Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Real estate survey shows silver lining for market


Presently facing a downward trend, the real estate market is likely to recover by 2010 with increase in demand for residential
segment driven by improving affordability, steady economic growth and greater liquidity. These are the findings of a survey carried out in 10 cities, including Chandigarh, by the Crisil Real Estate Research Group.

The report says, “Demand in the residential market is expected to turn positive in 2010 due to these factors, however, a decline in the currently over-priced capital values of all the three real estate segments - residential, commercial and retail would persist through 2009.” “The commercial and retail markets would continue to witness erosion in lease rentals through the next two years,” it states.

The report provided information and analysis of more than 400 acres of land across 88 micre markets in 10 cities - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.

The report indicated that capital values for residential sector and lease rentals for commercial and retail properties have substantially corrected till March this year, due to slowdown in both the domestic and global economies. Cities such as Kochi, Chandigarh and Pune, which have greater investor presence as against end-users, witnessed a greater fall in capital values compared to other cities, the report revealed.

However, Crisil believes that demand for houses would improve in 2010, backed by lower home loan interest rates as well as better job security owing to higher growth in the economy.

Expressing confidence in the report, a leading real estate agent of the city, Sunil Kumar, said, “Apart from the low interest rates on housing, another important factor for the rising demand in 2010 would be the upcoming international airport in Chandigarh. The direct Dubai flight from Chandigarh would also add to arrival of many big business houses here.”

Kumar insisted that these factors would compell more and more tricity tenants to go for owning a property of their budget and choice. “The demand for residential properties would be more in the neighbouring areas like Mohali, Panchkula, Zirakpur, villages across the city and even far-off areas like Derabassi, Kharar and Kurali,” said Kumar.

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