Investments in Real Estate Market in India

Today the real estate market in India is at an all timecost housing market and is planning to make
high. With the emergence of multinationals, the demandsubstantial investment. Further, Dubai based Emaar
for office and residential space has increased manyGroup has already invested USD 100 million in
folds. But the investors of this market still consider IndiaHyderabad. And companies from Canada, Malaysia,
as an emerging market for the restrictive laws relatingTokyo, UK, and Singapore have all committed millions
to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and earning profit isof dollars in India. This is all the result of easing of laws
difficult in India's property sector. Sensing this,along with impressive property price growth.
Government has liberalized the laws relating to FDI inThe local factors contributing to this booming real
February 2005. With this now Non Resident Indiansestate market is the rise in demand for the property
(NRIs) or Overseas Corporate Bodies (OCBs) canfor sale and rent. With India's population raising to over
invest upto 100% in the sector and also in real estatemillion the potential for growth in property demand is
industry and construction ventures. A foreign Companyhuge. In addition to this the growth of IT sector and
with 60% NRI holding is considered as OCBs. But stilloutsourcing in particular geographical areas has led to
Government has certain rules in place for purchasingthe demand for office and housing space in those
commercial property by foreign company i.e. propertyareas. With the increase in the buying power of these
for business purposes.professionals and the availability of housing loans has
Although the investment period is restricted to minimummade it possible for them to afford their own houses.
of 3 years for the FDI to avoid speculative trading butThe increase in demand has also inflated the property
the real charm is that the investment is now allowed inprices.
the smaller projects of 25 acres, (which was 100Before 2005 there was only 1.1% of foreign direct
acres earlier). The hassle free and the easiest way toinvestment in India's real estate sector. But after
enter this market is by buying an investment fund.Government easing the controls and restriction on
There are many attractive and transparent funds fromforeign ownership of immovable property and also on
reputed investments houses. It is expected that withterms of ownership, there is a strong inward inflow of
the liberated laws, real estate investment fund willforeign investment interest in India. Government of India
emerge soon. But care should be taken beforeis keen to attract investment in this sector but in favor
acquiring any land and legal help should be taken atof control investment. As a result the local builders are
every stage of buying process.earning around 30-50% of rate of return on capital and
The increase in global real estate investment interest inproperty prices has increased in excess to 20%. Cities
India is evident from the fact that US real estatelike New Delhi, Mumbai and Banglore are mainly
billionaire, Sam Zell has termed India as world's lowestattracting these investments.