Tag Archives: NCR Corporation

Noida Land Order Got No Reviews from Allahabad High Court

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Home-buyers in Noida and Greater Noida will have to wait longer for their flats. The Allahabad high court on Monday dismissed the plea of the Noida and Greater Noida authorities seeking review of its earlier order requiring all projects in the area to get the NCR Planning Board’s approval. So, till these clearances are in place, buyers will not get possession.

However, there was some relief for the buyers as well, with the court striking down a review petition by a group of villagers who wanted the land acquisition quashed in a village where construction work had started. The ruling led to some farmers in Noida Extension taking to the streets and attacking housing projects. They blocked traffic for a few hours.

The court also stuck to its earlier ruling granting increased compensation as well as 10% of the developed land to farmers.

Both the Noida and Greater Noida authorities had filed applications seeking review of the order dated October 21, 2011 which requires the NCR Board’s clearances for projects. The authorities argued before the three-judge bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S U Khan and V K Shukla, there was no need for such approvals but the bench was not impressed.

The court also dismissed applications to review the order on providing 10% developed plots to farmers. The authorities said development work in the area was almost complete and there were no leftover plots which could be given to farmers. Appearing for the farmers, Kamal Singh Yadav opposed the review applications saying developed plots were available but was not being provided to farmers. On October 21, 2011, after hearing 491 petitions against land acquisition filed by farmers of 63 villages falling under Noida and Greater Noida, the Allahabad High Court had cancelled land acquisition in three villages where construction had not started.

The acquisition was undertaken by the authorities using the urgency clause in the name of industrial development. But later the land use was changed to residential and plots sold to builders. However, in 60 villages where substantial construction work was already done, the court did not quash the acquisition. Instead, it asked the authorities to increase compensation and provide 10% to the affected farmers.

Thus, while ensuring enhanced compensation to farmers, the court also took into account the interest of more than 50,000 people who had booked flats and houses in projects on the acquired land. Now, the two authorities have no other option but to take approval of NCR planning board whose meeting is scheduled later this month and pay enhanced compensation to farmers.

Delhi: Homes Sells Faster Than Mumbai

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Mumbai may be second to Delhi in unsold homes, but it will take longer to sell them. Real estate developers in the financial capital must wait over three years to clear 1.13 lakh units or 120 million sq ft as high prices deter potential buyers, shows a study released by Liases Foras, a real estate rating and research consultant.

The study covers units in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) — including Mumbai city, Thane, Kalyan and Navi Mumbai — National Capital Region in Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. NCR, with 232.57 million square feet or 1.60 lakh units of unsold homes — roughly double Mumbai’s —will likely sell homes much faster, in 23 months.

“The NCR market is primarily an investor market and has very little comparison with Mumbai,” says Om Ahuja, chief executive officer (residential services) at Jones Lang LaSalle India. “The real estate market in areas like Gurgaon or Noida attracts a lot of money from neighbouring states like Punjab, UP and Delhi as people invest in residential properties.” Among the six metros, Pune homes will be sold the fastest, taking just 14 months to sell its 43.06 m sq ft at the current pace of buying. A steep rise in interest rates in the last 18 months was seen as the key reason for low sales as buyers try to avoid high home loan instalments.

The Reserve Bank of India cut key rates by 50 basis points last month, forcing lenders to lower their retail lending rates which could push sales.

 

 

Anand Rathi and Knight Frank Eye the Second Realty Fund

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Anand Rathi Financial Services and property consultancy Knight Frank India are planning to launch their second real estate fund by end of this months and looking to raise around Rs 500 crore (~$100 million), sources close to the development told VCCircle. Unlike its peers who are hitting foreign shores to raise new funds, the joint fund rental yield and appreciation portfolio (RYAP) fund will be raised from the domestic market.  Like its predecessor, it will invest in commercial assets in tier I cities which include Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, National Capital Region (NCR) and Chennai.

The fund would be targeting returns of 10-12 per cent from its investments and expects to stay invested in an asset for four-five years. A senior executive of the joint venture fund house who did not wish to be identified, said, “We are waiting for final Alternate Investment Fund (AIF) guidelines as right now there is no clarity on registration of funds and other norms. Once we have clarity on the same which we are expecting by mid-May we will register and start our fund raising process.”

In April 2, markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had unveiled its final norms to regulate AIF’s in the country. Fund managers expect the detailed guidelines to be issued in the next two weeks.

Knight Frank India and Anand Rathi Financial Services had joined hands two years ago to raise Rs 225 crore rental yield fund. It has invested Rs 135 crore from the existing fund in two projects including Hub town Ltd’s commercial project in Mumbai and Cerebrum IT park development by Pune-based Kumar Urban Development Ltd.

ASK group plans to fund in Indian Real Estate Projects

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Real estate fund house ASK Property Investment Advisors has said it is planning to fund to invest in Indian real estate projects.

The company has already committed $40 million (Rs 200 crore) out of its second domestic fund. It has formed a subsidiary in Singapore that will be raising this offshore fund. To be launched in July, the ASK Real Estate Special Opportunities Fund plans to invest in projects with a completion cycle of three-four years.

“We are a domestic fund and are constantly looking for opportunities in the domestic markets. Developers are constantly scouting for investments to buy land. We have so far deployed funds in ten investments,” Mr Amit Bhagat, Managing Director and CEO, ASK Property Investment Advisors, said.

The average investments will be to the tune of Rs 75-125 crore. The second fund will invest in mid-sized development projects in key cities such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Chennai. The ASK Group had raised its first domestic fund of $75 million in 2009. It was also targeted at residential segment. “We have committed 100 per cent of the first fund,” he added. Industry sources note that realty focussed funds pan-India are looking to rise over $5 billion from both domestic and offshore markets.

Buyers back in Real Estate Sector this Navaratra.

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Buyers are back in the realty market this Navaratra, lending credence to this festive season’s reputation as a golden period for business in this sector.

There is flurry of activity in the offices of realty firms as buyers are coming out to seal deals. The mood is likely to remain upbeat till the end of summer vacation of schools.

“I am sure that this positive momentum in the market will continue till summer vacation when even more end users are likely to clinch deals,” Samir Jasuja, the chairman and managing director of Prop Equity, says.

“After Navaratra, summer vacation in schools is regarded a good time for realty, as people wait for the end of term of their children to shift houses or buy one. The summer is a time of transfers and relocation; a time of school admissions and hunting for a house near schools, so that children can have an easy commute,” Jasuja says.

Gaurav Mittal, the managing director of CHD Developers, says: “The mood is really upbeat in the market with people finalizing deals in property. While market warms up during Navaratras even during bad times, this Navaratra is different. The quantum of deals is unexpected, though a welcome development.”

Jasuja says, “Notwithstanding a slew of legal battles, buyers are taking a final call on their new purchases in Noida and Greater Noida.” A report of Prop Equity says that the current financial year has proved to be good for almost all the big cities of the NCR including, Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida and Faridabad.

Sanjay Khanna, the director of Kailash Nath Developers Pvt Ltd, says: “I hope the worst is over for realty market and transactions take place till the end of summer vacation in schools. This Navaratra is proving to be very auspicious for the realty world. I know that NRIs, too, find the summer months an ideal time to return to their roots in order to buy property. Their search for a property also starts during the summer. This is the time when they visit India in order to meet their relatives and, side by side, also look for nice properties. They do not mind paying slightly more for good properties.”

Realty watchers say that April-June period records a high quantum of property transactions. Realty market picks pace from Navaratras. This is a time when end users finalize their deals and those looking for new homes on rent, also shift. The summer is also a time when the resale market picks up nicely.

Vijay Jindal, the chairman and managing director of SVP group, says: “It is a hectic period from Navaratra and through the summer months. A lot of transactions take place at all levels.” He says that during the summer, buyers give priority to those projects which are close to good schools.

Brokers Hunt for Jobs as Slump Hits Realty Sales

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NEW DELHI | BANGALORE: Broker in Bangalore bylane has just opened a stationery shop. He has named it ‘Smart Shop’, borrowing the name from the realty brokerage firm that he ran from the same premises until about two months ago. He switched to retail after his property business hit a rough patch following a slump in home sales. About 03-quarters of his revenues came from sale of apartments, the remaining from renting.

“With home sales dropping, it doesn’t make business sense anymore,” he says. It’s the same story in other big cities. In Mumbai, a mid-size broker has set up a small fast food joint to make ends meet. In Nagpur, a real estater has quit the real estate business and set up an ice-cream parlour. Their worries are not unfounded. While the large and established players in the property business have managed to stay, even during the slump, thousands of smaller players like brokers and agents are being forced to look for other jobs.

It also hit lakhs of people employed with such small outfits – each of which hires 5-15 people.With many brokers closing shops or reducing size, these people are out in the market, looking for jobs in sectors such as retail, banking, insurance and call centres. The real estate industry employs about 10 lakh people across the country, the majority in the unorganised sector.

In the first quarter of 2011, home sales dropped 17 per cent in Mumbai, 14 percent in Bangalore and 15 percent in Hyderabad. According to consultant Jones Lang La-Salle, unsold residential units in projects that are complete or are nearing completion in 6-12 months in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR are as high as 25 percent and 16 percent, respectively. In other big cities, including Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, the numbers range between 12 percent and 19 percent. Sales in tier-II and tier-III cities are steady, though there is some panic due to the increase in interest rates, which have climbed to about 11 percent from 8.25 percent a year ago.

“For smaller brokers, the impact of the current market factors is a lot more compared to the larger brokers,” says the president of the National Association of Realtors India . “Even for our members – who are fairly well-off – business is down 40 percent compared to 2009-10. But the smaller guys are in trouble and are setting up businesses that move on a daily basis. Many I know have asked their employees to look out” Ravindra Bramhe, chairman of the Maharashtra Property Brokers’ Association, says.

For whatever business is left in the market, there are hundreds of agents in queue. For instance, there are pockets on the Noida Expressway, near large projects, where real estate brokers can be seen sitting inside small tents, under the sweltering sun, waiting for business. Those who can’t afford to set up these tents can be seen on the roadside, running after every car that passes by, with brochures and flyers of projects in hand. Industry refers to them as the broker mandi. “All my friends and colleagues are now looking outside real estate before things get worse,” says Chaudhary. Many have returned to the insurance industry and others have found jobs with small call centres. A few have found employment with retail stores.

Real estate prices fly in Delhi, NCR

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NEW DELHI: Real estate prices in some areas of the NCR glided high by 20 to 27%  in the first quarter of the current financial year as compared to the subsequent period of 2010-1. “Property prices for Delhi have seen boom if we compare per square feet prices of Q1-11 over Q1-10. Certain key areas like Sarita Vihar and Rohini have seen 27% and 20% growth respectivly in prices compared to prices over Q1-10”.

According to a report, the upward price sentiment would continue as the prices on average are hiking up by 15%. The South Delhi locality Sarita Vihar’s PSF prices rise by 27.60% at INR 8,110 as compared to Inr6,356 in the period of 2010-11, while north Delhi-based Rohini’s PSF prices increased by 25%. This is followed by Patparganj at a PSF price appreciation of 21.68%. Other localities like southwest Delhi-based Dwarka sub city’s PSF price also increased by 28 % in sector-11 and sector-2.

Realty prices in suburban NCR like Noida and Gurgaon also increased because of metro rail services came into operation. Prices per square feet in sector 110 and sector 93 of Noida also moved up by 16 %  and 11 % respectively,  as compared to prices in the corresponding period of last financial year. “Gurgaon witnessed an upgoing trend in property prices. Properties located on the Sohna Road and DLF City phase IV have seen the highest growth in prices by 46 % and 42 %, respectively, in Q1-11 over Q1-10”.

 

TATA Housing Project

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Company declared in the coming three years will build a luxury housing project in Gurgaon and also declared its plans to venture into the international market this financial year. The sale price of a house starts from Rupees 1.5 crore. As the company’s expansion plan company is coming up with apprx 10 new projects this year. Also, they are looking at two new lines of business related to land development. It will be smaller in size than the realty business.” The company is planning to expand operations into international markets.

The plan to get into the international market is in advance stages, while the proposal for expanding into two new lines of business is still at an intial stage. He did not reveal further details on these new initiatives.  This is the company’s second project in the city and the company is in advanced stages of launching two more projects in the Delhi-NCR this financial year.

An Apartment in Mumbai goes for Rs 20 crore and Rs 61.5 crore in Delhi

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MUMBAI

An apartment, measuring approx. 3000 sqft, recently was dealt for about Rupees 20 crore on Carmichael Road. This large apartment has a huge entrance lobby, living room with an adjoining dining area and a separate study room. The master bedroom has an en suit bathroom with a walk-in closet and beautiful sea views. The apartment has separate servant’s quarters and a covered and an open car parking. The building is equipped with amenities like a garden, pool table and a gym . Carmichael Road is one of the most posh localities of Mumbai with several oldstyle bungalows and apartment buildings.

PUNE

Lately, a 3-BHK apartment was sold at a price of Rupees 44,33,000 in Rich Woods, a new project by Rama Developers in Chikhli in the city. The price included of the car parking charges . Rich Woods is a project of 180 large 2 & 3 BHK apartments in 07 imposing towers with high-tech amenities and facilities. Chikhli is directly accessible from the Nashik highway and has great connectivity to the Pimpri Chinchwad area. This Group has made its mark in the city with two well executed projects to its credit. The base rates are being quoted at  3,100 per sqft, while the general residential rates in the area range between Rs 2,600 per sqft and Rs 3,100 per sqft. Chikhli area has grown as a feasible residential locality. It has become a perfect option for investors as well as ultimate users.

DELHI

In a latest deal in Delhi , a 600 square yard plot was dealt at a range of Rupees 61.5 crore. This old Ground+01 property is located in Shanti Niketan which is  a rich residential micromarket in South Delhi. The property has been purchased by a well-known builder in NCR for redevelopment. The builder plans to build a Ground+3 storied structure and construction activity will start soon. The builder has already started marketing the project . The first floor is been quoted for Rs 20 crore, the second floor for Rupees 20.5 crore, and the third floor for Rs 21 crore. The project commands a premium in terms of price, due to its South Delhi location which is well connected to all the major business complexes in the NCR and most of the foreign embassies are in the neighbourhood in the location.

NRI TCG and US Based VRT Invests Rupees 270 crore in Mumbai, National Capital Region Residential Projects

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NRI investor Purnendu Chatterjee’s TCG Real Estate and US-based Vornado Realty Trust, is in the final stages of investing Rupees 270 crore in two residential developments in NCR and Mumbai. The fund will invest Rupees 150 crore and Rupees 120 crore in housing projects in Mumbai and Noida, respectively, and pick up 40-45 %  in each of the projects, said a person known with the fund’s plans.

“The 400 million  Dollars Fund works with land-owners, state governments and developers; particularly medium size developers who lack both money and management talent, to produce international quality real estates, which supply to the high demand sector of the industry. The Fund takes both controlling and minority positions. The Fund also looks at investing in related sectors such as construction, mortgage, lending and infrastructure. The Fund invests between  5 million Dollars to 50 million Dollars in each investment. TCG is the property development and investment arm of The Chatterjee Group.