After gold is real estate the next asset class?

MUMBAI: Time has changed drastically and so is the preference of the investors. Earlier the investors used to think of equity market as the safest bet but with the changing times they have shifted their focus to other safer assets like gold and the real estate sector.

Over last few days gold prices have fallen almost 20%, which has definitely raised few eyebrows over its credibility. Moreover the falling gold prices have also raised many questions of real estate being a potential investment option (thought gold and real estate have no direct connection).

On a sad note there is no long term real estate index data in India that might help in a reliable conclusion to establish this sector as a prominent investment option in co-relation to gold.
But on other note experts believe that there is some sort of co-relation between gold prices and realty sector as people sell their property to invest in gold.

Although this cannot be used as a concrete conclusion like if you are willing to buy a house but could not do so due to high real estate prices, well much research has to be done on this theory too.

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Buy Cheaper Flats in Resale

Over the past few years there were predictions that the property rates in Delhi-NCR will slash down offering the buyers a much needed relief. But despite all these speculations nothing came to the rescue of the buyers till now. In this scenario what should a buyer do? Wait for the prices to slash down or take the risk at the glossy schemes offered by different developers?

Do not worry and stop putting too much of your head in this as we will give you a third option. “Resale Flats” are a great option to own a dream house and that too at a very affordable price range. Resale flats can be a great deal as most of them have not even been lived in and the developer are ready to offer great deal of discount on them.

Now you must be thinking that why the resale flats are so cheaper?  Well there can be many reasons for this. One of them is that these houses have been snapped up by buyers and investors during the pre-launch phase to gain profits in the coming times as at that time they had to pay only down payment.

"Many investors book a property at the initial stage just to make a small profit. If they want to make a quick exit, they will price it cheaper than the one offered by the developer, for a faster sale," says Yashwant Dalal, president of the Estate Agents Association of India, an apex body of real estate developers.

Another reason is that a lot of investors who book flats during soft launches are offered heavy discounts by builders. "To get funding before construction commences, builders offer investors at least a 20% discount to the prevailing market rate," adds Dalal.

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Helipad coming soon at Greater Noida

NOIDA: In its tenure Mayawati government proposed an international airport at Jewar to improve the air-connectivity of the region. Taking this legacy forward the opposition party and the present CM of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav has decided to launch the heliport project in Greater Noida. This will be first of its kind project for which land from 3 proposed sites has already been chosen in Noida and Grater Noida.


Speaking of this ambitious project, the CEO of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities, Rama Raman, said that the blueprint for the helipad is ready and 22 acres have been earmarked for it. "There is a need of world class heliports to come up at strategically suitable locations. The authority was exploring three sites, two in Sectors 143 and 144 of Noida and one in Knowledge Park-II in Greater Noida. Finally, the site in Knowledge Park-II was given the go-ahead for the project," Raman said. 

"We have completed a survey of the site and the project. The detailed project report and other important documents will soon be submitted before the DGCA. We hope to get their approval soon," a senior official said. 

Raman said that many more helipads are proposed phase-wise in the region. "In the first phase, three helipads will be developed, while in the next phase four more will be constructed. We have formed a team to work on the project and a well-known helicopter company is also assisting us in launching the pilot project," he added. 

"We are also planning to set up a maintenance facility for helicopter operators besides a helicopter training academy," Raman said. 

Further Raman said, "Greater Noida is the future. There is lot more to explore in this region so there is need to have helipads. The F1 circuit, expo center and proposed convention center will be used for international events so the helipads will come in very handy. As Gautam Budh Nagar is spread over a very large area, we are also mulling on an air ambulance service." 

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7 parking lots to come up in congested areas

NOIDA: Several attempts were made by the authority to curb the growing unauthorized parking all across the city, but everything went into vain. Finally to solve this problem Noida Authority has decided to provide some designated spots for parking at some of the most congested junction of the city. They have also invited bids for the construction of proper parking lots.

Authorities have identified 7 important spots where the construction work for parking will begin shortly. These places are Sector 6, near the Noida Authority office, Sector 2 industrial area, Sector 28 market, Sector 30 Ambedkar hospital, Sector 62, Sector 27 near Vinayak Hospital and Sector 110 market.

By March 8 the tenders will be finalized. The proposal for new parking lots will be implemented jointly by Noida Authority and Traffic Police under the Authority’s new parking policy. Under the new policy strict measures will be taken against unauthorized parking.

“As per the new policy implemented in October last year, a survey was conducted to identify those areas that witness heavy vehicular movement and remain congested through the day. Designated parking spots in these areas will also help in curbing unauthorized parking and in regulating traffic movement,” said a senior Noida Authority official.

“Besides, under the new policy, the Authority has also formulated stricter norms for implementing checks against unauthorized parking and for auctioning of parking spaces. As there is shortage of space, the new policy focuses on traffic management and on ensuring that residents do not encroach upon public spaces. The Authority and the traffic department will conduct regular drives against unauthorized parking and all offenders will be penalized,” he said.

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Budget 2013 – No proposal to benefit Real Estate

Yesterday was a big day as Finance Minister P.Chidambaram presented the much awaited Union Budget 2013-14 in the Parliament. As everyone was speculating, for some the budget brought cheer but for others there was nothing much in it.

If we talk specifically of real estate then too there was disappointment from the budget (except the tax exemption on home loans).

Finance Minister did not propose any beneficial proposal for the real estate sector. Moreover the buyers were disappointed with FM for implementing tax deduction at source on transfer of property (land/ building) for transaction in excess of Rs 50 lakh. As this will result in increasing the burden and will up the price of high end housing.

Adding more to the dilemma the sector was hoping for the 'infrastructure status' which was not given to it, ultimately letting down the expectations of Indian real estate sector.

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Yamuna Expressway - The expressway to the future

Courtesy: Buddha Circuit

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Budget 2013: Include land, building cost in capital expenditure, suggests NAREDCO

NEW DELHI: The countdown for the Union Budget 2013 has finally begun. This time NAREDCO (National Real Estate Development Council) has asked for special provisions (like inclusion of cost of land and building construction in the capital expenditure in Budget 2013) from the Finance Minister P.Chidambaram.

According to NAREDCO – “section 35AD sub-section (5)(ac) & (5)(ad) of Income Tax Act impose deduction of capital expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively for developing and building a housing project under a scheme for slum development or rehabilitation or affordable housing framed by Central or State Government and notified in accordance with the guidelines prescribed is allowed”.

"Definition of capital expenditure does not include land cost and building construction cost or any other significant investment in the project. As a result, developer of slum redevelopment/rehabilitation and affordable housing does not get any major advantage as far as the income tax concession is concerned," NAREDCO added.

To solve the issue NARDECO suggested that it would be wise to make the cost of land and building construction cost a part of capital expenditure so that the developers can enjoy some benefits.

Courtesy: economictimes article

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