Sunday, November 04, 2012

Loan growth stonewalled by surge in house prices, crashes to 5-month low as buyers fail to turn up


Its Diwali and all as per the norm, this is the season for making big purchases like houses and cars. Unfortunately this year is turning out to be damp squb. Very high inflation has pushed daily budgets of most middle-class citizens to the brink. Nobody in the right mind is making any big purchases. Anybody with an account with a bank is hounded by retail bankers pushing loans and investment. Most are not buying the bait. Existing loan owners have seen their EMI tenure extended by 10 years to a maximum of 30. One friend of mine complained he has been servicing the interest for the past 2 years and has added almost nothing to the principal. The flat now has cost him more then what he has paid even after regularly paying the EMI. 

The black magic of compounding of loan interest is only experienced by the borrower. 


Brokers tell me that the market has a gone silent for loan properties over 1 Cr in Mumbai. The only buyers in the market are those who trade up/down their existing properties depending on their need. No Gujarathi NRI's are interested in the market. Hurricane Sandy has hit a  huge number of Gujarathi's business owners in NY and NJ. I just heard from one who wants to dispose of his Mumbai property.. Here are pictures from Hurricane Sandy. The devastation to property is just mind numbing.  With so much damage to houses it seems that housing rental market is going to give the newly displaced a new shock. 

Economic Times  article is here



MUMBAI: Growth in home loans has slumped to a five-month low despite banks showering potential buyers with attractive schemes and lower rates due to soaringreal estate prices. 

Buyers are holding back since an over-24% increase in prices in the past one year is putting homes beyond their reach despite banks lowering interest rates by 100-150 basis points in the past four months. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point. 

Home loans have grown by 11.2% year-on-year in September, compared with 15.6% in the same month a year ago. The latest growth rate for home loans is the lowest since April. 

"Interest rates have a limited role to play in house sales," said VK Sharma, CEO at LIC Housing FinanceBSE 0.54 %, India's second-biggest mortgage lender. "Home prices affect sales more than interest rates. If the house price range is within the capacity of the middle class, then sales pick up." 

Facing slowing demand for loans from corporates, banks have been pushing retail loans, especially mortgages, since it is one of the safest forms of lending. But steep prices are stalling sales. More than 80,000 flats remain unsold in Mumbai and the financial capital has lost its crown as the fastest-growing market. 

213 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 213 of 213
Deborah said...


Great Post! Agree with your point of view. I also feel that the entire sector needs to mature in terms of CRM and in handling the requirements of the home-buyers. Do have a look at my blog and share your views on the same.

Real Estate Companies in Chandigarh said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing such informative post. I have been looking for information about the India real estate this discussion has solve all my Questions. I will look forward for your next blog on Indian Real Estate.

My Property Stores.

real estate ponte vedra said...

Realy high inflation has crushed the daily budgets of most middle-class citizens to the brink. This post has came up with interesting facts about house prices.

Unknown said...

Inflation is the key. If govt. is going to increase money supply 15% every year that it has done for the last 11-12 years, that alone means money in the system is now 4-5 times more than it was in 2003. And it will not go equally in all sectors. RE is one sector which attracted more than its fair share. Houses have some aspirational value as well so their prices are up 7-8 times. If house prices stagnate here and money supply keeps growing (which you all know will) then in 2-3 years, house prices would have risen the same as money supply increase. So buy for 1.5 Cr today or wait 3 years and then buy for same price barring a big shock in between. But can one keep waiting for the black swan event?

I enjoy your site theme....Jaypee Studio Apartment

Unknown said...

Although home ownership is relatively less in India compared with the West, the lack of affordable homes stunts growth.

I enjoy your site theme....Pancheel Villas

paramount2013 said...

Thanks for sharing this great article.love to read your article..i have also read your other article also.

Bronson Well said...

Hi,


Let's talk about the Connecticut Information and Connecticut business that is helps to day to day life.

Anonymous said...

Hello Author.
You have shared a valuable information.
Thanks for share.

Doon Square is the standard class living society covered with the area of 50 acres luxurient land area.

Fomra Housing said...

Thank you so much for making the effort to discuss this interesting details. We have also some useful details about property investment strategies, to know more please just click here Luxury Flats near Anna Nagar

Unknown said...

The great content sharing about real estate. Thanks for sharing.
ongoing residential projects in chennai

Anonymous said...

Nice blog and it's informative too. Thanks for sharing and you can also check new property in ahmedabad

jjinfraindia said...

Thanks for sharing the information it helps a lot. If your searching for Residential and Open plots for sale in Loyapally, Hyderabad. JJ Infra is the No.1 Real estate company for all real estate Investments.

«Oldest ‹Older   201 – 213 of 213   Newer› Newest»