Market heats up again and companies break sales record until June
Valor Econômico
In the first half of last year, the real estate sector went through one of its best phases. The tranquility, however, was roughly interrupted by the global crisis. One year later and the market is surprised by the overturn: the sales had not only recovered, they greatly overcame a heated period. The popular housing program of the government and the fall in the interest rates delineate a new trajectory for the sector - more evident at the low income segment, but also with significant recovery among the middle and mid-high and in commercial properties.
The forecasts of sales and launchings of the publicly held corporations and the speed of sales of the closed companies point a new vigor to the sector between April and June. MRV, a Minas Gerais company, which has operated in the low income segment for 30 years, had its best performance in its history, which placed it at a new sales level. It is not alone. Closed companies with experience in the low income also achieve good results.
Cury, a joint venture with Cyrela, had made a launching in São Miguel Paulista at an average price of R$ 120 thousand (US$ 62,2 thousand) in February that took 45 days to be sold. Nearly two weeks ago, it launched the second phase, with properties at about R$ 90 thousand (US$ 46,6 thousand), and it sold the 252 units in only ten days. "This is the new rhythm of the market, because of the Government subsidies", affirms Fábio Cury. "We didn't sell more because we did not have approved products", he affirms, adding the expressive growth of the company should take place in the second half, when there will be five launchings.
In spite of the boom in sales compared to last year, the attitude of the companies changed a lot in relation to the first semester of 2008. The companies are more cautious in the launchings - that have grown at a lesser rate than the sales. The sector is more rational in the purchase of land and at the time of placing new products in the market. That means the companies are being able to get rid of their stocks - one of the major problems of the end of last year.
At Even, for example, the sales of stock increased significantly in the second quarter, going from R$ 29 million (US$ 15 million) in April to R$ 83.4 million (US$ 43.2 million) in June. At the end of last year, Cury had R$ 37 million (US$ 20.2 million) in stock and it now has little less then R$ 10 million (US$ 5.2 million). But the recovery is not restricted to the properties aimed at the low income segment. The increase of the ceiling of the SFH (Housing Financial System) from R$ 350 thousand (US$ 181.3 thousand) to R$ 500 thousand (US$ 259.1 thousand), a measure included in the package, has echoed in the sales for the middle class. Of the total of the stocks sold by Even, 82% are of properties of middle, middle-high and high levels.