Kerala`s biggest ever home shopping spree, held at 11 major shopping centric districts in Kerala. Home Furnishing, Construction groups or Interior accessories, whatever product you are looking for your home, South India's largest home expo ensures that it reaches out to you from Dec 16- March 11. The major location where Parpidam 2012 happens - Palakkad , Trivandrum, Kottayam, Cochin, Calicut, Kannur, Malappuram, Alappey, Thrissur, Thiruvalla, Kollam

CREDAI Kochi has expanded the scope of the Property Show by integrating leading brands of home accessory manufacturers. As a result, a comprehensive shopping experience is assured to the customers with a “ONE STOP SHOP” approach.

The event will take place at Jawaharlal Nehru Intl. Stadium/ Kochi which is recognized as one of the best trade fair venue. Over 100 exhibitors and 3000 visitors are expected to attend the event. an outstanding event for the architecture and designing industry and it has been organized by Business India over duration of 4 days. The event is going to be the perfect platform for the Indian traders and architects to showcase architectural brilliance in front of world audience. Besides trading the event will also feature an informative conference dedicated to industry issues. Moreover an award function will also take place at the event venue.

The National Association of Realtors - India (NAR-India) on Saturday signed a bilateral agreement with the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) to make property purchases more transparent for buyers across the country. "Brokers and builders are two key stakeholders of this industry. It is thus imperative that a synergy is cultivated between the two. We at CREDAI have proposed a single-window system for acquiring clearance for all project plans. It is a very important proposal, which if implemented will ensure that a customer gets all clearances within three weeks.

The bank has also introduced a fixed-cum-floating rate home loan product for new customers. Further, the bank has also decided to offer concession of 100 basis points (1 per cent change is equal to 100 basis points) in rate of interest for all segments of auto loans. All new borrowers would be given an option of either fully floating rate or a combination of fixed and floating rates. The bank has waived the processing fee for loan amounts upto Rs 25 lakh. Under the composite fixed-cum-floating home loan scheme, the bank will charge fixed interest rate for one to two years.

The four day 'Design Angadi', a fair will commence at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi on 14th October and will run through 17th October.
One of the features of the fair will be that there will be interactive sessions in which visitors can get to know products and technology at first hand. The visitors will get enormous opportunities to interact with professionals of the industry. Targeted at reputed architects, engineers, designers, government contractors, it also hopes to create awareness among people about environment-friendly building materials and green architecture concepts.
Flooring, Landscaping, wall finishes, paints, roofing solutions, solar products, structural beautifications, plumbing and sanitary items, electrification products, interior decoration inputs and so on are part of the fair.
The exhibition has stalls by reputed builders, business corner, Work exhibition pavilions and food courts.

The proposed law envisages a real estate authority to regulate all developers and real estate agents. All developers will have to register with the authority, the first such body in the sector. The draft, which The Telegraph has accessed, has been sent to the law ministry. Once cleared by the ministry, it will be presented to the cabinet before it is tabled in Parliament. The proposed act says developers have to disclose the carpet area, layout plan of the proposed apartments, structural design and plans for other on-site development. Builders cannot change plans or insert charges after the sale agreement is in place.

Housing Development will mainly tap investors from the Asia-Pacific region and the U.S. for the private equity fund, said one of the people. The Mumbai-based company aims to invest about 40 percent of the fund in residential projects on the outskirts of India’s largest cities, and as much as 30 percent in commercial developments.

The complete exhibition on home and interiors. The venue is Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor, Cochin. Event inauguration is by Film star Jayasurya. The event is open to public from 11 am to 8 pm. The entry is free. The exhibition pavilion is fully air conditioned.

The exhibition also includes various seminars regarding the subjects related with home creation.

Veedu exhibition features various Builders, Interior Designers, Home Appliances, Paints, Realtors, Kitchen Appliances, Modular Kitchens, Flooring, Furniture, Roofing, Storage solutions, Electronic Appliances, Home Technology, Computers, Security Systems, Antique and Collectibles, Pools, Ceramics, Lighting etc.

Real estate developers are setting up prefabrication plants to speed up construction and cut project costs as an acute shortage of labour and a rise in raw material prices threaten to wipe out the industry's already wafer-thin margins. Labour costs have risen 50% while prices of raw materials-steel, cement and bricks-have grown 25%, but developers are betting on the use of prefabs, which promise to save a third in construction time and 10-15% in costs over the long run.

Taking into account price increase of the four key construction components - steel, cement, labour and bricks - there is an 18 per cent gross rise in construction cost over the last 2 years. This escalation will corrode the profit margins significantly. It is estimated that delivery of 480,000 residential units across affordable, mid and luxury housing segments, scheduled for completion during 2011-13.

Interest-sensitive sectors like automobiles and real estate are likely to get affected more compared to other segments by rise in borrowing cost. The observed deceleration in growth in automobile and real estate sector also owes to higher prices arising from the market conditions. The rise in interest rates was a concomitant of the series of policy rate hikes by the RBI to control inflation and to rein in inflationary expectations in the economy.

Maximum Stamp duty for the family property partition is fixed as Rs.1000. Partition documentation among the family members, and for gift partition are included in stamp duty reduction. Now Grandchildren can also enjoy the benefits of documentation, before this was allowed to Children, wife, husbands and brothers. 2% of the land value is fixed as registration fees. We get deduction only for stamp duty and not for registration fee. July 8th 2011 UDF Government in kerala In a relief to all sections, the registration fee on partition deeds of family properties had been fixed at the rate of Rs 1,000, doing away with the value-based fee system .

In kerala different kinds of taxes are there. Land Tax, Plantation Tax, Building Tax, Luxury tax etc.
Land tax is paid in the Village Office, Building Tax is is Panchayath, Municipality or Corporation offices.

When the building construction is completed for the residential purpose, if it is below 3000 sq.ft, the owner should pay a one time tax to the concerned village office. If the building is above 3000 sq.ft, owner should pay luxury tax every year. The Rate of tax is depending upon the grade of Panchayath, Municipality or Corporation.

The uniqueness of this forum comes from its nature - it is a forum of the buyer, by the buyer and for the buyer. On IREF you will find all the information you need to take an informed decision. Advantages and disadvantages of a location will be discussed in detail. Every project in a location will be evaluated against each other and the benefits and price comparison will be evaluated at depth. Even the discount on the amount of brokerage commission you will get back from your dealer will be discussed. IREF has emerged as a potent internet resource to untangle the knotty problem of real estate dealings.

When buying or selling in an unorganised real estate market, trustworthy advisors are worth their weight in gold because they can make the difference between time gained and time wasted, and between financial gain and substantial loss.
Check the real estate agent’s background, review his track record and get references from past clients.
• Evaluate his knowledge of the real estate market and its offerings as well as his willingness to go the extra mile for you.
• Eliminate all prospective advisors who attempt to push you into a deal to make a fast buck or suggest unlawful shortcuts to legal procedures.
When considering a real estate advisor, be clear on what you require of him. Referrals from family, friends and colleagues are great sources for finding the right adviser. Interview at least two or three advisers in person and establish the person’s local expertise and database depth before you take a decision. Finally, clarify all aspects of the fees and ensure that these are in line with current market benchmarks.

The stringent enforcement of a standard code for measurement would ensure transparency and greater trust in the property market.

Whenever a property transaction is executed either for sale or rent, the actual size of the property determines the final price. However, property transactions in India are characterised by an on-going practice whereby tenants or potential owners are misguided on what actually constitutes a floor area. In the absence of any standards for area measurements, developers and facility owners set their own criteria to charge exorbitant prices.

Consumers of residential property are resigned to the fact that they will occupy less space than the allocated floor area stated in the contract at the time of purchase. However, to most buyers it remains a mystery as to how much of this extra floor space gets covered and accounted for in the actual cost of the property.

In commercial real estate, building ownership often changes over time. Original plans are either lost or the management company or the owner might make certain additions to the existing structure, which adds further space to the building.

Interior designs and layout play a vital role in the aesthetic appeal of your home. Attractive colours or patterns, decorative wall panels, furniture, show pieces, indoor plants, all are elements that are mostly considered in defining the internal ambience and the overall environment. The use of designer flooring, natural stones, and carpets have been some of the ways through which floors have also entered the set of design consideration.

Ceilings play a vital role within an interior space. They offer the maximum unobstructed view in a room and thereby never fail to catch the eye. Ceiling decor is also an important aspect of interior design and can play a vital role in defining the look and the feel of a room.

False ceilings serve a dual purpose within an indoor space. With the smooth surface and possibilities of designs and patterns, they add to aesthetics, whereas concealed lighting (through concealment of electrical wiring and light fixtures), thermal insulation and acoustics have better functionality.

False ceilings are suspended a few inches below the structural ceiling on a metal framework. Though having a false ceiling may appear as a slightly expensive proposition at first, it has distinct functional as well as aesthetic advantages which make them well worth the money.

The green buildings not only make an eco-friendly and healthy statement, but they also reduce operating costs, increase marketability of the buildings and give an impetus to the owners' corporate image. Adoption of eco-friendly practices also contributes to enhancing the life of the building and increasing the productivity of the workers, as the possibility of their catching an ailment through indoor air pollution decreases markedly in a green building. Especially in India, where indoor air pollution leads to close to 500,000 deaths every year, the importance of green buildings simply cannot be over emphasised.

The common objective behind the construction of a green building is to efficiently provide a healthy and natural environment to the residents by using minimal energy, water, and other resources. The natural environment provides positive energy and helps in improving productivity of its occupants

CREDAI Kochi has expanded the scope of the Property Show by integrating leading brands of home accessory manufacturers.

Property prices are bound to go up in next three-six months by five-10 per cent across the country. the increase in the repo and the reverse repo rates would result in an increase in interest rates for builders and the same would be passed on to the home buyers. The RBI raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7.5 per cent and the reverse repo rate by a similar margin to 6.5 per cent. As the cost of money goes up, the cost of construction and production will go up. This will lead to further inflationary pressures.

The Kerala Building Rules also specify stipulations for fire safety. It is mandatory for multi-storey buildings to install fire prevention equipment. Residential buildings with more than three floors and commercial buildings with more than two floors have to obtain a no-objection certificate from the Fire and Rescue Services. The certificate is a prerequisite for the apartments to secure door numbers from the local body.

Credai is currently evaluating the possibility of replicating the onsite training model for construction workers. At present, Credia’s national skills development committee is studying the model and is in the process of doing certain modifications to it. under the aegis of the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC), provides onsite training to construction workers in plastering, masonry, plumbing, electrical works, tile-laying and other allied activities with a Rs 18-crore fund sanctioned by NSDC last year.

Real estate developers, already reeling under the pressure of increasing input costs, feel that rate hike by RBI will help increase inflation rather than curbing it. Unless proper reforms are brought in housing, the result will be chaotic urbanisation. As the cost of money goes up, the cost of construction and production will also go up. This will lead to further inflationary pressures.

The insurance industry has a wide market and many top players such as ICICI Lombard and HDFC have plans to include title insurance in their product list by tie-ups with companies having expertise in title insurance. It will make property transactions more transparent, assuring the parties in purchase/sale to be more confident in getting a fair deal. The trends that can open up the real estate market through title insurance are humongous, realising that it is a virgin area for title insurance companies themselves.

CIBIL is a storehouse of credit information on individuals and commercial establishments. It collects credit information of consumers and commercial establishments from its members, collates it, and passes it on to any member who places a request. The members are banks, financial institutions, housing-finance companies, credit-card issuers, and other lending institutions. CIBIL provides the information in a format called CIR (Credit Information Report), which contains details of borrowings and payment history of a customer, overdue, if any, enquiries made with lending institutions, suit-filed status, and so on.

The law defines a benami transaction as a deal in which a property is transferred to one person while the consideration is paid or provided by another person. Property means property of any kind, whether movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, and includes any right or interest in such property. Under the existing law, property acquired in the name of the husband by his wife from undisclosed income is considered benami, although the husband could hold a property in his wife’s name.

The realty sector is riding on a new wave of growth in Kozhikode with work on two cyber parks in the south-eastern tip of the city and a knowledge park in the suburbs going apace. One of the cyber parks is being developed by the Vadakara-based Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) on 10 hectares of land. The Union Ministry of Commerce has granted the special economic zone (SEZ) status to the Rs.600-crore UL CyberPark. Another is the government-sector cyber park coming up on 28 hectares of land at Nellikode and Pantheerankavu villages. It has also received the SEZ status.

The government currently allows 51 per cent FDI in single-brand retail and 100 per cent in wholesale cash-and-carry operations. It is prohibited in multibrand. Last year, the government also removed the condition that wholesale trading made to group companies must be utilised for internal use. However, the government has not removed the clause that such sale of goods internally should not exceed 25 per cent of the total turnover of the wholesale venture.

State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank, raised both its deposit and lending rates, taking its effective home loan rate to 10.25%. ICICI Bank, the second largest bank, raised its rates. SBI’s home loan customers would pay 100 basis points (bps) above its base rate of 9.25%; thus the effective rate becomes 10.25%. SBI also raised its fixed deposit rates by as much as 225 basis points (100 basis points=1%), all of which were in maturities of up to six months. The bank also raised its prime lending rate (PLR) by 75 bps to 14% now. All these hikes are effective Thursday. The hike in FD rates is sure to cheer those who prefer the safety of bank FDs. From May 12, SBI will pay at the rate of 6.25%.

The increase in the repo rate announced recently by the RBI is leading to a revision of EMIs. Increase the repo rate by 50 basis points will definitely force banks to raise the lending rates by 50-100 basis points, or 0.5-1 percentage point. The RBI policy to raise the interest rate on savings bank deposits to 4 per cent from 3.5 per cent has brought cheers to depositors. But home-loan customers will have their equated monthly instalments (EMIs) increased when the banks increase the interest rates on borrowings. Most banks are just waiting to raise the interest rate.

Two economies – India and China – will continue to grow at an annual rate of 8-10%. In fact, by 2020 India will become the 3rd largest economy after China and the US. Indian real estate will also see massive demand contributions on the industrial front. The country’s industrial growth is geared to quadruple in scope and reach a value of $225 billion by 2020.

Skyline builder in Kerala, bagged the CNBC AWAAZ Real Estate Award 2010 for a project, Skyline Topaz, for excellence in construction of projects with areas ranging from 1 lakh sq.ft to 5 lakh sq.ft of built-up area. Abad Builders has won the CNBC CRISIL Real Estate Awards 2010 for a residential project, Daffodil Gardens, in Kochi in the best residential category in India (less than 1 lakh sq.ft). Abad Blue Chip Apartments, Kakkanand. Asset Homes has been honored with the CNBC AWAAZ CRISIL CREDAI Award 2010 for India's most innovative project. Asset Silicon & Cyber Heights at Kakkanad.

The recent tragic events in Japan were a clear indication to move forward in understanding the type of technology used in construction in that nation. So that during any calamity, the damage to property is minimal and loss of lives negligible. "The BAI Karnataka (Bangalore) Centre will work towards upgrading technology. This will be achieved through workshops, symposia and seminars apart from competitions among young minds to bring out innovations."

"The Confederation today presented a time-bound action plan to union urban development minister Kamalnath at the two-day 11th National Conference ( NATCON) of CREDAI in Singapore,". The developer community was being branded as being corrupt. The real estate sector is rated to be the biggest contributor to this notoriety.

The building elevation improves without spending more, for the staggered form is generally more appealing. The small pockets created by varied setbacks are suitable for beautiful house plants. The side setbacks will have varied widths compared with what the local bylaws stipulate as a standard minimum width. By having this depth of setback around or more than six feet, a small private home garden can be located within.

When roads are re-laid in a locality, it is common to find them higher than the ground level. This can lead to several problems such as water flowing into the houses. Many may wish that the floor could be raised to be level with the road. The ground around the house is dug up to a width of 2.5 feet and a depth of 2 feet. Screw jacks are fitted in the foundation and the building is raised to the required height. The height of the foundation is increased. Only the floor at the ground level and the sewage need reworking.

Indian firms created 43 per cent more jobs overseas, moving the country from 18th place in 2009 to 10th place in 2010 by number of jobs created overseas. Indian companies accelerated investment overseas across different industries, with the biggest growth in the business services, metals, software and IT, and leisure and entertainment sectors. Indian companies expanded fastest in the UK, but the US and Gulf states also attracted increased FDI

Prevention is better than containing a fire. The safety factors include structural design, fire protection, means of escape, illumination, sanitation, interior finish and upkeep and maintenance. The modern terminology in fire safety aspects include what is known as a fire engineering approach, which is encoded in the building codes as prescriptive and performance codes. Prescription is the details about what materials can be used, the building size, type of construction and so on, while the performance codes denote the details of meeting the objective of fire safety and establish criteria for monitoring the end results.

According to a report of the World Bank and International Finance Corporation. India recently revised its FDI policy, which brought changes like doing away with the requirement for a foreign partner to seek no-objection certificate from its Indian partner before starting a new business in the same field.

Given the rise in cost of living, it will be unreasonable to reduce the cost of labour. Alternative materials and technologies is one way to reduce the construction costs. This will also be necessary if we have to seriously consider the environmental implications of booming construction works. More than the cost of construction, it is the price of the land, which is critical in determining the affordability of housing.

The plan is to implement low-cost energy efficiency measures so that saving can be without many fresh investments. The State government has, through the Kerala Energy Management Centre, launched a programme to appoint energy managers and auditors in high-rise buildings, including apartment complexes, and industrial units that draw power from high-tension and extra high-tension lines.

Construction of national highways, townships, ports, hospitals, schools and railway projects, irrigation and other agricultural systems has provided a window of opportunity to the construction industry and construction chemicals. Construction chemicals comprise different elements such as cementations, cement admixture, cold applied products, hot-applied products, resin, membranes, and epoxy. New constructions to help in fast completion of work and minimise the quantity of cement and water used.

Planning and designing a building happens in three stages - conceptual design, preliminary design and final design. The architect and the structural engineer along with the builder (contractor) must spend sufficient time in arriving at the best plan and design procedure. Proper care should be taken in the configuration of the primary structure.

The fund intends to raise about $150-$200 million from domestic investors and another $300 million from global markets. The fund, which has about $750 million worth of assets under management, plans to invest close to $100 million over the next couple of months in major Indian cities. The investments will mainly be in the residential property assets. Rising interest rates and tighter loan approvals could slow near-term growth in the Indian property sector. Kotak is raising a $300 million private-equity fund to invest in infrastructure projects in the country.

The latest figures announced by the bank showed that the index for Kochi dropped to 80 from 83, Delhi to 108 from 110 and Kolkata to 171 from 176. 2007 is the base year of the index. In some areas in Kochi, the index held steady and in Vyttila, it went up to 92 from 80. While the index for Edappally zone dropped to 72 from 79 and for Mattancherry to 90 to 100, it was steady at 75 for Fort Kochi.

NRIs are permitted to buy and sell property in India. The acquisition and transfer of property by NRIs should be in accordance with the FEMA. The property should be purchased through a registered conveyance deed. It may also be purchased on a power of attorney. In the latter case, an agreement to sell and a power of attorney are executed by the seller in favour of the buyer.

The retail real estate market faces the prospect of excess supply. CRISIL Research studied the retail real estate market in 10 cities in India. Increase in planned supply of retail malls in India will increase retail companies’

The composite excise rates included the existing rate of 10.3 per cent, and Rs.160 would be added to the price of every tonne. This means an addition of Rs.8 per 50-kg bag, in addition to the excise rate. The budget also proposes lowering of the basic customs duty from 5 per cent to 2.5 per cent on gypsum and petroleum coke used in the manufacture of cement.

The annual Fairpro realty expo in Chennai. Organised by CREDAI Over 250 top properties promoted by some of the biggest builders from across Tamil Nadu spell variety. Through Fairpro, CREDAI aims to provide a platform to all the stakeholders in the real estate industry — and specifically for the end consumer — by bringing the best minds together from the sector and finding solutions to the hurdles one faces in investing in a home.

The Indian economy has regained the pre-crisis growth momentum, but there is a need for adjustment in the composition in demand and supply side. Indian economy has already reverted to the high growth path recorded by 8.9 per cent in the first half of the current fiscal.

The existing scheme of interest subvention of 1% on housing loans by extending it to housing loan up to Rs 15 lakh from the present limit of Rs 10 lakh. Raised, by Rs 5 lakh, the value of a house to be eligible for home loan under this scheme. The existing housing loan limit from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh for dwelling units under priority sector lending. Proposed an increase in provisions under the Rural Housing Fund to Rs 3,000 crore from the existing Rs 2,000 crore. Besides, a Mortgage Risk Guarantee Fund to guarantee housing loans taken by economically weaker sections and lower-income groups has also been created.

Installing fire-safety devices is like buying peace of mind. The automatic microprocessor fire-alarm system, the intelligent analogue-addressable fire-alarm system and the integrated fire-detection and extinguishing system, are for domestic use. A carbon dioxide flooding system has several advantages that no other extinguishing agent offers. It is fast in action and causes hardly any damage to sensitive objects. The 2-kg carbon dioxide flooding cylinders are portable and easy to use during a fire. Easy refill is another of their advantages.

Infrastructure plays a critical role in the economic development. There is significant challenge that the infrastructure sector encounters in terms of the huge capital investment and long gestation period of the projects. For India, environmental concerns, land acquisition issues, frivolous litigation in terms of PILs add as roadblocks to the infrastructure growth in the country. India is perceived to be one of the emerging markets for real estate investment. Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore have taken the 3rd, 5th and 10th spot respectively among the top investment cities.

Reforms like tackling the high stamp duty issue which makes even honest citizens deal in black money. Rising interest rates in the real estate sector, a big deterrent for people seeking home loans. Ownership of dwellings along with business services witnessed a growth of 7.5 percent in 2009-10.

Builders opt for Eco Sand, as it ensures a comparatively denser concrete and mortar than those made only with conventional sand with or without quarry fines. Builders in Central Travancore region have started using silica sand, a byproduct of the cement industry, for construction purposes. The micro-filling effect of Eco Sand reduces pores in concrete and provides better moisture resistivity and thus durability. Moreover, Eco Sand is substantially cheaper, reducing the construction cost.

Over 250 manufacturers, including 50 from overseas mainly from China, Taiwan, Italy, and the USA, expected to be participate in the show. The fair is organizing, supported by Government agencies such as Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Industries, the NSIC and others, the Chennai centre of Indian Society of Lighting Engineers.

Working in multinational corporations or having different types of businesses or professions prefer to invest in real estate. This was revealed in an Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The urban professionals included doctors, lawyers, businessmen and those employed at offices. The survey was carried out between September 2010 and January 2011.

The budget should modify excise and import duty structure to reduce these costs by at least 20 per cent. Developers also raised the issue of input costs and felt the need to rework the excise and import duties on steel and cement to restrict the cost of construction. Prices of steel and cement - the two most important inputs for construction - have jumped 30 to 50 per cent in six months and have impacted the real estate prices.

Aggregate FDI inflows into the real estate sector are recorded at approximately 7.42 per cent of the total inflows. The government should think of providing genuine relaxation from the lock-in requirements, which would give some relief to foreign investors.

The Clean City Movement is trying to promote the three ‘Rs' of waste management, reuse, reduce and recycle. Inorganic waste produced should be reduced, reused or recycled according to its nature. CREDAI-Kochi has set up a plastic shredder to reuse plastics in road building. The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India (CREDAI) in 2007, jute bags are being promoted for daily use.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), a professional body for qualifications and standards in land, property and construction worldwide, has, in a manifesto, proposed rationalisation of existing funding, incentives and taxation in favour of establishing better mechanisms to meet the funding as well as delivery needs of infrastructure and housing in the country.
The manifesto says that the definition of infrastructure should be broadened to include integrated townships (approximately 40 hectares in size) which are self-contained residential clusters, with certain prerequisites and ancillary facilities, such as roads, schools, parks, hospitals and retail outlets.

When the ICTT becomes fully operational, it will create over a lakh jobs, directly and indirectly in Kochi. Najeeb Zakariah, president of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India, (CREDAI), Kochi, said that creation of more job opportunities will have multiple impact in the economy of Kerala, especially Kochi. Apart from housing, hospitality and retail sector will have a direct impact with more services being offered from Kochi.
The prices of land and buildings are all set to skyrocket as it will generate more direct and indirect employment opportunities. Kochi will become a hub for logistics professionals from India and abroad when the activities of the port increase in and around Kochi.

Passive solar architecture - the design strategies by which we can prevent the sun from making our living spaces too hot. Here are some design strategies to reduce the heat indoors. A jack arch roof, consisting of an arched alignment of bricks supported by beams and columns, has less thermal gain, as bricks absorb less heat.
The 'V'-shaped gaps between the bricks along the arc, and the surface over the bricks, can be flattened out with brick jelly concrete and waterproof admixture. Hollow clay pots can be placed in the mixture, to serve as additional insulators.

A pilot project launched by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI) in an apartment complex in the city has demonstrated that it does not take much to find a way out of the problem that has kept the Corporation on edge for over a decade. The 'bio-bin' system uses the aerobic microbial composting method to convert biodegradable waste into organic manure. The segregated waste collected from households is deposited in the aerated bins and treated with a microbial solution that triggers decomposition. CREDAI has employed a supervisor to operate and maintain the system that takes 20 to 30 days to convert the waste into manure.

After the Delhi Cabinet led by chief minister Sheila Dikshit had decided to increase the circle rates by 100 per cent. Circle rates, the minimum value of any piece of land or immovable property for registration, doubled in Delhi.

The SBI has twisted the teaser loan scheme by naming it as Easy Home Loan, Advantage Home Loan and Premium Home Loan, depending on the size of the loan amount. SBI Easy Loan (for loans up to Rs.30 lakh), the interest applicable in the first year is 8.5 per cent and 9.25 in the second and third year, as against the present applicable rate of 9.5. From the fourth year onwards, the interest rate applicable would be the prevailing rate then.

Southcon 2011, is being held in Bangalore on Friday and Saturday. Developers from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are participating. The meet is discussing best practices and concerns in areas such as transparency, labour pool and cash-flow management.

It can take a builder a year to get government approval for a project, starting from the time of the initial investment. In Kerala, for instance, approval came within 10 days. He said representatives from the four southern States must come together to initiate a dialogue with their respective governments on best practices and building bylaws to reduce the time taken to get approval.

The inaugural 'India Property 2011' is scheduled to be held from February 11-12, 2011 in Abu Dhabi that will showcase affordable and hi-end luxury properties with competitive prices in the market starting from Rs1 million to Rs10 million. The two-day exhibition will provide a unique opportunity for NRIs to get first-hand information on the current Indian real estate.

Ansal Properties and Infrastructure has reported 4.81 per cent jump in its consolidated net profit for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, at Rs 32.93 crore. The consolidated total revenue during the third quarter of this fiscal increased by 6.5% to Rs 353.17 crore from Rs 331.60 crore in the year-ago period.

The commercial market in Mumbai is showing signs of revival and enquiries are on the rise. The first three quarters of financial year 2010-11 witnessed more transaction of office space at 6.83 million sq ft. The total office space transaction during the first three quarters of this year saw 27 per cent from BFSI sector, a steep decline from its share of 41 per cent during last year.

Chicago-based Vestian Global Workplace Services, an integrated real estate services provider, would invest '1,500 crore in India and China over the next 18 months. The company, which raised the fund from global investors, said about 70 per cent of the proposed investment was earmarked for the Indian market.

Reverse mortgage enables those above 60 years of age to mortgage their property to receive payments over fixed time spans without having to sell the property. The institution involved makes the payment - monthly or quarterly or at a chosen interval. Approximately Rs.1,700 crore has been sanctioned by 23 commercial banks and two housing finance institutions under the Reverse Mortgage Loan-Enabled Annuity Scheme (RMLEAS) availed by 7,500 senior citizens across India.

The RBI has been looking to tighten the lending norms for the real estate sector after last year's bribery-for-loan scam involving LIC Housing Finance and some public sector banks. RBI also asked the banks to set up an escrow mechanism at the time of providing project loans to real estate companies. An escrow account will help in safeguarding the interests of the lender from repayment risk and in monitoring the end use of funds. An escrow account is a trust account in the borrower's name.

Shares of real estate developers were trading higher with the real estate index up nearly 5 percent on bargain buying after falling sharply over the last one week. Funds had cut down exposure to the sector after the Indian central bank increased interest rates.

The data on the performance of sectoral and other indices since Diwali shows that BSE's IT index has gained nearly 3%, while the real estate index, which is at the other end of the spectrum, has lost 40.4%. Market players say while a number of headwinds that the real estate sector is facing are the reasons for the current investor apathy towards realty stocks, the low level of institutional holding in this sector compared to sectors like IT and banking, also affected the sector's performance.

SBI is likely to continue with the scheme, where rates are fixed during the initial few years before turning flexible. "Every quarter we look at the data. It is data-based. If it's good, then I would extend it," said State Bank of India chairman Om Prakash Bhatt, the longest serving chairman in recent years. "The NPAs on my loans are the lowest and I also have the collateral of the customer's house." "About 2.92 lakh people have got loans. Where is the tease in the product? There is no risk and there is no opacity. There is no dilution of loan appraisal norms or documentation. Every Indian is eligible,".

Goodwill Enterprises has launched Goodgrip, a solution to slippery floors, in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Goodgrip improves the co-efficiency of friction, resulting in increased safety. When GoodGrip is applied, the natural pores are widened and deepened to create a tread pattern that is not slippery. The treatment is done microscopically and hence, the appearance of the floor does not change. Priced at Rs.35 a sq.ft, Goodgrip can be applied easily and offers a colourless and odourless solution which does not harm the skin or body. Goodgrip is ideal for residential as well as commercial spaces.

For the construction and property sectors, technology has come in handy for several purposes. Business portals, property sale and purchase websites, industrial associations with interactive websites, and the online services of individual companies are becoming increasingly popular as more people seek information. The use of technology is growing for pre-construction needs too. There are software solutions for designing, inventory management, accounting and estimation.

Jaali walls are built with normal bricks or other masonry material, but by placing them with gaps in between either horizontally or vertically. Often these bricks can be placed at an angle also to prevent a direct view into the space inside. The way jaali wall lets in soft light in subdued rays, the way a gentle stream of air flows through the room, and the way outside is visible without letting any view of the inside are unparalleled in construction options.

About 70 per cent of the home seekers are pretty convinced that they will have to shell more money to buy a house in 2011, as compared to last few years. Due to increasing input costs and huge demand and supply gap. The report also said that those planning to sell houses this year would get higher returns.

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) and people of Indian origin (PIO) investing in premium real estate projects have become cautious and are doing a thorough check before investing. "Gone are the days of euphoric buying. Today, people are doing calculated buying. They are doing thorough due diligence, checking out the location".

According to indian Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, the housing and real estate sector in India witnessed foreign direct investment of $2.8 billion in the fiscal year (April-March) 2009-10. The housing and real estate sector including cineplex, multiplex, integrated townships and commercial complexes etc, attracted a cumulative FDI of $ 8.4 billion from April 2000 to March 2010.

The Banks are getting tough time with developers of commercial projects such as office buildings, malls and shopping centres. Meanwhile, several large property developers have to repay loans in the coming months.

State Bank of India is organizing a three day event called SBI Utsav at the bank's local head office on St Mark's Road in Bangalore.

Parpidam exhibition organized by the Malayala Manorama group across various towns/cities in Kerala from the 10th December 2010 to 17th February 2011. This is a popular exhibition noted with its diversity in stalls and variety of seminars/lectures on topics related to housing.

Kerala Property Expo 2010 will be held on 17th,18th,and19th Dec 2010at JNI Stadium kaloor, Kochi

Vanitha Veedu,the complete exhibition on home and interiors. The venue is Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kallor, Cochin. Veedu exhibition features various Builders, Interior Designers, Home Appliances, Paints, Realtors, Kitchen Appliances, Modular Kitchens, Flooring, Furniture, Roofing, Storage solutions, Electronic Appliances, Home Technology, Computers, Security Systems, Antique and Collectibles, Pools, Ceramics, Lighting etc.

CREDAI Kochi Is organizing the Kerala Property Expo, one of the biggest and finest of its kind at Kochi. The property Expo will be held at the Marine Drive, Kochi, from 6th to 8th of August, 2010, 10 am to 8 pm.
The next edition on Kerala Property Expo 2010 will take place in the middle East and Kochi during November- December 2010

The builders in Kochi are gearing up for yet another property show. The exhibition is from the 7th of August to the 9th, at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. It is expected to go down well with homebuyers, as the builders believe that the market is no longer on a downslide. A majority of the 80-member Kerala Builders Forum will be showcasing their projects.

With less than a fortnight for schools to reopen after the summer vacation, there are families scouting for flats and houses on rent in Kozhikode.

Officials transferred to the city and parents trying to live near the schools of their children make up most of the clientele for houses at this point of time. Low rent is one of their main considerations, especially in these times of economic slowdown.

The most sought after are flats with areas in the range of 600 sq.ft to 1,000 sq.ft. One- and two-bedroom flats in the city and houses on the outskirts are much in demand.

Awareness of clean energy and green buildings does not seem to reach the common man in the expected way. For many, the easiest way to build a house is still using the conventional construction methods.

The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Kerala chapter has stepped in to change this perspective. Its Green-i programme towards this end was launched in Kochi on May 9.

Shashi Tharoor, former UN official, writer and Congress candidate for Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha elections; Oscar award winner Resul Pookutty; and singer Usha Uthup are the Green-i brand ambassadors.

Only when ordinary people understand the ideas behind green concepts will they take to the new methods, says Lalichan Zacharias, chairman of the IIA Kerala chapter.

A beginning has to be made to save energy. It may be a small thing to start with — as carpooling or using the stairs instead of the lift. “We have to make people realise that these things do matter a lot,” Mr. Zacharias says.

Builders hope that a stable government will be formed at the Centre after the Lok Sabha election results come out on Saturday.

Stability and proactive policies to help the real estate sector are what they expect from the new government.

The recent stock market rally has helped to win back a lot of confidence in the market. The fear of recessionary trends has receded a bit with a small momentum in the real estate sector.

There are a number of expectations from the new government, says M. D. Jairaj, president of the Kerala Builders’ Association. The first is a correction in the cost of materials, which is the only way to create a momentum in the sector. The government has not taken a strong stand in correcting the prices of steel and cement that had spiralled up during the boom time. Now, even more acutely than before, the high prices make a major dent in profits.

The buyers will have a definite edge when material costs, which make up about 25 per cent of the cost, come down. While the labour costs, which are the highest in the State, will not decrease, land prices may see fluctuation. In Kerala, land prices have seen some correction in certain areas, but there are no drastic changes. Unlike elsewhere in the country, land is scarce here, the builders say.

Though the government has undertaken a huge exercise to fix fair price values on land to ensure better revenue from land registration, the task have been pending for the past five months. As land registration has come down in the past eight months or so, a positive approach by the government can help it earn higher revenues.

Kochi is among the 10 new cities for which the National Housing Bank (NHB) has completed work on a price index for residential property.

The NHBResidex, as the price index has been named, is on the lines of other price indices used in the country. With its twice-a-year updates, the NHBResidex promises planners, government and the public a better perspective on the real estate business in Kochi and its surrounding areas.

Kochi and nine other cities have been included in the index in the second phase of the ongoing and ambitious programme to bring all 63 cities covered by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) within the purview of the property price index.

The inclusion of Kochi, along with Hyderabad, Faridabad, Patna, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Lucknow, Pune and Surat, in the second phase of the NHBResidex preparation, is recognition of the city’s rising prominence in the realty business in the country.

A series of stimulus packages announced by the Reserve Bank of India is expected to shrug off the gloomy picture in the real estate and financial sectors. One of the major advantages of the packages is that homebuyers can look forward to borrowing at reasonable rates.

All nationalised banks have come up with tempting offers, although they have fixed a timeframe for some of these.

Such offers are highly beneficial for the salaried class and businessmen. Borrowers have to produce either the salary certificate or Income Tax return since banks have tightened norms.

The loan is determined based on the income of the homebuyer.

The repayment capacity and security are looked into before the loan is sanctioned.

Under the stimulus package, the State Bank of India and other public sector banks have been offering loans up to Rs.5 lakh at a rate of 8.5 per cent with rate reset every five years from the date of disbursement of the first instalment.

For loans above Rs.5 lakh and up to Rs.20 lakh, the rate is 9.25 per cent.

This is also a fixed rate with reset every five years from the date of disbursement of the first instalment.

However, the customer has the option at the end of five years to convert the fixed rate into floating rate.

The rate will be that prevailing at the time of conversion. The State Bank of India has come up with a “SBI Happy-Home Loan Offer” for loans sanctioned after February 2009 and partially disbursed by April 30. The rate of interest is 8 per cent for a year.

The interest rate will be reset after one year as per the contracted rate at the time of sanction of loan depending on the fixed and floating rates, total amount and the period of loan.

A slew of infrastructure projects are on the anvil in Kochi. K.S. SUDHI goes through a few proposals.

The Cities Development Initiative Asia (CDIA) is the latest to pump in money. The initiative, assisting Asian cities to bridge the infrastructure investment gap, has offered Rs.450 crore. The money will be added to the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) aid. Kochi and Chennai have been selected in the first phase from Indian cities in the race for funds.

A CDIA team, led by Nadir Ehsan, Senior Municipal Development Specialist, was in Kochi recently. The areas in which the agency’s aid will be utilised will be finalised after a pre-feasibility study. Environment, traffic, road design and urban planning experts will carry it out. The civic authorities hope to use the aid for creating a smooth and efficient urban road transport system. They have identified “monumental flyovers” which will serve as the most functional system to solve traffic jams.
Among those to be taken up under various other infrastructure schemes are five roads projects, three railway overbridges at level crossings which hold up traffic and a premium bus service.The Kochi Corporation hopes to collaborate with the State government and the Transport Department in the Special Purpose Vehicle to be formed for managing the bus service.

The proposed gypsum-based panel plant will require an investment of Rs.80 crore. The plant will have a capacity to produce 14 lakh square metres of the panel annually. The potential of the product is evident from the fact that the government ha s been focussing on evolving a method to provide mass housing solutions. With these, houses can be built without cement and bricks at a low cost.
These panels can be used to build walls and roofs without brick and cement. They are eco-friendly, weather-resistant, cuts building cost by 25 per cent and reduces construction time by 50 per cent.

The limited period interest sweetener announced by SBI has turned home loan market competitive, but it also raises issues. The reduced interest rate from SBI is for loans for all sizes given for a limited period up to April 30. This lower interest rate, however, will be applicable for a period of one year from the date of disbursement.
This interest rate will be reset after one year as per contracted rate at the time of sanction of loan. This will mean that the EMI (equated monthly instalment) of a home loan taker will increase from the second year as loans below Rs.20 lakh are reset at a higher four-year fixed interest rate and loans above that sum reset at the then prevailing floating interest rate.

An initiative from Infrastructures Kerala Ltd. (InKEL) to set up construction solutions and services parks in four key locations in the State comes at a turning point in Kerala real estate development as property developers come to grips with the unfolding recession around the world. InKEL has been launched, as its name conveys, to give a big boost to infrastructure development. The new entity has come out with big plans for better road connectivity, industrial parks and regeneration of urban areas. The plan is to bring together designers, services, materials and product providers under one roof.
InKEL will acquire around 40 hectares of land in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode initially for setting up the parks. These parks will be equipped to meet the requirements of anyone constructing a house, apartment complex or commercial complex.
The company is not satisfied with just providing supermarkets for the input needed for the construction of conventional buildings. It also plans a centre for affordable housing, using indigenous materials, techniques and designs. Green buildings too are on its agenda.

Property rates have come down in some prime places. Recession has its benefits. As builders and brokers look to beat market sentiments, homebuyers should find it easy to get good deals. It is the buyers’ market now, says a land dealer.

But the irony is that people with investment interests will not buy at this time. Only those who want to build a home are interested. It is a good time to build too.

There is a definite hold on inflation, unlike in the past when the prices of building materials shot up every quarter or even month.

Enquiries about land and property are on a steady increase on web sites, says the promoter of a web site dealing in property in Kerala. Though the surge in the property business had come down, searches on the web site are increasing steadily — may be to check out any major investment opportunity or because of the fact that most of the likely investors are from the web-savvy young group.

The Kozhikode Corporation will adopt a new property tax regime for residential and commercial buildings from this year with retrospective effect from April 1, 2008. The tax system is being rationalised after 15 years.
In the existing system, property tax is calculated based on the annual rental value. The purpose of a building and its type are usually not determined. The new system takes into account the carpet area of the building.

The city has been divided into primary, secondary and tertiary zones. An area having a government or a quasi-government office, educational institution, commercial complex, market, bus station, railway station and hospital will be in the primary zone. The places surrounding a primary zone with potential to evolve into developed areas will be in the secondary zone. Areas not coming under either category will be in the tertiary zone.

The general tax rate fixed for an area in the primary zone is in the range of Rs.8 to Rs.20 a square metre (1 sq m = 10.76 sq ft) for residential buildings. Buildings in the secondary zones will get a 10 per cent concession on rates and those in the tertiary zone, 20 per cent.

With a golden beach nearby and a cluster of islands separated by clean, flowing water, Purakad village at Ambalappuzha in Alappuzha district is endowed with all the natural attributes to be developed as a prime tourist destination.

The State government now has unveiled plans to transform the sleepy coastal village into a showpiece destination for the information technology (IT) industry. On the cards is an ambitious project to develop the first water-theme-based IT park in the country. It will be an extension of the Infopark, Kochi.

The project, which is part of the hub-and-spoke model of IT development, will initially offer over 2 lakh sqft of built-up space including plug-and-play incubator facilities and fully developed plots. When completed, it will provide employment for nearly 10,000 IT professionals. The government has classified 33 acres of land as a Special Economic Zone for the park

Service Tax on buildings is to be exempted by the Government. Considerable reduction of Stamp Duty is also on the anvil.

New Delhi: In a pre-budget memorandum submitted to the Finance Ministry, the Confederation of Real Estate Developer's Associations of India (CREDAI) has said that on the pattern of Special Economic Zones, the government should offer exemption from Excise and Sales Tax on the building raw material, and from Stamp Duty (on first allotment) for slum area development and low cost housing projects.

The Confederation lamented that high stamp duty rates in many states were adversely affecting the housing sector. At present, the states are charging up to 15 per cent of stamp duty on the transfer of property, leading to rise in prices.

The builders' body also demanded exemption from service tax for builders developing projects on their own account.

CREDAI suggested that rental housing stock investment allowance at 20 per cent, rental income from newly constructed houses with area of each unit not exceeding 150 sqm be completely exempted from income tax for first five years and at the rate of 50 per cent for the next 5 years.

KBF expo ,Calicut on Jan 30,31 and Feb 1 at Marine Grounds, Calicut Beach

Parppidam expo at Calicut , Corporation Stadium held on Jan 24,25 and 26th.

An exhibition and interaction at Good Earth Orchard [ 24 Jan, 2009 - 26 Jan, 2009 ]
Venue : Good Earth Orchard, Kengeri

The property expo organised by Kerala Builders Forum will be held here on December 19-21 at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. About 40 builders with projects all over the State are participating in the expo.

Dates: 4th 5th & 6th
Time: 10 PM - 8PM
Place: Dubai
Venue: Al Boom Village

Dates: 7th Dec.08
Time: 2 PM – 8 PM
Place: Abu Dhabi
Venue: Hotel Royal Le Meridian

The Inside Outside Mega Show (IOMS) is the largest event ever showcasing interior design, furniture and furnishings, building and construction industries. It is currently being conducted in 16 cities across India.

Kochi, Aug 25: UAE-based Lulu International Shopping Mall Group on Monday, Aug 25 announced its plan to construct a Rs 1,200 crore shopping mall in the city. Group Managing Director Yusuffali MA, while addressing the media, said the project, spread over more than 17 acres with a total built-up area of 20 lakh sq ft, would be completed by 2010.

The mall, to be constructed by renowned consultant W S Atkins of the UK, will eventually house more than 300 national and international brands of fashion, jewellery, electronics and lifestyle. It will also house a seven-theatre multiplex, family amusement centre with bowling alley and a 50,000 sq ft food court. The project also consists of a 300-room five-star hotel and a commercial tower exclusively for the airlines and aviation sector. An agreement had been signed with Marriot Hotels for running the five-star hotel, Mr Yusaffali, who hails from Kerala, said.
''This is our dream project and our plan is not to build just a shopping mall but a landmark destination for residents and tourists alike,''

The lease agreement for 11.4 acres of land, which is part of the 246 acres of land promised for the proposed SmartCity project, was signed in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. The agreement was signed by Ajayakumar, Secretary, Information Technology and Fareed Abdulrahman, chief executive officer, Smart City.

Government of Kerala has published an online website to ensure transparency in land deals. The site can be accessed at [[http://www.igr.kerala.gov.in]] . This website gives one the information about the Fair Value of Land of all the villages in Kerala.

A person can zero in exactly on his/her plot to know its fair value by selecting on the screen the district, taluk, village, desam, block and ultimately, the survey number. Reports can be exported in PDF format as well.

UAE-based Holiday Group is contemplating investing Rs 1,000 crore over a period of five years in infrastructure, housing and hospitality projects in Kerala. Mr C.C. Thambi, Chairman of the Holiday Group, recently announced the commencement of the construction of a 5-star deluxe resort at Bekkal near Kasargod, which is expected to be operational by 2009. The Group is also venturing into luxury housing projects across the State and the first project will come up at Marine Drive in Kochi. The Group also plans to come up with new projects at Kadavanthra, Maradu, Kakkanad, Kalamassery and Nedumbassery.

The board of directors of Kakkanad INFOPARK has recently decided to set up three more Infoparks in the state. Two will be set up in the Alappuzha district at Cherthala and Ambalappuzha and one at Koratti in Thrissur. The new Infoparks will create 25,000 job opportunities in the IT sector. The construction work of these parks will be finished soon with a budget of around Rs 300 crore.

The Government of Kerala has decided to adopt a multiple-developer strategy for setting up the 500-acre Technocity IT township near Thiruvananthapuram in order to spread the risks associated with the project and encourage healthy competition among the developers, said Dr Ajay Kumar, Secretary-IT, Government of Kerala. The investment in land and basic infrastructure alone is expected to be around Rs. 1,500 crore. Developers can bid for parcels of land based on their requirements as currently, the plan is to offer parcels of land that are smaller than 50 acres; those that range between 50 to 100 acres; and those above 100 acres, he explained.