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area
watch: fatehabad Unapproved projects boom Development projects have always been seen as catalysts of growth for the real estate market of an area as these bring in the people, infrastructure and the money — the three key factors that jack up land prices and lure developers and investors to an area. But just as there are exceptions to every rule, this simple realty arithmetic has become a bad calculation for Fatehabad.
Hope for affordable housing
Chandigarh ‘best green’ city
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Tax
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area watch: fatehabad
Development projects have always been seen as catalysts of growth for the real estate market of an area as these bring in the people, infrastructure and the money — the three key factors that jack up land prices and lure developers and investors to an area. But just as there are exceptions to every rule, this simple realty arithmetic has become a bad calculation for Fatehabad.
This district in the Haryana about 42 km from Sirsa is basically an agricultural economy with not many big industries or businesses. Fatehabad came into limelight after the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) selected a site near Gorakhpur village for its upcoming 2800-MW atomic power project three years back. This Rs 25,500 crore plant is being seen as the answer to power woes of the region and the state. The project is likely to bring at least 10,000 workers here during its construction period over the next 10-12 years and give a major boost to the economy of the area. Such projects have always been seen as an opportunity to make hefty profits lucrative opportunity and this has led to a virtual mad rush for setting up colonies in and around Fatehabad. While the government agencies and big builders are yet to launch major residential and commercial projects here, it is the small players who have taken the lead and launched as many as 10 new colonies on agricultural land on the outskirts of Fatehabad in the period between April and mid-August. A majority of these, however, have no approvals regarding the change of land use and from other departments, but buyers wanting to invest at the right time have invested their money in these colonies. Similar unapproved colonies have also been carved out in some other towns like Tohana, Ratia and Bhuna in the district. The initial euphoria due to the acquisition of over 1,503 acres for the upcoming nuclear power plant at Gorakhpur in this district, in fact, did bring a surge in the property prices here, but the tough measures taken against the unapproved colonies by the authorities have made the investors more cautious leading to a lull in the market at present. The real estate business saw an upward trend when the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) deposited Rs 460 crore with the district authorities in mid-June for awarding compensation to 847 odd farmers, whose 1,503 acres, 4 kanal and 19 marla agriculture land had been acquired for project. Out of the total land acquired, the largest chunk of 1,313 acre, 5 kanal, 8 marla was acquired from Gorakhpur; 185 acre, 3 kanal, 7 marla from Badopal; and 4 acre, 3 kanal and 14 marla from Kajal Heri village of this district. Price vs approvals Surprisingly, while illegal colonies and shops constructed haphazardly in violation of the building bylaws have been attracting buyers, the business in the authorised sectors of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and other private authorised developers has remained slow, though it goes on throughout the year. “Out of the total real estate deals in Fatehabad, over 60 per cent are in these illegal colonies, while the authorised sectors has just 40 per cent share,” says Purshottam Goyal of Kuber Associates, Fatehabad. It is the low prices of property that make buyers invest in these “risky” ventures, says Ashok Mittal of Mittal Properties, a leading property consultant of Fatehabad. “At present the prices in the Model Town area range between Rs 40,000 and Rs 60,000 per sq yd depending on the site, while in Sector 3, developed by HUDA, the prices are in the range of Rs 28,000-Rs 30,000 per sq yd on the 60-foot road and nearly Rs 24,000 per sq yd on the 30-foot road,” adds Mittal. Likewise, a 25'x45' SCF in Model Town is available for nearly Rs 2 crore, while an 18'x75' SCO in Sector 3 of HUDA is selling for Rs 1.25 crore or more, Mittal adds. This is in sharp contrast to the Rs 15 lakh or more for which one can get a shop and Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 per sq yd for which residential plots are available
in reasonably good unapproved colonies. Real picture While unapproved projects have the Damocles' sword of penal action hanging over them, the approved colonies, too, are not having a smooth run, claim many investors. Slow pace of development and frequent increase in prices due to enhanced government charges have been the sore points for investors here. Alpha International City and Soma Township - the two HUDA approved colonies that have come up in Fatehabad — have witnessed slow pace of sale. Though prices in Alpha International City have seen some appreciation of late, because of its well-maintained green parks, wide roads and state-of-the-art development, Soma Township on the other hand, has so far failed to set up its own sewerage treatment plant (STP), its parks are ill-maintained and a transmission power line passing from the middle of the colony makes people rethink before investing their hard earned money on plots in it. "In Soma Township, the same rate of Rs 13,000 to Rs 14,000 per sq yd that existed a year back, still continues, but in Alpha International City, the prices have surged from Rs 14,000 per sq yd last year to Rs 20,000 today," says Goyal. The shops-cum-offices (SCOs) constructed by Soma Township also have no takers for more than two years, though their prices have appreciated in this time period. A looming fear of enhancement in prices by near Rs 2,500 per sq yd in these two colonies due to an increase in external development charges (EDC) by the state government is also worrying investors. "We will challenge the hike in the EDC in the courts at our company level and will not pass on the burden immediately on our customers," says S.K Sayal, Director and CEO of the Alpha G Corp, the developers of the Alpha International City, Fatehabad. "We have sought information from the government under the RTI as to what external developments they have done for our township out of the nearly Rs 30 crore that we have already paid to them," Sayal adds. The authorities here have taken steps against the unauthorised colonies and constructions in the past few months to stop the menace from growing more but until and unless HUDA and some big builders bring in some good residential and commercial projects in the area at competitive rates, it will be difficult to clear the unapproved colonies' mess in Fatehabad as well as in the state.
Spreading menace The menace of unapproved colonies has been plaguing the realty sector all over the state. The "dubious colonisers" lure the investors with low price bands and promises of lucrative returns in areas close to major industrial or other developmental projects. As a practice these private colonisers and property dealers purchase 4 to 8 acres of agricultural land for a price ranging between Rs 1 and Rs 2 crore per acre. Out of the 4,840 sq yd in an acre, the dealer carves out plots of different sizes on nearly 4,000 yards leaving the rest of about 840 yards for narrow streets. The plots are initially sold on rates ranging from Rs 4,000 to 6,000 per sq yd, thereby providing the dealers a handsome margin of 30 to 40 per cent. Later, the rates start increasing in resale, as the dealers start showing people dreams of the colony getting approvals very soon and in some cases even the local councilors become hand in glove by starting construction of lanes or laying of sewer lines in such colonies making buyers believe that the area will be approved and developed soon. But in most cases the colonisers make a "cool" profit and vanish from the scene leaving the hapless buyers to deal with the consequences of having plots in unapproved areas. Authorities can resume the land or ask for hefty conversion charges from the buyers at a later date. Another modus operandi of the property dealers and developers is to purchase a commercial or a residential building on a site where there is scope for developing a shopping mall. The dealers form a group and pool their resources to minimise the risk and construct shops in basement, ground floor, and the first floor. Normally, the group keeps the roof with it, so that it can build more shops on the upper floors as and when the demand arises.
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Realty prices set to fall as the government is willing to reduce the cost of funding. The Secretary, Banking, Ministry of Finance has agreed to look into the problems being faced by the real estate industry and work towards reducing the cost of funding through banks and financial institutions.
This follows the meeting that developers apex body CREDAI Chairman Pradeep Jain had with D.K. Mittal, Secretary, Ministry of Finance (Banking & Insurance), Government of India, earlier this week. Expressing happiness at the positive response from the Banking Secretary, Jain said: "We raised the various issues being faced by developers across the country in terms of high cost funding and escalating cost of material which adversely affect the cost of housing and Mr Mittal promised that the government will look into the problems of the real estate developers and work towards reducing the cost of financing through the banks and financial Institutions," he said. With these positive developments, CREDAI is hopeful that a lasting solution to the issue of high cost of realty will be worked out and the common man will be able to own his dream house. The Banking Secretary assured to have a detailed discussion on these matters in next couple of weeks to work out on detailed roadmap on how the Real Estate Industry can be benefited to provide the affordable housing on an affordable price to Aam Aadmi. Calling for launching a mission to make India Housing Surplus from the current status of a housing deficit nation by 2020, CREDAI said the revival of the real estate industry will rejuvenate the entire economy since realty supports 250 industries, generates employment and contributes 11% to GDP.
— TNS
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The City Beautiful — Chandigarh has been termed as the best “green and clean” city in the country in a countrywide survey of the best cities to live in with 17 per cent of the survey takers selecting it. The survey ‘Seven Top Cities To Live In’ was conducted by Makaan IQ recently and 12 cities were measured on the basis of seven different parameters of living. The 12 cities included in the survey were: Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Pune, Chandigarh, Kochi, Coimbatore and Jaipur.
Mumbai topped as the city with highest Return On Investment (ROI) with 22 per cent respondents opting for it. Delhi NCR topped in the category of superior in infrastructure, planning and development. Bangalore and Hyderabad topped in the category of “Good in terms of population density”, while respondents slated Mumbai as the city with maximum employment opportunities in commercial and corporate sector. Pune and Jaipur were chosen as ideal destinations for a second investment with 16% respondents choosing them. The survey was run between 1st to 4th July and 1104 respondents took part in it.
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guest
column
We have, however, witnessed volatility in the macro-economic environment and high interest rates, which have impacted the customer decision of buying a house. This coupled with stringent lending norms from financial institutions, with banks being directed to reduce their exposure to real estate, have moderated the inflow of funds for real estate developers, in turn throwing out of gear the delivery and cost of project. PE funds choose the locations and projects in which to invest after thorough research. PE funding can also allow an investor to participate in the realty market with a low investment since a fund has many investors with different quantum of investments. The fund spreads the risk by investing in projects across locations. Realty PE funds typically have tenure of five to eight years, and appreciation is seen from the second or third year. While direct investment in real estate allows one to own a property, it also requires more investment and effort. It has constraints in terms of size of the investment depending on fund availability with an investor. Investors have to first identify a location and a property with growth potential. After that they have to go through the paperwork. If they want a continuous income from the property, they have to find a tenant. If they invested with the goal of capital appreciation, they have to find a buyer once the price crosses their target. On the other hand, realty PEs allow investors to channelise their resources more productively. Private Equity funds take a hands-on approach when it comes to investing in real estate sector, to pre-empt uneven governance, lack of transparency, execution that overshoots timelines and any over valuation of projects. PE players have started to follow an activist model of investment and promote management processes that ensure transparency, efficiency and good governance. To achieve the same, PE firms are forming joint ventures with developers and actively participating in the complete development cycle of real estate projects, starting from planning and designing to sales and customer support. The returns from realty PE funds do depend on the performance of the real estate sector broadly. Given the relatively higher risk and lower liquidity, investors are justified in expecting an annualized return of at least 20 per cent over the life of the fund. By contrast, Capital Markets offer 8 per cent annualised return. However, owing to the absence of any definition on the operation of the real estate fund and its structure in India most PE firms can not commit or guarantee any fixed returns. Some give a lump sum at the end of the lock-in period; some others give annualised return. Eventually, Private Equity funding works to the end customer's advantage, who is assured of product quality and timely delivery, in turn making his investment hassle-free and safe. The developer also benefits as management processes assure timely product delivery that meets buyer expectations and hence lead to predictable cash flows. It is a symbiotic relationship which developers have started to appreciate due to reasons that go beyond the mere availability of capital. The linkages would only grow stronger with time. —
Astrum Homes is a PE-funded real estate development company with projects
across India, at Amritsar and Panipat.
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Tax
tips Q. I own a 10 marla single-storey house in Panchkula and propose to sell it off. Its present market price is approximately Rs 2 crore. I had purchased this plot in 1986 through resale for Rs 60,000 and had spent Rs 3 lakh on constructing a house on it. Out of the sale proceeds, I intend to buy a flat in NCR for around Rs 1 crore. I am a retired Haryana Government pensioner and my family comprises my wife and two daughters who are married. Please advise:
A. Your queries are replied hereunder: In case you gift the un-utilised amount or any part of the consideration to your daughters, your daughters will not be liable to pay any tax. However, such gifts if made out of the amount of capital gain arising on the sale of house would not entitle you to any relief from the taxability of such gain. Can I claim tax exemption on sale amount? Q. I own two houses in different cities. I’m occupying one house and the second house has been given on rent. Both the houses had been purchased in 1993. I would like to sell one of these and my query is: — balbir singh A. Your queries are replied hereunder: Pay tax to avoid legal tangle Q.
I purchased a plot in Kharar in 2004 for Rs 16 lakh and transferred on General Power of Attorney for a consideration of Rs 25 lakh in October 2009. I was residing in USA when my relation purchased this plot. The sale deed was not registered in the court and only the GPA was registered. Please let me know what is my income tax liability . I have not filed any ITR for the past 15 years and I don’t have any PAN in India. — taranjit singh A.
The amount of capital gain arising on the sale of plot should have been declared in the tax return for the assessment year 2010-11 as the possession of the plot must have been handed over in the said financial year. It is not possible to file return at this stage. It will be advisable to make the payment of tax, including interest for delayed payment, due on the amount of capital gain arising on the sale of the plot for which you will have to obtain PAN.
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Loan
zone Q. How can CIBIL be helpful in getting a home loan from the bank? — bir singh A. Stressing that borrowers with a credit score of 750 and above have a higher chance of getting a home loan, the Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd (CIBIL), advises customers to get their credit scores before applying for loans with banks and financial institutions. According to CIBIL data that shows that 88 per cent of home loan borrowers in 2011 had a credit score of 750 and above on a scale of between 300 and 900, home loan inquiries had doubled since 2007, indicating the huge demand. These inquiries increased more than 18 per cent in the first quarter of 2011-12 as compared to the same quarter last year. According to CIBIL data, about 75 per cent of new accounts opened in 2011 had sanctioned amounts between Rs 5 and Rs 50 lakh. This also means that the shift is clearly towards higher value loans, indicating the rise in property prices and higher borrowing affordability In 2011, 48 per cent of the total home loans sanctioned in the metros had a ticket size of more than Rs 20 lakh. Moreover, loans with a ticket size of less than Rs 50 lakh increased from around 7 per cent in 2007 to over 12 per cent in 2011. More than one-third borrowers whose loans were sanctioned in 2011 were aged less than 35 years and 70 per cent were less than 45 years. The trends in acquisition of new home loans by banks based on the CIBIL TransUnion Score show that in 2008, 23 per cent of new home loan borrowers had a credit score of 800 and above. In Q2 2011, more than 62 per cent borrowers acquired had a score of 800 and above. This indicates that the CIBIL TransUnion Score has now become an integral risk assessment tool for banks and financial institutions for sanctioning any new credit. All banks and financial institutions have started accessing CIBIL reports and CIBIL TransUnion Scores before sanctioning a loan. Can I get EMI reduced? Q. My husband and I recently took a home loan of Rs 30 lakh from LIC. I am planning to make a part-payment of Rs 15 lakh by the end of this year. After paying partially, is there any way in which I can reduce my EMI? — meena rani A. When you make a part-payment, the amount will be deducted directly from your principal amount, which means you will pay up your loan faster than the term it requires. If you reduce your EMI, the opposite happens, your loan tenure increases. It sort of defeats the purpose if you choose to prepay partially, and then also opt for a reduction in EMI. Even if your principal is reduced, you might still be shelling out more interest with an increased tenure; the only relief will be less stress on the monthly budget. However, if for some reason you wish to prepay and then request for a reduction in EMI, you can always approach your bank and take this up for discussion. Banks always consider such requests, depending on the individual's situation. Since you are opting to partially prepay, the bank should ideally have no issues complying with your request. In an ideal scenario, closing off the debt should be a priority, even if for a temporary period like a few years, you wish to reduce the stress on your monthly finances. Remember, the longer the tenure, the more the interest you will be shelling out. You can utilise online calculators to calculate the amount of interest you will actually shell out with an increase in tenure, i.e. when you reduce your EMI.
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decor
trends
But instead of doing it on her own Shweta decided to take professional help and met interior decorator Kanika Bhambi who, after studying the living room, drew out a plan that included an amalgamation of everything on Shweta’s wishlist — some new stuff, getting rid of a few things and jazzing up the living space. Like Shweta, a number of people are seeking the help of specialists to give their living rooms a fresh and inviting look that reflects warmth, comfort and friendliness. Says interior designer Jose Menon, “You can get the best effect by mixing the conventional with the bold approach.” According to Menon the first thing to decide is the colour scheme, including the walls, upholstery, curtains and drapes. “Generally I would go with a soft pastel shade for walls which would not clash with other colours or furniture designs.” Choice of furniture If he is conventional in his wall colours, Menon chooses to be different as far as his choice of furniture is concerned. He recommends a few wooden chairs and a centre table with matching metallic furniture. “The chic and classy designs in metal give a very stylish edge to a living room. It is maintenance-free, good-looking and is not overwhelming,” says the designer. A number of up market stores are displaying furniture that fuses metal and glass. For example, a coffee table with a copper or wrought iron base and a simple glass top always adds class to the room. It can be matched with a sterling silver coffee set for that stunning effect. Hand cut and etched glass If silver is not your style, then you can opt for something more exotic, like glass which has a very fluid shape and can be moulded into many beautiful forms. It also does not take up too much space and looks best when well lit. Hand cut or etched glass is the latest rage nowadays with coloured and painted glass not too far behind. Most glass pieces are best as figurines or even as amorphous shapes. Venetian glass may be your best bet, but you can even opt for cut glass and other items. Be very careful that your glass objects d’art are kept on a high table for safety. Furnishings and upholstery Furnishings and upholstery can make or mar the living room. “The rule is simple,” says Manini Shankar who runs a handspun weaving unit in Noida. She says soft furnishings in bright colours will make your living room come alive suddenly. One can now get world class fabrics and designs from all over. Curtains, dhurries, rugs, cushion covers, table cloths, mats and sofa covers are all wearing a new sophisticated look. Colours can be classified into bright, soft, subtle, warm, cool, bold and even dramatic. They can make or break a look and either highlight or ruin the ambience of your house.
“Your living room must be full of colours you are comfortable with. If you are a black and white personality, you won’t be happy in pastels and vice versa,” says Shankar. What one must keep in mind also is that besides colours being a rather personal thing, much depends on the natural light that comes into the room. The climate you live in is very important, too.
She personally prefers bright hues to muted ones. “Bright colours increase efficiency and give a vibrant, exciting and sophisticated aura. They also create an illusion of space and warmth. So, spread some sunshine and liven up your space. Make bright, cheerful colours work for you with nice furnishings.” Adequate lighting Finally a word about lighting. Experts are of the view that the living room should have adequate lighting which is neither too bright which can strain the eyes nor too dark that will dilate the pupils. It should be comfortable for proper visibility and for walking around. However, paintings and pictures hung on walls should be highlighted with special lighting the kind seen in art exhibitions and available in abundance in upmarket lighting stores. This will not just brighten up the art in the living room but also lend sophistication to the room. Once you have the right shades on your wall, the correct mix of metal and wood in furniture, exotic collectibles and resplendent furnishings, your living room would become a topic of envious conversation and a very busy part of your home as more and more guests would like to spend time there.
Silver lining Apart from metals like copper and wrought iron, fashion gurus are discovering the understated elegance of silver which is establishing its own identity in India’s jet-set circles. It is not just the traditional silver merchants who have set in the boom. New boutiques are mushrooming and these have on offer some of the most exotic collectibles that can be used as decorations in the living room. Veena Syal owner of Homeglow, a boutique dealing in designer collectibles for the living room, says, “Sterling silver items are real cool because they have so much life in them. They are valuable and at the same time are very handle-able and can lend a great charm to the living room.” Silver looks best with glass tables and colourful accessories. If you are choosing a simple set of silver candle stands, then go in for red or blue candles to offset them. Silver objects should be kept in a place which is well lit.
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Ground
Realty The moment you engage an electrician gang to do the electrification work of your house, he studies the house plans and hands over to you a long list of items required for the electrification work. More demands arise as the work progresses as no electrician is able to assess initially the exact quantities of multiple electrical items required for a house. There is a large variation in specifications and heavy discounts ranging from 40 to 45 per cent are available on MRP rates. One should, therefore, know about the major items that the electrician will demand and should do necessary survey for specifications and rates. Here are a few electrical fittings required initially:
While choosing PVC conduits, always look for heavy duty conduits with a thickness of 2 mm. Look for ISI marked conduits. While the conduits for electrical wiring are of ¾ inch and 1 inch diameter, those for split AC wiring between indoor and outdoor units are of 2 inch diameter. The conduits carry some markings on them like ISI mark, diameter, name of manufacturer etc. An easy identification of quality of conduits can be made from these colour markings on them. The colour code is as under: Switch boxes: Switch boxes of different sizes are provided in the rooms to terminate the wiring in them and to connect the same to the switches mounted on the plates. Size of switch box varies as per number of switches to be put over it. Switch boxes of different sizes are therefore available in the market. Commonly used sizes are 3" X 3", 5" X 3", 5" X 5", 8" x 3", 8" X 6" and 12" X 14". Unnecessarily large sized switch boxes shouldn't be chosen. Look for 16 gauge sheet metal switch boxes, well painted both from inside and outside with anti corrosive paint and of a reputed brand. Don't choose wooden boxes. These often get attacked by termite. The wood used in manufacturing switch boxes is of low quality. Moreover, it is not possible to install modular switches on wooden boxes. Choose switch boxes having a depth of 2 inch or more. Depth of boxes increases with size. A 5" X 3" box has 2 inch depth and an 8" X 6" box has 3 inch depth. Junction boxes: Junction boxes, made in PVC, are provided in walls to branch out conduits to different switch boxes. These have four outlets at right angles and desired number of these arms are used by the electrician. Depending upon the size of conduits to be connected, these have connecting arms of different diameters. Mostly, ¾" and 1" sized junction boxes are used. Wires: Wires running through conduits need to be ISI 694 (Part I) marked only. Only copper conductors with multiple strands should be used. These may be costlier than aluminum conductors but here, the choice should be restricted to copper only. Further, choose electrolytic grade 99.97% pure copper wiring to ensure safety from short circuit and electrical fires. Copper has better tensile strength, highest conductivity, low resistance and high thermal conductivity. Also, it has higher melting point and more flexibility than aluminum and thus can withstand heavier overloads. See that the wires are IS 694 Part I marked and not IS 694 Part II marked. IS 694 Part II is for aluminum wiring. A very important feature of wires to be checked is their insulation. The wire should be three layered. Among the three layers, the first layer is water resistant, second is heat and high temperature resistant and third layer is fire retardant. Heat and fire resistant wires carry a mark HRFR. These also exhibit the highest temperature that the insulation can withstand without melting. This temperature should be plus 100 degree Celsius. Poor quality insulation gets burnt on generation of heat in strands. Also look for chloride free wires. The wires are supplied in coils of 90 metre length and rates are quoted on per coil basis. Commonly used sizes of wires are 1 sq.mm, 1.5 sq.mm, 2 sq. mm, 2.5 sq. mm and 4 sq.mm. Choose 4 to 6 sq. mm wire for AC points, 1.5 sq. mm wire for light points and 5 ampere three-pin sockets and 2.5 sq. mm wires for power sockets. Choose Red, Yellow and Blue colour insulation for the three phases, Black colour for neutral and Green for Earth wire. Modular switches and plates: Modular switches are now universally chosen in new buildings and houses. Use of ordinary switches has become restricted to old buildings where such switches are already provided. Modular switches of different makes have flooded the market as the manufacturers earn a good profit in this item. One or two costly brands are now ruling the market because of their aggressive marketing strategy and presence in all building expos. A house builder should, however, look for cost competitive modular switches for which lifetime guarantee is offered by the manufacturer. It has been seen that mostly, manufacturers don't make a fuss but replace faulty switches free of cost in case of a complaint. It should also be seen that the switches carry spark shields inside them. Such switches don't allow a spark to burn the wires. Further, the switches should be dust proof, fire retardant and made of polycarbonate. Modular switches are plate mounted and no screws are required to fix these to the switch boxes. Convex plates with high gloss and ultra smooth finish in white color should be chosen. Inventory of electrical fittings: An inventory of electrical fittings should be made and kept updated as more and more quantities arrive at site. This will help in knowing site balances and keeping a check on consumption. (This column is published fortnightly)
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Vaastu
wisdom Q. My brother and I are living in the same house. My elder brother is living in the ground floor portion, while I am on the first floor. Of late our families have been facing a lot of problems like ill health, marital discord, unemployment, financial crunch etc. Someone recently mentioned that these problems can due to the wrong position of the kitchen in our home. I have my kitchen in the centre of the house. Can this be the reason? If so, then do suggest some remedies as shifting the kitchen is not possible. — teji vassan A. Kitchen should always be in the southeast (agneya) corner of the house. The second best place for kitchen is northwest (vayavya) corner of the house. Broken utensils and torn clothes here and there should be thrown out of the house as they are bad signs according to vaastu. Knocking on the door early morning is also not considered a good vaastu sign. Damaged wall plaster/paint represents problems for family members. Always keep the house well maintained. Now in your particular case, you should fix a red bulb in the kitchen. Affix 'Vaastu Dosh Nivaarak Yantra' on the door of the kitchen. Draw your kitchen plan on a simple paper and divide it in four parts direction wise. Now follow — empty cylinders should be kept in the southwest direction. Refrigerator must never be in northeastern direction. If the refrigerator is placed in the southwestern direction, it must be a foot away from the corner. Commodities such as grains, pulses, and spices, must be stored in the west or south. The water source such as, water filter or pitcher should be kept in the northeast direction. Please note that all problems can not be attributed to vaastu only. You must consult a good astrologer, too, for divorce or money-related problems.
Money matters Q. My office is on the third floor and I am into immigration business. My loan liabilities are enormous and somehow I am not able to repay the debts completely. Is there any vaastu solution for my predicament? A. Don’t ever take loans on a Tuesday. In fact, always try to repay loan installments on a Tuesday. If you are lending money to someone, do not lend it on Wednesday, for there might be difficulties in reclaiming it. If burdened by loans and business problems, place a picture of lord Krishna playing the flute and flanked by Radha and a cow. It is said that Krishna's flute takes away all problems. But just hanging a picture will not help also work hard to counter other shortcomings that are harming your business. Apply a swastika with turmeric powder on the main door. Always light a diya outside the main door in the evening. Follow the proverb 'early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise'. Wake up with the sun; it
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launch
pad
Expandable villas Located on the Thiruporur bypass on OMR, between the entertainment highway on East Coast Road and the IT Corridor of Old Mahabalipuram Road, the township is in close proximity to SIPCOT at Siruseri, which houses Asia's largest IT Park. 'Expandable Villas' is an innovative concept. These villas have been designed to enable the homeowner to add additional living space at a later date. The layouts are pre-approved to ease this expansion. This enables the homeowner to initially buy, say a two-bedroom house with a lower initial investment, and later expand into a third bedroom at his/her convenience. This enables the homeowner to eventually own a much larger home with a much lower initial investment. Commenting on the launch, David Walker, Executive Director SARE Homes said, "The 'Expandable Villa' concept is a great investment and future proof, by giving the flexibility to expand according to your family needs. Our OMR project has been an outstanding success and we are confident that the new innovative product from SARE Homes will be well-received." The project offers two different kinds of Expandable Villas, namely, 'Type A' and 'Type B' villas. Type A Villas are priced at Rs. 37.49 lakh onwards. Type B Villas are 3 BHK with study (to check and if yes, correct in the brochure also) Duplex Villas and designed to give a sense of luxury with a choice of front-facing or garden-facing location options. These are priced for Rs 52.95 lakh.
Club house inaugurated Fitness Alley, the club house was inaugurated at the Gaur Global Village recently. The global village, spread over around 4.5 acres is a part of 360-acre eco-friendly Crossings Republik, Ghaziabad. The club house is equipped with swimming pool, children pool, reading room, gymnasium, sauna & steam bath, billiards table, table tennis, badminton court, tennis court and other facilities. Possession of all units has been given and around 300 families are already staying in the project. The project has varied options in 2 and 3 BHK with sizes starting from 1000 sq.ft. for 2 BHK to 1870 sq.ft. for 3 BHK.
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As the Indian economy grows from $ 1.8 trillion in 2012 to $ 10 trillion by 2025 there will be a related growth in urban centres as manufacturing and services contribute to the economic growth. Both commercial and residential spaces will witness continued growth. Indeed, India will need more than 40 million houses by 2026, requiring investment estimated at $ 1 trillion, to address the demand for urban housing.
With pressure to deliver on predetermined timelines in the wake of increased input costs and decreased sales, developers are looking for new sources of money. With its long term view, Private Equity (PE) is poised to fill this gap.
How can I save maximum capital gains tax?
Shweta has been seeing that huge couch and the old carpet in her living room ever since she got married six years ago. But it’s not just the couch. The whole room looks boring. She knows that it needs changes to liven it up and make it more stylish. Some new things would have to be added, others spruced up and some discarded. Lighting would have to be changed and walls freshly painted.
Conduits: For electrification of a house, the first step we take is to conceal the conduits in the walls and floor slabs of the house. These conduits are provided to run electricity wires through them. MS conduits, once so much in use, have given way to PVC conduits now. 
Light boxes: Light boxes, too, are embedded in RCC slabs, sun shades and projections before the pouring of concrete. These are provided to accommodate concealed lights and are popular these days. These are round in shape and 5-inch deep. Each room or sunshade is often provided with many concealed lights. Therefore, it is very important to mark their exact locations on the shuttering plates so that the concealed lights don't look eccentric later on. These are also made of 16 gauge metal sheet and are well-painted with anti corrosive paint.
Bends: Bends are made of PVC and are required in large numbers for a house. These are of long and short types and are required to extend conduits at right angles. The electrician decides whether at a location, he needs a long bend or short bend. Generally, bends are not available in heavy duty PVC quality. Therefore, medium quality bends are put to use by the electricians.
Fan hook boxes are embedded in the roof slabs before the pouring of concrete. These are hexagonal or octagonal in shape and allow different conduits to enter them from the box sides. Thus, these act as junction boxes also. These are 4 inch deep and carry a hook inside them to hang the ceiling fan. Always check that fan boxes are of a reputed brand, well painted with anti-corrosive paint from inside and outside and made of 16 gauge metal sheet. Care should be taken to place these fan boxes centrally in the rooms as it is not possible to change their location afterwards.
Vigneshwara Developers recently launched "Manhattan Business Suites" in the heart of Central Business District (CBD), Sector 74, Gurgaon, giving a world class option to business houses and entrepreneurs looking for commercial space well-connected by road and metro rail transit system. While the overall outlook of these business suites is futuristic, its interiors can also be very classy as there is an option to have them designed by the world renowned Interior designer Sujata Belwal of USA. The chambers in the business suites are enabled with latest IT/IES technology that makes it truly world class in Gurgaon. The property also offers 12% assured return for five years on a minimum investment of Rs 13.5 lakh onwards.
SARE Homes (South Asian Real Estate) recently launched 400 expandable villas at its 112.2 acre integrated township ‘SARE Crescent ParC’ in OMR, Chennai. SARE Homes has already offered possession in Phase-1 of this township, with construction in full swing in Phase 2, 3 and 4. The group has an established foothold in Chennai, with 173.7 acres under development in two projects on major growth corridors of Chennai namely—SARE Crescent ParC and MeadowVille Kolathur in GST.