COVID-19: Housing sales may plunge 81pc in Apr-Jun; new launches to fall 98 pc, report

New Delhi, June 25 () Housing sales are estimated to decline by 81 per cent to 12,740 units during April-June period of this calendar year due to COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, property consultant Anarock said on Thursday.

As many as 68,600 units were sold during April-June 2019 across seven major cities - Delhi-NCR, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata, Anarock said in a report.

New launches may plunge by 98 per cent to only 1,390 units as against nearly 69,000 units in the corresponding period of 2019.

"A massive drop in both new launches and housing sales were, of course, expected on the back of a complete lockdown for most of this quarter," Anarock Property Consultants Chairman Anuj Puri said.

The nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25 to curb the spread of coronavirus disease, bringing the construction as well as sales activities to a grinding halt.

"Technology adoption has played a big role in housing sales of late, with many developers now strengthening their digital sales capabilities," he added.

Housing sales are likely to fall by 83 per cent in Delhi-NCR to 2,100 units in April-June 2020 from 12,640 units during the corresponding period of the previous year, the report states.

In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), sales may drop by 83 per cent to 3,620 units from 21,360 units during the period under review.

Sales in Bengaluru are seen at 2,990 units, a 77 per cent drop from 13,150 units.

Pune can witness a drop of 79 per cent to 2,160 units from 10,490 units, while Hyderabad may see 85 per cent dip to 660 units from 4,430 units.

Sales in Chennai are likely to fall by 84 per cent to 480 units from 2,990 units.

Kolkata, too, is expected to see a 79 per cent dip to 730 units from 3,540 units. MJH SHW SHW