Housing – Engine of Economic Growth

By Suvir Ahuja, Managing Director, Gesco Corporation Ltd.

Real Potential in Housing Sector

For every one crore of investment in the housing sector, we can generate 750 man years of employment.

A unit increase in the fiscal expenditure on construction can generate five times the additional income and eight times direct employment than the income and employment generated in the construction sector alone.

The construction sector provides significant stimulus for other sectors to grow and is intimately linked to the country's economy. There are approx. 250 industries directly or indirectly allied to this one sector alone.

Construction is the fourth most important sector amongst 14 others (electricity, gas, water supply, forestry, transport etc.) in terms of 'backward linkages' and third in terms of the 'total linkage coefficient'.

The stimulus for the economy will come from higher off-take of inputs for construction, particularly cement and steel, as part of the backward linkage. The forward linkage is with the things that people need to put in their new homes, such as furniture, consumer durables, furnishings, and so on, demand for which also gets a fillip.

A 10 percent increase in this sector can generate Rs 62,000 crores in national output, besides employment for 29,57,000 workers in various sectors i.e., a 2.5 per cent increase in total employment.

Shortage in Housing - The demand-supply gap in housing stands at 33 million units, calling for an investment of Rs. 1,50,000 crore. There is an urgent need for 15 million homes in urban centers, and the rest is in rural India. Another Rs. 2,50,000 crore is needed to provide the infrastructure. If the money is available, it could become a strong driving force for the Indian Economy.

The above facts clearly reflect the potential in the housing sector, and also on the country's GDP and employment.

The property market in India….

The Real Estate Scenario

  • The boom in the market in the early nineties led to mushrooming fly-by-night developers who were driven by the motive of profit maximisation with little commitment to the trade. The hideous nature of their operations left an irreparable dent in the market, which has been perceptible in the period of recession.
  • The slump in real estate market that started in the mid nineties has since bottomed out and the present trends are encouraging.

Property Exhibitions have assumed importance in real estate selling.

Today, Property exhibitions are without doubt the best place to buy. All the best properties are available under one roof to compare, the best deals on them to consider and the best home loan option to finance it. Plus, advice on any legal and technical matters that need consideration is available at the spot.

Today’s Developer

  • The builder community has become more professional, ensuring better quality and timely delivery.
  • There is an increased emphasis on quality and cost control. Documentation methods of project details are more rigorous and more meaningful.
  • Today, builders are offering a range of value added services and sops to lure the end-user.

Shift in Focus

Change in the Customer Profile

YESTERDAY’s CustomerTODAY’ s Customer

Average age of those buying flats was inThe average age is in the twenties

the late forties.due to the easy availability of loans.

Either ‘naïve’ or ‘King’‘Well Informed’ and decisive -

Protective of his/her rights

Role of women confined to householdYoung women have begun making

Choresindividual decisions about purchasing properties on their own.

Cautious or even a negative outlookOpen and a positive outlook on taking a loan – feels it enforces a sense of financial discipline.

Question normally asked – ‘Bhav kya hai’Pre-prepared Questionnaires with queries ranging from location to amenities, legal clearances to approved plans and knowledge about similar other projects.

Would buy what the developer wantsWants ‘Money’s worth’ or ‘Right Value

To sellfor Money’.

Demand during specific months.Steady demand across the year.

From the above, it is evident that all the segments of the housing industry have undergone a transformation over the years – the market, the developer and the consumer.

These changes will definitely improve the overall growth and health of the market.

Government Initiatives

Registration of Leave & License Agreements

The Government has made registration of all documents mandatory, including leave and license agreements. However, there is some respite to both, the Licensor and the Licensee with the Government finally reducing the Stamp Duty for the Leave & License Agreements. This will encourage longer lease agreements.

Budget 2002-03

Infrastructure Equity Fund is being set up with a Corpus of Rs. 1000 Crs – IDFC to manage the fund – Contributions to the fund to be made by public sector insurance companies, financial institutions, banks etc

The requirement of obtaining 37 I clearance from the Income tax Dept for purchase / sale of properties has been dispensed with for all such transactions undertaken on or after 1st July 2002.

Deduction for Interest on housing loans for self occupied houses will be allowed in respect of houses acquired / constructed after 31st March 2003 if such acquisition / construction is competed within 3 years from the end of the financial year in which the housing loan is taken.

Credit Policy

The credit policy announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to restore confidence in an otherwise dull marketplace. The inclusion of features like the reduction of risk weightage on housing loans against residential property, the liberalization of prudential requirements for housing finance by banks and the encouragement of investment by banks in the securitised debt instruments of HFCs (Housing Finance Companies) will all pave the way for better credit flows to the housing sector.

The limit for individual loans by HFCs has been raised from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs. Loans given by HFCs will qualify for refinance from banks at a lower interest rate. The removal of the discount (of 1.5 per cent) on the Prime Lending Rate (PLR) to the housing sector will ensure a market-driven rate structure. By spreading the risk, banks/HFCs will be able to increase their home loan customer base, all leading to boosting the market. People, who would have otherwise postponed their decision to purchase a property, would now do so.

Home Shopping made easier

The interest on Housing Finance has been lowered and there is a possibility of them sliding further down in the near future. A rate war is triggered off between the Banks/Financial Institutions.

Falling interest rates have led to a marginal pick up in the property investments market. Also, the Housing Finance Companies are witnessing healthy growth as the low interest rates have attracted many of the salaried class to invest in residential property.

According to the information furnished by National Housing Bank, the total housing finance disbursed by commercial banks and housing finance companies has increased from Rs. 19,723 Crore in ’99-’00 to Rs. 29,600 crore in ’01-’02, and is expected to touch Rs. 37,000 Cr. In ’02-’03.

Areas of Concern and the Reforms needed in the Housing Sector

  • Land Holdings - Issues

There is a great paucity of land available for construction. There is a lack of clarity over who holds the titles for the vast majority of the landholdings.

Moreover, the lack of clear titles makes collateral-based financing very difficult, thus reducing liquidity both in the primary and the secondary markets and further reducing activity and competition in the market.

The real estate developers also confront numerous hurdles in land acquisition, registration, development and construction.

At every stage, the state and municipal laws are very cumbersome and complicated, making it difficult for transaction to happen.

  • Land Holdings - Solutions

The following steps are highlighted to achieve this.

First, the state government needs to set up specialised courts to handle all land title disputes.

Second, it must simplify and modernise the current registration system for land titles.

Third, it should rescind the Urban Land Ceiling Act and,

Finally, it should lower the stamp duty. In order to solve the unclear ownership rights on land titles, the government must expedite all the existing land dispute cases

  • Lack of Building Standards - Issues

There is also a distinct lack of standards as far as building materials are concerned coupled with ineffective enforcement of the few standards that do exists.

Maintaining and enforcing material standards would facilitate the dissemination of best practices and create greater transparency in the housing market thereby allowing consumers to compare prices.

It would also make it more difficult for contractors to profit by sourcing cheap and sub-standard materials and compel them to focus on earning their profits by lowering labour costs.

  • Lack of Building Standards – Solutions

The Central Government should lead the initiative to introduce modern standards for construction materials and ensure the enforcement of these standards.

To facilitate widespread disbursement, the government, via the National Housing Bank, should link public funding for housing to the adoption of these new standards.

Finally, it should introduce consumer protection laws and establish special courts to safeguard buyers against the use of sub-standard materials.

  • Lack of Private Sector Participation - Issues

There is a lack of infrastructural development in city suburbs (such as water and sewerage systems). As a result, housing and real estate projects lack the much needed infrastructure like water supply, drainage, roads, and transport connectivity.

User charges in India are mostly subsidized and not related to the real cost of providing infrastructure services.

Water and sewerage services are typically government owned and pricing decisions are often taken on political rather than economic grounds.

There is a great need of development of utility, social and economic or commercial infrastructure in urban areas across the country.

One cannot expect a foreign investor to invest in India when we do not have proper roads, power and water supply.

Encourage Private Sector Participation - Solution

Privatise water, sewerage and the electricity services that are still under the Government’s control.

User charges ought to be levied on the basis of the economic cost of providing these services, as the users are willing to pay for good and timely services. There needs to be an established framework on fixing water charges.

Equally important is the need to provide the back-up infrastructure covering utility services such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, roads and transport requirements as well as social infrastructure like schools, health and recreation facilities, commercial infrastructure like markets/malls, office complexes, technology parks etc.

  • Stamp Duty - Issues

Stamp duty is exorbitantly high and need to be drastically brought down and rationalised. Stamp duty in most Indian cities ranges between 10-15%, States such as West Bengal, Kerala and Bihar levied as high as 20%. Some states even have a double stamp incidence, first on land and then on its development.

Markets across Singapore and Europe levy a maximum of 1-2% as compared to the above. Even the National Housing and Habitat Policy 1998, recommends a stamp duty of 2-3%.

Stamp duty - Solutions

State governments should follow uniform rates of stamp duty of 2% in order not only to encourage housing construction but also increase their revenue by maximum recovery. This move would also minimise tax evasion and reducing the costs associated with registering titles.

The revenue loss that the Government may incur due to the reduction of stamp duty would well be recouped through the increased revenues from Excise Duty, Sales Tax, Construction Tax, Property tax accrual and other related revenue flows.

Besides, it will also bring down the practice of undervaluation of property. It will encourage people to buy properrtyt in their own names instead of via the general power of attorney.

  • FDI in Real estate - Issues
Present Conditions for FDI

The minimum area to be developed by a Company will have to be 100 acres.

 The minimum capitalisation norm will be $ 10 million for a wholly owned subsidiary and a $ 5 million for joint ventures with Indian partners.

A minimum lock-in period of 3 years from completion shall apply before repatriation of original investment is permitted.

A minimum of the 50% of the integrated project development must be completed within a period of 5 years from the date of possession of the land.

The Company must be registered as an Indian Company under the Companies Act, 1956 and will be allowed to take up land aggregation and development.

FIPB under the Ministry or Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation will process all FDI cases and set guidelines for the Companies.

FDI in Real Estate - Solution

FDI in housing and urban development should be allowed in order to meet the huge shortage.

Norms of 49% or 51% for ceiling can be set with automatic clearance facility by RBI registration and no other bars.

The existing limit of 100 acres for 100% FDI investment into integrated townships projects is on the higher side and needs to be brought down considerably. The need for allowing 100% FDI into other real estate projects like multiplex theatres, shopping malls, etc. should also be considered.

FDI policy should be transparent.

Rating of Developers

Rating of developers would be a definite improvement in the highly unorganised real estate Indian market. Barring a few large developers who adhere to building safety norms and standards, majority of the small time real estate developers flout these norms with impunity.

A step taken in this direction would definitely be welcomed.


Conclusion

  • All these areas of concern have inhibited the GDP growth by 2-4 per cent a year. Removing them would free India’s economy to grow as fast as China’s, at 8-10 per cent.
  • In fact, if all these issues were to be addressed and the economy were to grow at 10 per cent a year, the sector would grow at 14 per cent a year and create over 3.2 million jobs over the next 10 years.
  • Housing Construction in India accounts for just 1 per cent of GDP and 1 per cent of employment – yet the housing industry can really become a big growth driver for the Indian economy. It can also be the second largest source of employment and revenue-generation.
  • Also, the country’s 38 per cent gross investment is in the areas of real estate and housing construction.
  • No doubt, several steps to create a facilitating environment have been put in place. And yet, we are miles away from the target of `housing-for-all' mentioned in the National Housing and Habitat Policy, 1998.