Mumbai: The commercial lease and rental space in India will witness a low occupancy rate till 2011, indicates the latest report by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Jones Lang Lasalle Meghraj. The report, ‘The Seven Stars of India – India’s best performing micro markets for occupiers’ consist the trend and forecast on realty rental market in seven cities of India including, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata. “Indeed, most cities in India have already witnessed an increase in the volume of lease transactions in 1Q 2010 with NCR-Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad having recorded more than a million sq ft of leases each. In 2009, occupiers showed a strong preference towards operational vacant stock rather than projects under construction, a departure from 2007-08,” states the report adding, “With the forecasted growth of net completions expected to outpace that of net absorption, a significant supply overhang is expected to remain over the next one year. This will lead vacancy level across India, which was at 17.2% at end-2009 to rise to mid 20% by end-2010.” The above graph suggests that net absorption will be less than new completions and hence increasing levels of vacant space. The report further states that, “Gurgaon (NCR), Thane and Navi Mumbai (Mumbai) have led all micro-markets in rental depreciation, thus proving very attractive for many occupiers. However, despite a low rental correction in micro-markets such as Salt Lake (Kolkata), SBD Bangalore, SBD Chennai, Whitefield (Bangalore) and Hinjewadi (Pune), they continue to remain attractive for occupiers primarily due to low rental base, quality future supply and existing tenant profile.” About the future trend, report states that the most micro-markets are expected to reach their rental lows within the next 2-3 quarters, if not reached as yet. This indicates that the window of opportunity for occupiers, where balance of power favors them, continues to shrink with every passing quarter. Mr Anuj Puri, Chairman CII Real Estate National Conclave and Chairman and Country Head, Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj says, “Based on the recently released, Global Real Estate Transparency Report by Jones Lang LaSalle, The Indian real estate industry has its own challenges and opportunities. India was ranked 41st in an international survey on transparency in real estate transactions in Tier-II cities whereas, in 2008 we were ranked 50th. We are also ahead of China in the same manner which is due to increasing participation of international real estate companies’ participation and improvement in title recalls.” Abhishek Kiran Gupta, Head – Research & REIS, Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj states, “With India’s economic recovery well under way, its commercial real estate market is beginning to stabilize. Apart from charting the today’s lucrative micro-markets in terms of commercial real estate, this report also affirms that the commercial property landscape will remain favourable for tenants in 2010, and that landlords will have greater influence towards the beginning of 2011.” Forecast Demand from global players, headquartered abroad, might catch up with domestic occupier demand by the year end. IT/ITeS sector will continue to lead, followed by sunshine sectors including Telecom, Pharma and BFSI. Industrial growth might spur office space demand from the manufacturing and engineering sector. Occupiers to remain flexible in option selection; focus on growth and remain operationally efficient. Uncertainty over headcount will remain a challenge for CREs as they ensure that corporate real estate strategies are in line with broader organizational objectives. Occupier focus will be on Special Economic Zones, due to the STPI sunset clause by March 2011. 7 Stars’ profile and Reasons for Success Delhi NCR: Gurgaon is a clear winner when it comes to occupier demand and availability of options due to sufficient quality supply, steep rental depreciation and flexible approach of developers (led by DLF). It also scores high on a fair mix of retail, residential and hospitality concentration, MRTS transportation and regional connectivity, aided by proximity to the international airport. NOIDA comes close as a second alternative, especially for IT occupiers, boasting of an excellent infrastructure and lower rentals. Moving ahead, both Gurgaon and Noida would compete for tapping occupier demand. However, we believe that Gurgaon will continue to maintain its leadership position in the future. Mumbai: SBD North (primarily Andheri), at the heart of Mumbai, is closer to the city airport, has an under-construction MRTS connectivity, and boasts of more than dozen 3-5 star hotels, malls, social, medical and recreational facilities. With more than 3 million sq ft of future supply expected in the next few months and a diverse mix of occupiers, SBD North has recorded one of the best absorption rates in Mumbai over the past two years. Thane, Navi Mumbai, Western and Eastern suburban micro-markets shall continue to attract IT/ITeS occupiers primarily due to affordability. Bangalore: Offering Grade A office space at the most affordable rental ranges (INR 38-40 psft pm) among the secondary districts in the country, SBD Bangalore has witnessed more than 5 million sq ft of average annual absorption from 2007-2009. With proximity to key residential areas and availability of large land parcels, connectivity to the international airport, elevated expressways, the SBD micro-market in Bangalore is currently the largest micro-market in the country in terms of operational grade A commercial stock with highest occupancy rate. We foresee the trend of single digit vacancy to continue in this micro-market due to controlled supply pipeline and robust occupier interest. Hyderabad: Having witnessed more than a million sq ft of leasing activity in 1Q 2010, Grade A office properties in Hitec City and Gachibowli have attracted a fair share of the resurging IT demand (TSI Waverock and K Raheja building 9 and 11). This micro-market offers good airport connectivity, well laid road and rail infrastructure, as well as solid IT infrastructure (Cyberabad). There are multiple spatial options available (particularly for IT companies), offering quality office space at affordable rentals. However, regional political sensitivity might discourage occupiers to consider Hyderabad city in the short-term. Still Hitec City and Gachibowli will clock good amount of leasing in the future primarily due to developed infrastructure, presence of quality tenants and affordable rentals. Pune: SBD Pune excels over Hinjewadi due to better infrastructure and proximity to residential locations, presence of support infrastructure such as hotels, malls, educational and medical facilities. The SBD witnessed an average annual absorption of 2.2 million sq ft from 2007-2009 (against less than a million sq ft in Hinjewadi over the same time span), due to relatively larger rental correction. Encompassing major city locations like Magarpatta, Kharadi and Kalyani Nagar, state of the art IT infrastructure, together with a well established transportation network, and quality LEED certified office space (amidst bottomed out rentals) makes SBD Pune attractive for occupiers; notably the IT and manufacturing sectors. Chennai: The SBD and the suburbs of Chennai (primarily OMR) are closer in real estate scoring, as indicator movement and demand influx has been comparable in the two micro-markets (average annual absorption from 2007 – 2009 was about 2 million sq ft each, with a similar rental drop of 25-30% from peak). SBD Chennai has a large supply base and offers occupiers multiple options for good quality, well-maintained properties with a focus on ‘Green’ and ‘Sustainability’. Affordable rents in a well sustained market further drive occupier interest. While SBD Chennai is currently far more attractive to occupiers as it offers strong regional connectivity, better social, institutional and residential infrastructure, suburbs are poised to give a strong competition in coming years. Kolkata: Salt Lake is an established office destination of Kolkata, offering excellent retail and residential catchments, hotels and regional connectivity to IT/ITeS occupiers. However, moving ahead, Rajharat will score high due to ongoing SEZ projects, quality office and residential properties, besides relative proximity to domestic and international airport. Source:http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowBussinessNews.asp?id=20327 Filed under: Bangalore , Chennai , Delhi , Hyderabad , Mumbai , Pune , Serviced apartments/offices Tagged: Bangalore , Chennai , Commercial rental space , Delhi NCR , Hyderabad , Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj , Kolkata , Mumbai , pune