Mumbai sees 42% surge in home sales in October on stamp duty cut and the festive mood
Sharp rise in home sales in Mumbai Metropolitan Region in October owing to stamp duty reduction, festive season
At 7,929 units registered in October 2020, the residential sector of Mumbai recorded the highest-ever registrations in October over the last 8 years. Registrations jumped by a whopping 42% month-on-month (MoM) and 36% year-on-year (YoY), boosted by a stamp duty cut and the festive mood of Navratri and Dussehra. This growth comes after a significant jump of 112% MoM and 39% YoY during September 2020, according to a report.
During the same period last year i.e. in October 2019, registrations had grown 44% MoM compared to the previous month, highlighting the demand during the festive period every year. However, it is noteworthy that this year, despite the pandemic impact, sales grew by almost the similar proportion.
A number of factors were responsible for this growth in the pandemic era of 2020:
Stamp duty cut
The Government of Maharashtra reduced stamp duty rate from 5% to 2% for the period from September 1st 2020 till December 31st 2020 and to 3% until March 31st 2021 to counter the adverse impact of the pandemic on the ailing residential real estate market of Mumbai.
Reduction in home loan rates
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the policy interest rates by over 120 bps in year-to-date (YTD) 2020. This reduction to policy interest rates to a historic low was done not only to counter the slowdown in India’s economic growth but also to resuscitate the demand post lockdown. This reduction, coupled with humongous liquidity infusions by RBI, helped banks bring down the home loan rates to historic lows which has helped augment the homebuyer’s loan eligibility by ~10%.
Creating an upgrade demand
The lockdown confined people to their homes and made them enter an entirely new universe where the office, school/ college and regular household activities amalgamated within the boundaries of their homes. The compact homes of Mumbai and the joint family culture of India only added chaos to this universe. As the initial lockdown of 21 days in Mumbai extended to nearly 6 months in the form of partial lockdowns, families felt the need for larger apartments, thereby creating a fresh demand for upgrades which may not have been a necessity earlier.
Further, households whose incomes were not affected by the pandemic received a savings boost, as expenses relating to lifestyle, travel, vacations, dining out, entertainment and expenses on support staff, declined due to the extended lockdown. This also helped to improve their ability to make down payments.
Release of pent up demand
The city was under a stringent lockdown from March 26th 2020 till June 2020. The fear of pandemic kept people from moving out and residential sales and site visits came to a near standstill. After reopening (unlocking) in the second week of June 2020, certain parts of the city went into a second lockdown in July due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. Consequently, almost three to four months of demand got bottled up.
Developers do their bit to entice homebuyers
To bring homebuyers back into the market, many developers in Mumbai agreed to bear the incidence of stamp duty. In addition, developers continued to offer a host of indirect discounts such as floor rise waivers, deferred payment plans, assured rentals, GST waiver, cashbacks, EMI waivers, gifts, gold coins, free parking, etc. to bring down the price of apartments and entice homebuyers.
The reduction in stamp duty has positive implications for real estate. It would enhance the latent possibility for economic gains through stamp duty with more efficient taxes. This could mean stability resulting in effective tax reforms while making a noteworthy contribution to the economic activities not just in the realty sector but the entire economy. It will add as an incentive to those ‘fence sitters’; who were undecisive whether to capitalize on the present opportunity to invest in residential properties.
The potent amalgamation of reduction in stamp duty, GST exemption, and the lowest home loan interest rates might prove to be a strong determining factor in favour of the ready-to-move-in homes. However, it is important that the real estate developers piggyback on this measure by ensuring tangible and effective steps are taken at their end to push fair rates, professionalism, and transparency.
Fence sitters
The aspiration amongst people in India to own a house has always run high. However, high apartment prices in Mumbai have kept a segment of such serious homebuyers away. This segment had actively scouted for property over the last few years, but had held up purchase in anticipation of price cuts from the ailing sector. Enticed by factors that suddenly started working in their favour, the fence sitters now entered the market.
All of the above factors culminated with the festive period, resulting in strong growth of registrations during September-October 2020. Buoyed by the festive season mood, stamp duty cut and recovery in the economy, this upwards momentum in sales is likely to continue. As income streams return to normal, more homebuyers will try to close transactions in the next few months to benefit from the lower stamp duty rate.
Ready to move Commercial and Residential Properties from BMRI
- Gokul Pride
- Gokul Grand IV
- Gokul Grand III
- Gokul Grand II
- Gokul Residency
- Gokul Galaxy
- Vardhaman Nagar
Located at 15 min walking distance from station. Situated near to market, hospital, school, temple. It provides the finest for an Ideal Home.
It is one of the most reputable address of the city with easy access to many famed schools, shopping areas, hospitals, recreational areas, public gardens and several other public amenities. The Project is at a very good proximity from school, market, banks & station. A location which allows to enjoy a chill breeze of beach on weekend by just driving for 15 minutes.
Located next to Virar, it has direct road access to the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway (NH-8). Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and Bus stand are also easily accessible from here. In addition, beautiful beaches (Kelva, Mahim and Satpati), ancient forts (Kelva and Shirgaon) and Manor Dam in the vicinity of Palghar make the place an attractive tourist getaway. Maharashtra’s largest fishing center, Satpati is also at a driving distance from Palghar West.
Real estate in Palghar is slated for growth, mainly, because of the proposed bullet train which will connect two main cities Mumbai and Ahmedabad. This town lie to the north of Mumbai and are on the periphery of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Coming back to the bullet train, the first train is likely to run by 2024. The current travel time between the two cities is 7 hours; the bullet train will cut it down to only 2 hours. 11 railway stations are being proposed along the route; on the Maharashtra side of the border besides the Terminal at Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex, Thane, Virar and Dahanu are likely to be the other stations.
Palghar is placed on the Western Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway on the Mumbai Ahmedabad rail corridor. And is very easy for everyone to access the railway station. Last year, Palghar was given district status making it the Thirty Sixth district in Maharashtra.
About BM Group
BM Group (BM™) is a company established in early 90’s and is based in Mumbai, India. BM Group (BM™) serves for Property Development and Real Estate Consultancy of residential, commercial, warehouse, land, and retail leasing in different regions of Mumbai, Palghar, Thane, Ahmedabad, and Rajkot.
Membership Benefits
We at BM Realtors & Investors, LLP have always saved a soft corner for you while offering our spaces which now come with a benefit exclusively designed for you to feel the luxury of being attached to us. The time has approached to express our soft corner by turning it into reality and stepping ahead to come closer to you with a long lasting relationship with you and your generation next. Join the Boon Club
