New Government Initiatives To Boost Real Estate Sector In India

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At the Government level many new policy initiatives have been taken recently to boost the real estate Property in India . These policy decisions will lend a stimulus and impetus to the industry. It is beyond doubt that the new initiatives will unlock the potential of the sector. Also, along with the stimulus package announced by the Government, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a definitive step whereby banks are allowed to devise new schemes beneficial to the property sector.

As part of the Government initiatives to boost real estate boom sector India, RBI has declared concessional schemes for the real estate sector. Such initiatives include:
Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 (ULCRA) repealed by increasingly larger number of states.
In case of integrated townships, the minimum area to be developed has been brought down to 25 acres from 100 acres.
51 per cent FDI allowed in single-brand retail outlets and 100 per cent in cash-and-carry through the automatic route.
Full repatriation of original investment after three years.
Minimum capital investment for wholly-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures stands at US$ 10 million and US$ 5 million, respectively.
100 per cent FDI allowed in realty projects through the automatic route.

Further, in its endeavour to initiate new policies to boost the real estate sector in India, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has taken steps to reduce the time taken to develop special economic zones (SEZs) by simplifying the procedures to get the tax-tree industrial enclaves notified. Now developers can easily get their land classified as an SEZ at the outset itself by producing title deeds to prove their ownership. Again, the Government has announced several concessions in the Budget 2008-2009.

New Government initiatives to boost sector of Real Estate India include granting a tax holiday on profits from initiates in the financial year 2007-2008. In order to enjoy this benefit, the housing projects should be of the affordable housing unit type of 1000 to 1500 square feet. Another condition is that such projects should be completed by March 1, 2012. Further, the Finance Ministry has allocated US$ 207 million to grant 1% interest subsidy on home loans up to US$ 20, 691. In order to avail this benefit, the cost of the home should not be above US$41, 382. It is believed that these initiatives will be add further impetus to the real estate sector in the country.

Capitalisation Rate In Real Estate And How To Calculate It

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Capitalisation rate is the percentage figure used to find out the current value of a property based on a figure of future net operating income. When divided with the capitalization rate, the net operating income of a real estate property will provide the approximate market value of the property.

When determining the capitalization rate of a property, the rates applied to real estate properties of the same nature sold most recently is used. When determining the capitalization rate, the sales value of an asset sold most recently is divided by the income it generates decisions. This provides a more objective way of valuing real estate properties which can be used not only by the seller but also by the buyer alike. It will assist the seller get the right piece for his investment while the buyer prospective buyer will use it to make informed decisions as to whether or not the value of the property is properly estimated.
This acts as a good base for estimating the value of income generating real estate properties when buying or selling. By looking at the sales price and income of other related properties located in similar environment, you can come up with an acceptable capitalization rate that will enable you determine the value of your asset based on the current income.

Determining the capitalization rate need not be an arduous task. You can start by collecting the statistics of recently sold properties in similar or the same locations as your property. The chosen property should correspond with that of your property. You need to determine with high degree of accuracy the net realizable rentals by the owners of the property. For instance, you can take the net rental income realized by the owners to be $30000.Get the sale price of the asset and divide the net income by the sales price. This will give you the capitalization rate. If in this case the property was sold at $900000,you have it divide by the net income of $30000,the resulting figure will be 0.33.Then convert this figure to percentage points by multiplying it by 100.This will give you a capitalization rate of 3 percent.

Capitalisation rate have become a great help to the owners of property owners who have the intention of selling them. Without capitalisation rate, it would be hard to value real estate assets. Many people would be deceived to accept lower prices by the buyers of the same properties. Since you will use other properties that are independent from yours when working out the capitalization rate, you will be assured of a better return when you finally decide to dispose your property. The determination of this rate need not be a headache. The procedure is quite simple. Get the net income of a real estate property sold in recent times and divide it with the sales value. Then you convert the figure obtained to percentage form. This figure will aid you in working out the real market value of your asset.

Menorca Real Estate Prices Set For A Price Crash

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A sunshine Spanish Mediterranean holiday home for many Europeans, but especially the British, has been an aspiration achieved by many since the early 1980’s, when the UK allowed the free flow of capital, and property price gains allowed many to sell up in Britain and move to Spain and her islands – Menorca for example.

A slow down of Brits buying abroad happened in the early 90’s when recession hit the country, but overall the pace of number of people buying a home and often buying a business too has been relentless.

And with a growing number of British moving abroad, the UK’s financial infrastructure followed them, with British banks setting up branches in Spain and the Spanish islands like Menorca (ironically some of the British banks have now been taken over by Spanish ones), mortgage companies tailoring products for overseas home purchase,low cost airlines providing flights to Menorca and insurance companies offering building and contents cover.

For many of the British buying in Spain, it was like Britain with sunshine.

But times have changed, Spain is flooded with unsold brand new and re-sale properties, and property prices have crashed. In Britian property prices have dropped and are expected to fall further for the next year or more.

Confidence is low – unemployment in the UK is expected to hit 3 million before it peaks, and people with some money who might ordinarily have considered buying a property abroad are often keeping it in assets where the money is easily accessible – something it’s not when tied up in a property during a recession.

And of course the financial infrastructure that supported the British buying homes and businesses in Spain and her islands is in full retreat. The banks who were lending money readily to Brits moving abroad aren’t lending much, and many of them have been bailed out with taxpayers’ money – overall a dismal picture of a once flourishing overseas property market.

So, is now a good time to buy in Spain and her islands? If you’ve always fancied an apartment or villa in glorious Menorca – is this the time to take the plunge?

Part of that answer depends upon your individual financial circumstances, but if you need to borrow to buy a second home, and if you need income from holiday rentals to sustain your new Menorca property…halve the figure you think you might achieve and re-calculate to get closer to what you might realistically get from renting out to those taking Menorca holidays in today’s market.

But if you have a surplus of cash and are ready to buy a property in Menorca – is now a good time to buy?

There’s a property glut in Spain. If property was water, Spain and her islands would be renamed Atlantis. Developers and private owners alike are more than keen to sell, and anyone who is a cash buyer won’t have to wait long before they see a bargain. But don’t necessarily buy the first property you like that seems good value.

Draw up a list of say three or four apartments or villas you have viewed and liked and put in an offer of around sixty per cent of the already discounted price, starting with your favourite one, telling the owners that the offer remains good for two weeks, and at that time you will look elsewhere. Within a couple of months you, perhaps even weeks, you could have the property you want at an amazing price, even if the owners come back with a counter offer.

One bit of advice from UK based Tribune Properties is to avoid buying a brand new property.

‘Only buy a new property in Menorca if you’re absolutely certain that the developer has the funds to finish off a development and the promised infrastructure that goes with the new development…and even then only spend what you can afford to lose. Guarantees are often useless if a developer goes bust. And just don’t buy a property under construction – the development could be mothballed for years to come – along with any deposits and staged payments already paid by a buyer.’

Their final bit of advice is not good news for Menorca property developers either, or for private re-sales.

‘If you can hold on a few months, you might find even better bargains than there are now in the autumn when the same owners who are selling now have failed to find a buyer, and at the end of the holidays season owners might be prepared to listen to offers in the hope of finally selling their Menorca property.’

How to Structure, Appraise and Value a Real Estate Mortgage Note

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Five Key Factors that Impact Risk, Value and Income

What is a real estate mortgage note?
Legally speaking, a mortgage note is two legal documents: 1) A promissory note, and 2) An encumbrance or lien recorded against real estate. But, based on every day conversational usage, most people, lawyers excepted, think of it a one document. To be technically correct in this discussion we will deal with the two separate documents-the promissory note and the mortgage or deed of trust.

To determine the best way to structure a real estate mortgage note we must first consider our goal or our purpose. Remember, we are discussing a “financial instrument” an “investment instrument”. The function of a financial investment is to generate income/cash-flow at the highest rate possible rate commensurate with the risks involved. We will assume the investing goal provides at least a market rate of income, recognizing the risks involved.

5 Key Factors Impacting the Fair Market Value of a Real Estate Mortgage Note

1. Borrower/Debtor
2. Interest Rate
3. Payments & Terms
4. Collateral Security
5. Document Language

Borrower/Debtor
Always deal with a borrower that has good credit. A person’s FICO (credit score) shows how reliable they are in paying off debts-keeping their promises. Avoid buyers who object to having their credit history pulled; there is a reason they want it kept confidential. Don’t take their word for their past paying history, do a credit check.

Interest Rate
The interest rate should be reasonable and fair to both parties; it should reflect the market rate for the mortgage loan with an appropriate adjustment for risk factors. Over charging can lead to hard feelings, inability to make the payments and possibly violating the usury laws of the state. Undercharging devalues the loan and renders it a poor investment.

Payments & Term
The periodic payment should be within the budget of the borrower; the payments should be monthly; the term of the loan should be less than five years, three years is better; avoid making long-term loans. A note with a 3-year term is more valuable than one with a 15-year term. The longer-term notes are discounted much more to account for the longer waiting period.

Collateral Security
Obtain a substantial down payment; keep the loan balance at or below 75% of the value of the collateral real estate. The down payment amount reflects on a borrower’s financial stability. The higher the loan-to-value (LTV), the more risk there is to the investor. Use real estate as the collateral security backing-up the bower’s promise to repay. Be certain to evaluate the condition and location of the property used as security. The mortgage or deed of trust documents collateralizing the promissory note should be recorded in first position; it should be a first position mortgage loan.

If you are structuring a business promissory note, its value will be much greater and it will have less risk if the real estate of the business is part of the note’s collateral security. This means that companies that lease property face bigger financing discounts, unless other real estate is used as security.

Documents and Language
Preparing the mortgage loan documents yourself is high risk folly; it may seem simple and easy to do, but it is not either if it is done correctly; you may save some money on the front end, but you will give the savings back plus way more on the back end. On the internet you will find hundreds of ads and offers proclaiming “free promissory note forms”, “free tips”, and the answers to legal questions “free”. Don’t take the bait! Only an experienced promissory note specialist who really understands the legal and practical meaning of the terms and conditions can keep you safe; each state has different laws and customs. There are state laws and federal laws to be considered.

Pune – A Real Estate Destination

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The real estate scenario looks gloomy in the current scenario, but a couple of cities are sure to stay ahead of the rest even in the current scenario. Pune, one of the hottest real estate destinations will continue to see stabilized prices and an appreciation in prices in the long run. There are various reasons that can be attributed to the growth of the city.

Pune is a commercial hub with dominance of industries including IT andITeS, Automobiles. Petrochemicals. Oil and Gas, Engineering. Financial Services, Textiles. Companies have displayed a brilliant growth within the city. The city is centrally located and makes fro a good hub for manufacturing companies. Swanky office buildings host the biggies of the word like Mercedes Benz , GM and many more. This has led to extensive commercial development in the city. Infact, companies from other sectors also eye the city including Biotech, Hospitality etc

Some of the advantages of being in Pune real estate include the following

Pune is the second largest city in Maharashtra and sixth largest city in the country with a population of 7.2 million people with a high purchasing power. It is also a prominent education centre. The city has over 100 colleges and institutions of higher learning including 14 Engineering Colleges and 10 B-Schools. A large number of ITI s provide the necessary shop floor skills. Scientific institutions and the substantial presence of IT companies assure a supply of high quality knowledge base.

Pune is also emerging as a prominent city for BPO due to the availability of skilled English speaking manpower. The city houses a large number of national and international players including Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Daimler Chrysler, Fiat, Bharat Forge, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys and Wipro, among others. It has 12 focus industry areas including automobiles, chemicals, consumer durables, engineering and Information Technology.

The commercial property development of the city can largely be attributed to the state, Government and the infrastructure. The advantages of being in Maharashtra include the following. It is the largest economy in the country, with a high per capita income and one of the most attractive investment destination in the country, accounting for 40 per cent of exports. This has also fostered the presence of reputed R&D centres in the city.

The IT presence in the city is largely attributed to the bold and visionary IT policy. Initiated by the State Government, it is responsible for attracting companies to set up shop in the state. The Policy includes exemption for IT units from various taxes and duties, permission to set up units anywhere in the state without restrictions, setting up of Special Export Zones and various other government initiatives to boost the IT culture within the state. Software Exports: Maharashtra accounts for more than 30 percent of the countrys software exports, with over 1,200 software units based in the state, thus providing a familiar and friendly environment for IT companies.

The government of Maharashtra has undertaken the ambitious project of developing the Mumbai-Pune Knowledge Corridor, thereby creating a natural home for companies from all over the world, seeking to set up their IT or ITES activities in a safe, business-friendly and progressive environment with world-class facilities and infrastructure, with a long term perspective.
Committed huge investments in the state include Boeing Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) in Nagpur Volkswagen, Rs 2,350 crore (Rs 23.5 billion) in Pune, General Motors Rs 1,350 crore (Rs 13.5 billion) in Pune, Bajaj Auto Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion) in Pune/Aurangabad, Hyundai Heavy industries Rs. 260 Crores in Pune, Mahindra & Mahindra Rs. 2000 crores in SEZ, Microsoft and Videocon.
All of the above reasons are sure to be the reasons for continued growth in the city for years.

Residential real estate at Pune is all set to create new benchmarks. To cater to the residential demand in the city, Pune needs almost 40,000 residential properties every year to meet the housing demand in the city. Thus, the Public Private partnership will create a new city sky line.

The upcoming residential areas include: Kalyani Nagar, Kawade Road, Hadapsar, Thergaon, Ambegaon, Balewadi and Wagholi among others.

Thus, jump into the Pune realty bandwagon and search for a house to invest or live in. To find that dream property, it is recommended that you search online and find your options before getting on the ground. Thus, you can save precious time and money. With the prices just stabilizing, it is an opportune time to get that house you have always dreamt of.