Due to the overwhelming demand for homes, real estate developers have accelerated their plans to acquire land. A pattern discovered in 2023 continues this year, with builders going on a land-buying binge, particularly in major cities. However, why are land deals skyrocketing, and which acquisitions are grabbing the news in 2024? Propertywala finds out.
Industry reports indicate that as real estate tycoons continue their widespread land acquisition binge, real estate will rise by roughly 10-15 percent, reaching nearly 3,00,000 units in 2024. With an emphasis on metropolitan areas, developers have been looking for underserved local markets to cash in on the rising demand for homes. Land deals in well-known Indian cities have significantly increased due to this. The subsequent piece delineates the land-acquisition patterns of builders for the years 2023 and 2024 thus far, in addition to the elements propelling the rapidly increasing demand for housing.
Large-scale land grabs by real estate developers
Major developers throughout India are seeing an increase in land ownership momentum due to deals involving direct acquisitions and joint ventures. For example, DLF Ltd. recently paid Rs 825 crore to purchase a 29-acre plot in Gurgaon’s Golf Course Extension. The land has 7.5 million square feet of development potential. A 100-crore land deal on Gurgaon’s Golf Course was closed by TREVOC Group concurrently.
LikewiseJan 25, 2024, Lodha Developer, a company listed as Macrotech, completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Pune’s Goel Ganga Venture. As for a business-known developer, Gulshan Homz paid Rs 150 crore for a 2.5-acre plot in Sector-129, Noida. In collaboration with regional partners in Uttar Pradesh, Gulshan Homz is also building a residential project in Moradabad. There are plans to build 90 residential units as part of the project.
Godrej Properties’ recent acquisition of a 4-acre plot of land in Bangalore also helped to start the trend. Godrej anticipates that the project will have a development potential of about Rs 1,000 crore as they look to solidify their position in the Bangalore real estate market.
Godrej gained attention in the previous fiscal year for its meticulous land acquisitions, adding 18 new land parcels to its list. An approximate revenue potential of Rs 32,000 crore will result from these acquisitions, with a cap of Rs 15,000 crore for 2024.
Small-time local developers are finding it challenging to acquire land because of the recent development by large developers. Developers, for example, are not happy with the bidding guidelines for a 24-acre land parcel in Bandra, Mumbai, and are criticizing the eligibility and financial requirements. Developers claim that limiting the bidder’s net worth to an astounding Rs 15,000 core will prevent many small developers from participating in the Bandra Reclamation Project.
Cause of the increase in housing demand
According to the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI), housing demand needs to reach 93 million by 2036, confirming the longevity of the rising residential sales trend. But given rising living expenses, what might be the motivating factor behind such steadfast demand?
“Homebuyers’ demand has an increased interest cost environment resulting from elevated inflation, the strong domestic economic fundamentals, and the increasingly aspirational attributes of residential real estate,” says Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director of Knight Frank India. However, the trend is apparent in the primary residential markets across the country.”
Significant land purchase initiatives during the previous year
While land acquisition activity in the first quarter of 2024 got off to a great start, some notable deals occurred in the year prior. Here are a few noteworthy land purchase transactions from 2023:
- In Gurgaon, near the Dwarka Expressway, BPTP Developers paid Rs 87 crore for a 5.2-acre land parcel.
- Chintels India gave the Sobha Group land parcels close to the Dwarka Expressway for Rs 121.82 crore.
- Graphite India sold 1.02 lakh square meters of land to TATA Realty in Bangalore for Rs 986 crore.
- Casa Grande paid Rs 56.8 crore to secure a four lakh square foot deal in Hyderabad.
- With a land purchase in Gurgaon for Rs 597 crore, Oberoi Realty made its real estate debut in the Delhi NCR area.
- Birla Estates purchased a 28-acre plot of land in Sarjapur, Bangalore, for a residential development.
Trends to watch in land investment
In light of the current circumstances, industry experts have identified a few prominent investment trends that can help investors and developers make better decisions for the upcoming fiscal years. For example, because large builders are purchasing land parcels for development in and around Tier-1 cities, the focus on these areas is still prevalent.
However, there is also a ton of investment potential in cities in Tiers 2 and 3. Recent reports claim that builder brands are focusing on the undeveloped markets of Nagpur, Panipat, and Ludhiana. Investor’s first choice is also the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Due to their lower initial costs and potential for appreciation, buyers are eager to purchase new properties.
Developers intend to seize the opportunity while it is still favorable, acknowledging that the current surge in housing demand is here to stay. Industry insiders predict that land acquisition will continue to be popular in 2024, with Tier-1 cities and developing areas continuing to be the hotspots.