Image Credits: DNA

If you are the one who is cursing the Mumbai city due to lack of space, proper amenities and other shortcomings, so here are some heartening news for you; Mumbai is one among top five emerging world cities. According to the report of JLL, a global property consultant, “Mumbai is 4^th on the list of emerging world cities, however; the top three are Shanghai, Beijing and Dubai. Apart from Mumbai; New Delhi and Bengaluru were also in the report which titled “Globalization and Competition: The New World of Cities”.

In report, According to JLL emerging world cities are the business capitals of major economies as these cities are experiencing higher growth percentage, attention of governance and implementation of strategies to become more stable and establish regions. These cities often get support from the national government, as government is in the process of economic adjustment and busy in the restructuring and optimization of urban and metropolitan regions for the benefits of global engagement. The report explains that Mumbai is witnessing urban consumer demand between now and 2030, along with other regions such as; Jakarta and Istanbul. According to experts, this growth can help the retail sector as demand and supply ratio is different in these cities as per region preferences and requirements.

JLL Report Findings:

According to report, it is expected that 26 percent firms have the revenue of more than $ 1 billion and by the end f 2025 this share could reach 50 percent. However; report, also pointed out that in present real estate market of Mumbai is performing well as it is attracting real estate investment and outsourcing activities, but still at certain points its facing chronic infrastructure supply challenges and these challenges can be hurdle for transnational firms. Apart from that Manila and Jakarta also reported the same issue. In these cities transnational firms are performing well as they are able to expand their operations in South and South East Asia in very low cost with huge market opportunities, whereas; on certain pints they are also facing considerable urban infrastructure shortages.

Recommendations of JLL:

It is recommended to these cities that now its need of time to focus on the other aspects such as; reducing complexity of preparation, assembling and project execution because it could prevent capital investment budgets on a year-by-year basis. However; there are substantial improvements in Mumbai as government has taken steps to improve transparency, reduce red-tapism, and strengthen governance with aim to reduce the complexity in execution of projects. For example; In Mumbai the civic corporation has cut building permissions from 150 to 70 and it also reduced the time limit to give such permissions. Apart from that state government is also working on a plan to digitize permissions which real estate developers need. It is suggested that there is need to address three major issues as it could be hurdle in the growth and success of the cities and these three issues are; how to build and sustain multiple sources of investment, how to attract talent and local skills and co-ordination in metropolitan space.

In the absence of strategies and systems of address these issues, the emerging world cities will struggle and find it difficult to manage their growth effectively in the ratio of economic development.

RBI cut key interest rate

With the recent news that RBI has decided to cut the key interest rate, it is expected that this move of RBI will boost the affordable as well as premium housing demand and it also improve sentiments in the sluggish property market. Property consultants and real estate developers have demanded that interest rates should be further reduced. According to one of the realty Magazine, “This move is hope for the reduction in mortgage rates, which would improve residential sales in all over the country that have been suffering from general slackness in recent times. As per the recent research of JLL India, “Housing sales drop by 1.75 lakh units in the primary markets of 7 major cities in 2014 against nearly 2 lakh units in the previous year due to less demand. Happy with softening inflation, RBI decided to cut the benchmark interest rate by 0.25 per cent to 7.75 per cent with a view to boost growth.

Positive views of leading realty developer:

According to Rajeev Talwar, Group executive director of DLF, “It’s an awesome New Year gift and it seems that the finance ministry has putting his effort to convince RBI governor. Given the background of RBI governor, even the small beginning will be marked as big signs of hopes for the Indian economy”. The more he added that, this move would definitely encourage buyers now to invest in new homes or second homes.

Anuj Puri, Global property consultant JLL India Chairman & Country Head stated that “I expect this cut in interest rate to be the first of several to come and these will cumulatively make a big difference for home loan borrowers, as in present, the current interest rate cut will help revive market sentiment, which is very timely”.

Parsvnath Developers Chairman Pradeep Jain, appreciated the RBI decision and stated that realty sector has been struggling from the last 3 quarters with lower demand and more inventories. This decision would help reduction in EMIs and thereby encouraging fence sitters to conclude deals. Developers would also get funds at comparatively lower rates.

This move will instill hope as well as confidence in the real estate industry which is recovering from housing sales is around the corner, stated the Sanjay Dutt, Cushman & Wakefield Executive Managing Director, South Asia. Whereas; David Walker, MD of SARE Homes, said, “This step of RBI will cheer up the markets and hoped that financial institutions will pass on this reduction to customers, which in turn would boost housing demand”.

As per the Lalit Kumar Jain, Chairman of CREDAI, the apex organization of real estate developers, RBI’s decision is as a good beginning but said this is not enough as a reeducation of 200 basis point within short span is needed. Whereas; the Consultant Knight Frank India CMD Shishir Baijal, stated that This decision of RBI is positive approach that would benefit the debt burdened developers and stretched households alike and to comment on this RBI decision Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & MD of property consultant CBRE South Asia, said that this decision is good and in current market situation this reduction in the base rate is an important step in improving home buying sentiments.

According to CREDAI (NCR) President Rohit Raj Modi, “The rate cut will help the real estate developers to expedite projects that were otherwise facing tight fund crunch”. The more he added that home buyers are dreaming to own a home that would also get a boost as we expect an accelerated purchase cycle. Mohit Goel, CEO of Omaxe stated, that this move clearly shows RBI’s shift in stance in favor of positive growth and it is also correct time to usher in a slew of out-of-policy measures such as; to allow the banks to lend more to real estate, easy funding norms and more. Now real estate sector will play role of a catalyst in driving the overall economy.”

Amit Modi the ABA Corp Director said, “This was the most awaited change and development in policy and now easing interest rate will help to revive the health of businesses such as; Real-Estate which are highly sensitive to interest rate movements.” According to Ansal API Vice Chairman Pranav Ansal, “This is so positive step from RBI, which will boost housing sales and improve overall sentiments in the real estate market. The more he added it is a good sign and now real estate sector will look forward to RBI take the drastic steps in its forth coming monetary policy”.