Which are the governing and regulatory bodies for Housing Finance sector in India?

Author: Sachin Gupta | Find me on Twitter Follow @sach_gupta

Continuing with our focus on housing finance sector in India, in this article, we will discuss the role and importance of regulatory bodies governing the housing finance sector in India. Given the pace at which housing finance sector has grown over the years, it becomes imperative that established and emerging housing finance players abide by the rules.

In order to ensure smooth functioning of the housing sector, these regulatory bodies lay down the general principles of lending to customers. While Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is responsible for monetary policy of the country, the National Housing Bank (NHB) oversees housing finance companies. NHB also supports and promotes housing finance institutions.

In addition to these 2 institutions, there are committees/institutions set-up by states and central governments which also have a say in regulation of the housing finance sector. Additionally, Banks and Housing finance companies are also regulated by the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Find below the detailed list of regulators governing the housing finance sector in India:

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Social Media-The Most Effective Marketing Tool For Real Estate Agents

Real estate is a business which depends greatly on personal contacts. But in order to succeed in the industry as a real estate agent, one needs to have a good presence on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Stumble Upon. Here are some points which you need to follow to find out why social sites are important for real estate agents:-

• Realtor with a good presence on social media make a great number of connections 

As a real estate agent, you need to post the listings of your services on social media. If you are new to this profession, post about your services in the neighborhood, explain about the plus points of your services and how people can avail it. What are your prices? How do you charge your clients? What are the new offers that you intend to launch in coming weeks or months? Be as transparent as possible.

• Promote social events which take place in your locality

Post social events that are taking place in the immediate neighborhood on social networking sites. This will make people living in other areas familiar about your upcoming seminars, info sessions, and networking opportunities.

• Pictures and videos speak a hundred words

You can also share pictures and videos which tell stories. This is because most people, who use social networking sites prefer to go through stories that involve photo, video and audio content instead of text alone. There is no need to spend a huge sum on that either. Use your Smartphone in order to take pictures and short videos of clients and all the exciting things happening in your target areas. You can easily upload it to any other social networking site. At the same time, try to make sure that the posts, which you share on Facebook or Twitter, are not too generic or too promotional.

In case, you find something interesting about the realty sector in India such as useful data, price trends, government notifications, etc., then don’t hesitate to share it on these sites. It will help in building your brand within your locality. Your priority should be on creating posts which show your company’s verticals in an interesting manner. Keep a track of the people who are following your online social pages and find out how they are engaging with your page.

• Pay special attention to increasing number of likes on social media pages

One of the key factors behind the success of your company’s website on social media is by delighting your clients on a regular basis. Create contests and encourage your clients to join a conversation for a chance to win gift cards. Delighted clients will share their experience with people who are close to them.

• Judicious use of Facebook

Compared to other social networking sites, Facebook is one of the most suitable places for promoting Real estate services. Make sure that most of the content is dedicated to property news, trends, and anything that is of immense importance to your clients.  While the remaining content or posts can be about the services you are offering to them.

Guest Post by: Sheela Joby is a freelance writer with an experience of 10 yrs. Apart from writing, she is into photography, traveling, music etc.

Why Is Real Estate Industry Said To Be a King of Investment??

Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, investments, and real estate - though the list seems to be endless and making a choice is still considered to be a Herculean task. Especially for a family with two children in school, with a career that has just started and it can be extremely crucial decision for them. Given below are some of the reasons as to why real estate industry is believed to be the king of investment.

• Inflation Hedging: 

The relationship between real estate and GDP has grown on the basis of the ability of real estate asset class to foster with inflation hedging. In simple terms when the economies grow and expand, the demand for the real estate industry consequently increases along with the increase in rentals and that translates into higher capital land prices.

• Retirement Income: 

The pressure on the current income that has to be spent on varied channels is high. Between the school fees, fuels, and marriage funds, almost each and every one’s saving account will continue to get thinner and thinner with time. Therefore, investment in real estate can be extremely useful for people in their retirement days.

• The Positive Cash Flow: 

It is the real estate industry that generally gives you huge investment options wherein you could receive a guaranteed and tangible income throughout the year. This is what exactly a positive cash flow is.

• Scope of appreciation: 

The real estate industry is generally considered to be one of the safest options in long term no matter what. Industry Experts in the realm of real estate industry agree that in a period of ten years the real estate industry has seen the highest scale of appreciation in comparison with any other class of investment.

• The Tax Benefits: 

Real estate sector is one of the major contributors to the country’s GDP. And since the government wants to promote affordable housing and housing for all, the investments in the real estate is bound to give you tangible tax benefits of as much as INR 1, 00,000 in the upcoming year.

• Leverage: 

Leverage here in simple terms or in terms of the real estate industry would mean the ability to use the borrowed capital in order to ensure a potential return on investment. Real estate industry is the only possibility among various investment classes that allow for leverage. For example by paying a minimum of 20% of the cost of property, you as the owner could control the income from the property. The remaining 80% can be availed from the bank in form of home loan.

• Diversification in the investment portfolios: 

Having a diverse investment portfolio would only help you in diminishing the risks and increase the returns on investment. Assets which are not co – related to each other in the same portfolio would decrease risks.


This is a guest post by Ava Jacob who is working for a real estate project named bren imperia bangalore. The developer has more than 7 years of experience in large-scale real estate development involving construction of luxury apartments.

The fibre optic cable makes its way to Chennai

The fiber optic cable technology has made the improbable possible in the field of communication. Fiber optic cables will now provide access to a host of other essential services to all sections of the society by bringing costs down and making it more affordable. This technology works on fiber optic cables and optical electronic devices, which analyse data and allow seamless transmission. In terms of quality, this shift from conventional copper wire cables to optical fiber is a paradigm shift.

• What is an optical fiber?

Optical fibers are thin, flexible strands of extruded glass or plastic, which are slightly thicker than human hair. They are used to transmit huge volumes of data from one point to another by utilizing the properties of light. They are essentially pipes that transmit light between both ends. The world is moving towards optical fiber communication for various reasons as they make it possible to transmit larger volumes of data across longer distances than conventional metal wires. They also ensure significantly less data loss and are immune to electromagnetic forces, which is a blessing for communication technology and mankind.

• What are the benefits?

Fiber optics can make lives easier for the entire nation. In India, the introduction of optical fiber will make high-speed Internet access a reality. These cables can be safely placed next to the high voltage power transmission lines as they do not conduct electricity. They are also less likely to be stolen. Theft has been an issue across the country because copper wires used to provide the Internet access to homes and offices have a high resale value, making them an easy target for thieves. Optical fibers are also safer to use in areas prone to lightning strikes as they are poor conductors of electricity. They will essentially protect your computers and other electronic devices such as routers from damage.

• Who is bringing FTTH to India?

The House of Hiranandani is among the first developers in the country to offer the optical fiber technology through their development projects. With advancements in technology, portable devices such as smart phones and laptops and a genuine demand for better Internet services, the developers have taken matters into their hands. They ensure that each home in various housing projects across the country has access to high-speed Internet. The beneficiaries of this service, the homeowners will have access to VoIP (Voice over IP) calling, IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) and streaming audio and video at blazing speeds. This optical fiber communication technology has been tested at OMR, a residential development in Chennai, by the House of Hiranandani. It is in the process of being scaled to projects in other parts of the country.

Fiber optic cable technology is paving the path towards a better future. Yes, there are other ways to provide homes with the Internet access, but these are not always cost-effective and as reliable as optical fibers. The technology will help the country surge forward.

This is a guest post by Deepak Yewale. To submit guest posts, write to us at nirrtigo@nirrtigo.com

Master Plan 2021 Delhi - What are the opportunities and where shall I Invest in new zones?

Author: Sachin Gupta | Find me on Twitter Follow @sach_gupta

The mushrooming of satellite towns such as Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad around Delhi in 80s and 90s virtually put a stop on new development in Delhi, the capital city of India. However, in 2003, the Ministry of urban development issued guidelines and activated the bureaucracy and think tank for the streamlining and preparation of master plan 2021 Delhi. Among many guidelines, it focused on emerging need to explore alternate methods of land assembly, private sector participation, and flexible land use and development norms. DDA Land pool policy is the result of these guidelines issued in 2021.

The final master plan 2021 was accorded after much deliberation for 4-5 years. Therefore, as an investor or end-user, one would like to know where in Delhi can I invest or can I buy for my own residential use? One would also be tempted to ask why I should invest in Delhi when there are ample opportunities to invest in satellite towns. Will the opportunity presented by master plan 2021 Delhi be a sustainable opportunity? Is it the right time to invest now or wait? These are some of the questions, a common end-user or investor will have, and therefore, we try to answer them in here:

Find below the detailed document titled ‘Opportunities under Delhi Master Plan (MPD 2021) ‘in order to make an informed decision about investment in Delhi. The document elaborates on what is the scope of opportunity, where can you invest, why should you invest and how much should you invest.

The document also includes the maps and plans of different notified zones. Go through the pros and cons of each zone before making an investment.

Opportunities under MPD-2021 from Certes Realty Limited

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Wishing all stakeholders of real estate sector a positive and Happy New Year

2014 was sluggish to say the least for realty sector. One prominent developer described year 2014 as worst for realty industry in decades. Home sales were muted in some pockets and virtually dead in some markets.

Property developers and other stakeholders were hoping for a turnaround post election 2014 in the realty sector which has been reeling for some years now. But that did not happen and in fact housing sales were low even during the festive period between Octobers - December 2014.

What were the challenges faced by real estate developers?

1. Unsold housing stock of 7.6 Lacs housing units across India till June 2014
2. Protest and legal recourse by buyers in cases of delayed projects
3. High interest rates
4. Realty sector in 2014 also witnessed adverse court judgments and regulatory orders against some developers including DLF

Positive steps were taken in Budget 2014 that will have positive impact in coming years

1. Relaxation in FDI Norms
2. Nod ahead for setting up of Real Estate Investment Trusts RETTs
3. Announcement of 100 smart cities
4. Focus and budget allocation for affordable housing

Other than the budget 2014, there were some positives as well:

1. Improvement in office space leasing activity in second half of year
2. Private equity (PE) investment in the realty jumped more than two-fold to Rs 8,900 crore in January-September period and the figure is likely to cross Rs 12,000 crore by year-end.
3. Probably Real estate regulatory bill will be passed in 2015
4. Possibility of Single window clearance system for realty projects in 2015

Therefore, the steps have been taken, however, to turn around a big wheel; it will take time when results actually show up on ground.

There is also a possibility of interest rate cuts in first half of 2015 and that shall also encourage home buyers to enter the market and book their home.

So, all in all, 2015 appears to be more promising.