High returns make realty investors ignore risks: Experts

Mumbai December 30, 2013: The ongoing slowdown and steep rupee fall are among the factors making the country a riskier realty destination for global investors, even as it continues to be a high return market, say experts.

According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), mature markets like Tokyo, Shanghai, Jakarta, Manila and Sydney have emerged as the most preferred real estate investment destinations compared to the domestic market.

Even though cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai have emerged in the list of 25 top investment spots in the realty space, they ranked at 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd positions, respectively this year.

“The general slippage of the domestic cities in the global rankings, coupled with the retention in the top 25 list, tells the story that there is the negative impact of the combination of market, currency, regulatory and political risk which continue to result in a general sense of nervousness and the tendency of foreign investors to stay on the sidelines,” PwC India executive director Gautam Mehra said in a report.

According to him, though the challenges are currently portraying the country as a riskier market for global investors, India’s potential continues to keep interest levels going.

Echoing similar views, RICS South Asia Managing Director Sachin Sandhir says high inflation and interest rates are affecting the investor sentiment.

“Amidst global economic uncertainty, fiscal consolidation and the prevailing local market conditions, investments have come down compared to previous years. But it still holds potential for giving healthy returns in future,” he adds.

As per the industry estimates, private equity firms are sitting over about $2 billion awaiting an opportunity for deployment in the real estate sector. But wary investors and fund managers now want to put in their money only in those projects with strong fundamentals, Sandhir points out. Business Line