Tag Archives: Real Estate Developers

Memorandum to Govt. from CREDAI to Take Off Service Tax

Posted on by

Ministère des Finances QuébecApril 14, 2010

A memorandum has been submitted to the Finance Ministry concerned with the appeal for removal of service tax on housing complexes under construction by CREDAI, Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India which is a real estate industry body.

The Chairman of CREDAI, Kumar Gera stated that they have put forth their concerns and suggestions and also discussed the probable impact of the provisions with the Ministry. An understanding of the problem and required corrective steps will be taken is a hope from the government. The list of recommendations was built in consultations with KPMG, its knowledge partner and was submitted to Y G Parande, a Finance Ministry Member (Budget).

According to Gera, the money collected through the imposition of service tax on real estate development will not be big enough; rather it would majorly lead an overall negative sentiment and a net loss of revenue.

In budget 2010, it was announced by Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, the Finance Minister that a tax would be imposed on the housing complexes under construction but later it was clarified by the officials that service tax would be imposed on 33 per cent of total selling price. This was interpreted by the real estate players as a 3.5% price escalation for the buyers.

According to CREDAI, it was an impractical proposal to levy service tax on construction of complex since would lead to government giving preference to the secondary market of completed projects.

Emaar MGF Launches New Project in NCR

Posted on by


Photo by paul goyetteIndia`s one of the leading Real Estate Developers, Emaar MGF Land, recently announced the launch of a new mid-income family housing project `Palm Hills` in NCR.

It will be located on NH-8 at a prime location in Sector 77, Gurgaon. The total investment will be Rs 500 cr on an area spread over 29 acres with the scenic view of the Aravalli Hills.Palm Hills are located at only a 20 min drive from Delhi`s International Airport and surrounded with green landscaped areas with Spanish styling architecture.

Palm Hills offers to house about 1250 units with an expectation to rise up to Rs 3,850 cr. With a starting price of Rs 48 lacs the company has already sold 650 units in the first phase. These apartments will give a feeling of a villa with unique features that no other developer serves. These will include 3BHK and 4BHK apartments with 1450sq ft to 1950 sq ft per villa. The villas have efficient floor plans and offer the choice to make amendments to maximize living space.

“The launch of Palm Hills marks the obligation of Emaar MGF to continuously develop properties with modern design concepts and gives the experience of living in a gated master planned community a new definition.”  Said Mr. Shravan Gupta, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Emaar MGF. He further added that “The exhilarating response on the very first day of the project launch is an indication to the predominating huge demand for quality housing in the mid-market segment”.

The rocketing success of Emaar MGF can be guessed by taking a look at their reserves. They have a land bank of 11,340 acres including the Commonwealth Games Village. They are currently working on 29 projects.

Emaar MGF which is a joint venture between domestic firm MGF and Dubai-based Emaar Properties is planning to utilize Rs 1,972 cr for part re-payment of debt of over Rs 5,800 cr. It will also be investing Rs 276.8 cr in paying development and license renewal charges in the coming year.

Truth Behind Declining Realty

Posted on by
Pranab Mukherjee

FINANCE MINISTER MR.PRANAB MUKHERJEE


Few days after the budget is announced the Realty Industry started showing discontent in concern with the service tax policy announced by the union finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee. The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI) with the Surat Builders association wrote a letter dated March 5 to the finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee asking to withdraw service tax imposed on sales and renting of commercial and residential spaces.

In the letter to the Centre, the association has also said that a inclusive action plan for urban housing is necessary as there is a shortage of 27 million houses in the country presently.
President of Surat Builders’ Association and the vice-president of Gujarat chapter of CREDAI Tarun Rawal said that if we look at the population explosion in the city the figure has gone up to 46 lacs very fast but there is a shortage of about 5 lacs shelters in the city itself. He added that the need for sustainable housing in most of the big cities is huge and to fulfill that we must have a central policy and plan to guide it.

The association compels the Union finance minister to look into the matter of service tax imposed on housing sector as the sector is crucial for growth to create affordable housing. Slum re-development and integrated township incentives are also required. “Only if this is provided the sector will be able to fulfill the need of a growing nation,” said Rawal.

It is argued by real estate developers that the imposition of service tax will eventually make buying houses more difficult for the middle and lower classes. Similarly, service tax on rented property will adversely affect sectors like IT sector since they are already showing declining trend when the US restrictions have affected them.

What the finance minister decides is what should be looked for now.