RBI Slightly Cut Rates, Developers Seek More

RBI decided to cut the key policy rates by 0.25%. Welcoming the rate cut, realtors said that this will boost the sector.

Finally the Reserve Bank of India cut the key policy rates. While welcoming the decision of RBI, realtors said that it would boost the sector. RBI cut the repo rate (the rate at which banks borrow from the RBI) by a mere 0.25%.

RBI slightly cut the key rates.

RBI slightly cut the key rates.

Commenting on the rate cut, realtors said that the interest would have gone down if the reduction rate was further lowered. A further reduction would necessarily boost the home sales. Home loans will be lowered. This will boost the sentiments of the buyers.

Along with the buyers, the builders also will benefit from further rate cuts. If the repo rates are further revised, it will bring the EMIs down.

Speaking on the issue, former CREDAI chief Lalit Kumar Jain said that the common house buyers will benefit from the reduction of repo rate.

The Central Bank of India today cut the repo rate, short-term lending rate, by a mere 0.25%.  After the reduction now the repo rate stands at 7.25.

Developers seek more rate cuts from RBI.

Developers seek more rate cuts from RBI.

The RBI decision was met with mixed response. DLF, one the largest developers in India, said that the rate cut will hardly have any impact on the realty sector. The realty major said that the reduction is too small to leave an impact on the sector.

Rajeev Talwar, Executive Director of DLF Group, demanded further reduction. He opined that only a further reduction will boost both economy as well as realty. Mr. Talwar stated that the rate cut is very so small that it is insufficient to boost either economy or realty.

Sachin Sandhir of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) also expressed a similar view. He too said only further rate cuts can boost realty sector.

Assotech MD Sanjeev Srivastva said that the move will boost the sector. He hopes that the rate cut by RBI will be passed on to the customers by the financial institutions.

Realtors expect rise in property demand post RBI’s rate cut

Realty firms on Tuesday hailed the RBI’s decision to cut short-term lending rate saying the move would reduce the cost of funds to home buyers as well as developers and boost property demand.

“Reserve Bank’s decision to cut the repo rate by 50 basis points and abolish pre-payment penalties is a good move for home buyers,” Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) Chairman Pradeep Jain said. In its annual credit policy, RBI has asked banks not to levy foreclosure charges or pre-payment penalties on home loans extended on a floating interest rate.

The country’s largest realty firm DLF also welcomed the decision, saying it would significantly improve the cash flows of developers. “It is positive news although very-very delayed. This will benefit home buyers besides the industry. It will improve cash flows tremendously,” DLF Group Executive Director Rajeev Talwar said.

Jain too said that liquidity for developers would improve and cost of funds would be cheaper. On demand, Credai Chairman said the move would definitely boost housing demand. However, property consultant DTZ India CEO Anshul Jain felt more measures need to be taken to have a positive impact on housing demand.

“It is a step in right direction although lot more measures need to be taken before we see any effect of the rate cut on the real estate sector,” said Jain of DTZ. The housing demand, which is very subdued currently, would only rise if the interest rates on home loans come down to below 10 percent, he added.