Tag Archives: Vice-president

NRI Market is less volatile.

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For most top property developers in India, the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) is a crucial part of their business.

They know that the NRI will always want a piece of his/her homeland, no matter the price and no matter the time.

Thus, despite the price rise of 43 per cent to as much as 166 per cent in various cities, the NRI cash is still flowing into the Indian property market.

Developers say sales in that segment are not as variable as the domestic Indian market.

Noida-based property developer Amrapali Group’s chairman and managing Anil Kumar Sharma told tabla!

“NRIs wish to have a second home in the country they belong to. Favourable government policies are also a driving force behind the increased interest of NRIs in investing in Indian real estate. NRI investments are the least volatile of all in our industry. They are assured that they are investing in an asset which they can fall back upon.”

Mr Sharma, who is also the vice-president of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India, added that prices are rising because of the expanding infrastructure, which in the long run will help the buyer and increase the value of the property even further.

He said: “Upcoming projects like the metro, monorail and the international projects in the big cities in India have contributed to the inflated real estate prices in these cities.”

Amrapali claims that almost 35 per cent of its overseas business comes from Singapore.

No wonder it will be participating in Sumansa Exhibitions’ Indian Property Show to be held in Suntec City on April 14 and 15.

20% Reservation for EWS will take time, Says Real Estate Industry.

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The real estate industry is at loggerheads with the state government after a directive by the Urban Development Department to private developers that they reserve 20 per cent of plots and tenements for the economically weaker sections (EWS). The move is being opposed not only by individual developers but also by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) who is tagging the proposed policy as unworkable and not contemplated in totality. CREDAI has filed an objection with the Town Planning Department (TPD) arguing that Rajeev Awaas Iona gave thought to all aspects of such housing creation.

“The department is at present hearing people with stake in real-estate industry and have filed objections. The hearing report will be submitted to the government for approval,” said Avinash Patil, deputy director, TPD. The government notice, issued in January, specifies that out of development on plots measuring 2,000 square metre and above, the developers should reserve 20 per cent of the area for the EWS category in the plot size of 30 to 50 square meters. In case the developer is building apartments on the same area, it has been directed that minimum of a 20 per cent of built-up area be reserved in the apartment size of 27.88 to 45 square meters.

The real estate industry feels that implementation of such a policy should only happen after adequate thoughts as the notice can affect the industry adversely. “The notice lacks clarity. In the present form the move will hit us badly,” said Hemant Naiknavare, vice-president, CREDAI, Pune Metro.

Realty sector seeks affordability from the government.

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Real estate businesses have much expectation from the forthcoming Union Budget 2012 that it will contain some pragmatic provisions that will lower effective price barriers for home-seekers.

Vice-president of Credai (Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India) Pune Metro, Anil Pharande, said that on a macro level, a higher allocation of infrastructure funds for housing can be a favourable approach. “The government can set clear guidelines on timely commencement and completion of projects and link disbursement of these funds with adherence to these guidelines.”

Pharande also added that removal of the 10 per cent service tax on residential real estate construction, that increases the cost of new homes by as much as 3 per cent, is critical for a cost-sensitive market like Pune, which has mainly lower mid-income segment.

Real estate developers says, that broader incentives for development of affordable housing are needed, to encourage more developers to become active in this important sector and increase the supply of budget homes in the city as the city continues to face problems including high lending rates and construction costs, insufficient infrastructure and lack of affordable housing.

Even the 1 per cent interest rate subsidy on home loans can also work as a good measure to bring affordability. Also the present eligibility limit of loan amount of Rs 20 lakh should be raised to Rs 30 lakh which will help people think about buying apartments of decent sizes. Reducing taxes such as excise VAT and stamp duty on real estate will also make home purchase attractive, Pharande said.