Indiabulls Ltd., one of the top business houses in India has business spread across financial services, real estate, power, retail and multiplex. The group's interest in real estate sector is managed by Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd. It is the 3rd largest real estate company of India, having its operations spread across 16 cities. It is transforming 17 million sq.ft. of land for quality living experience. The company's interest areas include townships, group housing, offices, retail, multiplex, SEZ, IT, etc.

For more info log on to http://www.zameen-zaidad.com

Nowadays, people are going for houses with a terrace garden, shelling out extra cash even in a period of slowdown, says Vivek Shukla

Imagine a situation where you enjoy the light drizzle or even a brisk shower on the terrace garden of your house. It goes without saying that after the heat of a sweltering summer, you will grab such a dream opportunity.

To enjoy such rare moments in the fast and chaotic life of metros, many people, of course rich, hardly mind paying more rent so as to secure rights to a terrace garden on their house.

And street-smart landlords too are converting their barren terraces, generally used for dumping old things, into green fields. They are developing mini-gardens there, with huge concrete umbrellas and chairs. And likewise, the realty firms are offering penthouses with a garden, swimming pool, and so many other alluring facilities. A South Delhi-based realtor Anil Makhijani of Mak Realtors says that

Affluent people, like foreign diplomats, officials of MNCs, and others, are always on the lookout for such houses where they can get a roof garden as well. Realtors say a nice terrace garden can only be developed in a house built on an area of 325 sq yards and above. Many people buy a second floor with roof rights as a terrace garden is a great place to host small parties.

“It’s great to have one as it gives such a feeling of space,” says Rajni Gulati, talking about her terrace garden in DLF. A gardening enthusiast, Rajni says when they shifted here from England four years ago, they decided at once that they would develop a nice terrace garden atop their house. "And, now, prospective tenants always grab our second floor as it gives them the terrace rights. They pay us more money.”

Rajni is among the many metropolis-dwellers who long to tend to a green patch in their house where a cup of tea can be served in the morning sun, or a small barbecue under the night sky for friends.

Realty experts say the lack of ground space for a garden hasn’t been a deterrent to garden lovers. Fact of the matter is, the ground floor space isn’t even the preferred choice nowadays, because a green patch at ground level has its share of disadvantages - the constant sound of traffic, the swirl of dust, and only occasional sunlight as it is blocked out by the surrounding tall structures.

Sunil Jindal, CEO of SVP group, says even they never thought their penthouse apartments in their Gulmohar Greens project in Mohannagar would have so many buyers. “Even in these times of a massive slowdown, there were buyers for our penthouses,” says Sunil.

The story repeats itself even in the case of other realty firms like Omaxe, Supertech, Assotech, etc. R K Arora, Suprtech group’s MD, says they are providing a small pool and garden on their terrace-garden flats. A top-level executive working for a foreign liquor company says earlier he was living in terrace flat with roof garden on Hailey Road. After getting accustomed to that kind of living, which also lent a great view of the city, he decided to purchase a penthouse built by a known builder.

Vidur Bharadwaj, an architect at Design and Development, suggests utilizing as much waste material in an innovative way to do up the flooring, and seating arrangements for a terrace garden as possible. The look for a terrace garden is along contemporary sleek lines.

“The ethnic look is out,” says Minesh Parikh, a landscapist with Landscape Designs, and suggests dry gardens like the ones in Japan, focusing on sculpted plants, figurines and pavements. Water features like cascading water walls that cost a couple of lakh rupees for 1ft x 20ft, or bubblers for Rs 20,000-30,000 too are preferred. Diffused or mood lighting is usually recommended for terrace gardens, as

Often, a terrace garden is an extension of a living space. “Highly personal terrace gardens see water bodies, chimes and birdbaths, and gardens meant for gatherings have makeshift bars and pavilions,” observes Parikh.

Courtesy:- TOI dt:- 18-07-09

We greet you on the occasion of our completion of 203 years of service to the nation and its people. With history a stretching back to 1806, more than 16000 branches spread across the nation and some 146 million customers. 'SBI' is a household name in India, right down to small towns and villages. It is the only Indian financial institution in the Global Fortune 500 list, coming in at 380.

PDP Developers, a human touch real estate enterprise since 2004, has evolved into a fully integrated real estate solution provider . PDP Group's business strategy identifies business opportunities in high investment zones and focuses on land bank consolidation in emerging towns / tier II cities. Based out of New Delhi, PDP Developers has over the past several years developed a stronghold visible foothold in elite areas of Jaipur, seeks a solid presence in Mumbai, gradually expanding into a truly Pan-India footprint. Presently Tonk Square and Tonk Desire are its two prime projects on NH-12, Jaipur.

Courtesy:- TOI dt:- 11-07-09

The swelling numbers of women expatriates is brightening the rental scene in the capital with landlords even willing to let out their houses to women with live-in partners — for a fat rent, of course! Vivek Shukla reports

As more and more organizations give equal opportunities to women in their fold, a definite change in profile, in terms of gender, can be seen in the number of expatriates coming to Delhi for work. And, this has eased pressure on realtors who specialize in rented accommodation for expatriates.

According to realtors, a lady expatriate can easily get accommodation whether she is single or with her family - however, if she comes here with a male friend, finding a flat could be a worry. In any case, women have given the much necessary boost to the rental scene of Delhi.

Earlier, landlords were wary of giving their houses on rent to women expatriates, and at any rate, around eight-ten years ago, very few of them actually came here for any length of time. But, their number is swelling and today, almost three out of ten expats are women.

Scribe turned realtor, Kajol Makhijani of Mak Realtors, says the best thing about their growing number is that even if somebody is from an African country, or a black from countries like America, Canada or South Africa, they can easily get a rented accommodation here.

“We all know that when it comes to black male expatriates, we have to really slog in order to find a suitable house for them. When it comes to a black male, Delhi landlords are rank racist,” Kajol says.

A woman journalist from Germany, Dorothea Riecker, also seconds the fact and says women expatriates are coming here in hordes. Many journalists, diplomats and other professionals are flocking here after the market opened up. “Though it is true that they do not confront much problem in finding a house, the landlords try to charge extra rent from us. If landlords overcome this bias, then Delhi is a good city for us,” feels Riecker, who has been working with a magazine ‘Focus’ in Delhi for the last five years.

Another realtor Anu Gupta of DGS realtors says that unlike their male counterparts from Europe or America, women expatriates finalizehouses only after they fully satisfy themselves of the facilities available in the kitchen - they have to be modular kitchens. Maleexpatriates generally look for a small garden with their accommodation. Women too are fond of gardens, but their priority is apparently the kitchen.

And if they are married and have school-going kids, then they ensure they live in areas close to American School, British School, French School, German School, or Japanese School. The basic idea behind this is to guard their children from all the hassles that come with commuting in the chaotic and crowded roads of the capital. Married male expatriate too looks for houses close to schools. However, that is not their priority number one. In any case, both are ready to spend a little more on this amenity.

As American, British, and German schools are all located in Chankaypuri area, the nationals from these countries ensure that they live in rented accommodations in places like Vasant Vihar, Shanti Niketan, Westend, Anand Niketan, Malcha Marg, and Golf Link.

Nowadays, there is also no dearth of landlords who will rent out their houses to women who land here with their male friends or companions. Even though these landlords are socially conservative and averse to be seen to be encouraging live-in relationships, they are only too glad to compromise with their value systems as long as they get a really fat rent.

Narrating the experience of her friend from France, Prof Pratap Sehgal of the department of Hindi, DU, says that her friend who was doing research in Hindi came to Delhi last year with her male friend. And, that became a big impediment in finding a house. On this flimsy ground, two-three landlords in Rajouri Garden and Punjabi Bagh turned down her request for a rented accommodation. Later, after much effort and very unwillingly, the scholar started telling prospective landlords that the guy was her husband, and only then did she manage to find a house on rent in Kirti Nagar.

“It was really very shocking for me when I found many landlords refusing to let a house to my French friend just because she came here with her male friend,” says the professor.

Courtesy:- TOI dt:- 11-07-09

Jaypee Greens is the real estate division of Jaypee Group, one of the leading corporate houses in the country with an annual turnover of over Rs.6500 crores. Jaypee Greens has two premium lifestyle golf centric real estate developments in the National Capital Region. The first is Jaypee Greens Greater Noida, India's first premium golf-centric township in 452 acres and offers golf villas, luxurious apartments and penthouses amidst an 18+9 hole Greg Norman signature championship golf course, 60 acre-nature reserve, town centre, resort and spa hotel, India's finest sports club with a host of entertainment options. The second one is Jaypee Greens Noida, slated to be the India's largest township development spread over 1162 acres, It is a mix use development with Numerous Graham Cooke golf facility, 15 lakes and waterbodies, landscaped greens, play areas and parks.
For more info log on to to http://www.zameen-zaidad.com.
And http://www.propertycafeteria.com

The swelling numbers of women expatriates is brightening the rental scene in the capital with landlords even willing to let out their houses to women with live-in partners — for a fat rent, of course! Vivek Shukla reports

As more and more organizations give equal opportunities to women in their fold, a definite change in profile, in terms of gender, can be seen in the number of expatriates coming to Delhi for work. And, this has eased pressure on realtors who specialize in rented accommodation for expatriates.

According to realtors, a lady expatriate can easily get accommodation whether she is single or with her family - however, if she comes here with a male friend, finding a flat could be a worry. In any case, women have given the much necessary boost to the rental scene of Delhi.

Earlier, landlords were wary of giving their houses on rent to women expatriates, and at any rate, around eight-ten years ago, very few of them actually came here for any length of time. But, their number is swelling and today, almost three out of ten expats are women.

Scribe turned realtor, Kajol Makhijani of Mak Realtors, says the best thing about their growing number is that even if somebody is from an African country, or a black from countries like America, Canada or South Africa, they can easily get a rented accommodation here.

"We all know that when it comes to black male expatriates, we have to really slog in order to find a suitable house for them. When it comes to a black male, Delhi landlords are rank racist,” Kajol says.

A woman journalist from Germany, Dorothea Riecker, also seconds the fact and says women expatriates are coming here in hordes. Many journalists, diplomats and other professionals are flocking here after the market opened up. “Though it is true that they do not confront much problem in finding a house, the landlords try to charge extra rent from us. If landlords overcome this bias, then Delhi is a good city for us,” feels Riecker, who has been working with a magazine ‘Focus’ in Delhi for the last five years.

Another realtor Anu Gupta of DGS realtors says that unlike their male counterparts from Europe or America, women expatriates finalizehouses only after they fully satisfy themselves of the facilities available in the kitchen - they have to be modular kitchens. Maleexpatriates generally look for a small garden with their accommodation. Women too are fond of gardens, but their priority is apparently the kitchen.

And if they are married and have school-going kids, then they ensure they live in areas close to American School, British School, French School, German School, or Japanese School. The basic idea behind this is to guard their children from all the hassles that come with commuting in the chaotic and crowded roads of the capital. Married male expatriate too looks for houses close to schools. However, that is not their priority number one. In any case, both are ready to spend a little more on this amenity.

As American, British, and German schools are all located in Chankaypuri area, the nationals from these countries ensure that they live in rented accommodations in places like Vasant Vihar, Shanti Niketan, Westend, Anand Niketan, Malcha Marg, and Golf Link.

Nowadays, there is also no dearth of landlords who will rent out their houses to women who land here with their male friends or companions. Even though these landlords are socially conservative and averse to be seen to be encouraging live-in relationships, they are only too glad to compromise with their value systems as long as they get a really fat rent.

Narrating the experience of her friend from France, Prof Pratap Sehgal of the department of Hindi, DU, says that her friend who was doing research in Hindi came to Delhi last year with her male friend. And, that became a big impediment in finding a house. On this flimsy ground, two-three landlords in Rajouri Garden and Punjabi Bagh turned down her request for a rented accommodation. Later, after much effort and very unwillingly, the scholar started telling prospective landlords that the guy was her husband, and only then did she manage to find a house on rent in Kirti Nagar.

“It was really very shocking for me when I found many landlords refusing to let a house to my French friend just because she came here with her male friend,” says the professor.

Courtesy:- TOI dt:- 11-07-09

Jaypee Greens is the real estate division of Jaypee Group, one of the leading corporate houses in the country with an annual turnover of over Rs.6500 crores. Jaypee Greens has two premium lifestyle golf centric real estate developments in the National Capital Region. The first is Jaypee Greens Greater Noida, India's first premium golf-centric township in 452 acres and offers golf villas, luxurious apartments and penthouses amidst an 18+9 hole Greg Norman signature championship golf course, 60 acre-nature reserve, town centre, resort and spa hotel, India's finest sports club with a host of entertainment options. The second one is Jaypee Greens Noida, slated to be the India's largest township development spread over 1162 acres, It is a mix use development with Numerous Graham Cooke golf facility, 15 lakes and waterbodies, landscaped greens, play areas and parks.
For more info log on to to http://www.zameen-zaidad.com.
And http://www.propertycafeteria.com

The focus of the Budget has been on creating a broader economy-wide revival than on sector-specific incentive framework. This will yield dividend to realty sector also, says

On the face of it, 2009-10 Budget seems to be disappointing for
the real estate sector — it has not delivered much to the housing sector, directly. But analysts and developers feel finance minister Pranab Mukherjee did the right thing in addressing the main issue of an economic slowdown that the country is facing in the Budget, in the wake of a global recession. However, some of them argue the government should have given some sops to the real estate sector directly, which would have helped in reviving the economic growth in the country.

Ramesh Chandra, chairman of the second largest real estate firm Unitech Ltd, says that keeping in mind the 6.8% fiscal deficit, it was not possible for the finance minister to match all the expectations.


Global real estate research firm, DTZ, in a report says 2009-10 Budget focuses on longterm economic development. The report f u r t h e r adds that e x p e c t a - tions of real estate participants were not addressed specifically, though the sector benefits indirectly by the fillip given to infrastructure development, consumption, and employment-related programmes and measures.

Kapil Wadhawan, vice-chairman and MD of Dewan
Housing Finance Corporation, says the continuation of the stimulus packages for 2009-10, which were announced by the government early this year to contain the economic slowdown, led to the fiscal deficit of 6.8%. This left the government with no room to give any relief to realty sector. But, had the government not continued with those packages, the economy would have been affected by the global slowdown, and this would have affected realty sector very adversely. “If the economy slows down further, no amount of relief package to the realty sector alone will help them revive,” he asserts. And, at the same time, if the economy revives, realty sector will also get back on track even without specific package for the sector, he adds.

Clearly, the focus has been on creating a broader economy-wide revival than on focusing on establishing sector-specific incentive framework, the DTZ report says.

Anshuman Magazine, CMD of global realty research firm CB Richard Ellis, South Asia, is of the view that the focus on infrastructure and providing more funding, especially for highways and railways, are the positive aspects of the Budget.

Anurag Mathur, MD of another global
realty research firm Cushman and Wakefield (India), also said, “Though there is no immediate impact on real estate industry in this Budget, the finance minister has incorporated measures that have a midto long-term impact on urbanization, and hence on the real estate industry.”

The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNRUM), Mathur said, has been a very successful initiative and on the back of its success the FM increased allocation to it by a massive 87%, to Rs 12,887 crore. This scheme directly touches the urban fabric of the country and with real estate matters largely being a state subject, the central government through this tool will have the ability to initiate far-reaching reforms in the industry. This will provide impetus in creating urban infrastructure and bring in large land areas into the mainstream, where affordable houses could be developed.

There are several announcements relating to housing sector in rural areas. The Budget provides for interest subsidy on home loans up to Rs 1,00,000. Allocation to Indira Awaas Yojna increased by 63%, to Rs 8,883 crore. The Budget has also provided Rs 2,000 crore for Rural Housing Fund (RHF) to National Housing Bank (NHB) to boost its resource base for refinance operations in rural housing sector. It has also given Rs 1,000 crore for the housing of paramilitary forces. Allocation for Bharat Nirman has also been hiked by 45%.

Mathur says though the Budget’s key focus is on rural housing, the above measures would definitely reduce housing deficit in the country. This would enhance opportunities for public-private partnership (PPP) in both rural housing and housing for paramilitary forces, which are also present in main metros.

Enhanced allocation for the Commonwealth Games in 2010, from Rs 2,112 crore to Rs 3,472 crore, will also go a long way in improving the condition of NCR, which will in turn help the realty sector. Vijay Jindal, CMD of SVP Group, concurs with this and says, “There are many positives that we can take out from this Budget.” Allocation for NHAI has increased, which will mean better connectivity and hence a boost to the values of real estate along these routes. The increase in allocation for JNNURM will also come as a shot in the arm to mass housing on the outskirts of metros, Jindal adds.

“We, as
real estate developer, have to see potential in the facts that there is an increase in allocations towards Rural Electrification Scheme, the Rural Housing Fund and Rural Road scheme. These focus areas by government can help real estate in far-flung areas and semi-urban areas,” he argues. Government has allocated Rs 1,00,000 crore to India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL) to fund infrastructure projects in the country. In fact, analysts also say due to global slowdown, prices of commodities like steel and cement have fallen substantially from the peak level of last year, which is helping developers in constructing affordable houses.

While real estate has not seen a direct mention in the Budget speech, DTZ report said, various consumption-driven benefits may accrue to this sector in the near future.

By increasing allocation to the NREGA, government is hoping for a more inclusive employment and broad-based consumption revival.

However, while a lot was expected in the first Budget of the newly elected government, real estate sector has been given a miss by the finance minister. Developers feel measures like reintroduction of 80 IB would have helped builders in constructing affordable houses. Under this act, the profit made on small-size housing projects of less than 1,000 sq ft in metro cities is exempt from taxes. They were also expecting a good increase in Income Tax exemption limits to help increase the buyers’ purchasing power. But at the same time, the most important factor that affects realty sector is the interest rate. The slowdown in economy has affected the government’s revenue adversely, while the stimulus packages have increased its spending. This has already taken the fiscal deficit to all time high level of 6.8% of GDP. Had the government accepted all the demands of the industry, fiscal deficit would have further gone up, which in turn would have increased the demand for government’s borrowings leaving only a small quantum of resources for private sectors, including home loan borrowers. This would have led to increase in interest rates in the market. Even at the present level, there are apprehensions that interest rates could go up.

Chanda Kochhar, ICICI Bank’s MD and CEO, said financing of the government’s programmers’ without distorting market interest rates remains a key challenge to be addressed, in the light of widening fiscal deficit in the Budget. Therefore, keeping the fiscal deficit below certain level is also important for realty sectors.

Courtesy:- TOI dt:- 11-07-09

Akar Creations Pvt Ltd is the
real estate arm of the Rs. 150 crore Borkar group having a diversified presence in packaging, retailing and real estate. Borkar Group was founded in the year 1910 as a retail kiosk and eventually spread its wings into printing and packaging and later - the construction industry. The retailing arm of Borkar Group today encompasses a chain of supermarkets spread out in the city of Margao-Goa. As far as packaging division is concerned, the group has a total of three factories in Goa, Daman and Himachal Pradesh and are one of the largest manufacturers of packaging cartons in India.
Speaking about real estate, During this time the company commissioned a variety of innovative projects in Goa, many of which have become landmarks in the places they are located. Pancharatna - a commercial complex made up of five buildings, residential complexes like
Indraprasta, Nandanvan, Ashiana, Mahalaxmi, JB Apartments - just to name a few.
Courtesy:- TOI dt:- 11-07-09