Expect Tier 2 cities to gain more momentum as prime residential markets soon: Sudhir Pai, Magicbricks The Indian real estate market is currently in its best shape since 2014, with healthier developer balance sheets and shorter property sale cycles. While caution is advised to prevent excessive price increase, the next couple of months show promising signs of increase in residential demand and supply, says Sudhir Pai, CEO, Magicbricks. In an exclusive interview with Sanjeev Sinha, Mr Pai talks about the growth prospects of the Indian real estate market for the coming year and shares his business outlook. Excerpts: In the third quarter (Jul-Sep 2023), residential demand surged an impressive 8.4% QoQ, reflecting a strong interest from homebuyers. This surge coincided with favorable macroeconomic factors, including the recent G20 summit, stable interest rates, and an approaching festive season. Residential prices also rose by 5.4% QoQ during this period, and with developers expediting project delivery, we anticipate increased inventory in the coming months. The Indian real estate market is currently in its best shape since 2014, with healthier developer balance sheets and shorter property sale cycles. While caution is advised to prevent excessive price increase, the next couple of months show promising signs of increase in residential demand and supply. Also Read: How to build wealth through real estate investment Are there specific regions that Magicbricks believes hold significant growth potential in the near future? What are Magicbricks’ growth and expansion plans for the upcoming year, and what areas or aspects of the business are you looking to focus on? Magicbricks is betting big on tier 2 cities such as Nagpur, Coimbatore, Bhubaneshwar, Indore and Jaipur which are fast emerging as Real Estate Growth Engines. With an uptick in economic activity and employment opportunities, we expect tier 2 cities to gain more momentum as prime residential markets in the coming months. According to Magicbricks’ “India’s Tier 2 cities: Emerging Real Estate Growth Engines” report While offline channels and personal networks have traditionally driven real estate investments in these markets, there is a notable shift towards digital adoption. Magicbricks is at the forefront of driving this behavioral change by bringing audiences online and consolidating the fragmented real estate market. Our approach includes: We are happy to see a steady growth momentum and our business is growing by 35% YoY in these cities, and we expect the momentum to continue in the coming years Noida and Greater Noida have also stepped into the limelight with a remarkable spike in the residential demand, (38.9% and 20.4% QoQ respectively, in July-September 2023). This surge exemplifies the evolving landscape of property preferences, signaling a burgeoning interest and potential for growth in these regions. What macroeconomic or regulatory factors might influence growth prospects in the Indian real estate market? What are the prevailing sentiments among customers when it comes to residential real estate investments in India? Any data insights that define this? There’s a prevalent sense of optimism returning to customers due to economic stability, favorable government policies, stable interest rates, and increased allocations for infrastructure development. There is a growing preference towards investment in real estate, especially from the millennials who are seeking properties that are spacious, offer good amenities, location advantages, and potential for appreciation. There’s also a rising interest in sustainable, eco-friendly properties and smart homes equipped with modern technology. Data as of September 30, 2023 (Source Magicbricks PropIndex Report Jul-Sep 2023)
The launched works involve rehabilitating the Galgamuwa Railway Station and upgrading the railway line from Maho to Anuradhapura, including additional tasks. Another project is the second phase of track rehabilitation from Maho to Omanthai (128 kms), funded by a $318 million Indian Line of Credit.
Transport Minister Gunawardena praised the efforts of Indian company IRCON in Sri Lanka and called for more cooperation in the railway sector. State Minister Shantha Bandara and officials from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Transport attended the event.
Railways is a priority for Indian assistance in Sri Lanka, with over $1 billion invested under five Indian Lines of Credit. IRCON has been involved in Sri Lanks since 2009. It has contributed to the modernisation of Sri Lanka Railways by reconstructing the entire railway line network in the Northern Province (253 Km) and upgradation of the Southern line (115 km), as well as improving safety through advanced signalling and telecommunication systems.
Despite Sri Lanka’s debt standstill in April 2022, India’s support under various Lines of Credit has continued.
(With PTI inputs)