area watch: gurgaon
Slump fails to deter developers
A volatile economy, grim job scenario and delayed projects notwithstanding, existing as well as emerging players continue to come up with ambitious residential and commercial ventures in Gurgaon
Sunit Dhawan

Forget the past, ignore the present and focus on the future. This seems to be the latest mantra of the real-estate developers in Gurgaon and other adjoining areas falling in the national capital region (NCR).

Hence, despite the country’s economy being on a roller-coaster ride, job market showing signs of flagging and home-buyers/investors crying hoarse over the inordinate delays in the completion of housing as well as commercial projects, scores of new property ventures are being launched in this area.

With lakhs of ready-to-move-in homes and shops/offices lying unsold across the country, how the real-estate sector will sustain the test of time seems to be a pertinent question. But those in the business seem to be ignoring this question.

Though the property prices have started softening a bit and the downslide may persist for some more time, a sort of stagnation seems to have set in the real-estate scene here of late.

However, the slump in the property market has apparently failed to dampen the spirits of the builders, or so it seems at least as of now. In fact, old as well as new players in the property market are devising new ways and means to attract buyers who are not too forthcoming in finalising the deals in view of the prevailing situation.

According to CBRE’s latest report on the residential sector, ‘India Residential Market View H1 2013’, the residential market of Delhi witnessed stagnancy — concentrated in both the mid-end/high-end as well as premium housing projects. Capital values across most micro-markets of Delhi witnessed a decline owing to restrained demand levels, besides a cautious buyer sentiment. “But while the prevalent market sentiment was one of caution, marginal price appreciation was witnessed in specific projects in Gurgaon on account of their relative affordability, developer profile and location”, the report stated.

Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and Managing Director of CBRE, South Asia Pvt. Ltd. said, “The NCR’s residential sector has witnessed lower levels of activity primarily due to inflated prices. Going forward this will continue to dampen demand levels, particularly in the premium markets of Delhi and Gurgaon. Though the market is expected to witness developer focus on clearing existing inventory levels, launches by prominent developers are expected during the second half of the year – primarily in Gurgaon. ”

What sounds even more curious is that rather than exploiting the vast potential of the massive middle-class, many builders are focusing on the affluent denizens by launching premium and kuxury projects.

According to CBRE report, too, the developer focus in the first half of 2013 has remained largely upon luxury housing, attracted by the higher returns offered by this niche segment. There was supply addition in the mid-end/high-end segment as well, but mostly along the Dwarka Expressway and the New Gurgaon area. Across most of these locations, developers continued to offer incentives to boost sales. For instance, DLF has recently hired Leighton Welspun Contractors, part of the Leighton Asia, India and Offshore Group, for its super-luxury residential venture “The Camellias” valued at $250 million.

The Camellias is located on the Golf Drive at DLF-5, Gurgaon, and is flanked by Arnold Palmer-designed golf course. It is a much-awaited next-generation residential project following the delivery of super-luxury residential complexes — “The Aralias” and “The Magnolias”.

The Camellias will occupy a site area of approximately 16.154 acres and a tentative built up area of approx 4.5 million sq ft. The project includes the building of nine tower blocks ranging from Ground+18 and Ground+38 floors with three continuous basement levels, which together will house 429 apartments, including 14 penthouses.

“In line with its futuristic vision, DLF is strategically enhancing its project-delivery capabilities by associating with channel partners having an internationally proven track record,” asserts Ravi Kachru, CMD, DLF Projects.

Another real-estate major, Chintels India Ltd, is in the process of developing over 600 acres of self-owned prime land in Delhi and NCR. Located across five premium sectors of Gurgaon, the land acquired by the company over the past decade or so is now being developed into luxury apartments, villas, townships and corporate parks etc.

The group is at present developing exclusive real estate areas named Chintels Metropolis and Chintels Cosmopolis.

Spread across 600 acres of self-owned land in Sectors 106, 108, 109, 114 and 115 of New Gurgaon and adjoining parts of Delhi, the development will be part of Chintels Cosmopolis and Chintels Metropolis located along the Dwarka Expressway.

Prashant Solomon, Managing Director, Chintels India Ltd and member of the governing council of CREDAI-NCR, maintains that the group has planned its construction activity in a phased manner till 2015-16, in line with the construction of the 18-km-long Dwarka Expressway connecting Dwarka (Delhi) and Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway (NH-8).

“The Dwarka Expressway, with its close proximity to the IGI Airport, Delhi Aerocity and the upcoming Diplomatic Enclave, is expected to follow the same growth curve as premium Gurgaon locations like Golf Course Road,” he points out and hopes that the Dwarka Expressway gets completed in time.

Manish Agarwal, MD, Satya Group, observes that investing in real-estate in Gurgaon has been not lost its appeal. “Gurgaon has been a popular destination for investors from India and abroad. The realty market here will grow over the next few months as the fall in rupee value will bring in more NRI investors. Moreover, other factors such as the provision of Metro and Rapid Metro rail links, the emergence of Dwarka Expressway and Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway, have also sown the seeds of a robust investment scenario in the city and nearby locations,” he notes. 

Tackle infrastructure woes

Factors like economic slowdown, inflation and steep rise in the prices of raw-material etc., have cast a shadow on the demand in the real estate sector in general and Gurgaon is also not an exception although Gurgaon properties commands a different type of demand and investors. Apart from the core issues of law and order and transportation which need immediate attention, development of proper infrastructure is also very necessary for sustainable growth of this region.

Gurgaon was envisaged to be a world-class model city with international standards of roads and other civic amenities but it wasn’t backed up with proper implementation as a result of which the city is lacking major infrastructure. Though the slump is small and could be consoled to be of transient phenomenon but the problem of poor infrastructure needs immediate resolution with proper implementation according to the master plan.
— R K Arora, CMD, Supertech Ltd 

tax tips
Can I take loan for construction on a plot?
S. C. Vasudeva
email your queries to realestate@tribunemail.com

Q. I had sold a HUDA plot allotted to me in 2004 for Rs 40 lakh in July 2013. I have purchased a new plot for Rs 45 lakh from the sale proceeds of the plot sold earlier and funds from other sources. Now I have no funds to deposit the same in LTCG a/c or construct a house on this plot. In case I do not construct house on this plot can I claim exemption of LTCG? Should I construct house on it by availing loan for LTCG exemption. If I take a home loan for constructing a house on this plot then what will be the status of LTCG gain exemption? I have no other house in my name. — dharmender kalra

A. Your queries are replied hereunder:

In case you do not construct a house on the plot which was purchased for a sum of Rs 45 lakh, you will not be entitled to claim exemption in respect of the capital gain arising on sale of the plot which was sold by you in July 2013.

As you have utilised the entire sale consideration of the plot for the purchase of another plot, there is no necessity to deposit any amount under the capital gain scheme account as the provision regarding such deposit in the said scheme applies in respect of that part of net consideration which has remained unutilised on or before the due date of filing the tax return. You can construct the house within three years after the date of sale of plot i.e. up to July 2016. The construction can be financed by taking loan from a bank or from any other financial institution that provides finance for the purchase or construction of a residential house. You would be entitled to claim exemption from capital gain in case you adopt the above course of action.

How much stamp duty will have to be paid for transfering ancestral land?

Q. My father has about half acre agricultural land in his ancestral village in the Karnal district. My father wants that property to be transferred in my name. What would be the percentage of stamp duty or any other charges for the property to be registered in my name. — rajat sharma

A. The stamp duty is payable @6% in Haryana in respect of transfer of property. Please note that the stamp duty will be payable on the market value of the agricultural land gifted to you. Other charges payable can be ascertained from Sub-Registrar's office at Karnal.

Decode gift tax norms

Q. I live in Mumbai and my mother has gifted me a house in the same city. Please let me know the tax implications on this. Please give me details on gift tax, stamp duty and so on. — raj gupta

A. Gift of any immovable property is valid only if the instrument of gift or the gift deed has been registered with the registrar by paying the requisite amount of stamp duty.

There are no tax implications in your hands when you receive the property as gift other than the payment of stamp duty (if the same is payable by you) as there is no gift tax leviable at present. However, when you sell the property, you would need to compute your liability in respect of capital gains tax. Your mother will not be liable to pay any tax on such a transaction.

How can I save tax on the sale of agricultural land?

Q. I own agricultural land (about 10 acres) in a village in Haryana. I have been using it for agricultural purposes for the past several years but the income arising from such cultivation is barely sufficient to meet the requirements of my family. I understand that the Haryana Government is very soon going to come up with a notification to declare that the land in a village can lead used for developing a residential colony. I, therefore, expect to get a sufficiently good price for my land. I intend selling my land and plan to buy some agricultural land in an area where irrigation facilities are available and the land is fertile for growing cash crops. Is there any way that the capital gain arising on such a sale may not be taxable? — a.p. singh

A. Section 54B of the Income-Tax Act, 1961 provides for an exemption in case the agricultural land is transferred by an individual or a Hindu Undivided Family which was being used by the assessee, being an individual or his parent or by a Hindu Undivided Family, for agricultural purposes for a period of two years immediately preceding the date of transfer. The exemption to Hindu Undivided Family is applicable for assessment year 2013-14 and onwards. The exemption would be available in case the tax payer has purchased another agricultural land for agricultural purposes within a period of two years after the date of such transfer. The amount of exemption is limited to the amount of capital gain generated on the transfer of agricultural land or the amount invested in purchasing a new agricultural land. In case full amount of capital gain is not utilised before the due date of submission of return of income, the unutilised amount is required to be deposited in a bank under capital gain scheme. The amount so deposited is required to be utilised for purchasing the agricultural land within the period specified herein above. The above exemption is available for a long-term capital gain or short-term capital gain as the case may be.

The amount deposited under the capital gains scheme, if not utilised fully for purchase of new agricultural land within the stipulated period, then the unutilized amount shall be treated as a capital gain of the previous year in which the period of two years from the date of transfer of original asset expires. It will be taxable as long-term or short-term capital gain depending upon the original status of the capital gain.

What is the total value of my flat?

Q. I have a house in my name which is self-occupied. Now I have purchased one built up flat in my name at Zirakpur at a total cost of Rs 38 lakh by availing Rs 30 lakh loan from a bank in March, 2013. The flat was re-allotted in my name by paying transfer fee of Rs 85,000 and IFMS as Rs 25,000 to the builder on March 29, 2013. The flat was registered in my name on April 10, 2013 by the builder by paying stamp duty of Rs 2.59 lakh. Minor repair made on flat during April-May, 2013 were carried out at a cost of Rs 1 lakh. The flat was let out in July, 2013 at a monthly rent of Rs 6000 to be paid bi-monthly. My queries are as under:

The date of purchase of flat will fall in which financial year.

What is the total value of the flat to be considered for computing capital gain?

I have read that the restriction of Rs 1.5 lakh does not apply to cases where house property purchased has been given on rent. In that case, as per Section 24 (b) of IT Act, 1961, the entire amount of interest paid/ payable shall be allowed as deduction since that house is on rent. The interest amount in my case is more than Rs 1.5 lakh per annum. In such case, can I claim IT deduction on the entire actual interest amount paid to the bank. — pardeep garg

A.The date of purchase would be in the year in which the possession of the flat was given to you. The information given in the query does not indicate this aspect. It seems the same was given to you on April 10, 2013 i.e. the date on which the flat was registered in your name. If my presumption is correct, you would be considered as owner of the flat from the financial year 2013-14 onwards.

The total cost of the flat to be considered for the purpose of computing capital gain would be Rs 41.69 lakh (38 lakh + 0.85 lakh + 0.25 lakh +2.59 lakh).

You will be entitled to claim the actual amount of interest paid/payable to the bank as deduction under Section 24(b) of the Act in respect of the amount borrowed for the acquisition of the flat, in case the flat has been let out.

Is my claim for income tax relief admissible or not?

Q. I have purchased a residential plot in Kharar. I had taken home loan from ICICI Bank for purchasing this plot (till date no construction has been carried out on this plot). The bank has issued me a loan repayment certificate for financial year 01.04.2013 to 31.03.2014 detailing breakup of principal (Rs. 1, 58,081) and interest (Rs. 43,315) for the mentioned financial year (total repayment is Rs. 2, 01,396). The bank certificate states "Deduction under Section 24(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, in respect of the interest payable on borrowed capital can be claimed in accordance with and subject to fulfilment of conditions prescribed under the income tax laws. Interest payable for the pre-acquisition or pre-construction period can also be claimed as deduction in five equal instalments beginning with the year the house property is purchased or constructed in accordance with and subject to fulfilment of conditions prescribed in Section 24(b) of the Act."

Since, I made a full and final payment with loan contribution from the bank to the seller on the date of purchase of said property as such I feel that the condition of 'pre-acquisition or pre-construction' is not applicable to me.

I am a government employee. While recovering TDS my employer put aside my claim on benefit under Section 24(b) asserting the said benefit is admissible only in the case of loans availed for house building only. I may kindly be advised whether my claim for income tax relief under Section 24(b) is admissible or not?

How much is admissible and what is the ceiling for that amount? Can I claim refund from the income tax office and how? — keena bali

A.Your queries are replied hereunder:

You are not entitled to claim deduction in respect of the interest paid/payable during pre-acquisition period for the amount borrowed for the purchase of a plot. Such deduction is allowable for the amount of interest paid during construction period of a house in five equal instalments starting from the year in which the construction of the house is completed. Such deduction is allowable against income from house property.

Deduction is admissible for the amount of interest paid/payable against the income from house property to the extent of Rs 1,50,000, if the house is self-occupied. The above limit is not applicable in case the house has been let out and is not self-occupied.

You would not be able to claim any refund of income-tax as no deduction is allowable in respect of the interest paid/payable on amount borrowed for purchase of a plot.

market pulse
Mumbai flats shrink to stay affordable
Ramesh Nair

Over the past five years, Greater Mumbai has seen a significant fall in the average sizes of residential apartments in the investible-grade category. Thane and Navi Mumbai, which along with Mumbai form the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), too, witnessed a fall in apartment sizes, although to a limited extent.

With Delhi-NCR also exhibiting the same trend, this appears to be a phenomenon of the larger metro cities. Other cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata have, in fact, seen a varying rise in median apartment sizes. The dynamics of apartment sizes has a tale to tell - a tale about affordability and development of the residential sector across cities.

In 2008, apartment sizes in Greater Mumbai were, on average, 20 per cent larger than those observed on a pan-India level. The median size of apartments across the country at that time was close to 1,600 sq ft. While this number continues to remain more or less the same in most other cities, unit sizes in Mumbai have drastically reduced and are currently 15 per cent lower than the national median size.

This is a fall of approximately 31 per cent from 2008. NCR in the same time frame saw a drop of 14 per cent in apartment sizes while Pune saw an increase in apartment sizes by 23 per cent. Thane and Navi Mumbai witnessed apartment size reduction of 17 and 18 per cent, respectively.

The fall in apartment sizes in Thane and Navi Mumbai has been less severe as compared to the trend seen in the Mumbai residential real estate market. It would be reasonable to assume that the rising levels of affluence in the city would yield a preference for larger apartment sizes. Why has that not been the case? While a major part of the fall seems gradual, a closer look at some sharp variations during the last 4-5 years could possibly help understand this trend better.

The average unit size of investible-grade apartments in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane witnessed a sharp fall in 2009. Many would argue that this was the after-effect of recession that hit the world - and India - in mid-2008. However, it is pertinent to note that typically, construction of investible-grade apartments takes a minimum of three years before completion.

This means that developers would have been required to anticipate the unfolding of a recessionary period at least by 2006 to have started constructing smaller-sized apartment projects that would see completion in 2009. This seems highly unlikely. Could it have had nothing to do with recession at all?

Certainly, the prediction of a recession with enough accuracy to warrant radically altered investment and construction plans is not a plausible explanation. Rather, the decision to launch projects with smaller-sized units could be a result of the meteoric rise in apartment prices during previous years. As per JLL Real Estate Intelligence Services data, the period of 2005-07 saw an astronomic rise of 110 per cent in residential property prices across the MMR. In Greater Mumbai alone, the figure was close to 120 per cent on a simple average growth basis.

With Mumbai already being the costliest city in India, such steep escalations in capital values definitely challenged affordability. At the same time, the more reasonable prices in Thane and Navi Mumbai did not present such hurdle to saleability. It appears that developers felt the need to reduce apartment sizes to maintain a comfortable level of affordability.

Contrary to popular opinions on the issue, it emerges that developers have indeed had concerns about the sustained affordability of residential real estate in and around Mumbai. One must not forget that developers receive real-time feedback from property buyers, and are therefore, quite informed about matters such as affordability and preferences.

While property prices are not purely a product of developers’ discretion, the decision to alter apartment sizes as per the needs of buyers is definitely within their ambit. It will be interesting to see what the lowest possible limit to this fall in apartment sizes is before it entirely breaches preferences of home buyers in Mumbai.

— The writer is COO - Business, India, Jones Lang LaSalle

real policy
Realty Bill to ensure builders’ accountability

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013 provides for specific provisions towards promoting transparency and fair and ethical business practices, relating to transactions, through disclosure of project details and contractual obligations vis-à-vis the project and the buyer, which shall promote informed choice for the buyers. Disclosure of project details shall substantially reduce the power asymmetry prevalent in real estate transactions

Currently, the real estate and housing sector is largely unregulated and opaque, with consumers often unable to procure complete information, or enforce accountability against builders and developers in the absence of effective regulation. The Bill is expected to ensure greater accountability towards consumers, and to significantly reduce frauds and delays.

The specific provisions regarding disclosure of project details are as follows:

Application to authority

Every promoter shall make an application to the Authority for registration of the real estate project in such form, manner, within such time and accompanied by such fee?as may be specified by the regulations made by the Authority.

The promoter shall enclose the following documents along with the application:

Brief details of his enterprise including its name, registered address, type of enterprise (proprietorship, societies, partnership, companies, competent authority)?and the particulars of registration;

An authenticated copy of the commencement certificate from the competent authority obtained in accordance with the laws as may be applicable for the real estate project mentioned in the application, and where the project is proposed to be developed in phases, an authenticated copy of the approval and sanction from the competent authority for each of such phases;

The layout plan of the proposed project or the phase thereof, and also the layout plan of the whole project as sanctioned by the competent authority;

The plan of development works to be executed in the proposed project and the proposed facilities to be provided thereof;

Proforma of the agreements proposed to be signed with the allottees;

The number and the carpet area of apartments for sale in the project;

The names and addresses of his real estate agents, if any, for the proposed project;

The names and addresses of the contractors, architect, structural engineer, and other persons concerned with the development of the proposed project;

A declaration, supported by an affidavit, which shall be signed by the promoter or any person authorised by the promoter, stating,

that he has a legal title to the land on which the development is proposed along with a legally valid authentication of such title if such land is owned by another person;

that the land is free from all encumbrances, or as the case may be, of the encumbrances on such land including any rights, title, interest or name of any party in or over such land along with details;

the likely period of time within which he undertakes to complete the project or phase thereof;

that seventy per cent., or such lesser per cent. as notified by the appropriate Government, of the amounts realised for the real estate project from?the allottees, from time to time, shall be deposited in a separate account to be maintained in a scheduled bank within a period of fifteen days of its realisation?to cover the cost of construction and shall be used only for that purpose.

that he has furnished such other documents as may be prescribed by the rules or regulations made under this Act.

Function and duties of promoter

The promoter shall on receiving his Login Id and password create his web page on the website of the Authority and enter all details of the proposed project in all the fields as provided, including —

details of the registration granted by the Authority;

quarterly up-to-date list of number and types of apartments or plots, as the case may be, booked;

quarterly up-to-date status of the project; and

such other information and documents as may be specified by the regulations made by the Authority.

The advertisement or prospectus issued or published by the promoter shall mention prominently the website address of the Authority, wherein all details of the registered project have been entered and include the registration number obtained from the Authority and such other matters incidental thereto.

The promoter, upon entering into an agreement of sale with the allottee shall be responsible to make available to the allottee, the following information:

site and layout plans along with specifications, approved by the competent authority, by display at the site or such other place as may be specified by the regulations made by the Authority;

the stage-wise time schedule of completion of the project, including the provisions for water, sanitation and electricity.

The promoter shall:

be responsible to obtain a completion certificate from the relevant competent authority as per local laws or other laws for the time being in force and to make it available to the allottees individually or to the association of allottees, as the case may be;

be responsible for providing and maintaining the essential services, as may be specified in the service level agreements, on reasonable charges, till the taking over of the maintenance of the project by the association of the allottees;

take steps for the formation of an association or society or co-operative society, as the case may be, of the allottees, or a federation of the same, under the laws applicable.

The promoter may cancel the allotment only in terms of the agreement of sale:

Provided that the allottee may approach the Authority for relief, if he is aggrieved by such cancellation and such cancellation is not in accordance with the terms of the agreement of sale, unilateral and without any sufficient cause.

The promoter shall prepare and maintain all such other details as may be specified, from time to time, by regulations made by the Authority.

launch pad
Motia’z Royal Citi Phase-II in tricity

After the successful completion of Motia Heights, Motia Plaza, High Street and Motiaz Royal Citi Phase-I, Motia Developers have come up with their latest project — Motia'z Royal Citi Phase-II, located on Chandigarh-Ambala Highway, Zirakpur. 

Spread over 23 acres it will have residential and commercial complexes. The residential complex will have approximately 1000 three BHK apartments. The price of these residential units will be ~ 44.90 lakh. Apart from the essential features like gated community with 24x7 security, covered parking space, guest parking, 24-hour power back-up, hi-speed elevators, 'Motia'z Royal Citi Phase-II' also offers luxury features including Wi-Fi facility, premium multi-level club house with swimming pool. 

decor trends
A spatial treat
renu mishra

The master bathroom is supposed to be your own private escape apart from being a place to groom and pamper yourself. The stereotypical pink-and-white tiles or the perpetual beads of water on the ceiling make the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom rather staid whereas an expertly modeled master bathroom can promise years of pleasure and comfort.

Opulent bathrooms should be all about indulgence and well-being coupled with streamlined designs. An amateur job of sanitary designing will unfortunately land you with an end result that jars with lots of moving parts crammed into a tight footprint, not to mention volumes of water ready to exploit any and all leaks. Recent developments in this part of your daily habitat seem to suggest that designing a bathroom has moved from being just about getting the basic fittings to be durable and serve ordinary purposes of usage. Today, a bathroom must look inviting and attention grabbing as it must invoke a deep sense of reinvigoration, calmness as well as a sense of relaxation.

Where style meets functionality

A recent survey conducted by Grohe illustrates that more than 85 per cent of the respondents consider the bathroom to be a very important factor while deciding upon a house. For almost 45 per cent functionality and aesthetics are on top when it comes to what a bathroom shall offer. Interestingly, hassle free experience and quality has become a need, rather than a proposition. Almost 54 per cent of the consumers cannot visualise a bathroom without a shower in it. The shower is what separates their "personal space" from "me-too" zones in the house

The literal translation of "a room with a bath" has evolved into a more technical description where a "full bathroom" must comprise four plumbing fixtures: bathtub, shower, toilet and sink/basin. After these four essential elements, it is all up to us to mix and match materials to transform a utilitarian room into a peaceful private spa, a glamorous spot to put on make-up or an eco-friendly place to shave. Bathroom cabinets and bathroom vanities are built to store an ever increasing number of necessary products. Today, well designed bathrooms are not only beautiful but long lasting and highly functional.

Changing scene

Bathrooms in the last century were small, but lavishly decorated with exotic oriental rugs, plush towels, flattering lighting and large mirrors. Evolving since then, design trends today delve around the notion of making your bathroom seem like a sanctuary, with beautiful lighting, rich stonework and deep freestanding tubs. It's really all about luxury and creating a tempting retreat. Over the past few years, interior design trends have been getting greener and greener. And in 2013, bathroom design has been more natural, organic and eco-friendly than ever.

Game for colours

Many of the designers and bath experts have said that one of the hottest trends for 2013 is unexpected colour. Warm, blush pinks, such as Bee's Knees, represent feminine beauty and emerging notions of individuality of women of the era. Jazzy Jade, a cool mint, replicates the blue-touched, sea glass tones popular in current times. Shanghai Peach is an optimistic colour moving from the orange family into melon tones. One of the most dramatic colours this season is oxblood. A perfect balance between rich chocolate and deep garnet, oxblood serves as a great accent colour with gray for a modern bathroom.

The spa effect

In recent years, bathrooms have become more and more spa-like. People want a place to relax, de-stress and escape. Bathrooms are an oasis, and this is seen throughout the very serene upscale finishes to the over-the-top plumbing fixtures. People have wonderful steam showers in their homes with multiple showerheads and commodes that light up and sense when you walk into the room, with the lid actually lifting up and playing music!

Updated bathrooms now have tiles on all walls; wonderful mood lighting and music and/or televisions built in for long soaks in the tub.

The spa resort effect is coming into the home in a big way.

Trend spotting

Shower curtains have been replaced by simple glass enclosures with no visible metal trim.

Focused mood lighting has replaced broad overhead lighting, transforming these spaces from utility to moody, sexy and sensual spaces.

Upholstered flexible seating elements like large terrycloth-covered ottomans offer places for people to sit comfortably while toweling off or going about their personal regimens.

Dark painted floors or stone floors with texture-driven area runners have replaced the old bath mat concept.

Fully mirrored walls (from countertop to ceiling) over vanities help stretch the space visually and offer a cleaner and streamlined look. Medicine cabinets have become a thing of the past and have been replaced by organised pullout drawers below - almost like spice racks used to outfit kitchen drawers.

Coloured or embellished towels are out and simple white terrycloth towels that suggest “spa.” Are the in thing.

Brushed nickel is the new metal accent as chrome, brass or even white ceramic fixtures can now date these investment spaces.

For showers, luxury is the key in 2013. Whether it's the newest in showerhead design or simply a luxurious stone surround, the focus is on making our bathrooms similar to a spa experience.

Marble in the shower is in big demand, from slabs of marble to large tiles to mosaic patterns; it's a classic stone that comes back as a big trend year after year. Not much has changed for sinks, with the all-in-one sink and vanity combination continuing to lead in popularity.

For faucets, however, there is a glam update. Brass faucets are going to be wildly popular in bathrooms. Watch for a return to traditional styles that are more ornate, including bridge faucets.

Blame it on a heightened awareness of aesthetics or pure fascination to please your senses, designing your bathroom is fast heading in the direction of the artist rather than the plumber!

The writer is Vice-President and Managing Director, Grohe India Pvt. Ltd.

Green house
Banish the wilted look
C.S. BEWLI

Nothing is more rewarding to a gardener than watching a garden full of blooms and foliage. The sight of faded blooms and leafless trees is indeed very depressing for a plant lover. You just need to put into practice the habit of removing spent blooms to maintain a perfect floral display in the garden.

A plant produces flowers to ensure the survival of species through the process of pollination. As the blooms die, the plant attempts to spend its energy to ensure that seeds are produced. In order to promote and encourage the plants to continue growth with more flowers for a prolonged blooming period, deadheading or pinching, a simple process in plant care, is carried out. This does not harm the plant, rather it helps in redirecting and channelising the plant's energy away from producing seeds into forming more new flowers.

Deadheading is a term used to remove spent and faded flowers or dead-heads of annual and perennial plants, including shrubs and bulbs, and leaving only the most vibrant flowers on plants. This will help keep these plants keep on adding new blooms and remain healthy.

Plants should be inspected for pinching preferably on alternate days throughout the blooming season; the longer the shriveled flowers are allowed to remain on the stems, the more energy the plant will spend on these to produce seeds.

Technique

Flowers with soft stems are snapped off the stem just above the next flower bud by pinching with forefinger and thumb.

Shears should be used for more delicate flowers or flowers that have fragile stems. Shears should also be used for flowers with thick stems. Long bladed shears do well for removing flowers from clusters. Flowers with larger stems should be cut just above the first leaf to remove the unsightly stem also.

Benefits

Deadheading makes plants look better as the faded and dried blooms look unsightly and unattractive

It keeps the garden tidy and presentable, as spent blooms litter the area around.

Restricts the plant from continuing to send vital nutrients to the spent blooms.

Tips

To encourage bigger blooms in cluster-forming flowers, some buds from the cluster should be removed during the stage of formation of buds.

During the process of deadheading, remove dead leaves as well for better growth of the plant.

While deadheading leaves some flowers should be left for generation of seeds and these can be collected during the subsequent deadheading process.

To ensure that the faded blooms are promptly removed deadheading should be carried out periodically, preferably on alternate days.

Deadheading is useful for the following species

Daisies, dianthus, cosmos, poppy, marigolds, gaillardia, geraniums, nemesia, pansies, petunias, phlox,salvia, hydrangea, lilies and narcissusand many more species are benefitted by the process of deadheading to fetch more flowers.

at home with fENG SHUi
Move the Chi to lift your spirits
Kavneet Aggarwal

A sure fire way to strengthen your aura when you feel depressed is to move the Chi in your immediate surroundings. This can be your office space if you are depressed about the state of things at the workplace or your bedroom space if your depression is related to your love life, or any other space where you spend most of your time.

Moving positive energy

Moving the Chi does not involve doing anything very difficult. What is needed is for stationary objects like furniture-tables and chairs, planters and wall hangings-to be moved, shifted, or rearranged.

Office Chi

To move the Chi in your office, moving your desk by a few inches will be sufficient to move the Chi. Anything moved more than 3 in (8 cm) will move Chi. When you move a table a few inches to either the left or the right, or to the front or back, you will be setting in motion a whole series of changes in the way Chi moves around you. When you move your table, you will also need to move your chair, so the flow of Chi will change its pattern and set up a revitalised flow.

Writing on the wall

If there are photographs, posters, or paintings hanging on the wall, take them down, give them a good clean and then put them back again. Try to put them back in a slightly different place, or move them around. You might retire them and get new pictures to decorate your walls. Spend an hour or so moving the Chi and you will be amazed at how much better you will feel.

If there are planters and trees in your office, move them too. Moving plants is a very effective way to create new movements of Chi. You can wind up your little session by looking around for things that should be thrown away-old pieces of paper, empty envelopes, old magazines and newspapers-so clear the clutter as well.

Bedroom basics

Remove the mattress, wash the linens, and also move the bed. Give the space under your bed. If possible, give the mattress and pillows a good outdoor sunshine bath. Nothing lifts depression like a strong dose of Yang energy.

When you feel weak and are convinced that your life is stagnating, look for dust on your shelves and tune in to the Yin Chi that has obviously permeated your spaces. Yin energy can cause illness and all kinds of aches and pains that attack and assail you. You will experience an overpowering feeling of lethargy , which you fail to shake off.

Sometime you do not merely feel sick, you actually become sick, succumbing to viruses and allergies. You feel that you are more vulnerable to catching diseases and physical afflictions. Simultaneously, your tolerance level retreats. It is not a nice feeling and the sooner you shake it off, the lesser chance it will have of taking hold.

The writer is a Panchkula-based Feng Shui, Vaastu and Art consultant. http://www.artizen.co.in/category/articles/news-paper/

REALTY GUIDE
Selling plot in an unauthorised area
B K Sanghi

Q.I own a 120 sq yd plot in Jagadhri (District Yamuna Nagar). I want to sell this plot. But the Revenue Officer is not allowing the sale deed to be registered by saying that the plot is in an unauthorised area. I want to know whether there is any notification which prohibits the sale deed from being registered. Also please tell me some way in which I can get the sale deed registered as I am in urgent need of money. — anil kumar

A.The Revenue Officer can decline the sale deed by saying that the area is the unauthorised. The area which is not passed by the Town and Country Planning department is considered to be unauthorised. There is no way by which the sale deed can be done if the area is unauthorised as it is in your case.

Q.I want to purchase a residential property in tricity. But after seeing the current economic scenario and the falling prices of property, I am scared of investing in property. Is this the right time to purchase property or I should wait for the prices to fall further? — rakesh kumar

A.Keeping in mind the current prices and the lack of buyers in the market, I personally feel that it is the right time to purchase property especially if you are planning to buy in the secondary market. The prices in the secondary market in Chandigarh have seen a substantial fall over the past few months and you can get a good deal if you negotiate intelligently. As for the primary market there is not much price revision but as most of the builders are offering discounts on down payment and some good payment plans, so you can bargain. If you don’t have enough funds for down payment then you can venture into the primary market as with an investment of as little as Rs 7 to 10 lakh you can book a home and pay the rest of the amount through easy payment plans besides seeing your property appreciate over the next few years. Analysis of prices over the past decade reveals that despite lows and slumps, realty has always paid off the investors. It is the right time to invest in real estate as compared to gold, forex or commodity market. The prices will increase steadily after some time. You should not be scared to invest in a residential property.

realty bites 
$906-bn investment likely in the construction sector till FY'17 

The Indian construction industry is expected to see investments of over $906 billion during the current five-year plan period (2012-17). “We have seen slowdown in the real estate activity, but it is expected to pick up in the near future. The Indian construction industry has huge potential of growth and is expected to see investments worth over $906 billion during the current five-year plan,” Ficci Deputy Director Jasmeet Singh told PTI on the sidelines of ‘Construct India’ conference in Mumbai.

Citing a PwC report prepared for the organisers of Construct India, Singh said India’s construction industry contributed 8 per cent to the GDP in 2011-12 and employed 33 million people. The industry grew 5.9 per cent in 2012-13 as against 5.6 per cent in 2011-12. The foreign players are keen to enter the booming Indian construction market due to slowdown in Europe and other developed countries, he said. — Agencies

LICHFL’s new home loan schemes

Housing finance company LIC Housing Finance (LICHFL) launched two new home loan schemes — Bhagyalaxmi Plus and New Fixed 10 — earlier this week. Under Bhagyalaxmi Plus scheme, home loans will be given to those women who will be the sole owner or first owner to buy a property, at a fixed rate of interest of 10.35 per cent for loans up to Rs 75 lakh for the first two years, and floating rate thereafter, the company said in a press release.

Moreover, borrowers would get a discount of 0.25 per cent throughout the loan term on conversion to floating rates.

The ‘New Fixed 10’ scheme comes with fixed interest rates for 10 years, out of which first 5 years would carry a rate of 11.50 per cent, for loans up to Rs 75 lakh, the release said. The scheme offers customers the flexibility to exercise an option after 5 years to convert their loan into floating rates prevalent at that time.