8 Crucial Real Estate KPIs for Property Investment in India

When you’re investing in real estate, you have to consider several factors because of the high costs involved. Yes, you have to research extensively to know whether the stipulated investment is worthwhile or not.

Of course, you can approach the property specialists, who conduct a detailed study to determine whether the investment is feasible or not. For this, the key performance indicators (KPIs) help them to gauge the value of the property investments. Now, real estate KPIs are financial measurements that take into account different metrics to predict property values.

Here, we have listed some KPIs that have come in handy for real estate investors and rental management companies. However, note that KPIs have their limitations because they are only estimates. So, they do not factor in abstract values that can influence the purchasing decisions of investors, including future market rates.

  • Gross Operating Income (GOI)

GOI is the total expected income, which includes all expenses. This metric records the overall income that the property produces – with the inclusion of rent charges, parking rates, among other fees.

If you talk to the property maintenance company executives, they will clarify that the GOI metric gives a complete picture of how much money a property generates or its estimated monthly value. Also, being a hypothetical figure, the GOI does not encompass any unwarranted losses like vacancy.

  • Occupancy Rate

The rent management specialists will always advise maximizing the occupancy rate of your property to minimize losses. This is because vacant properties do not generate any income, while you have to continue bearing the operating expenses.

No doubt, property owners try to attract tenants, though achieving a 100% occupancy rate is not always possible. To know more about the precise occupancy rate of a property, you should learn about its previous occupancy rate.

  • Net Operating Income (NOI)

The NOI is calculated by eliminating the operating expenses from the GOI. The NOI provides a basic estimate of the profitability of the property. Management fees, maintenance charges, taxes, insurance, utilities, and vacancy rate – all are considered when calculating the NOI.

Even so, the NOI only displays the amount of surplus money that a property can generate every month. This metric does not factor in the initial investment expenses or one-time costs such as remodeling works and other interior designing Delhi costs.

  • Capitalization Rate

The cap rate is calculated by dividing the NOI with the property’s prevailing market value. The residential property management agents will further explain that you can get an estimate of the basic property value via the cap rate.

Importantly, the cap rate is not derived after accounting for the initial investment costs, which may vary depending on agreement by parties and other market factors.

  • Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

With the IRR, you can get an estimate of the ability of a property to earn profits.

The NRI property management experts recommend going for a property with a high IRR, for they are profitable investments. The IRR considers the property sale value, entire cash flow, and initial investment costs. As such, you get a clearer idea about how much income the property can generate over the long run. The IRR does not incorporate future investment figures and other influencers.

  • Cash on Cash Return

Using the CCR, you can compare the initial property investment with the probable monthly income. To compute the CCR, you have to divide the projected property income by the total investment figure. In turn, you can know how much percentage of your investment you’re getting back on a monthly basis.

As always, the property registration Delhi professionals will ascertain that the CCR does not include any unforeseen costs.

  • Return on Investment (ROI)

When computing the ROI of a property, you have to calculate the profits accrued and deduct the overall investment figure. More so, you must study the IRR and NOI, and you will know then how close your initial estimates are to real costs and profit.

  • Loan to Value Ratio (LVR)

The LVR helps financial organizations to analyze the risk of loans. Now, when you’re taking a loan to invest in a property, the LVR metric helps lenders to better understand your financial position.

In the case of high-risk loans, you have to pay higher interest charges and extra fees – all of which increase your general investment costs.

OVERALL

As a property investor, you may want to rely on property management company experts for their guidance. The real estate professionals can reveal more about the related risks, budding opportunities, duration, and viability of the investments that you’re pondering over. In turn, you can evaluate all the important factors before making your purchasing decisions.

Should you go ahead with your home-buying plans soon after the Covid-19 lockdown?

The real estate experts suggest understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic before your property buying expeditions.

Buying a home imposes financial burdens on investors since they have to cough up money for the down payment and pay EMIs every month for several years. And the Covid-19 epidemic only adds to property investors’ woes.

Now, if you were planning to purchase a home this year, the unexpected turn of events may have left you wondering how to go about your plans from now onwards.

However, you should first understand how the pandemic affects the real estate market.

Real Estate Sector against the Covid-19 pandemic backdrop

For some time now, the realty sector has been tackling a credit crisis, slackening economy, and rising inventories. And, with the recent Coronavirus epidemic, the scenario seems to become grimmer.

Owing to the nationwide lockdown, most construction activities were halted. And many laborers were seen returning home due to uncertain times ahead. As a result, the construction industry has to grapple further with labor shortage in the near future. This will lead to disruptions in the recovery course of the real estate sector.

To complicate things further, several developers have taken large-scale loans. And, if they cannot redeem their value, they will be dealing with a liquidity crisis soon enough.

Having said that, the government recently advised the state governments and union territories to prolong by six months the property registration process and deadlines of all certified projects which will expire on or before March 25th, 2020. Also, they must comply with the stipulated instructions without any separate applications for further easing the stress of property developers.

Additionally, the Reserve Bank of India announcement to slash repo rate by 40 basis points to 4% will offer some relief to the developers. However, no clarity of when the realty sector will recover is yet coming forth.

The pandemic crisis from the Home-buyers’ standpoint

Conversely, if you’re a current home-buyer who has taken possession of your property and your income sources have not been affected due to the Coronavirus pandemic, then you stand to gain.  Because home loan interest rates will touch new lows owing to the RBI’s latest repo rate cute notification.

The groups who are servicing a repo rate-linked loan can expect their EMIs to subside soon. On the other hand, those people who are servicing MCLR-based loans may have to wait for some time until the lender resets such loan rates.

Plus, lenders have been instructed by the Central bank to extend the loan moratorium option to borrowers by an extra 3 months. In turn, the borrowers can manage their finances more efficiently amid these extraordinary times.

Even so, you must note that this EMI holiday is not a waiver but only a repayment deferment. Besides, interest rates will continue getting accrued during these 3 months. In the process, your EMI burdens will start mounting – particularly, if you’ve recently started repaying your home loan.

Your best bet is to go for this facility only if you’re having financial troubles. Also, if you plan on availing this option, make sure you have a sustainable plan to prepay the accrued interest during the moratorium after the expiry of the EMI holiday.

Moreover, the government’s initiative to extend the deadline of the Credit Linked Interest Subsidy Scheme (which comes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) to March 31st, 2020, could realize the home-buying aspirations of middle-class families amidst the ongoing economic hardships.

As part of this scheme, families having annual household incomes in the range of 6 lakhs to 18 lakhs per annum are eligible to avail the benefits of an upfront interest subsidy up to Rs 2.35 lakh on the approved home loan for one more year.

Nonetheless, if you have not yet taken possession of your property, you have to wait for some time because of construction lags. And if you’re looking to purchase a home, you might be better off with a developed property as compared to one that is under construction. Further, you could get better offers because the latest developments can drive property rates to go down shortly – many experts and property managers say so.

However, if you’re equipped to take some risks (including delayed completion or other market-linked ones), then you can consider investing in under-construction projects. Only be on the safer side by checking the builder’s record, credentials, financial holdings, RERA property registration, and bank partnerships before finalizing your plans.

So, how should you move ahead?

Keep in mind that the Covid-19 crisis will lead to property registration delays and other clearances. More so, since people are losing income sources, they may not be able to pay EMIs.

Simultaneously, the post-Covid-19 era will witness a fall in property prices because of low loan interest rates. Thus, prospective homebuyers should consider all related aspects thoroughly and take practical decisions.

Finally, if you’ve purchased a property recently or intend doing so after easing of lockdown norms, you may not want to delay purchasing a home-loan insurance policy or term insurance policy – so, you’re well covered. Talk to your property management company, real estate advisor, or financial planner for they can help to draw viable strategies.

LuXia can help you!

We are a property management company in Delhi NCR catering to the end-to-end property needs of home owners who have their property in India. If you are stuck with your property possession, or property registration, or rental property management, or interior designing, our property management services can help you.

contact@theluxia.com |   +91 9810505543

 

How the Covid-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to the Real Estate Sector

Mike Tyson, the renowned boxer, had once commented that “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face”. The same rule applies to the real estate sector, including the residential property management industry.

Now, any property management services company will vouch that the real estate sector was hit by three tsunamis. These include demonetization and legislations including the Real Estate Regulation Act and the Goods and Services Tax. As a consequence, the industry became weaker, which was contrary to the noxious highs that were seen during the previous years.

Before the onset of the Covid-19 epidemic, the realty sector was struggling with several issues. Inventory outcropping, various issues of customer resistance, and uncompleted projects throughout the country – all are included in this list.

Not only was the industry grappling from tons of surplus inventory and moderate demand and falling sales and dispirited investors, but also puny balance sheets of several developers, some of whom have vanished. In turn, nobody was availing rental property management services too.

Additionally, the crashing of DHFL and IL&FS piled on to the real industry crisis. As a result, the NRI property management companies also took a hit.

The developers were backed by high-end octane-driven debt financing, which many NBFCs were depending on for the money inflow for refinancing projects. With the collapse of the NBFCs, the party was over.

Also, liquidity was most sought after, resulting in NBFCs scrambling for funds to reduce their troubles.

Several financial institutions were into short-term borrowing and long-term lending, particularly on illiquid realty assets, several of which did not start. Consequently, the NBFCs were facing a huge asset-liability disparity.

The records were suggesting a distraint property market.

Going by the recent reports, real estate developers in seven main Indian cities had unsold stock touching around Rs 3.7 trillion. Further, over 60000 houses were not bought. Consequently, the rental management companies were recording dwindling revenues.

Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, workers are also leaving the construction sites and heading home due to the uncertainty that plagues the world over.

Deepak Parekh had also pleaded the Reserve Bank of India and other related stakeholders for a one-time loan restructuring plan for revising the non-performing assets recognition regulations to 180 days rather than the prevalent 90 days.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic has presented an opportunity for numerous special situation realty-based funds. They can play the role of catalysts for giving the requisite liquidity boost and stimulus to the real estate sector. Plus, the property management companies in India stand to benefit.

Such special situation funds (SSFs) require restructuring holistically to include the big-bracket private equity funds, especially the ones that have been investing in commercial properties with big corporate developers, who can contribute to executing and marketing projects while keeping their expertise in mind.

With the sponsored vehicles getting the backing of large foreign PE shops and big developers, they can obtain substantial projects that are blocked due to liquidity issues and lack of other resources.

Due to the comparatively low valuations of unsold inventory, the specialized vehicles can adopt stressed projects at discounted rates, which can create sufficient incentives for the economic structures.

For example, large-sized private equity companies (like Brookfield and Blackstone) can team up with renowned real estate giants (such as Oberoi Constructions and Godrej Properties).

The combination of both partners can lead to buying out the current distressed developers’ projects and complete them by providing the requisite funds, with the needed expertise brought in by the development partners.

By doing so, customer confidence can be restored, with assurances of timely delivery. Moreover, prospective customers avail home loans from banks. Keeping in mind the renowned brands associated with the project and assured financing, the banks will be comfortable giving loans too.

Besides, with the finance ministry announcing the suo moto extension to all real estate project timelines by six months, the SSFs have greater incentive and more time to evaluate all uncompleted projects.

These special vehicles can help in reducing the troubles of the large-sized projects that remain stuck around the country.

With the real estate market witnessing an upswing, people who invest in property and live elsewhere can avail the advantages of property management services as well.

A prominent property management company in Delhi NCR can help you to get tenants if buying an investment property too.

Looking Forward to the progressive Real Estate Market

We must not forget that the construction sector stands only second to agriculture with respect to recruiting employees. And by extending the required support, the real estate industry can start booming once again while reducing the unemployment levels. In the process, the country will benefit at large.