Affordable Housing

Affordable housing is no small game, this is the space that will need excellent planning and execution skills.  Operating on lower margins would mean any delays can kill the commercial viability of the projects.  This is the space in real estate that will separate the men from the boys.  Think about affordable housing doing the same to real estate companies like the sachet story establishing the road to riches for the consumer / FMCG companies.  Brands/ corporate ethics really matter here.

Some top brands in the affordable housing space include:


Tata Housing              - Tata Value Homes
Mahindra Lifespaces  - Happinest
Puravankara                - Provident Housing
(Launched a 24 acre township at Rajendranagar, Hyderabad near Walmart Best price under the PVNR expressway)
Lodha                         - Casa

Another one is VBHC promoted by Jerry Rao of Mphasis (not sure about the track record)

Drivers -

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - A subsidy of 2.5 lacs provided to first time home buyers
RERA - Only the best companies with brand and financial heft can with stand the strict norms
Limiting Loss against housing to 2 lacs - Reduces demand for housing as an investment. So, the developers need to build most (50%) of the units that fit the bill for 1st time buyers or buyers planning self occupation.