Property prices in metros change almost everyday. In Delhi-NCR, for instance, the costs of premium projects have all but gone out of reach of ordinary middle class people. But where there is a problem, a solution cannot be far behind. People dreaming of a home they can call their own are now opting for projects in smaller cities. Regions such as Greater Noida are emerging to be the new realty investment destinations for locational and other advantages.
This satellite town is located about 18 kms from Noida and an equal distance from Delhi. The proximity to Noida which is the commercial and IT hub of Northern India makes Greater Noida all the more in demand.
The area is also witness to a lot of developmental activities from both government and private initiatives. Quite a few developers from NCR have launched several affordable projects in the city.
And, how can one forget the cost advantage? The prices being charged for real estate in Greater Noida are more affordable than for other areas in Delhi/NCR.
Earlier the traffic near Badarpur Border was a damper while driving from Delhi to Greater Noida, but no longer so. The traffic has been eased with the opening of the Badarpur flyover; this flyover incidentally has been designed and put together by Hindustan Constructions Co Ltd (HCC). The development of the six lane Yamuna Expressway near Sector 80 Noida has also added significantly to the valuation of the area.
And then there is a look into the future. A Formula One grand prix circuit is being built in Greater Noida. This would mean great opportunities for the area as a whole as well as its residents.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Yamuna - Make it Clean
The largest tributary of the Ganges in northern India, the river Yamuna flows through Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh before merging with the Ganges in Allahabad. The river is however facing a threat of sorts from urbanization along its banks as it is being used to discard domestic waste, industrial waste, and even hazardous materials.
Over the years, Yamuna has earned the distinction of being one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Delhi alone dumps almost 57% of its waste into the river. The water of the river in and around Delhi is contaminated and cannot support aquatic life. The ammonia level emanating from high discharge of industrial pollutants in the river make it difficult for life to survive in its depths. And this has repercussions for all of us living along cities in and around the river’s periphery.
What is the way forward? Right thought and firm action, off course. However, political back fighting and blame game between different states and governing bodies leave little scope for positive and corrective action. This government blames that and quid pro quo; and the pollution level in the river shows no signs of receding. The rejuvenation work is often left to social activists and NGOs constrained by limited resources and means.
Clearly the red tapes have to go before any work can take place. The pending issues between various civic bodies, government agencies, industrial units, and other stakeholders need to be sorted out. New and innovative plans to tackle the pollution threat need to be taken up and implemented on a priority basis. Water reservoirs, for instance, can be created to ensure the supply of fresh water; this can bring about a great improvement in the aquatic life in the Yamuna.
After all, who would not want a clean river flowing through their city? A clean Yamuna would definitely mean a better life for people living in Delhi and NCR. So, do your bit and spread the word around. Be aware and make your voice heard. Because together we can and will.
Over the years, Yamuna has earned the distinction of being one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Delhi alone dumps almost 57% of its waste into the river. The water of the river in and around Delhi is contaminated and cannot support aquatic life. The ammonia level emanating from high discharge of industrial pollutants in the river make it difficult for life to survive in its depths. And this has repercussions for all of us living along cities in and around the river’s periphery.
What is the way forward? Right thought and firm action, off course. However, political back fighting and blame game between different states and governing bodies leave little scope for positive and corrective action. This government blames that and quid pro quo; and the pollution level in the river shows no signs of receding. The rejuvenation work is often left to social activists and NGOs constrained by limited resources and means.
Clearly the red tapes have to go before any work can take place. The pending issues between various civic bodies, government agencies, industrial units, and other stakeholders need to be sorted out. New and innovative plans to tackle the pollution threat need to be taken up and implemented on a priority basis. Water reservoirs, for instance, can be created to ensure the supply of fresh water; this can bring about a great improvement in the aquatic life in the Yamuna.
After all, who would not want a clean river flowing through their city? A clean Yamuna would definitely mean a better life for people living in Delhi and NCR. So, do your bit and spread the word around. Be aware and make your voice heard. Because together we can and will.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Real estate – To invest or not to invest.
Real Estate: To Invest or Not To Invest.
Investors have to deal with evolving market dynamics and adjust accordingly. Or perish. This is true for real estate investing as well.
Given market volatility, is it logical to zero in on any one city or area for investment purposes and expect some degree of return?
The answer is in the affirmative. Despite short term uncertainty, realty markets tend to stabilise in the long run. It often pays to invest as there are quite a few opportunities for growth in different types of properties.
Real estate investors would need to think through their decisions though.
• Know Territories Better: Potential investors can take the help of experts working in real estate research to identify regions with immense scope for growth in terms of infrastructure and all round development.
• Procure Reports and Indices: Off-the-shelf reports and study results are now available from some research organisations working in this domain. One can access these reports and gain insights on where, when, and how much to invest.
• Identify the safer options: Investors can consider the Rs. 15-35 lakh band when looking purely for value enhancement, as these offer the best returns in the short to medium term.
• Know the questions to ask: A potential investor can also access important values and variables such as the property capitalization rate from organisations involved in real estate research. The property capitalization rate – to take a case in point - tells us how much a property costs and how much it can be rented for. Properties with less down payments and a greater percentage of returns in the form of rents can be a safe investment bet.
Investors have to deal with evolving market dynamics and adjust accordingly. Or perish. This is true for real estate investing as well.
Given market volatility, is it logical to zero in on any one city or area for investment purposes and expect some degree of return?
The answer is in the affirmative. Despite short term uncertainty, realty markets tend to stabilise in the long run. It often pays to invest as there are quite a few opportunities for growth in different types of properties.
Real estate investors would need to think through their decisions though.
• Know Territories Better: Potential investors can take the help of experts working in real estate research to identify regions with immense scope for growth in terms of infrastructure and all round development.
• Procure Reports and Indices: Off-the-shelf reports and study results are now available from some research organisations working in this domain. One can access these reports and gain insights on where, when, and how much to invest.
• Identify the safer options: Investors can consider the Rs. 15-35 lakh band when looking purely for value enhancement, as these offer the best returns in the short to medium term.
• Know the questions to ask: A potential investor can also access important values and variables such as the property capitalization rate from organisations involved in real estate research. The property capitalization rate – to take a case in point - tells us how much a property costs and how much it can be rented for. Properties with less down payments and a greater percentage of returns in the form of rents can be a safe investment bet.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Want to stay in the tallest building in Northern India?
Taking evolving consumer demand of home owners to a new height, Supertech has announced its “North Eye” project. This leading realty firm from NCR will invest
Rs 600 crore to develop a 255 meter tall residential tower in Noida, claimed to be the tallest in Northern India.
This real estate project will have 60 floors offering a total of 1.326 housing units with prices of up to Rs 2.25 crore.
The cost of the housing unit would be Rs 7700 per sq ft. The size of the flats would vary between 1,650 sq ft and 3,350 sq ft. The building would also have studio apartments targeting young professionals, with a fixed floor size of 520 sq ft. Starting from 35 lakhs, the prices of the apartments would go up to Rs 2.25 crore.
According to RK Arora, Supertech chairman and managing director, the funding for the project would be met through internal accruals and advances from customers. The company has also approached private equity players in a bid to raise funds.
Rs 600 crore to develop a 255 meter tall residential tower in Noida, claimed to be the tallest in Northern India.
This real estate project will have 60 floors offering a total of 1.326 housing units with prices of up to Rs 2.25 crore.
The cost of the housing unit would be Rs 7700 per sq ft. The size of the flats would vary between 1,650 sq ft and 3,350 sq ft. The building would also have studio apartments targeting young professionals, with a fixed floor size of 520 sq ft. Starting from 35 lakhs, the prices of the apartments would go up to Rs 2.25 crore.
According to RK Arora, Supertech chairman and managing director, the funding for the project would be met through internal accruals and advances from customers. The company has also approached private equity players in a bid to raise funds.
Affordable Houses: A dream-come-true for many home owners
The number of people wanting to buy a place they can call their own is quite high, at any given point of time. However, the costs charged by developers often deter many from going ahead. But this scenario is about to change.
Thanks to several initiatives in this area, owning one’s space at a reasonable cost would not be a distant dream for many people. Projects in this category are being announced by several leading developers in different parts of the country. This is a recent trend with developers targeting both metros as well as tier II cities. Affordable housing projects are coming up in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad on the one hand and smaller cities such as Ludhiana, Jalandar, and Chandigarh on the other.
There is no significant trade offs in terms of quality of life either. Guaranteed you would not find facilities such as swimming pools and gymnasiums, but the comfortable living spaces and aesthetically created outdoors would more than make up for it.
So, all you people out there who desire your own homes but do not want to shell out exorbitant amounts can now take heart. Affordable housing is the name of the game and the chances of finding a project that suits your taste and is within budget are quite high.
Thanks to several initiatives in this area, owning one’s space at a reasonable cost would not be a distant dream for many people. Projects in this category are being announced by several leading developers in different parts of the country. This is a recent trend with developers targeting both metros as well as tier II cities. Affordable housing projects are coming up in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad on the one hand and smaller cities such as Ludhiana, Jalandar, and Chandigarh on the other.
There is no significant trade offs in terms of quality of life either. Guaranteed you would not find facilities such as swimming pools and gymnasiums, but the comfortable living spaces and aesthetically created outdoors would more than make up for it.
So, all you people out there who desire your own homes but do not want to shell out exorbitant amounts can now take heart. Affordable housing is the name of the game and the chances of finding a project that suits your taste and is within budget are quite high.
Green buildings are here to stay
“Green Buildings” is the buzz word these days and so is energy consumption.
The pool of non-renewable energy sources is declining at a rapid rate and signs are there for everyone to see. Petrol and diesel prices go up after every few months. Electricity bills have increased considerably over the years. The cost of living – in most parts of India – is at an all-time high. The global economy has slowed down twice in the last decade.
Disturbing trends all. It is high time we started taking our environment seriously.
Pushed to the edge, we have no option but to look for answers that are long term and issue specific. Here the issue is saving our scarce energy resources. And the best way to go about it is to promote what is being termed as affordable and environment friendly housing.
What are green buildings?
Green buildings are built differently. During the conceptualization stage, adequate focus is given to maximize air circulation and flow of natural light. These buildings are developed by efficiently using natural resources and environment friendly building materials like aluminum, steel, and glass. The initial cost of construction is undoubtedly high; however, there is large savings accrued in terms of maintenance costs and energy costs for the owners of such properties.
Green buildings synergize with nature and help us live responsibly. No wonder, these are here to stay.
The pool of non-renewable energy sources is declining at a rapid rate and signs are there for everyone to see. Petrol and diesel prices go up after every few months. Electricity bills have increased considerably over the years. The cost of living – in most parts of India – is at an all-time high. The global economy has slowed down twice in the last decade.
Disturbing trends all. It is high time we started taking our environment seriously.
Pushed to the edge, we have no option but to look for answers that are long term and issue specific. Here the issue is saving our scarce energy resources. And the best way to go about it is to promote what is being termed as affordable and environment friendly housing.
What are green buildings?
Green buildings are built differently. During the conceptualization stage, adequate focus is given to maximize air circulation and flow of natural light. These buildings are developed by efficiently using natural resources and environment friendly building materials like aluminum, steel, and glass. The initial cost of construction is undoubtedly high; however, there is large savings accrued in terms of maintenance costs and energy costs for the owners of such properties.
Green buildings synergize with nature and help us live responsibly. No wonder, these are here to stay.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Bangalore seeing growth in luxury realty
Home buyers are on a shopping spree to buy talk-of-the-town homes. Driven by rebound in consumer sentiment and growing millionaire population, signature homes are making a lifestyle statement.The new breed of luxury homes offers home theatre lounge, private elevators, Poggenpohl kitchens, home office, plunge pools, sundecks and all the five-star amenities that flaunt affluence.
The luxury realty market pegged at Rs 5,300 crore is seeing more action in the six metros. But smaller cities like Shimla, Kausani and Lonavala are emerging on the luxury horizon. In the heart of Bangalore, realty player Total Environment has launched its new project — Van Gogh’s Garden — that offers 17 customised apartments with terrace garden and water body with every unit. The apartment measuring 4,300-9,300 sft costs anywhere between Rs 14-20 crore. “Usually, CXOs and business leaders with a global outlook buy such plush houses,” said head of business development at Total Environment Sanjaya Hasthak.
Bangalore is commanding a premium of Rs 12,000 -Rs 25,000 per sft in the super luxury space. “Premium properties have appreciated by 20% in the last year and a half,” said the MD of Sobha Developers JC Sharma. The market has seen a demand for properties upside of Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 3 crore. Since it caters to 17%-18% of workforce, high-end offering is the unique proposition, said the regional director-south, Knight Frank India Naresh Dandapat.
Another city-based developer Skyline Constructions is defining exclusivity by offering six boutique apartments — Villa Maria — measuring 6,500-10,000 sft. The property coming up just off Brigade Road is a ‘by-invitation’ project costing Rs 12 crore to Rs 22 crore. Each apartment boasts of a private swimming pool attached to it. “The millionaire population in the city is driving the appetite for luxury homes,” the MD of Skyline Constructions Avinash Prabhu said.
In Gurgaon, capital values for premium residential properties in locations like DLF Golf Course Road, Sohna Road and NH8 have witnessed an increase of 8%-10% in the second quarter, according to a report by Colliers International.With the luxury real estate market back with gusto, Mumbai is witnessing a slew of launches in Lower Parel, Prabhadevi, Goregaon, Andheri and Bandra (West). Also suburbs like Dombivili have emerged from obscurity to become a fast developing hub in the recent past. “However, the prices of apartments are skewed at Rs 2 crore - Rs 6.5 crore,” said the MD of realty research firm Liases Foras Pankaj Kapoor.
Mumbai-based Lodha Developers’ Golflinks at Dombivili is a golf themed project offering 4 bedroom villas facing the golf course. “The Kalyan-Dombivili region is poised to become the most promising growth corridor in Western India. We plan to launch three more projects in the luxury segment,” said the CMO of the firm R Karthik.
Lodha is developing another luxury project — Lodha World One — a 117-storey tower coming up on a 17-acre plot in Lower Parel. Each apartment sprawling 3,000-11,000 sft costs minimum of Rs 10 crore which is due for completion in 2015.Another player Oberoi Realty has already sold 338 units in its Exquisite project in Goregoan out of the total 774 units. The project is due for completion in 2013. “Luxury has become more affordable. There is a sudden pick-up in luxury home market. Even during the slowdown, property prices in Mumbai didn’t see a correction beyond 10%-15%. With buoyancy in consumer sentiments, they are ready to pay extra to meet their aspirational lifestyle,” said the VP of marketing and communication at Oberoi Realty Reema Kundnani. It is also planning a mixed-use luxury project in Worli totaling 2.1 million sft.
Exclusivity is not just restricted to people, but there are enquiries for pet corners! Bangalore-based Puravankara Projects would offer a pet corner in its yet to be launched property — Purva Signature. Each apartment costing Rs 2 crore-Rs 5.5 crore comes with a host of amenities including barbeque place, home office, maid room, and private lifts.
So luxury comes with a new pincode and fancy price tag!
Flaunt your lifestyle
Bangalore is commanding a premium of Rs 12,000 -Rs 25,000 per sft in the super luxury space.The new breed of luxury homes offers home theatre lounge, private elevators, Poggenpohl kitchens, home office, plunge pools, sundecks and all the five-star amenities that flaunt affluence
Purva Signature offers each apartment costing Rs 2 crore-Rs 5.5 crore comes with a host of amenities including barbeque place, home office, maid room, and private lifts
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