Slowdown Hit Indian Retail Sector can Witness Growth in 2011: Fitch

After going through a downturn, the Indian retail sector is likely to show positive results this year with several firms witnessing buoyant sales, improved capital management and stable margins, according to ratings agency Fitch. “Retailers in the country are likely to benefit from buoyant sales, improved working capital management and stable margins,” Fitch India said in its report ‘2011 Outlook: Indian Retail’. The retail sector had suffered massively during the 2008-09 downturn with many firms closing stores and holding back on expansion.

The report said the total debt is expected to increase in most cases to fund growing capex requirements as companies focus on cementing their market share and retail footprint. “However, debt levels are likely to be supported by higher operating profits and consequently leverage levels should remain stable and are likely to improve,” it said.
The agency also said it expects liquidity to remain comfortable, led by efficient working capital management.

“Improvements are expected from better inventory management and lower lease deposit levels,” it added. Besides, retail firms are likely to witness stable operating margins this year, depending on each company’s choice on product category. “This, in addition to economies of scale, private label sales mix and discounts from suppliers will help strengthen margins,” the agency said. The report also said small retailers and new entrants are likely to go more aggressive this year, while large players are also likely to face lesser risk in executing their expansion plans.

“Given the size and scale achieved by larger retailers such as PRIL and Shopper’s, their capex execution risk has reduced considerably in line with their reduced pace of expansion,” the report said.
For more info- http://www.indianrealtynews.com/real-estate-india/slowdown-hit-indian-retail-sector-can-witness-growth-in-2011-fitch.html

7 Steps to Get a Real Estate License

The details of how you get a real estate license is different in every state but here's a walk through list that can be catered to where you live:

For starters, to get a license you will need to fulfill a prerequisite number of hours of education. The state that you are specifically applying for this from has a commission that determines the number of required hours so this number will vary. In my state of WV it is 90, yours could be 60, etc? To fulfill these required hours of education you can't just get a book and simply study for the upcoming testing date. You have to get your required hours of education from a source that also has been approved by the state that you are trying to get your real estate license for. Be sure to check your localities commission for providers they have approved. To pound on this point a little more; When looking for an online class or in class provider make sure they are approved in your state to offer the education you are looking to pay for. State law will always govern getting a real estate license in the United States and the Internet clearly is a worldwide market. That in mind, don't just buy a class from some school in Florida if you want to test in West Virginia and you haven't checked out where that education can be applied. Same rule applies in every state. Check out whom you are getting your pre real estate license education from carefully. As a general rule of thumb I'd stay local to where you are getting your real estate license simply for the fact the test you will eventually be taking is made and proctored by that states officials. Don't necessarily think global when dealing with step 1.

After you have fulfilled your states regulated hours of pre license education from an approved school it is time for step #2! To submit an application to your states commission and request that you be issued a real estate license. The application is laid out like a job application and wants to know some basic info about you. In West Virginia you can get the applications here. If you are not in West Virginia simply Google your localities commission and they should have their application posted. After your commission approves your application they will send you a letter assigning you a seat for the state specific exam. This is what you have been prepping for during those grueling prerequisite hours of class! The state exam here consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. You need to get at least a 75% on this test to pass. After passing the test expect a letter in the mail that congratulates you and allows your future employing broker to hold your new, crisp, black and white, real estate license.

In a nutshell

#1 Find an approved class offering "pre sales license" education for your particular state.

#2 Pass that class! (the length of this class is determined by state law and varies)

#3 Fill out your states license application and get it back to them. (When in doubt, ask the school you are taking the class from)

#4 After the commission see's you have fulfilled your pre real estate license class and completed their app they will send you a reservation for the state exam.

#5 Pass their exam!

#6 You now will hold a real estate license and will need to find a broker in your area to work under.

#7 Pat yourself on the back. This process can take at least a month and require a whole brain load of real estate facts you might never see again in real life practice.

Arthur Zwiener is the director of Technology for the Morgantown Board of REALTORS. He also teaches for Spruce School of Real Estate in West Virginia.
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