Saturday, 2 March 2013

MMRDA plans Rs 400 crore, 2-km-long sea link in Raigad


Raigad will be the second district in the state, after Mumbai, to have a sea link; the road, passing over Rewas creek will connect Rewas with Karanja, reducing travel time drastically


If everything goes as per the plan, Raigad will soon become the second district in the state, after Mumbai, to get a sea link that will connect Rewas with Karanja, as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has made a provision of Rs 400 crore for the project in its budget.
Bandra Worli Sea Link
Bandra-Worli Sea Link was the first structure in the state and was thrown open for public use on June 30, 2009. File pic
The development body believes that the project will not only help in the development of various regions in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), but will also solve commuting woes.
An MMRDA official confirmed, “For the past several years, residents of Raigad have been demanding a bridge across Rewas creek, which will solve their commuting woes. In order to solve the issue, we will be constructing a two-km-long bridge over the creek, connecting Rewas with Karanja, at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore.” At present, a commuter wanting to go to Rewas is forced to travel 70 km via road to reach Karanja, which takes over two hours.
Though ferry services are operational between the two locations, reducing the travel time to just 15 minutes, operating them during monsoon becomes almost impossible. This eventually forces commuters to take the longer route. With a sea link connecting Rewas with Karanja and a 3-km-long approach road to the sea link at both ends, not only the locals but even the tourists wanting to visit these places would be benefited as the sea link would cut down their travelling time drastically.
The primary reason why the MMRDA decided to initiate this project was because of the interest shown by CM Prithviraj Chavan, who is also MMRDA chairperson. He instructed the authorities to study the proposal thoroughly. Once the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) connecting Sewri with Nhava Sheva in Raigad is operational, the Rewas-Karanja Sea Link would aid tourists travelling to Alibaug and Murud.
Officials said that once the construction work commences, it would take about three to four years for completion. Besides, the project would require a clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) as it is bound to pass over Rewas creek.
MMR projects in the pipeline
Kalyan Ring Road: The MMRDA plans to build a 29.7-km-long ring road in Kalyan that would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 312.11 crore. A flyover at Katainaka Junction and two ROBs across Diva-Vasai Railway track in Bhopar village would be a part of the project. The MMRDA wants to take on this project because of the present MMR network around Kalyan city.
Bhiwandi Bypass Road: By spending Rs 120 crore, the MMRDA would be constructing a 12-km-long Bhiwandi Bypass Road. The road will start at Anjur Phata (south end of Bhiwandi) on Thane-Bhiwandi-Wada Road and running along the periphery of Bhiwandi city, the bypass road would meet outside the corporation’s limit. The road was planned to ease traffic problems in Bhiwandi city. The project was recommended in the Comprehensive Transportation Study (CTS) of the MMRDA.

Source : MID DAY

Faridabad witnesses fast paced realty development


With futuristic growth opportunities, improving infrastructure, and good transportation facilities, Faridabad has emerged as a playground for some of the most distinguished and prominent real estate developers, against stiff competition from neighboring realty hot spots like Gurgaon and Noida-Greater Noida.
Developers like BPTP, Puri Construction, KLJ Town Planners, RPS, SRS, Omaxe, etc, have launched housing projects here with some even in the process of delivering the units. Other realty majors like Assotech Ltd, Gardenia Group, and TDI are also planning to come up with integrated township projects here.
Why invest in Faridabad
An old industrial township, Faridabad continues to attract an increasing number of large- and medium-scale real estate developers and promoters.
The growth rate of population here has been very rapid during the last three decades; the NCR Regional Plan estimates that the city is likely to have a population of 21.3 lakh by 2021. Keeping this in mind, the town and country planning department of Haryana has prepared a 20-year development plan for the entire city, even as Huda acquires land for the developing sectors in Faridabad.
All this translates into a great opportunity for developers and builders to bring modern residential projects with all the lifestyle amenities to this place, as the demand for such products is gaining ground here.
Apart from all this, the forthcoming 1,483km-long Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), a mega infrastructure project of the central government in collaboration with Japan, coming up in the vicinity, an industrial model township (IMT) over 1,750 acres and the developing area of Neharpar in Faridabad have all thrown up unprecedented opportunity for the realty sector to develop residential, commercial, institutional and entertainment projects in the area.
Infrastructural development
On the connectivity front, Reliance Infrastructure bagged a 66km-road project on a high-density traffic zone. It involves fourlaning of Gurgaon-Faridabad Road and improvement of Ballabgarh-Sohna Road on Build-Operate-Transfer basis.
The 165km-long Yamuna Expressway stretch of NH-2 (Faridabad to Agra) is also going to be widened. Reliance Infrastructure will execute this project, too, under DBFOT (Design, Build, Operate, Finance and Transfer) for widening the stretch from four to six lanes under NHDP Phase V. The cost of the project is Rs 2,945 crore.
Widening of NH-2 (Delhi-Agra Highway) is a part of the central government’s golden quadrilateral project. It connects major cities like Delhi, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Palwal, Kosi Kalan, Mathura and Agra. NH-2 is well connected with west,north and south Delhi and states like Haryana, Punjab Chandigarh, Himachal, and J&K.
The Delhi Agra Toll Road Pvt Ltd (DATRL ) road starts from Badarpur Border and ends before Yamuna bridge in Agra city. The 180km-long stretch covers Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Commuters traveling between IGI Airport, Delhi and Agra can now take a new and convenient route via the 25km Gurgaon-Faridabad road. This route to Agra via Gurgaon would be cost effective, as the total toll for a car would cost Rs 196, compared to Rs 347 that is paid if one is travelling via the Noida toll bridge and the access-controlled Yamuna Expressway.
NH-2 is considered the most convenient route to take while travelling to places like Delhi, Mathura and Agra, for the international tourists. It touches cities and major towns like Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Palwal, Hodal, Kosi, Vrindavan, Mathura, and Agra. The stretch covers tourist spots like Surajkund, Badkhal Lake,J agmohan temple, Shivling temple at Hodal, Banke Bihari temple, Radha-Krishna temple, Radha Kund, Kokilvalam Dham, Shani temple and ISKON temple.
Sudhir R Hoshing, the CEO of Reliance Infrastructure Limited, says: “Delhi-Agra stretch connects industrial centres like the Gurgaon IT hub, Faridabad, Mathura Refinery Plant, etc. The work for this project involves construction of new structures and renovation of existing ones. This includes 16 flyovers, two overpasses, 14 vehicular underpasses, eight bridges on service road, and 10 pedestrian underpasses. At present, there will be two toll plazas on the DA stretch; one at Palwal and other at Mathura. The traffic on this corridor will be nearly 20,000 vehicles per day. The traffic density is expected to double in the next eight years. Apart from toll collection, these toll plazas will also act as response centres during emergencies like accidents.”
Metro link
The Metro network is expected to be extended to Faridabad soon, with feeder and interlinking services with the Regional Rail Transit System.
Local connectivity
Badarpur flyover has put an end to the congestion at the Badarpur border and is offering a hassle-free journey to Faridabad; with corporates heading to Faridabad, given the high rates in Delhi, this flyover will be a boon for office goers.
Earlier, the traffic load on this stretch was more than 70-80 thousands vehicles a day and the existing infrastructure was incapable of handling such a huge volume. As a result, the stretch faced frequent traffic jams. The 4.4km-long elevated six-lane Badarpur flyover, which connects Delhi to Sector 37 in Faridabad, has now put all those issues behind.
Realty scene
Neharpar area is developing as new realty hub of Faridabad. The area is spread in different sectors including Sectors 75, 76, 81, 82, 85 adjoining the Neharpar and near posh Sectors 14 and 15. It is expected to be the preferred site for people coming from different pockets of Faridabad and Delhi.
A number of developers like BPTP, Omaxe, SRS, Puri Construction, Universal Group, ORS Infrastructures, Iris Abode Pvt Ltd, and RPS have come up with mega projects here.
BPTP has nearly 2,000 acres of land bank here. The firm is already in the process of delivering its project like Park Floors, Park Grandeura, Princess Park, The Resort and Park Elite Floors in Faridabad.
Sandeep Bedi, the director (strategy and systems) of BPTP, says: “We have already fulfilled the promise of delivering 80% units sold up to 2009. Our company will have the distinction of delivering 6,976 units of residential and commercial property so far.”
Puri Construction’s Puri Pranayam in Sectors 82-85, KLJ Town Planners’ KLJ Espana, KLJ Greens and La Vista in Sector 77, Era Redwood Residency in Sector 78, SRS Group’s SRS Residency in Sector 88 and SRS Royal Hills in Sector 87, RPS Group’s Savana in Sector 88, Omaxe Group’s Omaxe Spa Village and Omaxe New Heights in Sector 86, SPR Buildtech Ltd’s Imperial Estate in Sector 82, Umang Realtech’s Summer Palm in Sector 86, Universal Group’s Universal Greens and Iris Abode Pvt Ltd’s Golden Tulip in Sector 63, etc, offer premium homes, villas and independent floors with facilities like shopping centres, recreational clubs, jogging tracks, kid’s parks, walking tracks, etc.
Source: Times Property, The Times of India, Delhi/ NCRWith futuristic growth opportunities, improving infrastructure, and good transportation facilities, Faridabad has emerged as a playground for some of the most distinguished and prominent real estate developers, against stiff competition from neighboring realty hot spots like Gurgaon and Noida-Greater Noida.
Developers like BPTP, Puri Construction, KLJ Town Planners, RPS, SRS, Omaxe, etc, have launched housing projects here with some even in the process of delivering the units. Other realty majors like Assotech Ltd, Gardenia Group, and TDI are also planning to come up with integrated township projects here.
Why invest in Faridabad
An old industrial township, Faridabad continues to attract an increasing number of large- and medium-scale real estate developers and promoters.
The growth rate of population here has been very rapid during the last three decades; the NCR Regional Plan estimates that the city is likely to have a population of 21.3 lakh by 2021. Keeping this in mind, the town and country planning department of Haryana has prepared a 20-year development plan for the entire city, even as Huda acquires land for the developing sectors in Faridabad.
All this translates into a great opportunity for developers and builders to bring modern residential projects with all the lifestyle amenities to this place, as the demand for such products is gaining ground here.
Apart from all this, the forthcoming 1,483km-long Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), a mega infrastructure project of the central government in collaboration with Japan, coming up in the vicinity, an industrial model township (IMT) over 1,750 acres and the developing area of Neharpar in Faridabad have all thrown up unprecedented opportunity for the realty sector to develop residential, commercial, institutional and entertainment projects in the area.
Infrastructural development
On the connectivity front, Reliance Infrastructure bagged a 66km-road project on a high-density traffic zone. It involves fourlaning of Gurgaon-Faridabad Road and improvement of Ballabgarh-Sohna Road on Build-Operate-Transfer basis.
The 165km-long Yamuna Expressway stretch of NH-2 (Faridabad to Agra) is also going to be widened. Reliance Infrastructure will execute this project, too, under DBFOT (Design, Build, Operate, Finance and Transfer) for widening the stretch from four to six lanes under NHDP Phase V. The cost of the project is Rs 2,945 crore.
Widening of NH-2 (Delhi-Agra Highway) is a part of the central government’s golden quadrilateral project. It connects major cities like Delhi, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Palwal, Kosi Kalan, Mathura and Agra. NH-2 is well connected with west,north and south Delhi and states like Haryana, Punjab Chandigarh, Himachal, and J&K.
Faridabad witnesses fast paced realty developmentThe Delhi Agra Toll Road Pvt Ltd (DATRL ) road starts from Badarpur Border and ends before Yamuna bridge in Agra city. The 180km-long stretch covers Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Commuters traveling between IGI Airport, Delhi and Agra can now take a new and convenient route via the 25km Gurgaon-Faridabad road. This route to Agra via Gurgaon would be cost effective, as the total toll for a car would cost Rs 196, compared to Rs 347 that is paid if one is travelling via the Noida toll bridge and the access-controlled Yamuna Expressway.
NH-2 is considered the most convenient route to take while travelling to places like Delhi, Mathura and Agra, for the international tourists. It touches cities and major towns like Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Palwal, Hodal, Kosi, Vrindavan, Mathura, and Agra. The stretch covers tourist spots like Surajkund, Badkhal Lake,J agmohan temple, Shivling temple at Hodal, Banke Bihari temple, Radha-Krishna temple, Radha Kund, Kokilvalam Dham, Shani temple and ISKON temple.
Sudhir R Hoshing, the CEO of Reliance Infrastructure Limited, says: “Delhi-Agra stretch connects industrial centres like the Gurgaon IT hub, Faridabad, Mathura Refinery Plant, etc. The work for this project involves construction of new structures and renovation of existing ones. This includes 16 flyovers, two overpasses, 14 vehicular underpasses, eight bridges on service road, and 10 pedestrian underpasses. At present, there will be two toll plazas on the DA stretch; one at Palwal and other at Mathura. The traffic on this corridor will be nearly 20,000 vehicles per day. The traffic density is expected to double in the next eight years. Apart from toll collection, these toll plazas will also act as response centres during emergencies like accidents.”
Metro link
The Metro network is expected to be extended to Faridabad soon, with feeder and interlinking services with the Regional Rail Transit System.
Local connectivity
Badarpur flyover has put an end to the congestion at the Badarpur border and is offering a hassle-free journey to Faridabad; with corporates heading to Faridabad, given the high rates in Delhi, this flyover will be a boon for office goers.
Earlier, the traffic load on this stretch was more than 70-80 thousands vehicles a day and the existing infrastructure was incapable of handling such a huge volume. As a result, the stretch faced frequent traffic jams. The 4.4km-long elevated six-lane Badarpur flyover, which connects Delhi to Sector 37 in Faridabad, has now put all those issues behind.
Realty scene
Neharpar area is developing as new realty hub of Faridabad. The area is spread in different sectors including Sectors 75, 76, 81, 82, 85 adjoining the Neharpar and near posh Sectors 14 and 15. It is expected to be the preferred site for people coming from different pockets of Faridabad and Delhi.
A number of developers like BPTP, Omaxe, SRS, Puri Construction, Universal Group, ORS Infrastructures, Iris Abode Pvt Ltd, and RPS have come up with mega projects here.
BPTP has nearly 2,000 acres of land bank here. The firm is already in the process of delivering its project like Park Floors, Park Grandeura, Princess Park, The Resort and Park Elite Floors in Faridabad.
Sandeep Bedi, the director (strategy and systems) of BPTP, says: “We have already fulfilled the promise of delivering 80% units sold up to 2009. Our company will have the distinction of delivering 6,976 units of residential and commercial property so far.”
Puri Construction’s Puri Pranayam in Sectors 82-85, KLJ Town Planners’ KLJ Espana, KLJ Greens and La Vista in Sector 77, Era Redwood Residency in Sector 78, SRS Group’s SRS Residency in Sector 88 and SRS Royal Hills in Sector 87, RPS Group’s Savana in Sector 88, Omaxe Group’s Omaxe Spa Village and Omaxe New Heights in Sector 86, SPR Buildtech Ltd’s Imperial Estate in Sector 82, Umang Realtech’s Summer Palm in Sector 86, Universal Group’s Universal Greens and Iris Abode Pvt Ltd’s Golden Tulip in Sector 63, etc, offer premium homes, villas and independent floors with facilities like shopping centres, recreational clubs, jogging tracks, kid’s parks, walking tracks, etc.
Source: Times Property, The Times of India, Delhi/ NCR

Housing Finance market closed till 1st April 2013


Union BUdget had inserted a new section 80EE under which a home loan borrower is eligible to get additional Rs.1,00,000/- deduction over and above current limit of Rs.1,50,000/- under section 24. But there are conditions. One of them is the loan has to be sanctioned (mind you it is not disbursement) on or after 1st April 2013 and till 31st March 2014.

Home loan borrowers have stopped taking sanctions and all those who have applied for housing finance have requested bankers to give sanction letters only after 1st April 2013. Which means the funds will be late by one more month to real estate by home loan borrowers and purchasers.

Those who have recently been sanctioned are now going in for fresh sanction and will re-apply in month of late March so that they get the sanction letter after 1st April 2013 to availe additional benefit of Rs.1,00,000/- deduction.

All the 20:80 scheme will severely hit since pre-requisites of the scheme is to have sanction letter before giving 20% of the own part as booking amount.

The Finance Bill 2013-14 proposes additional tax benefit to the first – home buyer who takes a loan for an amount not exceeding Rs.25 lakh. Presenting the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha today, the Finance Minister Shri P.Chidambaram proposed that a person taking a loan for his first home from a bank or a housing finance corporation upto Rs.25 lakh during the period 1.4.2013 to 31.3.2014 will be entitled to an additional deduction of interest of Rs.1 lakh.

The Finance Minister hoped that this will promote home-ownership and give a filip to a number of industries like steel, cement, brick, wood, glass etc besides jobs to thousands of construction workers.

This deduction will be over and above the deduction of Rs.1.50 lakh allowed for self-occupied properties under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act. If the limit is not exhausted, the balance may be claimed in AY 2015-16.

Source : Accommodation Times News Services

1% TDS to curb black money in Real Estate Transactions


Before announcing the 1% TDS on all transactions value above Rs.50 lakh, Finance Minister had said that ” Transactions in immovable properties are usually undervalued and underreported. One-half of the transactions do not carry the PAN of the parties concerned. With a view to improve the reporting of such transactions and the taxation of capital gains, I propose to apply TDS at the rate of one percent on the value of the transfer of immovable property where the consideration exceeds `50 lakhs.”

The black money issue is haunting the government and it seems that government is serious in curbing black money transaction in real estate deals. Last year the provisions were to be made applicable from October 2012 but was taken back.

A big procedural work is on the buyer who has to deduct the TDS and get TAN number , make returns and file and pay the TDS to government treasury. This is also applicable to TDR and second sale. Registrar cannot deny registration without the proof of payment of TDS.

The Finance Bill 2013-14 proposes levy of TDS at the rate of 1 percent on the value of the transfer of immovable property where the consideration exceeds Rs.50 lakh. However, agricultural land will be exempt. Presenting the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha today, the Finance Minister Shri P.Chidambaram said that transactions in immovable properties are usually undervalued and under-reported. One half of the transactions do not carry the PAN of the parties concerned. The Finance Minister said that the proposal to apply TDS was aimed at improving the reporting of such transactions and the taxation of capital gains.

Source :  Accommodation Times News Services

Seven New Cities Planned on Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor(DMIC)

A Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor Being Planned

Seven New Cities Planned on Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor(DMIC)
A Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor Being Planned
The Finance Minister, Shri P Chidambaram in his Budget speech in Lok Sabha today said that the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project has made rapid progress. Plans for seven new cities have been finalized and work on two new smart industrial cities at Dholera, Gujarat and Shendra Bidkin, Maharashtra will start during 2013-14. We acknowledge the support of the Government of Japan. In order to dispel any doubt about funding, The Government will provide, if required, additional funds during 2013-14 within the share of the Government of India in the overall outlay for the project.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are currently preparing a comprehensive plan for the Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor. The corridor will be developed in collaboration with the Governments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
The next corridor will be the Bengaluru Mumbai Industrial Corridor on which preparatory work has stared.

Source        :   Accommodation Times News Services

Centre Incentivises Saving for Household Sector


The Finance Minister, Shri P Chidambaram in his Budget speech in Lok Sabha today said that increasing savings and their optimal allocation for productive uses lead to higher economic growth. After touching a high of 36.8 percent in 2007-08, gross domestic saving fell by 6 percentage points in 2011-12. The private sector, comprising households and corporate, remains the contributor to saving. The household sector must be incentivized to save in financial instruments rather than buy gold. Hence, the following measures have been proposed:


Firstly, the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme will be liberalized to enable the first time investor to invest in mutual funds as well as listed shares and one can do so, not in one year alone, but in three successive years. The income limit will be raised from Rs. 10,00,000 to Rs. 12,00,000;

Secondly, a person taking a loan for his first home from a bank or a housing finance corporation upto Rs. 25,00,000 during the period 1.4.2013 to 31.3.2014 will be be entitled to an additional deduction of interest of upto Rs. 100,000. This will promote home ownership and give a fillip to a number of industries like steel, cement, brick, wood, glass etc. besides jobs to thousands of construction workers.

Thirdly, in consultation with RBI, it is proposed to introduce instruments that will protect savings from inflation, especially the savings of the poor and middle classes. These could be Inflation Indexed Bonds or Inflation Indexed National Security Certificates. The structure and tenor of the instruments will be announced in due course


Source :  Accommodation Times News Services

Thursday, 28 February 2013

अवैध निर्माण को नियमित करना गलत

नई दिल्ली। उच्चतम न्यायालय ने शहरों में हो रहे अवैध निर्माणों पर चिंता जताते हुए कहा है कि सरकारी महकमों द्वारा इन्हें नियमित करना "खेदजनक" है। जस्टिस जी एस सिंघवी और एस जे मुखोपाध्याय की खंडपीठ ने मुंबई की एक सहकारी आवास समिति की याचिका खारिज करते हुए कहा कि शहरों के नियोजित विकास के लिए नगर निगमों के कानून लागू करने में सरकारी महकमें "बुरी तरह" विफल रहे हैं। 


जजों ने कहा, "पिछले पांच दशक में सभी छोटे ओर बड़े शहरों में नियोजित विकास से संबंधित नगर निगम के कानूनों का धड़ल्ले से उल्लंघन किया है और जिन व्यक्तियों को मास्टर प्लान को लागू करने की जिम्मेदारी सौंपी गई वे अपने कर्तव्यों का निर्वहन करने में बुरी तरह विफल हुए हैं।" 

न्यायाधीशों ने कहा, "यह बहुत ही खेदजनक है कि क्षेत्र की पारिस्थितिकी और पर्यावरण संरक्षण तथा नागरिकों के अधिकारों की रक्षा के इरादे से यह न्यायालय बार बार संबंधित प्राधिकारियों को मनमाने तरीके से अवैध निर्माणों को नियमित करने के खिलाफ आगाह करता रहा है लेकिन इसके बावजूद यह सब हो रहा है।" 

न्यायालय ने स्वीकृत नक्शे का उल्लंघन करके बनाई गई मंजिलों को नियमित करने के लिए ईशा एकता अपार्टमेन्ट सहकारी आवास समिति की याचिका खारिज करते हुए इसकी अनुमति देने से इनकार करने के निर्णय के लिए मुंबई नगर निगम की तारीफ भी की। जजों ने कहा कि स्वीकृति नक्शे का उल्लंघन करके निर्मित मंजिलों को नियमित करने का अनुरोध अस्वीकार करके डिप्टी चीफ इंजीनियर और अपीली प्राधिकरण ने देश की व्यावसायिक राजधानी का नियोजित विकास सुनिश्चित करने के लिए दृढ़निश्चय का परिचय दिया है। 

Source : Rajasthan Patrika 

Housing prices in Delhi, Mumbai soar the most, shows NHB 'Residex'

Delhi housing price.jpgHousing prices have risen in 18 major cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, by up to 9.6 per cent during October-December period 2012 compared with the previous quarter, according to National Housing Bank (NHB).

Mumbai and Delhi witnessed the maximum increase in housing price at 9.6 per cent each.
Out of 20 cities tracked by NHB 'Residex', prices have dropped in only two cities -- Faridabad and Indore.

"In majority of the cities prices are witnessing upward trend," NHB said in a statement.
"The movement in prices of residential properties has shown increasing trend in 18 cities ranging from 0.6 per cent in Chennai to 9.6 per cent in Delhi & Mumbai, and fall in only two cities namely Indore (-1.0 per cent) and Faridabad (-5.1 per cent) during the quarter October-December 2012 in comparison to the previous quarter July-September 2012," it added.

Prices have shot up by 9.4 per cent each in Kolkata and Patna, followed by Kochi (8.8 per cent), Surat (8.7 per cent), Bengaluru (8.2 per cent) and Lucknow (8 per cent).

Hyderabad saw an appreciation in housing price by 7.1 per cent, while in Ludhiana rates rose by 6.5 per cent, Ahmedabad (6.1 per cent), Guwahati (5.1 per cent), Bhopal (4.9 per cent), Bhubaneshwar and Jaipur (2.4 per cent), Vijayawada (2.2 per cent), Pune (2 per cent) and Chennai (0.6 per cent).

NHB Residex tracks the movement in prices of residential properties on a quarterly basis since 2007. The index for Delhi includes property transactions of Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad.

Source : The Financial Express.

Budget 2013 proposes urban housing fund, luxury homes to cost more

Budget.jpg
Finance Minister P Chidambaram today announced a Rs 2,000 crore urban housing fund, while making luxury homes costlier by cutting abatement on service tax on a flat with a floor area of over 2,000 sq ft, or prices exceeding Rs 1 crore.

The Budget for 2013-14 also proposed to levy a one per cent TDS on immovable properties of above Rs 50 lakh.

Besides, the Finance Minister raised tax deduction limit by Rs 1 lakh for the first time home buyers.

"...it is proposed to start a fund for urban housing to mitigate the huge shortage of houses in urban areas. I propose to ask National Housing Bank to set up the Urban Housing Fund and, in consultation with RBI, I propose to provide Rs 2,000 crore to the Fund in 2013-14," Chidambaram said in his Budgetary speech.

He also proposed to raise the allocation to the Rural Housing Fund to Rs 6,000 crore from Rs 4,000 crore.

On luxury housing, Chidambaram said: "Homes and flats with a carpet area of 2,000 sq ft or more or of a value of Rs 1 crore or more are high-end constructions, where the component of 'service' is greater. Hence, I propose to reduce the rate of abatement for this class of buildings from 75 per cent to 70 per cent."

However, the existing exemptions from service tax for low-cost housing and single residential units will continue.

Chidambaram also imposed one per cent TDS on transfer of immovable properties of values exceeding Rs 50 lakh, but exempted agricultural land.

"Transactions in immovable properties are usually undervalued and underreported. One-half of the transactions do not carry the PAN of the parties concerned.

"With a view to improve the reporting of such transactions and the taxation of capital gains, I propose to apply TDS at the rate of one percent on the value of the transfer of immovable property where the consideration exceeds Rs 50 lakh," he added.

Reacting to the proposals, leading realty consultant Jones Lang Lasalle India said the Budget for 2013-14 is tepid for the real estate sector, but was a moderately encouraging in general.
"The rate of abatement on homes and flats of above 2,000 sq ft or costing Rs 1 crore and above has been reduced from 75 per cent to 70 per cent. Effectively, this translates into an increase in service tax outflow, which means that luxury housing will now become even more expensive," Jones Lang LaSalle India Chairman & Country Head Anuj Puri said.

The setting up of the Urban Housing Fund by the NHB will infuse liquidity for urban housing, thereby boosting demand.

"The TDS of 1 per cent to be charged on the transfer of immovable property is an obvious move to curb speculation and bring about improved reporting and accountability in high-value immovable property transactions," Puri said.

Source  : The.Financial Express.

Realty the way to go for investors in Gurgaon


Sanjeev (name changed) is a big-time investor in the real estate sector in Gurgaon who has so far invested in six residential units in the city. For Sanjeev, the real estate sector reaps faster and better benefits than a bank or other financial schemes.
Gurgaon is increasingly becoming an investor-driven market where people park their money in real estate projects to earn quick dividends. Investors, who can range from second-time home buyers to bigger players, push property prices north despite already high-valued launches by developers. TOI takes a look at this market trend in the city with over 300 residential projects.
According to Sanjeev, “When a project is launched and a unit is costing, say, Rs 1 crore, an investor needs to just pay an upfront amount of say Rs 10 lakh (10% of the total cost). In six months or so, the resale value of that unit increases by Rs 200-300 per square ft. So as an investor, even if I sell the unit at that rate, I end up earning a profit of Rs 6 lakh on an investment of Rs 10 lakh in just a span of 6 months (a profit of 60% in a matter of six months). Then again, by just investing Rs 15 lakh in another new launch one can look at earning a similar profit.”
The longer an investor can hold on, the better the chances of earning profits, explained Sanjeev.
Market watchers believe that in the beginning when a project is launched the appreciation of that property is investor-driven but the latter is due to demand-supply and the end-user drives the appreciation.
The most important aspect is that an end-user will have limited funds in his lifetime to probably make one or maybe two investments in housing projects at the same time. Investors do not have such worries and can put down the booking amount for a larger number of apartments. They are also more amenable to taking risks by being associated with projects which are still in the pre-launch or soft launch phase, feel real estate analysts.
“Investors have access to lots of funds which may be lying unutilized. The investor class comprises mostly businessmen, HNIs, industrialists and other private individuals. Most of the end-users and buyers from the middle class are dependent on bank loans for financing their home price requirements and can only put down the initial 10-20% as the booking amount,” explained Rohan Sharma, senior manager – Research and Real Estate Intelligence Service, Jones Lang LaSalle India.
The price trends of properties over the past one year show that there are two distinct kinds of residential properties. One are the new launches where the price rises are the highest seen on year-on-year basis in the last five years, and second in the ready-to-move properties or properties in an advanced state of construction where there is price stagnation. The inference that can be drawn is that investors looking to flip property after making partial payments are investing more aggressively in the new launches, while the demand from end-users who generally look for properties in an advanced stage of construction or ready properties is cooling.
According to Dr Sanjay Sharma, managing director, QuBREX, in order to attract investors, builders have to keep on increasing the prices.
Added Samir Jasuja, founder and chief executive officer at Prop Equity, a real estate research intelligence firm in the city, “Gurgaon real estate growth story is driven by investors only. On Sohna Road the number of houses sold out last year was less (occupancy was less). While it has slightly risen in the past one year but it is still visible. Price movement is faster within the first 2-3 years of the project launch and usually sees a 40-50% appreciation but after reaching a benchmark it stops.”
Also, there has been a growing interest in the assured return schemes given by under-construction properties where returns of 9 to 12% are offered, say market watchers. Rohan Sharma said, “Some developers are now inserting lock-in clauses in their buyer agreements, which restrict the initial buyer from selling the property on the secondary market for a specified period (which is usually 3-4 years or till physical delivery of the unit has been provided to him). Developers are also more willing to buy back the units from investors at pre-agreed prices to prevent secondary market prices from adversely affecting the primary market. This also keeps the primary market insulated in case the investors look to exiting at lower price points which in turn will impact the ability of the developer to sell his unsold units at the market price.”
Also, a trend by DLF Ltd for its project “New Town Heights” of “one PAN card one booking” is no longer in practice. Most initial bookings are done at widely advertised price rates. The developer thus ensures that a person making the booking also attaches his PAN card during the purchase.
Since investors are larger players, even multiple investments can be easily made by them as they have sufficient liquidity. However, PAN is required in most initial bookings. Even in secondary sales, PAN is required, even though the reported value may be lower than the actual transacted value, explained Sharma.
Source: The Times of India, Delhi/NCR