XS Real

Open the window please; I have a home to buy

admin — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:05:33 +0000

Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Mr. Ajay Maken seems to have a lot of ideas on improving the existing real estate transaction scenario. A committee under him is seriously looking into the possibilities of a ‘technology-enabled single window portal’ that will speed up the process of approvals – which in the long run is expected to bring down real estate prices as well.

Presenting, the ORR…

admin — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 05:01:34 +0000

The scene of action is likely to shift to the ORR (Outer Ring Road). Chennai has been seeing a lot of growth around OMR, ECR and even Oragadam; yet here seems to be an opportunity scarcely tapped. There are some developers who feel that scarcity of vacant land may drive prices high.

Real Estate Vs Stocks – the tussle goes on…

admin — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 04:52:15 +0000

What helps real estate hold its own against stocks? Given a choice, a young professional is more likely to ‘invest’ in a home than buy stocks. What causes this disparity in thought? Is it more emotional than rational? Or is there conventional wisdom at work?

A home on the ‘up’

admin — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 05:02:41 +0000

Migration rises; cities get crowded; and people need a place to stay. Town planners and architects have a solution – super high-rise buildings of 30 storeys or more that will house the burgeoning populace. This could well be a reality in developing cities.

The Re-sale factor – Chennai’s latest preference

admin — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:24:31 +0000

Several factors, chief of them being location and proximity to important places – work, healthcare, education – seem to drive Chennaiites towards opting for old properties. This has resulted in a spurt in prices of old units too – a skewed situation where the price netween old and new properties has narrowed down.

Look what adds up to buying costs!

admin — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:33:45 +0000

Bribes of course! Despite a digitized system of approvals, officials still expect their fair share of ‘cuts’ – cuts that slice deep into the pockets of hapless homeowners who bleed money, ruinously. Inspecting officials who demand money for ‘deviations in plan’, assessors, who ‘assess’ rates for their superiors’ and practically every one who sees himself as a signing authority looks to get rich – at whose cost though?

Still a pipe dream?

admin — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:34:32 +0000

Budget 2013 brought with it certain expectations. There was of course a waiver of interest to the tune of Rs. 1 lakh for first time home buyers – a welcome move. But then what else remained? Several real estate sector giants bemoan the fact that ‘industry’ status has not been granted yet which would enable generation of funds and improving efficiency.

Now a new development!

admin — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:51:58 +0000

In what could be termed a landmark development, the CMDA finally allows the trouble-wrought 10-acre prime real estate belonging to Hindustan Telephones Limited in Guindy Industrial Estate to be used for residential purposes. Considering the astronomical rates this could well be a game changer in the locality. It is also interesting to note that while earlier the government had blocked the sale of this land for residential purposes, on grounds that this was an industrial property, now there has been a change of stance.

What’s cooking in Poonamallee?

admin — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:51:10 +0000

An ideal location, great connectivity and proximity to important establishments all make Poonamallee a sought after location for home buying. This is also in no small measure due to the fact that rising prices in Anna Nagar and Porur have pushed more folks to this side of the town. And then there’s the fact the the price per sq. ft. is far lower than several other localities.

Connectivity to get better

admin — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 05:23:54 +0000

Here’s great news for commuters from the south of Chennai who have hitherto been at the receiving end of bad traffic and congestions – especially those looking to ease their way to the airport. Now as proposed in the 2012 budget, OMR (Old Mahabalipuram Road) and ECR (East Coast Road) will now be linked. The project looks to be taken up in right earnest and promises fewer, if any, grid locks.