Real estate investors take a wait-and-watch approach amid uncertainty

The real estate market has been fighting tight liquidity ever since the global meltdown. Industry sentiments showed some sign of improvement in 2010, but it didn't last for long. With allegations of wrong practices in the home finance industry, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a risk weightage for all lending to real estate. Private equity funding dwindled.

In this scenario, developers are finding it tough to deliver projects on time. Due to the uncertainty, real estate investors have taken a wait-and-watch approach over the past 12-18 months, hoping for prices to come down. Developers are also waiting for sentiments to improve. In the current market, buyers should purchase a ready property or where construction is at an advanced stage. If you have to invest in a new project, opt for a construction-linked payment plan to reduce loss due to delays in delivery. You must prepare yourself to bargain hard. Do not get tempted by schemes such as 'zero interest for one year' and 'pay 50% and balance on possession'.

Aditya Verma, Executive Vice President & CEO, Makaan.com