Urbanization rate is on the increase – and while there had been a few setbacks over the past few years, the Indian luxury retail market is firmly back now. The economy once again supports the rationale for spending on luxury goods, and it will continue to do so.
The time of the year has come when everyone is dreaming about the Finance Minister’s briefcase. Though real estate is ready with its list of expectations, experts believe that this year it would be good to expect much from the government owing to the kind of fiscal deficit government is going through. Expectations are high because of the increase in home loan interest rates, which have hampered the affordability of the buyer.
If you are living as a tenant in Mumbai and seeking to buy a house this year, there seem to be quite a few confusions going around. While some of the reports and projected forecasts may give you a ray of hope, it would rather mislead you and your wait for a cheaper home may actually cost you to pay more in future.
Abu Dhabi is hosting a new India property show that will bring over 100 projects from across India for the Capital-based Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), according to its organiser Future Exhibitions and Promotions (FEP). The inaugural ‘India Property 2011’ is scheduled to be held from today, February 11-12, 2011 in Abu Dhabi that will showcase affordable and hi-end luxury properties with competitive prices in the market starting from Rs1 million to Rs10 million.
Which is beneficial, buying a property or staying on rent? In the absence of a robust and reliable tool, these decisions were traditionally taken with gut feel or with the guidance of a close relative / friend, leaving scope for error. The real estate website Makaan.com has now launched India’s first Buy vs. Rent Index.
US billionaire real estate developer Donald Trump is finally making a serious move to transform the skyline of India’s financial capital, Mumbai. Trump is now planning to develop a super luxury 60-storey tall “condo” in south Mumbai. The Trump Tower is expected to be launched next month and is believed to have 45 flats across 60 floors, most of which will have one flat for every floor.
Real estate developers have called for focussed support in the Budget for the first-time home buyer and measures to augment supply of housing for affordable and low income groups. Industry representatives have also called for a simplification of systems and tax reliefs as a step to bringing down costs and catalyse developments.
The Confederation of Real Developers Association of India has said the Government could consider a scheme along the lines of the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit allowed in the US with the benefits going directly to the consumer.
I would say I am relatively dissatisfied with the focus of budget on realty sector in the last ten years. Our expectations have never been fulfilled and I now demand investments in infrastructure sector should be set as a priority, as good infrastructure is very necessary for the economic growth of the country.
The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to put in place an escrow mechanism that can ring fence their loans to real estate firms and keep a closer tab on the end use of funds. The RBI has been looking to tighten the lending norms for the real estate sector after last year’s bribery-for-loan scam. The scandal also exposed several unethical practices, such as diversion of funds.