SEBI in a hurry. Did PMO ask for "status report"?

SEBI today unveiled the guidelines for real estate mutual funds (REMF). For SEBI it’s another feather in the cap. Or is it another job done?

THE FINE PRINT

 Real estate mutual fund schemes can only be close-ended, listed on recognized stock exchanges
 At least 35% investment in ready-to-use projects mandated
 Investment in real estate assets, securities (including mortgage backed securities) capped at 75% of the net assets of a scheme
 Caps to be imposed on investment in a single city, project, securities issued by sponsor or associate companies
 Fund houses need valuation by two valuers every 90 days from date of investment
 Mutual funds cannot transfer real estate assets between schemes
 Have to declare daily NAV

Some doubts still persist.

Does SEBI have the expertise necessary to regulate murky real estate sector? Talk of defective title deeds, dated survey / registry documents, arbitrary valuations, diverse stamp duty assessment norms etc. Investors should do well to approach it with care. I would say “avoid”. It only intends to provide liquidity to developers that have bought land at astronomical prices. Now future cash flow from executed projects depend on affordability of buyers.

.

Then two valuers declaring valuation every 90 days. Is it possible in a RE fund? The underlying prices may not vary in that frequency at all. What could be the benchmarks? Who will supply data given that most deals are done on part cash, part cheque basis? Now wait a minute. Don't we clearly see seeds of subprime mess being sown here? Creating layers and layers of instruments that eventually masked the real borrower to the bondholder. Will there be a housing loan waiver like a farm loan waiver? Hope someone nips it in the bud before investors - that have little or no way to discover the ture value of the underlying - burn their ass.

Inflation recently crossed 7%. Global liquidity crisis is not yet completely off our back. Has PMO sought status report from SEBI to *save* the beleaguered sector? We live in times when ministers put in a “friendly word” to cabinet colleagues to “save” companies in trouble!

.