Looking to invest in real estate? Here are a few guidelines you must follow

Investing in the realty sector can be a good decision if done wisely. Most people channel all their savings and take out loans to purchase a property hoping that it will give them a good return on investment. Hence, this has to be done cautiously to make sure that the money invested bears fruit.

• Set a budget:

Budget is the most important thing you should take into consideration before buying a property. Set a budget and make sure your finances are in order. For many, Paying EMI is not an easy option. Paying EMI empties out their pocket by the end of the month. It would be wise to ensure that the EMI does not exceed 40% of your monthly income. Make sure that you don’t overestimate your financial capabilities.

• Research:

Once your finances are in order, the next important thing for you to do is research. You should work with the localities which match your requirement. Some of the criteria which one should consider while looking for a property are:

1. Locality
2. Accessibility and connectivity
3. Presence of social and physical infrastructure
4. Proposed infrastructure developments
5. Safety and security
6. Livability

It is always advisable not to invest in localities which lack basic amenities such as road, water supply and drainage system. Never get carried away with the promises of upcoming infrastructural developments and do not invest your money on those promises. Infrastructure takes time to be built and a few even fail to take off.

For guidance, you can visit IndiaProperty.com as this site provides expert analysis of localities through the micro market research reports and the locality pages.

• Check the builder’s credibility:

The real estate market is vast and the industry has both reliable and unreliable builders. Do not blindly invest your hard earned money after seeing a too good to be true offer from a small time builder. Make sure you check on the trustworthiness of the builder by visiting their previous projects. This will give you a clear idea about the credibility of the builder and then you can decide whether to invest your money or not.

• Verify legal documents:

For any property related transactions, title deeds play a crucial role. Check whether the seller has a strong title deed, if not, do not purchase the property. Here are some legal aspects to keep in mind while purchasing a property:

1. The title deed is an important document without which you will have legal troubles in the future.
2. Make sure you get the original title deed verified by an attorney before buying the property.
3. Before acquiring the property, confirm that all the clearances for the property are in place.
4. If you are planning to buy an under-construction property, do not forget to get the allotment letter and the development agreement from the builder.
5. The allotment letter has details about the project such as the price of the property, floor plan, delivery date and liability details if there is any delay in delivering the project, whereas the development agreement has the details of the terms and conditions under which the landowner has allowed the builder to use his property.
6. Make sure that the taxes related to the property are cleared before you buy the asset.
7. Never hesitate to get an expert’s help if you have doubts.

This is a guest post by Amy Anstey Seelan J

Commercial Office Space in India - Leasing Vs. Owning analysis

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

This post covers the topic of Commercial Office Space in India and why businesses choose to lease office space than owning a piece of commercial real estate!

Businesses use real estate as part of business operations along with manpower, machinery, and other resources to produce desired output. Even though the primary business of these corporations is not real estate investment, they have to make many decisions regarding the use of real estate because real estate is typically an integral part of the firm’s operations. For example, real estate is used for office space, warehouse, manufacturing, retail, and so on. Vast majority of real estate used by business firms is leased and not owned because of following reasons:

1. Space requirements are less than the quantity of space that they would have to purchase in order to satisfy their needs in a desired location. Even if they lease the remaining space to other business firms, still leasing would be preferred than owning mainly because
• Large capital to purchase the desired space
• A purchase would put the business firm in real estate business which can take away the focus from firm’s core activities.
2. Even if business firm manages to occupy all the space that is available with the purchase, the firm will still prefer to lease
• Owning would reduce operating flexibility: if the business firm desires to move its operations from the purchased location, then space selling or leasing to other firms will constraint the movement or slow it down. Instead, had the firm leased the space then they can move without having to worry for real estate space.
• If the space is owned, then it must be maintained, operated. These activities may result in loss of focus of the firm from their core activities. Operating and managing properties is usually done more cost effectively by firms that specialize in the real estate operations.
• Flexibility of scaling down the business. That means if a firm decides to scale down its operations then the firm can do it easily if the space has been leased than owned. Scale down means use of less space.
3. Real estate business activities should be performed by professionals trained in real estate business. Some of the following activities are:
• Selecting the right tract of land and developing the right amount of space
• Leasing that space to many different tenants, for example, builders develop Office Space in Gurgaon and lease it to many different tenants with different office space sizes.
• Hiring personnel, collecting rents, and maintain the facility
• Finding financing for the investment or development
• Doing continuous research about real estate markets in order to decide when to sell, raise or lower rents, renovate and so on.
• Many other such activities.

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Innovation in essentials of construction materials

Civil engineering is raving up fast with new innovations being made rapidly. From sealants to adhesives, from wall solutions to roofing, it is getting environmental or technological friendly with every invention, which is indeed need of the hour.
Innovations in construction material industry are imperative to better manage the construction process and boost efficiency as well as provide cost-effective solutions. It also minimizes construction time along with adding durability factor.
Presenting to you with such 5 mind-blowing innovations that have brought new face to buildings-

• Dryfix, a revolution in masonry-

Dryfix is a revolutionary bond (or glue) that is a complete wall building solution and is highly superior to the traditional mortar used by masons. Unlike mortar, which is messy to work with and takes days to settle and requires loads of water for curing, Dryfix is a strong adhesive bond that requires no curation and is ready to use. With this innovative product you can build walls almost 50 percent faster. It is easy to use and leaves no debris to be dumped. It is also seasonally independent and cost-effective. Porothermdryfix drastically reduces gaps and joints, hence leaving no thermal bridges.

Image Courtesy: Wienerberger

• Bamboo corrugated sheets, a boon for people residing in earthquake prone areas-

Bamboo is well known for its robust and versatile nature. Bamboo, one of the best substitutes for wood, which is on the verge of getting extinct, is being extensively used in constructions, especially the low-budget buildings.  Its versatility allows it to be made into different forms like mat board, mat veneer composite, etc. among which bamboo corrugated sheets for roofing has highest merits. These bamboo roof sheets are the perfect substitute for asbestos and galvanized steel sheets used for roofing, particularly in the earthquake prone areas. They are lightweight, natural, energy-efficient and cost-effective, which also falls under green construction materials.

ImageCourtesy: www.habitat.org

• ‘Green wood’, the story of rages to riches!

‘Green wood’, an innovation by par, a 16 years old Delhi based girl, has made these bricks out of unwanted rice husks and straw mixed with resin which are then pressed to form particleboard. They’re believed to be free from fungi and mould and can be used for construction purposes. Alternatively, it can also be used as substitute for wood for making low-cost furniture.

• Hollow bricks, a smart innovation for fast and easy construction

Hollow bricks, yet another innovation in essentials of construction materials has successfully raised the process as well as the buildings to a whole new level. With hollow bricks the construction is fast due to uniformity in the make and pattern of the bricks. They are bigger compared to traditional solid bricks and hence reduce the joints thereby consuming less masonry, which helps to cut costs. They’re light in weight, which makes handling easy and speed-up the process that further reduces the cost. Since they’re made of natural resources like clay it helps in reducing energy consumption by providing a means for thermal insulation.

Image Courtesy: Wienerberger

• Bricks born from ashes, all in one rural area

RHA (Rice Husk Ash) brick is the brainchild of a farmer who believes in natural farming based in Kanchipuram. In the urge to prevent farming land turning infertile due to dumping of rice husk, this genius who has won rural innovation award started making these bricks.  These bricks can be done easily by combining RHA with sand, quarry dust and some cement. They are low-cost bricks and helps conserve the environment.

• Bagasse Particle Board as innovative laminated flooring- 

Bagasse, the leftover pulp of sugarcane after the extraction of juice can be used as a substitute for wood in particleboard. Bagasse is generated in large scale especially in sugar mills which otherwise go waste. Though bagasse is the core material used for laminated floors, it doesn't provide enough strength on its own and has poor water resistance. However, when combined with resin, which acts as bonding agent along with wax that is used as dimensional stabilizer, these particleboard can be used for laminated flooring. Further, bagasse based partial boards can also be used to make furniture which are not only Eco-friendly but also cost-effective.

All these innovative building materials have brought a wave of change not only in terms of saving environment by reducing use of concrete, wood and other traditional resources, but have also provided architects room to think creatively to inculcate green concept in their designs.   

This is a Guest Post by Wienerberger, the world leaders in Building Material solutions, present across 30 countries and 215 manufacturing units across the globe, provides complete solutions to our clients by delivering smart building materials and smart solutions. 

Resale Vs. New property – 10 Things to think about

Buying a resale property differs from buying a newly constructed one, both in terms of legality as well as the buying process. The properties listed on resale are often priced higher than the original cost considering factors like new amenities, pricing trends in the vicinity, ease of commuting to the city, malls, schools and hospitals, overall civic amenities in the area, etc.

However, there are several advantages of buying a resale property, such as…

1. Immediate possession of the property
2. Escaping the rent and EMIs simultaneously
3. Getting to see the desired specifications completely
4. No construction delays
5. Time for planning your move-in
6. Tax sops on home loan from the beginning 

In spite of the advantages at a higher price level, it is imperative to know what to expect and what you will get in a resale-apartment deal. 

• Talk to the experts 

There’s definitely a friend or acquaintance who has invested in a resale apartment in the past, and is evidently happy with the purchase. Ask how they went about the purchase. Also try to understand the general legal procedure. Apartment specific details may not be similar to your desire, but certain basics always match. 

• Check for clarity in the ownership context

Although one feels it’s easy to hire a lawyer or an estate agent, it’s better to be well versed in certain areas for your own understanding. Check the title of the property, as its clearance is highly essential to avoid any sort of fraudulent selling. 

• Documents

Check for all documents available with the purchase. Some of them are project commencement certificate, completion, occupancy and sale deed. Also check for the authenticity of the same with a lawyer or an agent of your choice.

• Clearance of loans taken 

Check whether the property is completely free of past loans taken by the builder. Check with bank personnel to conduct this verification because they have the necessary network to do so. 

• Eligibility to apply for a new loan

Considering that you need to fund your purchase through a loan, and this would be a resale property, cross check with your bank about the amount that you are eligible to receive as a loan. Verify that you have the all-important documents to process your loan application. Sometimes it is better to fund the property partly through a loan, even if you can afford the entire payment. Outsource the due diligence to bank authorities and stay rest assured about the safety of the investment. 

• Conduct an evaluation of the property

It is important to get your desired property evaluated for its market value. This is required firstly to ensure that the finances are planned properly. Secondly, check whether the property prices are predicted to fall, which would discourage the banks from granting you a loan amount that you are eligible for. 

• Down-payment amount

Make prerequisite arrangements to pay an initial lump sum amount as a down payment for the purchase. The banks usually give you close to 80% of the total price on the property as a loan. 

• Age of the property

The ratio of loan amount received and the amount of down payment varies based on the relative age of the property. Older properties tend to be valued away from your advantage because banks try to safeguard their interest. Thus, the down payment for an older property would be a larger amount with respect to the loan you can avail.

• Maintenance fees charged by the society

This is a monthly recurring expense after you occupy the purchased apartment. Ensure that your budget can accommodate it with the EMI that you would be scheduled to pay every month to the bank for some years as well. 

• Reason for the sale

This should have appeared much higher in the list, but you can find out the reason for sale only after you build a rapport with the owner. Try finding out the reason behind the sale. Although it is not always necessary that you get authentic information, do ask to understand the intentions.

This is a blog post by Bharath Joshi who is the Marketing Executive for Unishire Signature in Bangalore.

What are the various kinds of risks involved in real estate investment? And what should you as an investor do to minimize those risks?

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

Any kind of investment whether in Gold, property, stocks, bonds, etc. is subjected to certain risks. While Government securities are considered risk free, there is still some amount of risk involved in those. What if the government defaults as has happened in some of the EU nations? Consciously or unconsciously people do their risk analysis before making any investment. In this post, we will analyze the risks that are involved in real estate investment. Whether one is investing a small amount or substantial amount, going through this risk analysis will help you in foreseeing the potential risks that can creep in your real estate investments.

• Business risk:

Property investors suffer due to fluctuations in economic activities that affect the variability of rental income generated by the property. Changes in economic conditions prevailing in the country often affect some properties more than others depending on the type of property, its location, and any existing leases. For commercial properties, particularly office space buildings, a property with a well diversified tenant mix is likely to be less subject to business investment risk. Lease deeds that provide the owner with protection against unexpected changes in expenses (e.g., with expense stops in the lease, or leases indexed to WPI, etc.) would have less business risk. Changes in the economic conditions also affect the residential property investors who are primarily looking for capital appreciation gains on the property. With economy slowing down, the capital yields goes drastically down as can be seen in the latest housing price index across many cities in India.

• Financial risk:

The use of debt (financial leverage) magnifies the investment risk. Financial risk is directly proportional to the amount of debt taken to finance the purchase of property. Based on the prevailing interest rates, the financing costs may go up and eat into the income generated by the property. Financial risks affect both commercial and residential property investor due to the financial leverage. The cost of financing goes up or down depending on the economic situation and prevailing interest rates.

• Liquidity risk:

This risk occurs when a continuous market with many buyers and sellers and frequent transactions is not available. The more difficult it becomes to sell a property, the greater the likelihood that owner will have to under-sell the property in order to dispose of the investment quickly. Sometimes, it can take from six months to a year or more to sell real estate income properties especially during period of weak demand. We have seen many cases in recent past when investors were forced to undersell because of slow property transactions across the country.

• Inflation risk:

Unexpected inflation can reduce an investor’s rate of return if the income from the investment does not increase sufficiently to offset the impact of inflation. To overcome this risk, use of leases that allow the Net Operating Income to adjust with unexpected changes in inflation is applied. Higher inflation also eats into the capital gains that are sought by many housing investors.

• Management risk:

The risk is based on the capability of the management and its ability to negotiate leases, respond to economic conditions, and operate/maintain the property efficiently. Even in case of residential properties, with outdated tenant laws across India, we have seen how difficult it gets for the manager or owner to get hold of their property. Therefore, as is the case in commercial properties, property owners must go for registered leases for residential properties as well.

• Interest rate risk:

Real estate tends to be highly leveraged and thus the rate of return earned by equity investors can be affected by changes in interest rates. Most mortgages are of floating interest rates in India and therefore any monetary policy changes by RBI is keenly watched by the real estate investors. Even if an existing investor has a fixed interest rate loan or no loan at all, the change in the monetary policy by RBI by increasing the level of interest rates may also lower the capital value of a property that a new buyer is willing to pay.

• Legislative risk:

Regulations such as tenant laws, taxes, registration procedures, stamp duty, restricted use of property, zoning, and other restrictions imposed by the state bodies or municipalities are categorized as legislative risk and must be factored in by the investors.

• Environmental risk:

Environmental risks such as constructing or buying property in areas where the land use policy is under jurisdiction and therefore have the possibilities of adversely affecting the returns on investment.


Having gone through the above risks, a property investor should do his/her due-diligence before investing in a property:

• Review of title/deed documents
• Property survey
• Government compliance
• Areas of review/locality
• Physical inspection
• Tax matters
• Insurance policies
• Pending dues
• Market studies including the demand for the similar property
• Review of rent agreements or lease deeds in case the property is already rented.

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Codes for design and development of earthquake resistant buildings in India

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

While buying an apartment in a builder project, one would have noticed the words ‘Earthquake Resistant Building’ in the ‘Specifications’ section.  This is mandated as per the codes and guidelines framed by The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

As we know, a good part of North India and hilly regions have been classified as seismically sensitive zones or earthquake prone. Therefore construction of buildings in these regions has to be meticulous and as per the strict guidelines and set of rules laid down by The Bureau of Indian Standards BIS. Deviation from these guidelines may prove to be harmful in case of a severe earthquake. The buildings need to be designed in such a way that they can withstand the ground vibrations caused by earthquakes. Failure to adhere to guidelines can cause damage to human life and loss of property.

Image source: http://www.mapsofindia.com/

We have seen in past, how earthquakes have proved to be disastrous. And therefore, putting in place systems and guidelines that can avoid or limit the loss are extremely useful.

Find below the codes for design and development of earthquake resistant buildings in India:

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Top 8 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is very much like any other big Indian city. A promise of a good standard of living, high quality education, capital appreciation, budding infrastructure, lots of career opportunities, safety for women and children and a cultural haven make it one of the best bets to buy a home in India. But if you are a first-time home-buyer it can be quite a daunting experience with no proper guidance. Read on to know the top 8 tips if you are a buying a house in Ahmedabad for the first time.

1. Begin saving a part of your earnings every month
The most important thing for you to do is to start saving money as early as possible. Why? The cost of property in Ahmedabad is on the rise and having a surplus of cash in advance will mean you will be able to book your home at the earliest. You will need this cash for the down payment of your new home. A few things you can do to collect a part of your down payment are: save your tax refunds or any bonus you get from your office. You can also invest in fixed deposits or mutual funds.

2. You can afford to wait even if you are sure this house is the one 
Unlike foreign cities like New York and London where the unsold inventory is rather marginal, the fact is that the number of unsold units is relatively high in Ahmedabad. So do not rush to seal the deal. Wait see if you can get a good discount deal from the developer. Sometimes, all it takes is a little coaxing in a charismatic manner and the builder will come around and drop the price a little. If during the time you decide to wait, you get to know of another buyer who is equally keen to buy the house you have set your sights on then it would be best to go ahead with the deal and not wait. However, this kind of scenario is rather rare.

3. Keep your emotions aside and be practical
If you happen to fall in love with a home that is beyond your budget then the best thing to do is to let it go. Yes, let it go! Do not get emotionally attached to a property you merely visit once or twice. You will have to weigh the pros and cons before you make such a huge investment. Home buying for you should be a pleasant experience and not a cumbersome one. Do proper research. See factors like how close the house is to the nearby bus stop, railway station, metro and airport. Factors like proximity to schools, market, mall, entertainment hubs etc. are vital ones.

4. Get a good real estate agent
While it will no doubt save your money if you choose to let go of an agent, it is not a practical idea. Remember that in case you opt to do all the research yourself, chances you your maiden home buying experience being hassle free will be very low. How many times will your boss grant you a half day or leave just because you want to go and have a look at property? Your real estate agent will act as your eyes, ears and legs and do all the running around on your behalf. The trick here is to make sure you don’t succumb to any pressure from the agent and ultimately make the final buying decision on your own. Your real estate agent has to be someone who has your best interests at heart and not a greedy one who is only concerned about getting his/her commission while not caring about your needs at all. You will be able to undermine this only when you spend decent time interacting with a couple of agents. Ask all of them the same questions and then see which out of them seems the most genuine.

5. Talk to your agent
Only zeroing in on a good agent is not enough. Even the best agents won’t be able to perform according to your expectations unless you actually tell then what is it exactly that you are looking for. The more specific you are, the easier their job will become. For example, 1BHK near the station is not going to get you any good results, however, 1BHK in a quiet area near Satellite and Iscon Mega Mall will. This in turn will save a lot of time and effort and make the process easy for both you as well as your agent.

6. Indulge in a little recce through the Internet
Do not leave everything on your agent. Do some research yourself in your free time. The best way to do that would be to use the Internet. Read up on the areas and localities you have set your sights on. Details like how is the traffic there, proximity to hospitals and other amenities are easy to find online. Also, you can use the Internet to read up reviews about a particular builder your agent recommends. While this would seem like a mundane task, it would be very helpful especially if something slips out of the radar of your agent.

7. Avail affordable housing schemes + home loan schemes
In Ahmedabad, you can avail of the government’s affordable housing scheme PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana). Through this scheme, you will be able to buy your dream home at affordable housing rates as well as get a good deal on a bank’s home loan offer. So find out which bank in the city has a special tie up with the scheme for home loan applications. Mostly, all major banks have tied up with the government under this scheme but still its best to check. Even under a normal home loan scheme, every bank offers a different rate of interest against the loan amount. It is also important to check how much monthly EMI will be deducted from your salary once the process starts. Make sure the bank you choose does not deduct your entire salary amount or does not expect a monthly EMI which is higher than your monthly earnings. You will also have to check the total number of years the bank expects you to return the loan amount.

8. Give preference to a project which has received OC
While the GST council did announce a slash in the GST amounts for under-construction residential projects to 5 percent and 1 percent (for affordable housing) from 12 percent and 8 percent respectively. You will be exempted to pay any GST if the house you choose to buy has already received an OC (occupation certificate). Especially if you have a tight budget, this would act as a boon to you.

Follow these tips and get ready to make your dream of owning a home in Ahmedabad a reality.

This is a guest post by Vipul

Things to Avoid while Investing in Real Estate

If you were to believe the latest national news, consumer confidence is on the decline and cash deficit on builders on an incline. In Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and other popular cities, the demand has come down to around 50% for new property launches.

But not everything in real estate is gloomy, the Reserve Bank of India has recently made a cut in policy interest rates. While this news may cause haste in investing in the sector, say in buying luxury villas in Bangalore or any other metro cities, there are some things you need to consider before making an investment. These are mentioned below for your consideration:

• Trading in real estate properties frequently

When you trade in real estate properties more frequently – that is, buy or sell your property in shorter duration – you may incur a loss in tax benefits.

To be precise, if you sell your property within 3 years of making your real estate acquisition, such acquisition would then be called short term capital gain, which entitles you to zero tax concession or exemption.

But, if you sell your real estate property after 3 years, it entitles you to long term capital gains and the taxation for this would be at a comparatively lower rate.

Be wary that if you trade-in too many times even in long term capital gains as it could alarm your Income Tax officer, who may consider this dealing as your business income and withdraw the low rate on long term gains.

• Investing in properties that are due completion

It’s easy for your agent or builder to make excuses for not completing their project on time and completing it at a much later date than promised. They may not have any hidden agenda behind this, except prolonging time. It means a little more number of EMIs for you than which were originally expected.

The second of the two-pronged effect of the delay is this: The tax benefits that you receive on your property investment are restrained on possession, which is a direct effect of long delays.

Being alert on investing in incomplete or overdue properties is therefore very important, at least for your pockets.

• Planning your budget before investing

We know that if a budget is unplanned or unsupervised before investing in real estate, it may deplete most of your saved resources, back-up money, or hamper your short-term investments. It may also affect your daily expenditure and can create dearth in your cherished small purchases every now and then.

Purchasing properties not just involves a down payment but also what seems like an endless array of EMIs – directly affecting your monthly salary.

Seek the professional advice of your financial consultant before buying a real estate property. A good recommendation would be saving at least 40% of your total income after you have made your investment.

• Considering all the factors before making your investment

As again like planning your budget, it is equally important in knowing and fully understanding all factors involved with making your investment, because knowing the loan criteria, real estate details, and repaying capacity are not adequate. Consult a financial adviser for a complete financial plan on your investment.

• Plenty of investment in properties may not result in profits always

The best idea would be to divide your finances into different types of investments, and not just stick to investing in real estate. First, because transaction costs in real estate are much higher than say investing in gold, bank deposits, bond funds, equities, etc.

The prime reason that people choose to invest in a lump sum in properties is that their prices increase at a faster rate compared to other most forms of investments. While this may not be true always, it’s wise to be aware of the current changes or trends in the market for accurate predictions.

If you are planning to make any investment such as buying villas in Bangalore or Chennai, etc., these above-mentioned points should hopefully help you in making the right investment.


This is a guest post by Dinesh Dhawde

Looking to sell your property? Know more about Capital Gains Tax and Exemptions!

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

If buying a property requires proper due-diligence to avoid unwanted hassles at a later stage, selling a property requires you to focus on Capital Gains Tax and Exemptions.

Under the Income Tax Act of 1961, Sections 45 to 55A deals with Capital Gains.

Capital Gains Tax are categorized as:

• Short term Capital Gains (Holding period - 36 months or less)
• A short-term capital gains/loss will be treated and taxed in the same manner as any other income/loss.
• Short-term Capital Gains from Property sale are included in the investor's income and are taxed as per the slab rate.

• Long term Capital Gains (Holding period - more than 36 months)

Long-term Capital Gains is computed as below:
LTCG = Full value of consideration received or accruing - (indexed cost of acquisition + indexed cost of improvement + cost of transfer + Expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such a transfer)

Long-term capital gains are taxed at a flat rate of 20 per cent for individuals and foreign companies, and 20 per cent for domestic companies.

An example of Long Term Capital Gains Tax on Property in India:

Cost of purchasing a property in November 2008 - Rs 50 Lacs

Cost of selling the property in August 2013 - Rs 1 Crore

Inflation Index for fiscal year 2008-2009 – 582 and for fiscal year 2013-2014 - 939 (see from the attached cost inflation index chart*)

Purchase Cost after adjusting for indexation – 50 Lacs x (939/582) = Rs 80.67 Lacs

Long Term Capital Gains = 1 Crore – 80.67 Lacs = Rs 19.33 Lacs

Tax on Long Term Capital Gains = Rs 19.33 Lacs x 20% = Rs 3,86,597.90

Education Cess = 386597.90 x 3% = Rs 11597.94

Total Tax on Long Term Capital Gains = Rs 3,98,195.90


Tax exemption on Long-term Capital Gains under the following conditions:

• If the sale relates to a property other than one residential accommodation and is reinvested in any residential property within a period of one year before or two years after the date of transfer.
• Alternatively, such re-investment may also be in construction of a residential house within three years after the date of transfer to be eligible for claiming this benefit.
• The house so purchased or constructed should not be transferred again within three years after the purchase or construction. Quantum of exemption will be the amount invested in the new property or the long-term capital gains, whichever is less. 

Or

If only the capital gains (and not the total sale proceeds) is invested for a period of three years in specific Bonds of National Highways Authority of India or Rural Electrification Corporation Limited or bonds redeemable after three years issued by National Housing Bank or Small Industries Development Bank of India or NABARD, as may be specified by the Government from time to time (Section 54 EC) within a period of six months from the date of transfer of the asset.

Quantum of deduction:

If the amount of capital gains is equal to or less than the cost of the new house, the entire capital gains shall be exempt.
If the amount of the capital gains is greater than the cost of the new house, then the cost of the new house shall be allowed as an exemption.

* Cost Inflation Index chart for calculations of Long Term Capital Gains Tax in India

Cost inflation index for calculations of capital gains tax in india from Green Realtech Projects Pvt. Ltd


However, Budget 2014 has altered the definition of Capital Gains Exemption. If you own a property such as ancestral home or a bigger home, and if you sell it and buy more than one smaller apartment, then, in that case, you will be exempted from Capital Gains tax on the first apartment and you are liable to pay capital gains tax on second or third apartment.

As an example, let’s say, you own a property worth Rupees 2 crores in July 2014. And you want to sell it to buy 3 smaller apartments.
Assuming, the cost of buying this property in May 2003 was Rupees 20 Lacs.
Inflation Index for fiscal year 2003-2004 – 463 and for fiscal year 2013-2014 - 939 (see from the attached cost inflation index chart*)
Purchase Cost after adjusting for indexation – 20 Lacs x (939/463) = Rs 40.56 Lacs
Long Term Capital Gains = 2 Crore – 40.56 Lacs = Rs 1.59 crore

However, if you wish to purchase 3 apartments of 65 lacs each, then, according to Budget 2014, capital gains tax exemptions will be applicable only for one residential apartment.

In other words, your Long term capital gains will be = 2 Crore – 40.56 Lacs – 65 Lacs = 94.44 Lacs
And long term Capital Gains tax will be = 94.44 Lacs x 20% = Rs. 18.89 Lacs

However, after selling your property, you invest the amount in one bigger property worth Rupees 2 crores or more, then, you will be exempted from Capital Gains.

Until this Budget, anyone in India selling immovable property, or other long-term assets and using the money to purchase a residential house within three years of the sale was not required to pay capital gains tax (20 per cent) on the sale proceeds.

But the Finance Minister has now tweaked this section to specify that only “one residential house in India” would be eligible for the tax break, instead of “a residential house”.

Source: National Housing Bank

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Can an NRI Take Personal Loan in India?

Yes, NRI’s can take personal loans in India. The NRI personal loans are accessible from various banks in India. No matter what purpose is the loan offer, there are many prominent banks that offer personal loans to NRIs against fixed deposits while private part banks give NRI personal loans that might be unbound. In fact, the personal loans for NRIs are a decent alternative to get speedy financing for diverse prerequisites.

The NRI personal loans are intended to help Indians who are living abroad to profit from the advantages of a personal loan in India. Some of the most famous banks which provide loans for NRI are State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Canara Bank, Axis Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank, etc.


1. Eligibility: 

• There are some requirements an NRI is supposed to meet in order to qualify the process of getting a loan. They are:
• The applicant applying for the loan should be a citizen of India.
• The applicant must also be at least 21 years of age.
• It is important for the applicant to be a professional with a consistent salary or to run a business and be self employed.
• The salary or the income of the applicant should be enough to qualify for the loan.
• A number of documents which are required to be submitted as a formality.

In addition to all these things, it is possible that there may be some additional criteria dependent on the bank rules. The best to gain a better understanding of all the prerequisites is to go through the website of the bank you’ve chosen and be clear about everything that is required to get a personal loan.


2. Documentation: 

• Coming to the documents required for NRI loans, the process is pretty simple to get any other personal loan. Salary details and KYC details need to be shown while applying for a loan. If a person is an NRI then reports which affirm the residential status are also important. Other important things are a passport and a VISA of the country the candidate is living in currently. In addition to all these documents, some other important documents are:
• A photocopy of passport and VISA of the candidate. 
• A certificate of salary determining the name, date of joining, designation and compensation details in English. 
• Bank statements of both domestic and International banks throughout the previous half year. 
• In the event that the candidate isn't accessible in India when the application of loan is submitted, at that point a General Power of Attorney should properly bore witness from the Indian office of the NRI's occupant nation. In the event that the candidate is available in India, the Power of Attorney can be privately legally approved. 
• A duplicate copy of the appointment letter of NRI just as the contract.

You might be required to present some extra documents, so the best approach is to recheck the formalities of the bank that you have chosen for a personal loan.

3. Personal loans for NRIs: 

There are many banks in India that offer both rupee and foreign currency personal loans to NRIs who have FCNR or NRE term accounts. These personal loans are accessible against the sum in the FCNR or NRE accounts at highly competitive international rates. The loans are usually accessible up to 90% of the sum in the account with each bank having its own maximum limit on personal loan amounts.

4. Some highlights of personal loans are: 

• The NRI loans have a wide scope of highlights as talked about below:
• The NRI loans are actually accessible for a higher amount of money. 
• The rates of interest involved in these loans are pretty competitive.
• Time frame involved in the reimbursement of these loans ranges between one year to as long as five years.
• An NRI can get a loan to fulfill almost any purpose.

5. Advantages of NRI loans:

• The NRI personal loans offer many advantages of quick financing and many other things, for example,
• Simple financing for individual credit prerequisites. 
• The loans can be obtained from many other banks of your choice. Each bank has its own rules and advantages.
• Extremely simple documentation and the application process. 
• Bother free and quick preparing of all the important applications. 
• The loans are accessible for both the salaried employees and people who are self employed.

This is a guest post by Shipra Aggarwal

Detailed Guide: Finding and Moving to a New Home

Are you in your 20s or early 30s? And starting your master’s degree or settling in a new job or just got married, chances are, you have encountered this massive hunt. Yea hunt and we are talking about finding the right place to stay and live in a city of your choice. While real estate prices have boomed in major metros across India, and therefore, only option you are left with is to find a decent 1BHK or at most 2BHK apartment near your workplace or institute.

As easy as it may sound, the whole experience of settling in a new home is tedious to say the least. And when we talk about new home, what we mean is renting a home which is of right size, located close to your workplace and is in close proximity to commercial & institutional centers such as malls, hospitals, schools, etc.

So, what are the things one should pay attention to while looking to rent a home in a metro across India? How should I as a home seeker go about the whole experience? We list down the steps based on true experience.

• Finding the right place
• List down your ‘wants’ and ‘needs’
• Search on Internet
• Preparing to Move
• Sign the Lease Agreement only after consultation
• Hire a mover, it’s always worth it
• Identify your unloading zone in advance
• Packing Your Bags and Boxes
• Setting Up
• The Décor

Or

One can subscribe to the below Guide “The Most Jugaadu 1 BHK Ever” by Voucher Cloud that has tips and tricks for the young population in India which can help them select/buy/transform their 1 BHK into an awesome crib. Hope you will find this useful.

What are the landlord’s rights and what precautions a landlord shall take before renting out a property?

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

Real estate is a lucrative investment class. Not only it gives you capital appreciation gains but at the same time one can earn rental income from his/her property. Whether the property you own is commercial or residential, one can rent the property to earn stable monthly income. However, as easy as it may sound, there are always issues when it comes to renting out a property. What if the tenant does not pay the rent on time? What if the tenant mishandles the property? What if the tenant doesn't pay the utility bills on time? These are some of the questions a property owner is confronted with and therefore taking precautions at the beginning of renting out a property will make sure that the property is rented out to good quality tenant.

At the same time, a landlord enjoys legal rights as laid down by the Transfer of Property Act, 1882. These are ‘Right to timely accrual of lease amount’, ‘Right to know about the condition his property is in’, ‘Right to know of any changes that the tenant might want to make’, ‘Right to notify the tenant of an intention to increase the rent’, ‘Right to be informed of any disclosures’, ‘Right to get back his property on repossession’, ‘Right to repossess the property complete with all fittings and furnishings’, ‘Right to claim all the charges for supplies’.

Therefore, before one rents out or leases his/her property to a prospective tenant, make sure to go through the following document about ‘Precautions before renting out’ and ‘landlord's rights’.

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Growth of Housing Finance in India

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

In order to provide housing for all by 2022, the government needs to develop the housing finance sector. In its current avatar, the housing finance sector is able to provide loans to borrowers working in the formal sector with proof of income and banking transactions. However, about 99% of the total shortage of housing in urban areas belongs to the Economic Weaker Section and Low Income Groups of the society.  (Overall housing shortage in urban areas - 18.78 million units till 2012).

Over a period of time, housing finance has evolved considerably. In the initial days, people either self funded their housing needs or participated in schemes launched by government owned institutions in the real estate sector like state housing boards and development authorities. Launch of HUDCO in 1970 represented a paradigm shift and for the first time housing finance was formalized. However, private sector participation in housing finance took shape only when HDFC was setup in 1977. In the late 1990s, commercial banks also got involved in housing finance.

On August 28, 2014, Prime minister launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna’. The objective of the program is financial inclusion for all. Can this program cater to the housing finance needs of the BPL or marginalized Population in future? There is possibility of directly transferring interest subsidies on housing loans to the EWS and LIG categories.

In this section, we highlight the various steps taken by the successive governments to facilitate the need for housing and housing finance in India.

Growth of housing finance in india from Green Realtech Projects Pvt. Ltd

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Must-ask Questions Before You Finalize on a Luxury Apartment

Now, that you have decided to buy a luxury apartment, it’s important to invest your time and carry out the necessary homework around the luxury real-estate market. Firstly, the easiest way to do research is using the internet. There are many real-estate discussion forums and groups in social-networking sites such as Facebook or Quora, where you can post questions related to the luxury home market. All you need is basic networking skills, and you can easily evoke informative answers from “virtual” friends.

Apart from posting online queries, it’s important for you to have in-person interactions with people in real estate. For example, you can set appointments with sales people from various real-estate companies and get a quick view of the prices and deals.

Besides, it’s important to draw impartial advice from people who are experts in the market. In that respect, you may meet real-estate advisers, brokers and agents who are known to enlighten many on the market and share a few tips on finding the best deals in the city.

All the interactions, be they virtual or in person, will help you to avoid apprehensions about the big investments you’re about to make. However, there are ways in which you can prepare yourself and ask better questions to understand the market of luxury apartments.

Before the final plunge, let's quickly run through some common questions that come to everyone's mind…

1. Is the project title clear? 
2. Has the project got the required approval? 
3. What is the total cost of ownership? What is the monthly maintenance cost?
4. Which other costs are included along with the registration fee?  
5. What are the highlights of the project? 
6. How great is the aesthetic value of the building? Is the building design in sync with your concept of a luxury building? 
7. What are the key amenities showcased by the builder? 
8. According to you, what are the most desirable amenities of a luxury apartment?
9. How good are the views from balcony and living room?
10. Are concierge services available? 
11. How far are the conveniences?
12. Is the price affordable for you? 
13. What’s the overall reputation of the builder in terms of deliverability, quality and finish?
14. What’s the actual size of the house? 
15. Is there a model apartment or an occupied flat that you can visit?  
16. What is the compensation offered if the possession gets delayed?
17. Is there an option to customize the interiors when the building is in construction phase?
18. What are the luxury amenities provided by the builder? Are they at par with amenities in luxury projects being built by other builders?
19. What is the overall prospect of the price trends in the given locality?
20. What is the probable return on investment for the given project?
21. If the apartment is already occupied, can you check the opinion of current owners about the property?
22. How is the locality connected to other parts of the city? 
23. Is there easy access to public transport facilities?
24. Apart from the main features, what are subtle aspects of the project which make it unique? For example, the floor-to-ceiling height, common wall sharing, number of apartments in each floor or block, number of elevators in each block, fire safety precautions, etc.

Closing note...

Here is one suggestion to prospective luxury home buyers – don’t believe everything that sales reps say. Try to go beyond their words and the glossy brochures. Carry out a good research on your future home as the pay-out is big and it’s an important decision in your life.

This is a Guest post by Seema Mohta, who has over 7 years of experience within Real Estate Industry. She has worked with Various Real estate companies and has Good knowledge about property trends, Investment, Apartments in Sarjapur

What is Property Tax / House Tax in India?

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

Municipalities across all cities in India charge a levy from local residents to maintain the city’s infrastructure such as sewerage, park, roads, other civic amenities, lighting, etc. The property tax shall not be confused with income tax payable on income generated from the property. While income generated from the property by renting it out comes under the ambit of income tax authorities and is calculated as per the income tax guidelines, the property tax is a municipal level subject. Income generated from the property is a central subject whereas property tax is a local subject. Property tax is also sometimes referred to as ‘house tax’.

Some municipalities do not charge property tax and instead bill separately for the services rendered to the residents. There are municipal bodies who charge residents for water and drainage facilities, maintenance charges. Moreover, MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) and MP (Member of Parliament) funds are also utilized for the upkeep of the city.

How is property tax calculated? The tax is computed on the basis of rental income that the property under consideration may generate by way of letting it out. Usually, the property tax or house tax is a small percentage of the yearly rental income that the property can generate if it is rented-out. And it varies from state to state and from city to city. The property tax / house tax in India is to be paid once every year or every 6 months.

Below are the types of properties that are liable to be taxed under property tax / house tax provision in India:

• Residential house (self-occupied or let out)
• Office Building
• Factory Building
• Godowns
• Flats
• Shops

More details about property tax in India:

Property tax or house tax in india from Green Realtech Projects Pvt. Ltd

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Stamp Duty & Property Registration Charges in India

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

Real Estate has always been the priority asset class for majority of Indians to invest their lifelong savings. Whether one is investing for end-use or for investment purpose, he/she needs to take notice of various costs associated with real estate. Other than paying the market value of property in consideration, there are costs such as brokerage charges, insurance, taxes, and stamp duty & registration charges.

In this article, Stamp duty and registration charges are presented in Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Faridabad, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Kochi, Jaipur, and other cities (states) in India.

Stamp duty and registration charges in india from Green Realtech Projects Pvt. Ltd

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What are the various kinds of documents that are required to avail home loan in India? What are the documents a salaried class, self employed, businessman needs to present for home loan in India?

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

As per the recent report by National Housing Bank titled “Report on trend and progress of housing in India 2012”, the following observations were made.

The urban population of India has been growing at a rapid pace. As per the Census 2011, 31.16 per cent of the total population is in the urban areas. The shortage of housing units for the urban areas for 2012 is estimated at 18.78 million units.

With time, there has been expansion and improvement in the housing finance market by way of various financial reforms; however the housing loans as a percentage of GDP have remained at around 7 percent, significantly lower than the levels achieved in most of the developed countries.

During the financial year 2011-12, housing loan which is disbursed to individuals across India stands at Rs. 68221.12 Crore. Out of which about 71.34% was used by individuals for acquisition/construction of new houses, about 2.63% for repair of existing houses, and about 26.03% was used for purchase of old/existing houses (resale properties). The housing loan availed by individuals across India continue to increase year on year by an average of about 20%. All these numbers suggest that home loan is a key factor when an individual goes out to buy home.

However, before one approaches the bank or housing finance companies for housing loan, he/she needs to have the papers in order. Papers about income proof, bank statements, PAN Card, etc. What are the documents that are required to avail home loan? This is a question many of you are confronted with. And therefore, we have put together a comprehensive list of documents that are required for home loan. Find it below:

List of documents that are required to avail home loans in india from Green Realtech Projects Pvt. Ltd

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Understanding interest rates and its impact on home buying decision!

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

Buying a home has always been a cherished dream for an individual. The very thought of staying within the four walls that belong to you is very enthralling. The home that one owns provides not only the physical comfort but also emotional and psychological security which, in turn facilitate peace in life.

The dream of purchasing a home has remained intact; what has changed over the years though is age profile of buyers. Not long ago, purchasing a home would be a reality when a middle class man is on the verge of retirement. His life- long saving could be barely enough to finance the coveted asset. The balance could be pooled in by relatives and friends.  However, the time has changed now. Thanks to the wave of financial reforms and robust banking sector today. A young man out from the college and grabbing a promising job will soon be found to survey the real estate market to book a house.

The relationship between the financial sector and real estate today is complementary in nature even though the banks may be viewed as having upper hand in terms of being fund providers. It would not be an exaggeration to assume that majority of the transactions in the real estate market in India is being financed by bank loans. In such situations where bank loans have gained so much of importance in our lives, it becomes a necessity to understand the nuances attached with them.

Interest Rate:

A home loan seeker is confronted with a myriad of jargon. The most common and yet the most critical among them all is interest rate. Understanding interest rate and impact of its movement on the loan amount is crucial in making an informed decision.

Interest, to put it simply, is a kind of fee charged by lender of funds from the borrower. This fee or the interest may be computed at a “fixed” or “variable/floating” rate. So, if Rahul takes a loan of Rs. One Lac from a bank for period of one year at a rate of interest of 10%, it means he needs to refund Rs.1, 10,000/- at the expiry of one year (Rs. One Lac is the principal amount and Rs.10, 000/- is the interest).

Eligibility to avail home loans:

Banks and Housing Finance Companies are cautious when they lend. There are certain prudential norms which they follow while sanctioning a home loan. One of them is that the bank would restrict its exposure up to 80% of the value of the asset in respect of residential house property subject to the eligibility of the buyer. How the eligibility is determined and what role level of interest rate plays are interesting aspects to discuss.

In a typical home loan application, a bank would consider the following while determining the maximum amount of loan that can be sanctioned:

1. Gross Salary/month
2. Net Salary/month
3. Value of property 

An example:

Let’s take an illustration. Amit, a young software engineer in his mid twenties wishes to buy a house in Delhi NCR. He zeroes in on a property in Noida. The description of property is as follows:

• Builder: Sky Builder
• Area of Flat: 1000 Sq. Feet
• Rate/Sq. Feet (All inclusive): Rs.5000/-
• Payment Plan: Construction linked 
• Construction Period: 2 years 

Equipped with such information, the bank would put a threshold limit of Rs.40 Lac (Rs.50 Lac X 80%) on the loan amount that can be sanctioned against the property. Now it needs to evaluate eligibility of Amit based on his income profile. Banks make such evaluation on the basis of their own criteria which may differ from bank to bank. However, as a general rule, banks consider around 40-45% of net salary of an individual to be needed to service EMI.

The following example shows eligibility of Amit in three interest rates scenarios.  It has been assumed that in all three situations, Amit’s salary remains same and there is no change in any variable except in interest rate. In situation-I, where the interest rate is 10.50%p.a., Amit’s loan eligibility works out to be Rs.40 Lac. This is a perfect situation for him as he needs Rs.40 lac only and the maximum amount that the bank is ready to disburse is also Rs.40 lac. However, the situation is not so comfortable when there is a spike in the interest rate from 10.50% to 11.50% p.a. (situation-III).  Keeping the EMI amount almost at same level, there is a decline in the loan eligibility amount to the extent of Rs.2.55 Lac. The reason is simple. Given the hike in the interest rates and no corresponding increase in the income level of the individual, the banks would like to maintain their risk exposure at existing level. Hence, there is a reduction in the loan amount. A decline in the interest rates would be a spurt for the banks to increase the loan eligibility. This however is subject to overall ceiling with respect to asset value.

EMI:

Interest rate movements also cause substantial variability in the EMI that we pay. The table below is quite self-explanatory:

Hope this time when news channels flash the story of how RBI Governor is contemplating to tinker with the interest rates in its monetary policy review, you would not be so clueless about its probable impact on your home loan.  So watch out for it with the analyst in you.

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Power of Attorney in India

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

Power of Attorney is used in many real estate transactions in India. In fact, there are instances when people opt for Power of Attorney instead of the property registration to save on exorbitant property stamp duty and registration charges.

The literal definition of Attorney is ‘a person, typically a lawyer, appointed to act for another in business or legal matters’. Therefore, in real estate transactions, a typical Power of Attorney would mean one person authorizing another person to act on his/her behalf as a legal representative to make binding legal and financial decisions. The person who gives Power of Attorney is known as donor or Principal, while the person who receives the Power of Attorney is known as Agent or holder.

In Delhi, many real estate transactions take place on ‘Power of Attorney’. Since property circle rates in Delhi are extremely high, therefore, there are people who opt for Power of Attorney to save on stamp duty and registration charges. However, there are risks attached to such transactions in case the Agent or holder does not discharge his/her duties accurately and honestly. For example, if the Agent or holder defaults on EMIs on a given property, then, the Principal’s property may be taken over by the authorized bodies by issuing a SARFAESI notice and auctioned for recovery of dues.

More on Power of Attorney can be found below:

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What are the kinds of properties that can and can not be transferred?

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

The property transfer is a complicated process and therefore one must be thoroughly aware of the laws and practices. When we talk of property transfer here, it means, an immovable property that is already registered with one person. The person may choose to sell the property of transfer the property.

One should note that property transfer for an under construction property with the developer is a different and private process. The developer transfers the property from one buyer to another buyer on the request of first buyer. Normally, developers charge a fee for the transfer.

However, in this section, we are focusing our energies on property transfer for a property that has been completed and is registered with the registrar department. This property transfer between any two parties is governed by the “Transfer of Property” Act, 1882. Both of these parties need to be alive to carry out this kind of property transfer. In case, one person is not alive, then, succession laws as per the religion of the dead person are applied for the transfer of property.

So, what kind of properties can be transferred and what kind of properties that cannot be transferred? Find below in the detailed document:

What kind of properties can be transferred and what kind of properties that cannot be transferred from Green Realtech Projects Pvt. Ltd

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