The Center forbids using BS 3 and 4 vehicles in Delhi and forbids non-essential construction activities.

Delhi’s air quality has worsened, and the city is now rated GRAP-3. Consequently, all construction and demolition projects that are not necessary have been prohibited in the capital. Older cars that meet BS3 (petrol) and BS-4 (diesel) regulations are also currently limited. Keep reading to find out how this change affects project deliveries in Delhi NCR. 

The Center forwarded an order on January 14 prohibiting non-essential construction work in Delhi-NCR. Due to rising pollution, the ownership of vehicles classified as BS-111 gasoline and BS-1V diesel has also been put on hold. Continue reading to learn how this rise in pollution will affect the city’s construction sector.  

With values of 458 and 457 at 10 and 11 am, respectively, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) observed a significant increase in Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI), prompting the implementation of this decisive plan. To address the “severe” level of air quality, the commission, a statutory body tasked with developing and implementing strategies for reducing air pollution, has implemented Stage-111 restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which has activated countermeasures for the “severe” air quality. 

What are the stages of GRAP?

The GRAP is a set of procedures used in Delhi-NCR to track air quality. Based on the region’s consistent AQI, it usually falls into four phases. 

The Graded Response Action Plan’s phases

AQIZoneStages of GRAP
201-300PoorStage 1 
301-400Very Poor Stage 2 
401-450SevereStage 3 
451 and aboveSevere plusStage 4 

Millions of people’s health is at risk due to the unsettling smoky haze that blankets Delhi NCR every winter. The air continues to pollute despite efforts with AQI levels regularly exceeding the safe limit. It is important to remember that any AQI value above 60 is considered hazardous to health. 

Particulars of the GRAP 111 restrictions 

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) oversees stage 111 of the GRAP, which includes these strict regulations. There are a few things that do not belong at this point:  

  • Earthmoving tasks such as drilling, boring, filling, and excavation
  • From fabrication to demolition, structural construction tasks
  • Construction material movement, including loading and unloading 
  • A raw material transfer involving fly ash
  • Moving cars on unpaved surfaces 
  • Flooring projects like installing waterlines and sewer
  • Flooring projects utilizing stones, tiles, etc. 

However, projects about railroads, metro, national security, and defense were exempt from the ban. 

What effect might a construction ban have on Delhi NCR real estate? 

In the Delhi NCR, including Greater Noida West, Yamuna Expressway, New Gurgaon, Noida Expressway, Dwarka Expressway, Central Noida, Greater Faridabad, Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad, Sohna Road, and Golf Course Extension Road, more than 4.5 lakh residential units are currently under construction, and the total number of units in these areas is over 4 lakh. 

According to an industry report, residential projects in Delhi NCR typically take 6-8 years to complete, so a construction ban due to air pollution could be a significant setback for ongoing projects. According to experts, prohibiting buildings because of poor air quality could have detrimental effects. 

Delhi should immediately outlaw any non-essential projects.

Delhi, the nation’s capital, has fallen into GRAP-3 as the quality of the air there keeps getting worse. In Delhi, it is currently illegal to perform any non-essential building or demolition work. Will the Delhi NCR region soon be subject to the construction ban? To find out how this change affects the city’s project deliveries, keep reading. 

When smog is visible outside the window, history continues. Even though GRAP went into effect on October 1, 2023, the builders didn’t take any precautions on the construction sites. The authorities in Delhi NCR have prohibited non-essential construction activities due to the growing pollution problem. Continue reading to learn how this rise in pollution will affect the city’s construction sector.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) made grim predictions at a recent meeting of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): unfavorable weather patterns will lead to an increase in pollution levels in Delhi NCR. On November 2, 2023, Delhi’s AQI of 402 was considered “severe” for air quality. 

Not only is the construction industry impacted, but schools are as well. Moving to online learning is now recommended for schools. Additionally, the capital has prohibited the entry of light commercial vehicles and diesel trucks. 

The nation’s capital is now using the Central Government’s GRAP-3 (Graded Response Action Plan) and has activated countermeasures for the category of “severe” air quality. 

What are the stages of GRAP? 

To monitor air pollution levels, Delhi NCR uses a set of procedures called the GRAP. Generally speaking, it consists of four phases based on the region’s consistent AQI.

Stages of the Graded Response Action Plan 

The AQIAreaLevels of GRAP 
201-300Poor Stage 1
301-400Very Poor Stage 2
400-450SevereStage 3
450 and above Severe PlusStage 4

Millions of people’s health is at risk due to the unsettling smoky haze that blankets Delhi NCR every winter. The air continues to pollute despite interventions, with AQI levels regularly exceeding the safe limit. It is important to remember that any AQI value above 60 is considered hazardous to health. 

October 2022 was a comparable month. The area’s AQI average was minimal during the final week of October 2022, but after November 1, 2022, the smog level rose to the “severe” category. On December 4, 2022, however, due to worsening air pollution, the authorities imposed a three-day restriction. Officials emphasized the significance of following dust control regulations even after the ban ended.

Specifies the GRAP-3 limitations 

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has responsibility for Stage 3 of the GRAP, which includes these strict guidelines. At this time, it is illegal to do the following: 

  • Digging, filling, boring, and drilling are examples of earthwork
  • From fabrication to demolition, structural construction tasks
  • Construction material movement, including loading and unloading
  • The raw material shipment that includes fly ash
  • Moving cars on unpaved surfaces
  • Infrastructure projects like installing waterlines and sewers
  • Flooring projects utilizing stones, tiles, etc. 
  • Grinding, painting, waterproofing, etc. 

However, projects of railroads, metro, national security, and defense were exempt from the ban. 

Actions taken to rescue pollution in Delhi 

On November 1, 2023, Environment Minister Gopal Rai declared that the Delhi government had decided to prohibit diesel buses from the NCR States from entering the city. These days, the only buses that are allowed to operate legally are those that comply with BS-VI, run on electricity or run on CNG. 

Government departments in Delhi have instructed their security personnel to get heaters so they will not have to burn fuel wood in the cold winter months. The purpose of this action is to lessen the impact of burning wood on the environment and to provide an alternate source of heat. 

What effect might a construction ban have on Delhi NCR’s reality?

In the Delhi NCR, including Greater Noida West, Yamuna Expressway, New Gurgaon, Noida Expressway, Dwarka Expressway, Central Noida, Greater Faridabad, Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad, Sohna Road, and Golf Course Extension Road, more than 4.5 lakh residential units are currently under construction. And the total number of units in these areas is over 4 lakh. 

According to an industry report, a construction ban due to air pollution could be a severe setback to ongoing projects since residential projects in Delhi NCR typically take 6-8 years to complete. A halt to construction due to poor air quality might have serious consequences. It can delay a project at least three to four months if construction activity is for one month. 

Explore Finest Flats in Delhi for Rent: Renting Made Easy

There are many flats for rent in Delhi, but when looking for your “first apartment,” a few questions arise: which apartment should you choose? Which one best suits my lifestyle? Which flat would be the most accommodating for you?

Choosing how the space will be used and organized is crucial because every flat is alike, and each offers its residents a different experience. Here are many apartment types broken down by size: These suggestions will assist you in selecting your ideal flat for rent in Delhi that will serve as your new residence.

  1. Sharing a flat is contrary to doing so in a room! It is similar to a house where several people live together. The use of shared flats is intended to save money on rent. It also enables a company to be run by a single individual, reducing maintenance. Independent workers who frequently travel without their families want this kind of apartment. 
  2. Most bachelors favor closed-studio apartments, as the most prevalent type, for their privacy and sense of security. This type of Delhi flat for rent can comfortably accommodate two to three people or one significant other. As a result, it is a long-term option for single bachelors seeking freedom and stability. 
  3. Getting an apartment to rent and turning it into an office has become common, if not downright profitable, in the modern world of startups. A shared office is a collaborative work environment where entrepreneurs, consultants, start-ups, and freelancers can work independently, create projects, and projects, and network with coworkers. 

Finding an ideal apartment to rent in Delhi can be challenging at first, but if you concentrate on what you need from this apartment, you will find it easier as you go. Be sure to get consulting from Propertywala. We’re ready to help you find the perfect place to stay.  

Where to move in?

Old Delhi, also known as Purani Dilli, and New Delhi, also known as Nayi Dilli, are the two distinct neighborhoods that make up the capital city. While the congested and winding streets of Old Delhi are well known for their eateries, historical sites, and rich culture, New Delhi offers a fresh alternative. 

Here are a few quick tips if you are wondering where to start looking for a place to stay. 

Locality 

It can be challenging to relocate, especially if you don’t know which neighborhood to choose. Unlike Pune, Delhi offers a wide variety of housing because they are dispersed throughout the city. In most areas of Delhi, there is a high likelihood of pollution and poorer air quality. To ensure your safety, you should purchase an air purifier. 

Try to find a flat, preferably in a gated community or a safe area, closer to your place of employment, even though Delhi has a high cost of living because it is the capital and is close to other states. That will make your commute shorter and cheaper while keeping you safe. 

Amenities 

Take time to walk around and explore the area after choosing a place to stay to get a sense of the neighborhood. If you need anything later, it’s always a good idea to scope out the closest pharmacy or grocery store. Delhi offers all the benefits that come with living in a big city. Make the most of your new city life using apps like BigBasket, Dunzo, and Grofers. 

Delicacies 

Delhi will be a foodie’s paradise if you love to eat! Delhi is like a street food buffet. Delhi’s street food is to die for, with multiple dishes ranging from paranthas at Chandni Chowk to chicken specialties at Purani Dilli, chaats, and spicy momos. Go on, munch away!

Daily commute 

Delhi has an excellent metro system, making getting around the city relatively simple. Delhi’s metro system is reasonably priced and has nearly eliminated the difficulties of using public transportation on the roads. With the metro line expanding each year, there are plenty of options close by if you still need to travel by car. It is easy to locate a DTC bus, an auto rickshaw, or a cycle rickshaw anywhere in the city. 

Before moving in…

Finding an ideal place to live in a new city is harder than adjusting to the work culture of the new workplace. 

Searching for a rental apartment has become a skill a person coming to a new city should learn. So here are a few pointers to keep in mind while searching for a rental accommodation so that you don’t just land a place to crash but rather to live! 

Rent: The most essential factor to consider when looking for housing is the rent. Always consider your income and the expenses related to the rent, such as the water bill and maintenance. 

Water Supply:  Water supply is a serious issue today, particularly in urban areas like Delhi, Bangalore, etc. Landing in a desirable location is useless when there’s no adequate water supply. Water is one of the essential commodities without which we cannot survive; hence, it will do you more harm than good. 

Power backup: Lack of access to WiFi, air conditioning, and other amenities can result from power failure. When your boss tells you to leave because you can’t finish the work from home, it can feel like a curse from your landlord and a nightmare. So make sure you have a reliable backup system. 

Security deposit: An expensive security deposit is a pain. In cities like Bangalore, you must submit a security deposit as large as the rent ten months in advance. So consider this factor and try to negotiate it as much as possible. 

Furnished: High rent, staying in a partially furnished apartment wastes your time and money. Spending a lot of cash on new furniture for your apartments is not a good idea. 

Planning to rent a flat in 

North Delhi 

The National Capital Territory is located in North Delhi, giving it special status as Delhi’s administrative district. The Town Hall, Tis Hazari, and Mutiny Memorial are well-known landmarks in North Delhi, where it has historically been the major tourist destination. North Delhi is home to the Delhi School of Economics and quaint, historic markets like Sadar Bazaar, Khan Market, and the Bazaar. The Delhi School of Economics and charming, old markets like Sadar Bazaar and Khan Market can be found in North Delhi. If you love shopping, there’s something for every budget at Sadar Bazaar. Recommended! Finding a place in Rohini Sector 18/19, GTB Nagar, Model Town, or Kamla Nagar is a deal if you want to relocate here. Because of its level of connectivity and other significant factors, north Delhi also has residential status. 

South Delhi 

Regarding the standard of living in Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal (NDMC) could be the best option, but South Delhi is a close second. Some of Delhi’s best restaurants, nightclubs, and tourist attractions are in South Delhi. South Delhi is the location of all significant properties and housing options, and it is renowned for its quiet neighborhoods and convenient access. Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Lotus Temple, and Hauz Khas are other famous landmarks in this area. 

It’s best to look for a place near Malviya Nagar, Rohini (Sector 24), Lajpat Nahar, or Greater Kailash if you’re looking for a place to settle down in South Delhi. Saket and Malviya Nagar due to its proximity to Gurgaon, major city landmarks, and shopping centers. 

East Delhi 

East Delhi, a significant area of Delhi along the Yamuna River, is now a necessary component of Delhi because it houses its administrative and commercial hubs. One of the most upscale residential areas, shopping centers, and elegant restaurants are all located in East Delhi. 

Preet Vihar in East Delhi is a well-liked neighborhood because of its educational institutions and popular hangout spots. If you want to move to East Delhi, several areas have affordable housing options, including Mayur Vihar, Preet Vihar, New Ashok Nagar, and Laxmi Nagar. Mayur Nagar is a highly recommended neighborhood for families and single people due to its proximity to Noida and other essential parts of the city. 

West Delhi 

West Delhi is another option if you’d like to rent a flat in Delhi. Additional security measures are in place because this area is a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. West Delhi has excellent access to all of Delhi’s districts and a moderate cost of living. 

This is a fantastic choice because it has many amenities like convenience stores and several restaurants. You can find any type of housing that fits your budget in this area because the cost of living is quite reasonable. As a result of its large neighborhood and selection of low-cost housing. Dwarka is a highly recommended location. Depending on your needs, look at the apartments near Janakpuri, Rajouri Garden, or Tagore Garden.

Stamp duty and registration charges in India?

Suppose a buyer and seller get into a sale and purchase of the property. For the sale deed, they must register it in India and pay stamp duty and registration charges.

What is Stamp Duty Refund Process when the Sales Deed is canceled? - Kotak  Bank

Who collects Stamp duty and registration charges in India?  

  1. As per the Indian Stamp Act 1899 the state government collects Stamp Duty and not the central government. It is different in different states. The state government uses it for building the state’s infrastructure.
  2. Stamp Duty varies with the type of housing and the state in which it is located, and it also varies with the gender of the buyer, and senior citizens get a rebate on registration charges.

Benefits of Stamp duty

  1. Registering a stamp duty makes the sale deed a proper legal document and makes it possible to submit the deed to the court as evidence. In case the document is lost, a duplicate copy can be produced. The buyer has to pay stamp duty at the time of registration.
  2. The buyer generally pays Stamp Duty

Stamp duty in Real Estate?  

Stamp duty in Real estate is on Sale deed, Partition Deed, and Lease Deed. If a lease deed is more than 12 months, it must be registered and pay stamp duty, otherwise, generally, lease deeds are for 11 months. Therefore, which means the document of the property is verified by a notary declaring the authenticity of both parties signing the documents.

Delhi Stamp duty

  1. Delhi Stamp Duty charge has been going on since the year 1908, which is a retardation charge.
  2. Like in Delhi, stamp duty is 6% if a property is registered in a Male’s name, 4% if in a female’s name, and 5% if in joint name. This is in case the property value is less than 10 lakh rupees. But if it is more than 10 lakhs rupees, both males and females pay equal stamp duty.
  3. The Registration charge is 1% of the property value.
OwnerStamp Duty
Male6%
Female4%
Joint (Male& Female)5%

How to pay Stamp duty?

The 3 methods to pay a stamp duty are as follows:

Method 1

Non-Judicial stamp paper. If stamp duty is 1 lakh, buy papers worth Rs 1 lakh. You will print the sale deed on stamp paper.

Method 2

Franking method – Print the sale deed on plain paper. Pay stamp duty in a cheque, cash, online, or dd draft. Then bank attests to the sale deed.

Method 3 –

E-Stamping – it will mention all details – generated online – Go to Stock holding corporation of India – www.shcilestamp.com. This will be paid at authorized centers. Collect e-stamp then.

Delhi Government cuts Circle Rate up to 20%- A Boost to Real Estate?

Real estate experts welcomed Delhi Government initiative to cut circle rate by 20%. They expressed their opinions and said the reduced circle rates would translate into a lower real estate valuation.

The Delhi Government has announced that it is reducing the circle rate of properties by 20%. The announcement was made on Friday and this reduction is valid for 6 months. Delhi Government has taken this decision to boost the pandemic hit real estate sector. This new order is valid for all real estate categories including commercial, industrial, and residential properties across Delhi. 

The decision was made during a Delhi government Cabinet meeting chaired by Arvind Kejriwal. However, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced the circle rate reduction on Twitter. 

Tweet by Manish Sisodia– “The Circle rates of commercial, industrial, residential, properties in Delhi reduced by 20% across all categories for next 6 months. This relief will boost up the real estate sector and is a big relief for people willing to buy property in Delhi”.

What is Circle Rate?

Circle rate also known as “Floor price” and “Ready Reckoner Rate”. The circle rate set by the state government’s revenue department. It is the minimum value at which the sale of a flat, plot, commercial property, independent house can occur.

In other words, it is the minimum amount below which no property can be registered in government records. It varies and differs within the cities in the same state. The government may change circle rates from time to time depending on the supply, demand, and growth of the region.

Experts Opinion on Reduced Circle-

Real estate experts and developers welcomed Delhi Government initiative to cut circle rate by 20%. They expressed their opinions and said the reduced circle rates would translate into a lower real estate valuation. This will help the interested buyers who postponed their plans to buy real estate, because of high property prices in Delhi. 

The high circle rates have increased the rates of property beyond the capacity of an affordable buyer. This cut in circle rates will somehow reduce the property price and help peoples willing to buy property in Delhi.

The real estate sector was badly hit by the pandemic and now high raw material cost is creating new problems. However, the real estate industry is reviving and decision of a lower circle rate will be a boost for the sector. It will make properties more affordable and now people can buy their dream property easily. 

Bangalore is costliest Indian city to live in.

Glitzy tech capital Bangalore just earned a new sobriquet, the costliest Indian city. An analysis of the Reserve Bank of India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows that Bangalore is a couple of notches higher than the all-India cost-of-living average, with financial capital Mumbai just a shade behind.

The CPI is a measure of a standard basket of items, including food, clothing and transport, across cities. In the price race, Delhi is comfortably placed very low in the table, deriving its cushion from the subsidies galore it receives from the Centre. Take, for instance, LPG cylinders, which is a must-have in middle-class families.

According to Bharat Petroleum’s latest figures, Bangalore currently pays Rs 415 for a 14.5-kg refill, Kolkata Rs 405, Mumbai Rs 402 (expected to go up after budget), Delhi Rs 399 and Chennai Rs 393.50. Bangalore’s CPI peaks in the national chart at a whopping 200, followed closely by Mumbai at 199, Kolkata 184 and Delhi a distant 181. The national CPI average is 198.

For homemakers like Koramangala resident Aditi Rao, life in Bangalore is becoming tougher with each passing day. “Frequent hikes in the prices of basic items put our home budget out of sync every month,” said Rao, 34.

Budget analyst Ravi Duggal, who has lived in Mumbai and Delhi, observed that the high cost of living in Bangalore has come about as a result of the IT industry. He said there were different reasons for differential living costs among cities, including the aspiration of people. Talking of India’s two leading cities, he said, “Where education is concerned, for instance, Delhi has more public education facilities than Mumbai.”

What makes Mumbai equally expensive? “There are many factors, the chief being high rentals. Over 40% of the salary of an average Mumbaikar goes into paying rent,” pointed out economist Vibhuti Patel of SNDT University.

Affordable Housing, a priority for real estate

With an aim to achieve housing for all by 2020 and thus planning new flats in Delhi/NCR till 2022, finance minister on January 1 had stated that the affordable housing schemes will be given infrastructural status which will be a great deal for builders like Ashiana, Housing, Puravankara. This move will dip the costs for the builders and developers and attract most and more investors.

It would also mean a great hike in demand for loans which would be a step in the forward direction for housing finance companies like Gruh Finance, as well as Repco Home Finance.

“Infrastructure status to the affordable housing segment especially to Noida real estate will mean lower loan costs for the sector and thus aims at the margin issues that private players in this segment face,” said Nidhi Seksaria, Advisory Partner & Leader – Real Estate, BDO India LLP.

“The combined with interest subventions, this could be a big step in making apartments for sale in Noida more affordable,” he said.

Ashiana Housing was already trading 15 percent higher at Rs 163. On the other hand, Puravankara was up by 3 percent. The housing finance companies, Gruh Finance was already up by 1.4 percent while Repco Home Finance was up nearly 2 percent.
To achieve the targets set by the government in the affordable housing sector, the builder tends to increase their number of apartments with a certain decrease in amenities which consequence into lower costs. The competition has increased in the past quarter and thousand of new flats for sale in Noida are being constructed and ready for you to live in.

5 reason you should buy a property in Noida

After the utterly clumsy place of the capital region of India, Delhi and the densely overcrowded place for offices, Gurugram people are quite as well left with a choice of Noida. This is the reason that the residential sector of Noida Real estate is highly increasing since the past two decades. Noida is considered as a cheap and easy city to live in provided its easy connectivity to Delhi, Faridabad, Agra, and Haryana.
Noida has been considered as the most affordable place to live in given the high number of affordable flats here. There are many reasons that add to the fact but if we want to name a few we can easily do so by guiding the basic points.
The first one can be the extremely well maintained and thoughtfully built infrastructure. The infrastructure that has built the city is the basic reason for more and more citizens coming here. The excellent infrastructure makes it capable of being the next best thing in the world. The availability of lands for residential, commercial as well as infrastructural facilities is something that makes it top the list leaving Delhi and Mumbai behind.
Second reason is the reputed faces of developers who are eyeing in this place to make their new launches. Builders like Supertech, Unitech, Ansal, Emaar, MGF and now Godrej has made their new launches in Noida and Greater Noida. These flats suffice all the segments of the society and promise to be affordable with the availability of luxury.
Third and the most important reason that helps people to relax and invest in these lands is new rules against Forgery. New and quick rules have now been applied to the forgery cases of land. Earlier, the land disrupts were handled by the court’s jurisdiction which always tends to stretch such cases to a number of years, but now a sigh of relief has approached when all these cases are being handed over to the stamps jurisdiction.
The fourth best reason would be the easy connectivity of Noida to other regions like Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Agra. The major plus point Noida has is the rapid availability of Metro from Delhi to Noida. Also, the ongoing construction of Metro from Delhi till Greater Noida via Noida will add a golden point to all these and make it more convenient for those who travel till Greater Noida and will also decrease the traffic on roads.
The fifth point is for those who have a property in Noida or are living on rent flats in Noida. The major availability of marketplaces throughout Noida makes it very easy and accessible to live here.

Greater Noida real estate to work more on affordable housing

The Real Estate’s new Union bill spells happiness for Greater Noida homebuyers, as the recently rectified budget will give more powers to those who want to buy plots in Greater Noida and will also keep in mind the concerns of the builders to a major extent. The Real Estate Regulatory Bill directly aims at bringing transparency in the real estate sector. However, the announcements were being planned from a long time but the finance minister made the right time to announce all of it with the Union Budget of 2017. However, after demonetisation, this area has more supply for residential units and less investors but after the affordable housing schemes it is turning out to be the opposite. Most of the housing units sold in Greater Noida now have a lot of takers but have less supply. Therefore, after taking some major steps a mega plan has finally been sorted out to cater affordable housing for all till 2022.
The budget is expected to establish state level regulatory authorities RERAs with whom developers have to register projects above a certain size. If this will not be carried out, the builders will have to pay major fines. The developers will now state all facts like possession dates, construction quality facts public on their websites so as to give clearer picture. The developers will have to focus more and more on the affordable housing. They will now be providing 3bhk flats in the price of 2bhk.
All these new rules are expected to set transparency in greater Noida properties. The Big Impact is that this will prompt homebuyers to purchase property without the fear of being cheated. This will bring in more creditability to investors and the belief to invest in the real estate sector. This will also give a clear legal recourse in case of any dispute or delay in the construction.
This has helped people who were interested in buying in Greater Noida as with this law the problems of the dust made by demonetisation will settle down and more over the development which tends to cater the needs which was stalled for a long time is finally getting its breath back. This is helping the Greater Noida real estate sector to become more transparent and the work has finally resumed and the building which were left unreconstructed the last quarter, are now coming to an end to supply its consumers their dream home.

Mumbai & Delhi; Top The List Of World’s Cheapest Cities

A recent survey reports that Mumbai and Delhi are included among World’s cheapest cities. Mumbai shared the top-spot with Karachi; while Delhi stood third.

According to a survey; recently conducted by Economist Intelligence Unit, top Indian cities Delhi and Mumbai have found place among world’s cheapest cities.

Mumbai tops the list of all least expensive cities of  the world.

Mumbai tops the list of all least expensive cities of the world.

Mumbai and Karachi; the financial capitals of India and Pakistan respectively, topped the list of the cheapest cities of the world. They were followed by the Indian Capital city New Delhi which was ranked third. Algiers, the Capital of Algeria and the Capital of Nepal Kathmandu were the other two world cities included in the top five cheapest cities of the world.

Recently Economist Intelligence Unit conducted a survey among world’s top 131 cities. The survey was based on the cost of living. The cost of living was decided on the prices of over 160 items. The list of the items included the transport-fares, utility service charges, and expenses on food and clothing.

Continue reading

Real Estate Investment: Tier 2 Cities More Profitable

Real estate investors of India prefer to have real estate investment in tier two cities now. These developing cities offer higher returns for the real estate investors.

real estate investment in tier 2 cities

Real estate investment in tier 2 cities is more profitable as it offers higher returns.

The Tier two cities are more preferred by real estate investors now. These cities are noted for their faster development and this is the main factor that attracts the Indian real estate investors to these cities.

Real estate investors’ traditional approach to bigger cities such as Delhi and Mumbai shifts as they remain incapable of delivering higher returns to them. On the other hand tier two cities are emerging as better real estate destinations.

The cities with better job- opportunities are all the more preferred real estate investment destinations. Higher population inflow to the small cities like Pune and Gurgaon prompts the builders to increase the supply.

With the growth of population the commercial needs improve and so does the demand for commercial spaces. These cities better offer chances for business growth as well. All these factors have pushed up the real estate prices as there is an increased demand.

Real estate investment not in developed cities

Developed cities do not support Real estate investment as it offers only lower returns.

Leading real estate consultancy firm Jones Lang LaSalle India (JLL) reported that the cities like Bangalore and Chennai will grow along with the expansion of IT centers in the cities. The real estate consultancy firm highlighted the expansion plan of Wipro.

Wipro has recently disclosed their plan of expansion. The firm plans to expand their existing Bangalore headquarters and campus which at present has the capacity to hold 31,000 people. Another 25 lakh sq. ft. of area will be added to the current Wipro headquarters.

IT expansion is taking place in Hyderabad and Chennai as well. These areas’ growth will be dependent on the IT expansion. JLL India’s CEO Om Ahuja opined that the real estate prices in these cities will be more dynamic than in other cities. He added that trends of real estate supply will be different in these areas.

All these features tell the real estate investors to tap new and emerging markets. They can reap sizeable returns from these cities and so these cities remain hotter places to have real estate investment. In short prime real estate investments in tier 2 cities are easier way to become rich now.

Reliance PMS Launches Real Estate Oriented Fund

Reliance Capital prepares to launch its maiden real estate focused fund of र 1,000 crore by the end of the year 2012. Reliance Capital is owned by Anil Dhirubhai Ambani (ADA) Group. This maiden launch of Reliance Capital in the realty industry will be done under the surveillance of Reliance Portfolio Management Services (PMS). The new fund will aim at constructing residential properties.  The investment will be concentrated in the cities like Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi primarily.  Reliance selected these cities as the real estate markets of these cities are more firm and have an increasing value appreciation.

Government’s Surplus Land Selling Boosts Real Estate

The higher financial stress of the Government makes them think of selling or leasing of the surplus land. This will provide more land for construction in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and other such notable cities of India.The decision will boost the real estate growth. Realty firms are sure to cast their hawk’s eye on this land and make the profit out of it. Continue reading

Delhi: Homes Sells Faster Than Mumbai

Mumbai may be second to Delhi in unsold homes, but it will take longer to sell them. Real estate developers in the financial capital must wait over three years to clear 1.13 lakh units or 120 million sq ft as high prices deter potential buyers, shows a study released by Liases Foras, a real estate rating and research consultant.

The study covers units in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) — including Mumbai city, Thane, Kalyan and Navi Mumbai — National Capital Region in Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. NCR, with 232.57 million square feet or 1.60 lakh units of unsold homes — roughly double Mumbai’s —will likely sell homes much faster, in 23 months.

“The NCR market is primarily an investor market and has very little comparison with Mumbai,” says Om Ahuja, chief executive officer (residential services) at Jones Lang LaSalle India. “The real estate market in areas like Gurgaon or Noida attracts a lot of money from neighbouring states like Punjab, UP and Delhi as people invest in residential properties.” Among the six metros, Pune homes will be sold the fastest, taking just 14 months to sell its 43.06 m sq ft at the current pace of buying. A steep rise in interest rates in the last 18 months was seen as the key reason for low sales as buyers try to avoid high home loan instalments.

The Reserve Bank of India cut key rates by 50 basis points last month, forcing lenders to lower their retail lending rates which could push sales.

 

 

Two Indian Real Estate Deals in Asian Top Ten list.

Two real estate deals in India — the sale of Leela Kempinski Kovalam and Noida’s deal with Wave Mega City Centre – have been ranked among the top ten in their categories across Asia according to a recently published study by Real Capital. Both deals took place in August 2011.

Real Capital tracks and analyses real estate deals worth over $10 million across apartments, hotels, retail, industrial, office and development projects over the world. The Purchase of Leela Kovalam by Saudi Arabia-based industrialist Ravi Pillai, which was pegged at about Rs 500 crore ranked 10th in Asia-list of largest hotel sellers.

Bangalore and Mumbai have been named among the most active Asian markets in the office space.

Delhi was ranked sixth and Mumbai eighth in the most active Asian apartment markets. Tokyo tops the list followed by Singapore, Hong Kong, Osaka and Beijing. While Chennai comes in at eighth position among active hotel markets, India did not rank in the big league when it comes to retail deals.

“India is a top focus for Realty Moghul” says Trump Scion.

Trump’s eponymous real estate group expects to sign multiple deals for Indian residential projects and hotel contracts over the next five years, despite a market riddled by regulatory uncertainty and bureaucratic red tape.

“India, among other emerging markets, is the biggest push for our organisation,” Donald Trump Jr, an executive vice president of The Trump Organization, said on Wednesday.

Trump, whose portfolio includes projects in South Korea and Turkey, in addition to hotels and skyscrapers in the United States, is close to signing a couple of deals with Indian developers, the younger Trump said without providing details.

“Equity investment will depend on individual projects and partnerships but first we would like to form relationships which allow us to understand the processes and spectrum better,” the 34-year-old said on the side-lines of a hotel conference.

The developer entered India last year with a joint venture partnership with Rohan Lifescapes to build a 45-storey luxury residential tower in Mumbai.

However, work on the tower, which will bear the Trump name but involves no equity from the U.S. developer, has been halted for about nine months since authorities said it lacked the necessary permits, a common problem in an industry wrapped in red tape.

Indian developers are often hit by changing regulations. In Mumbai, for example, the scrapping of a rule granting extra floor space in exchange for providing public parking facilities has meant many projects must reapply for clearances.

But Trump, whose father is worth an estimated $2.9 billion, according to Forbes, says the lure of an emerging India outweighs the regulatory headaches.

“The Indian market is starved for a good luxury product and it needs a brand like ours,” he said.

“I like the regulatory changes I am seeing. It may slow things down a bit but will create a level playing field and will help in eliminating the unknown for an outside investor coming in,” he said.

The company plans to focus expansion in the country on luxury residences and hotels, and would look at cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and the state of Goa.

Some local players such as privately held Lodha Developers and Godrej Properties are emerging as strong brands in India’s luxury housing space, but the market remains fragmented.

And despite a slew of interest rate hikes that have cooled India’s overall property market and hit luxury developers particularly hard, Trump is bullish.

 

ICICI Bank and Sahara eye Parsvnath’s prime land in Delhi.

Real estate major Parsvnath Developers may soon be able to reduce a significant chunk of its debt, thanks to certain corporate giants showing interest in buying a prime piece of property it owns in the national capital.

The Sahara Group is engaged in discussions with Parsvnath to buy its commercial land near Connaught Place in New Delhi, according to sources. ICICI Bank is also among the contenders for the piece of land, it is learnt.

The 1.18-acre plot at Kasturba Gandhi Marg was bought by Parsvnath in 2008 for about Rs 200 crore, with the aim of constructing a retail-cum-office complex. But the realtor is now looking to sell it to cut mounting debt, currently at Rs 1,300 crore.

Although the Parsvnath management is looking for a price of Rs 700 crore, the interested parties are ready to sign a deal at Rs 600 crore, sources said. Property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle is advising Parsvnath on the deal.

Pradeep Jain, chairman, Parsvnath Developers, did not respond to repeated calls and e-mails. Mails to Sahara spokespersons did not elicit any response.

An ICICI Bank spokesperson said, “ICICI Bank has no plans to acquire this property.”

According to sources, ICICI is exploring the possibility of constructing a corporate house in the locality in partnership with Parsvnath, without acquiring the land.

Earlier, as part of its fundraising exercise, the company had entered into various deals with private equity funds.

In January 2011, Parsvnath signed an agreement with SUN-Apollo India Real Estate Fund LLC for an investment of Rs 100 crore in its premium residential project at Ghaziabad—Parsvnath Exotica. SUN-Apollo had acquired 49.9 per cent stake in the project SPV.

Then, the company sold a minority stake in Delhi-based residential project Parsvnath La Tropicana to JP Morgan for about Rs 150 crore. Through the deal, the previous investor, Red Fort Capital, made an exit. The company had plans to construct an office complex at Connaught Place along with the PE firm.

According to realty experts, demand for land at prime localities has risen as corporate houses look to move their headquarters to such locations.

Anuj Nangpal, director-investment advisory, DTZ India, a real estate consultancy, said, “Organisations are increasingly signaling their arrival or resurgence by moving their presence into the centre of metros. The branding benefit of such ownership of prime real estate far outweighs the costs. Further, employees are also increasingly assessing their jobs and future basis of their office infrastructure and the pride in occupying prime real estate clearly impacts long-term retention.”

Earlier, Business Standard had reported on the discussions being held by textiles major Alok Industries with various large corporate groups to sell its property at Peninsula Business Park in central Mumbai. Alok was looking at a deal in the range of Rs 900-1,000 crore.

Leela Kovalam, Noida, one of the top high-value sellers in Asia.

The sale of Leela Kempinski Kovalam was among the top 10 hotel deals in Asia during the past one year, shows data from the US-based research firm Real Capital Analytics.

Real Capital, which tracks and analyses real estate deals worth over $10 million across apartments, hotels, retail, industrial, office and development projects over the world, has also named Noida as a top site for sales in the development site category for a deal with the Wave Group for a mega mixed-use project. Mumbai and Bangalore also figure among the active office markets in Asia. In apartments, Delhi and Mumbai are part of the top league in the year ended March 31, 2012.

The Leela Kovalam deal, pegged at about Rs 500 crore, was the 10th in the Asia-list of largest hotel sellers during the one-year period. The Kovalam beach property was sold to Saudi Arabia-based industrialist Ravi Pillai last August.

The other big hotel players in Asia which sold properties at high value include Japan Hotel, LaSalle, Kingdom Holding, Hines and Shui On Group.

Even as Indian entities don’t figure anywhere in the top 10 global list vis-à-vis high value real estate deals in the financial year that just gone by, many of them have made it to the Asian hall of fame.

Noida, the industrial development area next to Delhi, is fifth in the development site sellers’ list in Asia. This was for a deal with industrialist Ponty Chadha-promoted Wave Group for the mixed-use project, Wave Mega City Centre, at an estimated price of $1.4 billion (about Rs 7,140 crore at the current forex rate), according to Doug Murphy, director (analytics) at Real Capital.

In the office space, Bangalore and Mumbai have been named among the most active Asian markets. “There were a number of locations for office sales in Bangalore and Mumbai, the largest being the Embassy Manyata Business Park transaction in Bangalore for about $537 million (Rs 2,738 crore) and Citibank building in Mumbai for about $224 million (Rs 1,142 crore),” Murphy said. Both transactions took place in August 2011.

Delhi and Mumbai are part of the most active Asian apartment markets. While Delhi is ranked sixth, Mumbai is eighth. Tokyo tops the list in high value apartment deals, followed by Singapore, Hong Kong, Osaka, Beijing, Delhi, Fukuoka, Mumbai, Nagoya and Kuala Lumpur.

India is nowhere in the retail top league where deals in Asia are concerned. Among hotels, Chennai is seen as an active market in the eighth position. Singapore leads as the most active hotel market in Asia, followed by Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka, Chennai, Kuala Lumpur and Suzhou.

Real Estate Sector in Bangalore may see 25 per cent growth.

The real estate sector in Bangalore has grown to a large extent in the past one year. In the year ahead, the city’s realty is expected to grow by 25 per cent, estimates the Karnataka Chapter of the Consortium of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI).

“We are expecting the realty to grow by 25 per cent in the coming year. Last year too we have witnessed a similar growth,” said Sushil Mantri, president, CREDAI Karnataka.

As per studies conducted last year, the city is likely to absorb about 7.1 million sq. ft. of office space against a supply of 7 million sq. ft. While demand for office and commercial sales in the city saw a rise, residential sales remained slow.

Experts said that the city witnessed a great strength in high street leasing and rent, and capital value has increased nominally in a few sub-markets. Also, there was a rise in rental value as demand by retailers remained strong.

With commercial office space developers offering favourable options, predictions for 2012 are that several IT companies in the city will look at pre-leasing office space.

However, analysts opine that office space supply will outweigh demand.

“FDI in multibrand real estate is expected to catalyse a lot of demand from international retailers. International luxury brands will restrict their growth plans to Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore,” states a projected report by Jones Lang LaSalle India, Realty Intelligence firm.

The report states that the mid-end and affordable housing segments will record healthy appreciation in capital value in short term from a low base.

 

Real estate may Feel Connectivity Pinch

Metro connectivity and property rates in the capital goes hand in hand , its just like they run on parallel tracks as right from the announcement of new metro connections , property rates follows an upward swing.

With Delhi metro gearing up for the Phase III construction that will cover areas like Vasant Vihar, Dhaula Kuan, Munirka , Kalka Ji , lajpat Nagar , Botonical Garden (Noida) , real estate prices are expected to see a major rise in the prices. Metro certainly affectes real estate as it is a major factor to provide a safe and comfortable mode of transport. People prefers homes situated near the metro stations. How ever since the prices have already increased so much that it will be difficult to say how much impact the new lines will have now. Consultants further says that properties which are located near the Metro stations will have the maximum increase in the real estate price.

The entire scenario can be explained in terms of a U curve where in right from the announcement of the projects the price tends to go upwards and then it declines when the construction is underway and again goes up when the project is complete. On an average , a property may see 20-30% increase in price over three years. Proximity to the station may also effects an increase of 35-40%. Due to increase in the rates of properties which are near to Metro stations , the Municipal Valuation committee constituted by Delhi Government has also adviced that the residential colonies within half a KM radius of Metro line would be upgraded  by one level since they have witnessed the maximum amount of Infrastructure development.

DDA Relaxes Norms for Installing Lifts

If you live on second or third floor in a DDA flat, then climbing those stairs is no more a back-breaking experience anymore. The DDA has eased the norms for installing lifts in its apartment blocks. The country’s biggest land development agency has been catering to Delhi’s housing needs for more than 40 years. Since, DDA structures have only 04 floors they do not have lifts.

Although flat-owners had so far been allowed to install lifts later on their buildings on their own, the procedure of getting permission was burdensome.  All the owners of an individual block, with eight to sixteen flats, have to agree to the proposal.

The new norm stipulates that lifts can be installed once most flat owners of the block agree. The consent of the ground floor owners is not required any longer. The cost of installing a lift is Rs 10-15 lakhs, which the flat owners would have to bear. The flat owners will have to apply for NOC to DDA for arrears. While applying for NOC, flat-owners will have to attain structural stability certificate from the registered architect.

Buying a House During Monsoon is Beneficial

The monsoon is usually considered as a lean season in terms of sales for the developers. It’s not just the weather that affects the purchase of property, but also because it is considered inauspicious to buy anything for about two weeks during this period (because of shraadh or pitrapaksh). Buyers prefer to wait till the festival season to buy real estate. So, in order to increase sales, developers are willing to offer ‘monsoon discounts’.

Many people postpone buying a house during these months. This adds to the existing inventory of the real estate developer. The builder, on their part, wants to get relieved from it so he can start a new project in the upcoming festival season. Also, they would need some liquid cash in hand for the new projects.

While only a handful of developers advertise it as a ‘monsoon discount’, most are willing to offer lower rates to serious buyers. The significant of discount varies for different cities, depending on how badly it is affected by the monsoon. So, in Mumbai and Kolkata the quantum of discount is likely to be higher than that in Delhi and Chennai. In Mumbai, a buyer can expect discounts ranging from 10-20%,  a Mumbai-based real estate marketing company.

Besides the entice of discounted property prices, buyers can also avail of the monsoon special offers on home loans by banks.

Brokers Hunt for Jobs as Slump Hits Realty Sales

NEW DELHI | BANGALORE: Broker in Bangalore bylane has just opened a stationery shop. He has named it ‘Smart Shop’, borrowing the name from the realty brokerage firm that he ran from the same premises until about two months ago. He switched to retail after his property business hit a rough patch following a slump in home sales. About 03-quarters of his revenues came from sale of apartments, the remaining from renting.

“With home sales dropping, it doesn’t make business sense anymore,” he says. It’s the same story in other big cities. In Mumbai, a mid-size broker has set up a small fast food joint to make ends meet. In Nagpur, a real estater has quit the real estate business and set up an ice-cream parlour. Their worries are not unfounded. While the large and established players in the property business have managed to stay, even during the slump, thousands of smaller players like brokers and agents are being forced to look for other jobs.

It also hit lakhs of people employed with such small outfits – each of which hires 5-15 people.With many brokers closing shops or reducing size, these people are out in the market, looking for jobs in sectors such as retail, banking, insurance and call centres. The real estate industry employs about 10 lakh people across the country, the majority in the unorganised sector.

In the first quarter of 2011, home sales dropped 17 per cent in Mumbai, 14 percent in Bangalore and 15 percent in Hyderabad. According to consultant Jones Lang La-Salle, unsold residential units in projects that are complete or are nearing completion in 6-12 months in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR are as high as 25 percent and 16 percent, respectively. In other big cities, including Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, the numbers range between 12 percent and 19 percent. Sales in tier-II and tier-III cities are steady, though there is some panic due to the increase in interest rates, which have climbed to about 11 percent from 8.25 percent a year ago.

“For smaller brokers, the impact of the current market factors is a lot more compared to the larger brokers,” says the president of the National Association of Realtors India . “Even for our members – who are fairly well-off – business is down 40 percent compared to 2009-10. But the smaller guys are in trouble and are setting up businesses that move on a daily basis. Many I know have asked their employees to look out” Ravindra Bramhe, chairman of the Maharashtra Property Brokers’ Association, says.

For whatever business is left in the market, there are hundreds of agents in queue. For instance, there are pockets on the Noida Expressway, near large projects, where real estate brokers can be seen sitting inside small tents, under the sweltering sun, waiting for business. Those who can’t afford to set up these tents can be seen on the roadside, running after every car that passes by, with brochures and flyers of projects in hand. Industry refers to them as the broker mandi. “All my friends and colleagues are now looking outside real estate before things get worse,” says Chaudhary. Many have returned to the insurance industry and others have found jobs with small call centres. A few have found employment with retail stores.

Realty Prices Peaking, Time to Sell Your House and a Correction in the Rancid

As property prices exceeds the 2008 peak levels, realty experts believe that a correction is possible in the next couple of quarters, especially in cities like Delhi and Mumbai where prices have grown up fast. This offers an opportunity to real estate investors to gain profits.

A Navi Mumbai-based marketing executive, Parvinder Singh Sidhu, agrees. Five years ago, he had bought a second home of 750-sq-ft flat at Belapur in Navi Mumbai for about Inr13 lakh. At present, the price of the flat is Inr35-40 lakh. However, with the talk of correction in the Mumbai property market, Sidhu is planning to sell this house and earn profits now. “I have a house to stay, so I can think of selling this one. If property rates come down in the future, I could buy a similar property at a lower price,” he says.

Is it really a good time to cash in on your real estate investment? Yashwant Dalal , president of the (EAAI) Estate Agents Association of India, says that property prices in many markets have begun to show signs of correction. ” Where the rates have peaked, we expect the prices to go down by 25-40% in metro cities. If you had bought a house previously just as an investment, I would suggest that you sell as soon as you can and buy a similar property at cheaper price later,” says Dalal. According to him, property bought even 03 years ago may have appreciated nearly 100-150 percent in some areas, so it may be a good time to book profits.

Real estate prices fly in Delhi, NCR

NEW DELHI: Real estate prices in some areas of the NCR glided high by 20 to 27%  in the first quarter of the current financial year as compared to the subsequent period of 2010-1. “Property prices for Delhi have seen boom if we compare per square feet prices of Q1-11 over Q1-10. Certain key areas like Sarita Vihar and Rohini have seen 27% and 20% growth respectivly in prices compared to prices over Q1-10”.

According to a report, the upward price sentiment would continue as the prices on average are hiking up by 15%. The South Delhi locality Sarita Vihar’s PSF prices rise by 27.60% at INR 8,110 as compared to Inr6,356 in the period of 2010-11, while north Delhi-based Rohini’s PSF prices increased by 25%. This is followed by Patparganj at a PSF price appreciation of 21.68%. Other localities like southwest Delhi-based Dwarka sub city’s PSF price also increased by 28 % in sector-11 and sector-2.

Realty prices in suburban NCR like Noida and Gurgaon also increased because of metro rail services came into operation. Prices per square feet in sector 110 and sector 93 of Noida also moved up by 16 %  and 11 % respectively,  as compared to prices in the corresponding period of last financial year. “Gurgaon witnessed an upgoing trend in property prices. Properties located on the Sohna Road and DLF City phase IV have seen the highest growth in prices by 46 % and 42 %, respectively, in Q1-11 over Q1-10”.