Training Program on Digital Marketing of Properties

NIREM is organizing a one-day training program on Digital Marketing of Properties for real estate sales and marketing professionals, property consultants, those planning to start their own property consulting business etc. The program aims to help you optimize your online lead generation and management efforts.

Date, Venue and Registration

The event is scheduled on Tuesday, 27^th Oct. 2015 at Delhi. Program details are available HERE. Interested participants may register online from the given link.

Why this Program?

With the continued growth of digital marketing landscape in real estate, especially because of the fast acceptance of the medium by potential home buyers, real estate marketing professionals and consultants are facing enhanced competition, new challenges and unique opportunities within this digital age. For many home buyers, looking online for properties has become the first step in the home buying process.

A Google study of last year attests the fact that internet influences over 50 per cent real estate buying decisions. As per the Economic Times ‘it also revealed that online influence on realty transaction value amounted to $43 billion, including $31 billion for residential properties”.

Therefore today property sales and marketing professionals as well as property consultants must be adepts at all aspects of online marketing of properties. This training program on Digital Marketing of Properties aims at educating participants in different aspects of digital marketing with a focus on lead generation and management. To know more, please visit: http://www.nirem.org/training-program-on-digital-marketing-of-properties-2/

Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor will help create five new cities: Knight Frank

Pune: The first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) will lead to the creation of five new cities along its various nodes and the urban centres that will benefit through the first phase are Noida, Greater Noida, Gurgaon, Manesar, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Indore and Aurangabad.

These are amongst the key findings of a comprehensive study on the DMIC released by Knight Frank India.

The report, which is the first in a series of studies undertaken by the company, will serve as a ready reckoner for all stakeholders and as well as those who wish to get an idea of the possible impact of the DMIC on the districts of Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat.

Amongst the takeaways of the report is that close to two crore jobs (direct and indirect) will be created by the seven nodes in the first phase. Assuming there are four members per household, the new cities in the first phase will house a population of nearly four crore.

Built-up demand

Providing a snapshot on the impact on real estate by the first phase of the DMIC (figures estimated till 2040) the report says that the total residential built-up demand will be 800 crore sq ft, while the total built-up commercial demand will be 251,622,000 sq ft. The total number of hotel rooms will be 18,233.

In a statement, Shishir Baijal, Chairman & Managing Director, Knight Frank India said, “A total of 24 nodes have been planned along the entire stretch of the DMIC. Once all the phases of the project are completed, job creation along the DMIC will be unprecedented. The resultant effects of this astronomical job creation will lead to immense real estate development across verticals in and around the project areas. As these new urban agglomerations take shape, they will also attract interest from other sectors of the economy. Increased job opportunities, coupled with a superior quality of life offered by these new cities, would provide boost to the migration of businesses and people to these cities.”

Restricted focus

Samantak Das, National Director & Chief Economist, Knight Frank India, added, “There is no denying the fact that the DMIC and other corridors will have a major impact on real estate. However, for the purpose of this study, we have restricted the focus to the impact of the DMIC along its influence area in its first phase. According to our study, there will be a rub-off effect of the implementation of DMIC initiatives on the smaller urban centres in proximity of the respective nodes and going forward, these are expected to grow at a faster rate than the present-day major urban centres.” Source: Business Line

Housing.com to set up online platform for realtors body CREDAI

Housing.com today signed an MoU with the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) to set up an online platform to help developers engage with customers in a hassle free and effective manner. The MoU will be effective for a period of three years.

"The objective of the MoU will be to improve the overall ecosystem and create a new age platform that will enable the developers to engage with the consumers in a focused manner," Housing.com said in a statement.

CREDAI is the national body of real estate developers associations from across the country. With 11500 members in 154 city chapters spread across 24 states. On the other hand Housing.com is the leading online real estate platform.

Housing.com’s Chief Business Officer Jason Kothari said, "The partnership is a testimony of changing times in the manner developers have been traditionally operating in the real estate space". He further said that the the association would redefine the way developers have been approaching the buyers across India; adding that the alliance would make the real estate community more transparent and consumer centric.

CREDAI National President Getamber Anand said the synergy with Housing.com would help in bringing an additional credibility to the real estate space by way of professional brokering and large footprint.

The MoU provides Housing.com privileges to actively participate and be represented at all events and forums of the association. On the other hand, CREDAI will leverage Housing.com's technology superiority and innovation to create online proliferation for its communities.

Housing.com has raised over USD 100 million in capital from leading investors, including Softbank.

The portal has made some major appointments recently. Rishabh Gupta was appointed as interim CEO in July, while Jason Kothari was appointed as the Chief Business Officer in August to drive the company's growth in India. PTI

CREDAI NCR to Stop Buying Cement from Ultratech, Lafarfe

NEW DELHI: Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI) NCR chapter has decided not to procure cement from Ultratech and Lafarge, alleging carelization and malpractices by these firms.

The developers’ body said in a statement that the decision has been taken in order to help fair price determination of key raw materials required for the realty sector. This announcement stop buying from these companies was made at the AGM held yesterday.

CREDAI National President Getamber Anand said to a news agency "We have decided to boycott Ultratech and Lafarge, as they have not delivered the cement to our members at the decided price, despite taking advances". He also suggested that the body may on a national strike if the situations did not change.

On the other hand, CREDAI NCR President Manoj Gaur said that there are about 220 members of CREDAI in the national capital region and all have unanimously decided to stop procurement of cement from Ultratech and Lafarge." He alleged that these companies have increased cement prices by 40 per cent and it seems they are involved in cartelisation. All members of CREDAI NCR have agreed to stop buying from these companies with immediate effect.

Get Ready for ‘Smart’ Villages Now!

After launching the smart city projects, the Union Govt. aims to launch 300 village clusters under the ‘Rurban Mission’. Union minister for rural development Birender Singh announced the Govt.’s intention while inaugurating a two-day national workshop of 'Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana' (SAGY) in Bhopal recently.

He said that the population of these clusters would vary between 25,000 and 50,000. However cluster strength will be less in hilly areas. To be developed on the pattern of towns with planned layouts, these rural-urban hubs will give a new dimension to Urbanization as well as real estate market in India.

As per the minister, state governments will have to issue notifications for these clusters. An investment of Rs. 50-55 crore is envisaged in each cluster which will be funded jointly by the Union and State Govts. Governments will take up funding of these clusters under various schemes within the Rurban mission. He further added that a critical gap funding of 30 per cent will be additionally provided.

Mr. Singh added that the objective is to create an ecosystem of trade growth and infrastructure facilities in these clusters. Image: India News

Real Estate Regulation and GST bills in next session of Parliament

The government is in the process of accelerating reforms and transforming India, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said at a function here.

Economic Times: Government is planning to push for the passage of crucial bills like GST and Real Estate in the next session of Parliament to accelerate reforms and spur growth and employment in the country.

The government is in the process of accelerating reforms and transforming India, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said at a function here.

"A number of crucial Bills including that of introduction of GST, Real Estate Regulation and Development Bill, for bringing accountability and transparency and enhancing employment generation are expected to be taken up for approval in the next session of Parliament," he said.
Despite the concerted efforts, government could not get through the GST due to the stiff resistance from Congress and other opposition parties in Parliament.

These Bills are important from the perspective of spurring growth and employment which is necessary for faster poverty reduction, Naidu said.

He said the government is also focusing on skill development, both in rural and urban areas in order to alleviate poverty.

On Smart City Mission, Naidu said ever since it was announced it has really brought the urban issues firmly on the agenda of the nation and all stakeholders including political class, media and the common man.

Stating that the country is urbanising with a furious speed, he said urban issues need to be addressed sooner than later.

Raising question whether one can rise to the challenge and deliver the goals under the Smart City Mission, Naidu emphatically said "answer is clear yes."

Drawing the broad contours of the proposed Smart City, he said "a necessary core infrastructure, sanitation, health and education facilities, clean and sustainable environment, good city governance and adoption of smart technologies to ensure decent living, and catalyses economic growth which is the need of the hour."

He said the success of India growth story is hugely dependent on the success once can make on the urban front.

"The centre has committed itself to support states and urban local bodies with central assistance of over Rs 3 lakh crore over the next five years, he said and added "The future of the aspirational India lies in the future of our cities." Source: The Economic Times

Bloomberg Philanthropies, UD min sign pact on smart city

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg Monday announced a partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Urban Development Ministry to advance the government's ambitious smart cities initiative.

Under the partnership, Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide funds and other assistance to Urban Development Ministry to implement the Smart Cities project in select cities.

The announcement was made after Bloomberg's meeting with Modi.

"The Prime Minister described the Smart Cities Initiative as a challenging task, which nevertheless has to be undertaken to improve the quality of life for India's urban citizens with stakeholder's participation," a government release said.

The Smart Cities Initiative is aimed to promote economic growth, improve governance, and deliver more effective and efficient public services to India's urban residents.

"Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide assistance to the Ministry of Urban Development to select cities for Smart Cities Mission funding on a continuous basis," the release said.

It said "This approach is different from the conventional approach, which involved preparation of Detailed Project Reports, and their appraisal and approval by the central government.

"It will ensure that real citizen engagement happens, as people get involved both in design and execution of city development plans. This will actualise the idea of cooperative and competitive federalism."

Earlier, Bloomberg met Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and discussed various urban development issues including the Smart City project. Source: igovernment.in

IFC, CREDAI Promote Green Buildings in India through EDGE Certification

New Delhi—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI), apex body of private real estate developers, have partnered to promote green buildings in the country through IFC’s EDGE certification.

EDGE stands for ‘Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies’, and is a standard that focuses on energy and water efficiency in buildings. Fast, easy to use, and affordable, EDGE empowers builders and home-owners to choose environment-friendly technical solutions while capturing costs and projected savings. More information is available at www.ifc.org/edge.

CREDAI will encourage its members, including local chapters, to incorporate resource efficiency in their design using EDGE. To qualify for the certification, these efficiencies must result in savings of at least 20 percent in energy, water, and materials over the local standard practices. IFC will train members and share global best practices and knowledge with CREDAI on green building technologies.

“This partnership has the potential to transform the housing market and put India in a leading position to apply a green rating system for homes on a large scale,” said Geetamber Anand, President (Elect), CREDAI, at its “Clean India – Skilled India – Strong India” Conclave. “Only two percent of the buildings are currently resource-efficient, pointing to the huge opportunity.”

By 2050, India will be home to 1.6 billion people and most of this growth will come from cities, where the residential needs will double. This rapid expansion in construction would require buildings that are less resource-intensive yet meets the aspirations of today’s growing middle class.

“Green buildings are a compelling need and IFC will be working in this fast growing Indian market,” said Serge Devieux, IFC’s Regional Director for South Asia. “We aim to help builders introduce cost-effective green features into their designs and work with financial institutions and the government, to support their widespread adoption.”

IFC has invested $600 million in green buildings globally in the last five years. In addition, IFC has ongoing advisory programs in more than 10 countries. In India, IFC’s clients -- VBHC, an affordable housing developer, and SAMHI, a budget business hotel developer -- have benefited from the use of EDGE.

Mumbai-based realty portal Makaan.com may sell or form JV with MagicBricks or Quikr

By Biswarup Gooptu, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: People Group, which owns and operates real estate portal Makaan.com, has entered into talks with potential buyers, to sell the venture, at a time when the country's online property space is being seen as the next battleground for global risk capital and strategic investors. 

MagicBricks. com and online web and mobile classifieds company Quikr are among those believed to have held early-stage discussions with the promoters of Makaan.com, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the development.

A potential transaction could see promoters of Mumbai-based venture, either outright sell its entire stake, or enter into a joint venture with a new backer, which could see the promoters divest up to 50% of their ownership, and which will also have a long-term payout component built into the agreement.

Anupam Mittal, the founder and promoter of People Group, declined to speak on the developments, while emails sent to Magic-Bricks.com and Quikr did not receive any responses at the time of writing the story.

Separately, Info Edge, which owns real estate portal 99Acres, and was speculated to be in talks with promoters of Makaan, denied they were looking to pick up a stake in the venture. Info Edge, which owns a clutch of Internet properties, had raised Rs 750 crore through a qualified institutional placement in September.

According to some reports, Info EdgeBSE -0.25 % planned to use the proceeds for potential acquisitions for 99Acres. Mittal, who owns about 80% of the property website, runs a slew of internet properties, such as matrimonial website Shaadi.com and mobile media company Mauj.com.

The People Group is backed by risk capital investors, such as Sequoia Capital, Saama Capital, Intel Capital and Citibank.

India's online real estate has been attracting substantial attention from risk capital investors, drawn by the massive demand for housing, combined with increased internet penetration, especially on the mobile platform.

"They're now the primary source of visibility for consumers and have become default search parameters. This is only going to get bigger, especially in a country the size of India," said Anuj Puri, chairman and country head for realty services consultancy JLL India.

Source: News Published at the Economic Times