms. One can computerize the business processes right from land acquirement to engineering, from purchase to sales and from rental to property management.

Benson Elliot buys 70% of Spanish developer

LONDON: Private equity real estate firm Benson Elliot Capital Management has bought a 70% stake in Spanish developer Promobuilding SL in a bid to cash in on distressed house building projects in Spain’s faltering economy.
The acquisition, which has been accomplished via a recapitalization and subscription for new shares, is predicted to provide privately owned Promobuilding with up to five hundred million dollar euros ($789 million) of supplementary firepower to pounce on capital-strapped developments and discounted investment opportunities across Spain over the coming two years.
The value of the 70% stake was not divulged. Promobuilding’s senior management team will keep possession of the rest 30 % of the company.
“We have the same outlook on the Spanish market and willpower to create a leading platform that can make the most of the many distressed prospectd we are seeing in the Spanish housing market today,” said Marc Mogull, managing partner at Benson Elliot.
Xavier Perez, a partner at Promo building, said the Benson Elliot partnership would provide his company with significant fuel for growth going onward.

6,000 DDA Flats For Middle And Low Income Group

NEW DELHI: For those who felt owning a house in Delhi was a distant dream, there is now a glimmer of hope. After a gap of nearly two years, Delhi Development Authority is set to offer 6,000 flats for middle and low-income groups in areas like Dwarka, Vasant Kunj, Rohini, Narela and Shalimar Bagh.

The DDA offer, set to come up in the next two months, is certainly not enough to satisfy the huge demand for a flat in Delhi. Still, for 6,000 lucky ones it will be the big opportunity of not having to shift out to the suburbs.

Although these flats will cost more than in the past, the rates will be much less than those charged by private builders. As such, there are bound to be many more applications than 6,000, and the eventual allottees would be selected, as always, through lottery.

More than 2 lakh people applied for 3,000 flats when DDA last offered a new scheme in 2006. Clearly, this time too, supply will far outstrip demand.

The scheme aims to allot two- and one-bedroom apartments. ‘‘DDA is finalizing modalities for the new scheme. The agency is likely to invite applications within two months,” said a senior DDA official.

The fresh infusion, officials feel, will bring about a modicum of stability in localities where housing prices have rocketed of late. DDA flats in localities like Vasant Kunj command prices close to Rs 1 crore with their interiors completely redesigned by owners.

DLF Hopeful About Dankuni Project

Despite of doubt over the fortune of the township project at Dankuni, real estate major DLF, in charge of executing the project, is hopeful of going ahead with it. According to DLF officials responsible for the Dankuni project, “The company remains committed to the project. The government has not briefed DLF about any of its strategy about the township, after the minister’s comment.” Read More »

Slowdown In Realty Advertising

If you thought that only the real estate values are witnessing a dip, think twice. Even the advertising industry is also feeling the realty heat.

According to industry sources, it is estimated that all major developers such as DLF, Omaxe, Ansals and Parsvnath have decided to cut down on their advertising budgets by around 5 percent. The advertising industry in India is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore.

While analysts attribute this trend to dampening spirits of potential buyers, real estate companies prefer to call this a reality check on their advertising budgets. A report from Adex India, a division of TAM Media Research, shows that the share of real estate advertisements in print media saw a drop of 2 percent during 2007 compared to 2006. According to Adex, the share of real estate advertisement in overall print and TV advertising last year was 4 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

According to S K Sayal CEO, Alpha G Corp: “Infrastructure and real estate companies have primarily been responsible for the advertising industry sustaining its double-digit growth rate. However, in general, companies and brands have been increasing their expenditure on advertising. But a recent dip in the realty sector has made things worse for the advertising industry. Many real estate companies, this fiscal, have cut down on their advertising budgets.”

The Adex report indicates that the top 10 advertisers shared an aggregate of 16 percent of overall ad volumes of real estate advertising in print during 2007. The list include names such as DLF Group, Parsvnath, Sahara, HDIL and Omaxe group. However, the real estate had maximum share in South India publications followed by North and West publications with 32% and 26% share, respectively, during 2007.

“This is because all real estate companies want a national footprint. Also, these companies are now turning professional. They’re setting standards when it comes to managing their A2S (advertising to sales) ratio,” says Jagdeep Kapur, CMD, Samsika Marketing Consultants.

£350 Million Project In Nagpur

aAIM India, a division of the real estate equity investor, aAIM Group, on 6th june announced its first investment comprising a 7 million sq. feet mixed-use development. This is the first Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in an Integrated Township under the Special Township Policy whereby most of the planning decisions are delegated to the development JV.
Located in the city of Nagpur in Central India, the £350mn project comprises 3,000 residences and construction of the first phase is expected to be completed in late 2009. The overall project will span a period of six years. aAIM India is the largest shareholder.
Strong local partners are critical to the success of all real estate development projects in India and aAIM India is delighted to announce that it has entered into a joint venture with Aanya, an entity derived from Soham Real Estate.
Soham has a 25 year track record during which time it has delivered 40 substantial projects including residential townships and commercial premises. Soham has sophisticated systems for delivering projects on time and on budget.
“This is a landmark day for aAIM India. We are very pleased to be partnering with Soham Developers; their consistent track record of success has been a significant factor in our decision to partner with them,” said Anurag Chaturvedi, CEO of aAIM India.
“This is only the second development of its kind in India approved under a new progressive scheme of the Government. The commercial attractiveness of the proposed development along with the strong execution capabilities of our partner should provide investors with confidence in our ability to source opportunities that will continue to offer high risk-adjusted returns.”

Alok Ind Resumes Talks To Sell 20% In Realty Arm To PEs

Alok Industries, the Rs 2,200-crore Mumbai-based textile firm, has resumed talks with private equity players to dilute about 20 percent equity it owns in its unlisted unit, Alok Infrastructure. A realty company, Alok Infrastructure has been looking at options to raise around Rs 600 crore for developing its large land bank, said sources.

Alok Industries plans to sell part of its stake in its realty unit to 3-4 private equity firms by August end. The company’s chief financial officer Sunil Khandelwal is currently in the UK for negotiations on this issue.
“We are working out different options and strategies for our realty venture and something will happen before August. I am not in a position to divulge anything more now,” he told ET from London. Ernst & Young is advising Alok Industries on the equity dilution in Alok Infrastructure.

Alok Industries had initiated talks with private equity firms in October last year, but had to discontinue after crashes in the stock markets led to a steep correction in valuations. According to analysts, Alok could be looking at increasing the valuation of the realty company through a private equity deal and subsequently list it.

Alok Infrastructure plans to invest large amounts in real estate development and is also developing over one hundred eighty acres in its textile SEZ in Silvassa. It has already acquired two hundred twenty acres at Silvassa. The company has also acquired one hundred thirty acres at Panvel at the rate of twenty five lakh rupees per acre in a 50-50 joint venture.

According to India Real Estate sector report Global Research, the Indian real estate market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20 percent, driven by an 18-19 percent growth in residential real estate, 55-60 percent in retail real estate, and 20-22 percent in commercial real estate, over the next five years.

Indiabulls Extend The Closing Date Of The Issue By A Day

Laxmi Mittal-backed Indiabulls Real Estate managed to raise $259 million on the Singapore Stock Exchange, a day after the scheduled closing of its REIT’s issue, Indiabulls Properties Investment Trust.

India’s fourth largest real estate developer sold 353 million shares at $1 per unit, out of which Lakshmi Mittal had committed 91 million shares.

The sale was to realize $278 million. The issue, which was to close on June 5, 2008, was delayed by a day on account of it being under subscribed.

If market experts are to be believed, weak sentiment across the global real estate market led to under subscription of the retail portion. A minimum of 1,000 investors need to subscribe to successfully close an issue.

The issue was subscribed by only 700 investors on June 5. Following this, the company decided to extend the closing date of the issue. However, when contacted, Gagan Banga, the group spokesperson for Indiabulls, said a delay in getting regulatory approval forced Indiabulls to extend subscription process for retail investors by a day.

ABS Hotels Plans Smart Hotels Project In Eight Cities

ABS Hotels India is all set to launch a budget brand ‘Smart Hotels’ with plans to open it in eight cities within the next two years at an investment of Rs 100 crore. Ashok Aneja, the group’s chairman, informed that the group wants to expand in the budget and resort markets.

“Smart Hotels will come up in Goa, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Pune, Gwalior, Bhopal, Lucknow and Delhi. The properties will be owned and managed by us with no external borrowings whatsoever to fund the projects,” Aneja said.

The company is also planning to grow its resort brand – Roop Hotels & Resorts – with another property lined up at Gir National Park in Gujarat in addition to the existing Roop Resorts in Jim Corbett National Park and Kumaon (Nainital) region. “We expect to tap the resort locations in Uttaranchal, Dehradun and even have Roop Hotels in Bengaluru and Dehradun,” he added.

ABS Hotels India started as a master franchisee of US-based Microtel Inn & Suites for India and has developed three three-star hotels in Bengaluru, Jaipur and Mumbai under the brand. The brand had earlier planned to construct 20 hotels in India but later stalled the plan. ABS Hotels has now grabbed the opportunity to establish its own brand with the same plans that were made with Microtel. “We have the rights on the drawings and plan of the hotels and are taking the project forward,” Aneja stated.

The company owns land banks where it would also be considering developing hotels. It has also ventured into serviced apartments segment with its 42-room Roop Residency coming up in Bengaluru this year with an investment of Rs 20 crore, he summed.

REIT Road Cracks For Realtors

MUMBAI: It’s second-time unlucky for Indian realtors hoping to garner some desperately needed cash by floating their real estate investment trusts in Singapore.

On 5th june, Indiabulls Real Estate said its plans to float a Reit to mop up $286 million is being extended. Analysts said this was due to very poor response from retail investors.

The Reit had opened on 2nd june and was supposed to close on 5th june but now will close on 6th june following a last-ditch attempt to gather investors. Read More »

HNIs Desert Sinking Stocks, Hitch To Realty PMS

Trashing the age-old belief that a fall in equities would result in flattening real estate prices, high net worth investors (HNI) are pushing wealth advisers for more exposure to realty assets.

According to industry sources, the coming months are expected to witness the launch of real estate portfolio management services (PMS) by wealth managers. Though the product is discreetly marketed as real estate PMS, the fund will invest more like a venture capital fund wherein it will invest in live projects and also gain through rentals and space selling. Read More »

Marathon Nextgen Realty Gets 37.3% Rise In Net Profit

MARATHON NEXTGEN Realty Limited, a leading real estate company, has posted a 37.3% rise in net profit for the financial year ended March this year. It amounts to about 62 crore rupees. Total revenue grew by 23%, about 120 crore rupees, over Fiscal year 2006-2007. Read More »