Impact of Work From Home on Real Estate Industry

“The Only Constant in Life Is Change.”- Heraclitus. But the change that COVID-19 brought in our lives – no one saw it coming. Hygiene & safety became an utmost priority, and the pandemic-led lockdown turned our homes into everything from a restaurant & office to garden & temple, from a gym & shopping mall to a cinema & a recreational centre. This change in the meaning & purpose of a ‘home’ radically transformed the real estate market – residential, commercial and vacation homes.

Impact on Commercial Market

The Commercial Real Estate market witnessed both risks and opportunities:
  • There was a decline in demand for commercial spaces
  • There is a rise in demand for co-working spaces
  • There is a rise in demand for spacious & open commercial spaces, considering physical-distancing
  • There is a boost in subleasing powered by companies with longer-term leases

Impact on Vacation Homes

Work from home (WFH) gave rise to another concept known as ‘workation’. Many organisations introduced the workation concept which empowers professionals to mix business with leisure.

Workation turned the tables for the market for vacation homes. The growing number of the middle-class, higher middle class, NRIs and HNIs began exploring vacation homes in their country, within driving distance of metros – in smaller towns and nearby holiday destinations such as Nasik, Lonawala, Alibaug, Karjat, Goa, Panchkula, Kasauli, Shimla and Dehradun among others.

Workation was a win-win situation for employers, employees & the real-estate market. As for the employers & employees, workation facilitates living and working from vacation homes for long durations, without compromising on work or family life.

For the real-estate players, the sale of vacation homes & in turn profitability went up. Striking while the iron is hot – developers started offering competitive prices. This fuelled by low-interest rates on home loans by financial institutions, second-home & vacation home became the preferred choice of investment for travel-savvy professionals who earlier enjoyed annual holidays.

Impact on Residential Market

Work from home (WFH) has overshadowed the previous ‘gold standard of Indian housing – the walk-to-work/short drive to work. This has led to future homebuyers shifting to the peripheral areas in search of bigger homes and a better lifestyle – at more affordable prices.

Understanding that the work from home (WFH) is here to stay, the millennial generation – who are the future homebuyers have a new-found preference for buying rather than renting homes.

They are now preferring to live in more spacious and cost-effective homes in less central areas. This new demand has dictated fresh supply.

Affordability and Price Quotient

Apart from changing real estate consumer preferences due to work from home, affordability has played an important factor in the shifting & rising demand towards residential property purchase in peripheral areas such as Thane & Mulund.

The cost analysis of real estate in MMR is as follows:

In MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region), the average price for a standard 1,000 sq. ft. property in areas within city limits is approx. Rs 1.85 Crore, against Rs 55.35 lakh in the peripheral areas – a 70 per cent cost difference. Micro-markets within city limits included Andheri, Vile Parle, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivali, Chembur, Wadala, Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Powai, Mulund, etc. Peripheral areas include Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Dombivli, Mira Road, Vasai, Virar, Thane beyond Kasarvadavali and Owale Panvel, Ulwe, Taloja, etc.

The average monthly rent for a standard 2 BHK home in areas within city limits is approx. Rs 45,800, against Rs 12,500 in the peripheries.

Conclusion

All in all, the work from home (WFH) culture popularised by the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a mixed bag for the real estate sector.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are for informational purposes only based on industry reports and related news stories. Ashar Group does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information and shall not be held responsible for any action taken based on the published information.

Tips for first time home buyers

Turn your dream home into a reality

There are many aspects involved in home-buying which may seem challenging for first-timers. Usually, first-time homebuyers are extra cautious to avoid committing mistakes during the home-buying process & are very keen on getting the best deal.

To decode the home-buying process & ensure a successful first-time home shopping experience – we have put together a checklist. This checklist will help them understand what to expect as they make their way from house-hunt to moving day. 

Tips to keep in mind for first time home buyers

Must-haves

As first time home buyers, you should make sure that your new home offers you all of the below-mentioned essential amenities.

  1. 24×7 water supply
  2. 24×7 power supply
  3. Lifts
  4. Security services
  5. Recreational facilities
  6. Waste disposal
  7. Good drainage system
  8. Fire safety & security systems at the disposal
  9. Parking areas & garage

Locations

As first time home buyers, you should make sure that your new home offers you all of the below-mentioned essential amenities.

  • Look for essential services such as educational institutions, recreational facilities, place of worship, medical facilities, and shopping malls, etc. nearby
  • Find out ways to commute with or without your vehicle. Ensure that your building complex offers good connectivity to highways, railways & roadways
  • Find out the cultural orientation of your building complex, see if it matches yours
  • Do you like peaceful, quiet and serene surroundings or love the hustle-bustle of city life? Check if the location matches your preferences: lakes & hills or highways & skyscrapers?

Developers’ background study

If you don’t want to risk your time, money & efforts by purchasing a home built by an inexperienced developer or one with a bad reputation & track record, you should crosscheck the below-mentioned points:

  • The builder/developer has earned the goodwill and trust of customers
  • Promises on delivery, quality, amenities, etc. are kept
  • Offers made are credible
  • The project is fully funded or backed by a reputed financier
  • Has the builder ever defaulted on loan commitments?
  • Are they entangled in any legal case?

Return on Investment (ROI)

Any type of financial step requires to be made with keeping the investment return value in mind. Whether you are intending to rent out or living in your home, it’s important to pre-determine the ROI it offers.

Acquiring a property is a lasting endeavour, so choose your home wisely. Choose an area that offers tremendous growth in terms of infrastructure and blooming residential societies. Also, check into the scalability element of your residential property.

Type of property

Factors such as family size and the age of children should be some initial factors to consider while choosing a home. While teenagers and adults usually prefer separate rooms, joint families prefer bigger 3-4 BHK apartments. If you plan to expand your family, it’s advisable to opt for a bigger home right away. Also if you have frequent guests staying over, you might want to buy a home that offers a guest room.

Do you want to move-in immediately? Ready-to-move-in apartments are the right choice. If you are looking to buy a home for investment purposes or are in no hurry to move-in soon than under-construction properties can be a good choice.

Some other factors can influence your first-home buying decision. Some being choosing between a fully or semi-furnished flat, a high-rise apartment with modern amenities or old construction, a used or unused property etc.

Work on Financial plan

  • Find out how much money you are left with each month after taxes using an online income calculator
  • Make a list of all monthly household expenses
  • Look out for areas that you can cut back so that you can put as much money as possible into savings and paying off outstanding debts
  • Pay off any outstanding debts, will improve your credit score, an important determinant factor when purchasing a home
  • You may or may not get a full loan, also many builders demand a 20% deposit (down payment), so it’s wise to save for a deposit/down payment in advance. This will also help in reducing the total loan amount
  • You should ideally buy a house that is around 2.5 times your annual salary if you don’t take a realistic decision while buying your first-home the loan amount will eventually catch up with you
  • It is advised to get pre-approved from a lender before you start house hunting
  • Get your prospective home inspected to find any potential problems you may need to deal with in the future
  • Check similar homes in the area to make sure you are paying a fair price in the local market
  • Consider extra costs such as stamp responsibility, registration expenses, VAT, broker agent compensation, loan processing cost, etc.

Legal documentation

Property investments are highly capital intensive, and any mistakes made during the process can cause a great deal of trouble to the buyer. Here is a list of crucial documents that must be verified while purchasing a property:
  • Fire NOC
  • RERA Certificate
  • Commencement Certificate
  • Occupancy Certificate (OC)
  • Copy of Building Plan
  • Bank NOC, if for mortgage
  • Allotment Letter
  • Sale Agreement
  • Possession Letter
  • Payment Receipts
  • Property Tax Receipts
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are for informational purposes only based on industry reports and related news stories. Ashar Group does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information and shall not be held responsible for any action taken based on the published information.

6 reasons that make Thane a Realty Hotspot

6 reasons that make Thane a Realty Hotspot

If you are looking forward to investing in residential or commercial real estate, then Thane is the place, here’s why:

EASY CONNECTIVITY

Road:

Thane is well connected to Navi Mumbai as well as to the Eastern and Western Suburbs of Mumbai via Ghodbunder Road, Jogeshwari – Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), Santa Cruz–Chembur Link Road (SCLR), Eastern Freeway, NH 8, Mumbai-Nashik Highway and the Thane-Belapur Road.

Construction of the Thane-Diva Road, Bhiwandi bypass flyover, and parallel roads from Thane to Kalyan along the metro line are on the cards.

Rail:

The Central Harbour Rail Line, Thane-Panvel Rail Line and Central Railways connect Thane to Mumbai’s railway network.

Metro:

A proposed metro rail is said to run along the Ghodbunder Road with more than 10 halts within Thane itself. With the metro, the travel time between Thane and Wadala is expected to reduce by half. Additionally, the Metro-3 project will run between Thane to Kalyan and Mira – Bhayander.

AFFORDABILITY

Thane’s real estate market is serving homebuyers with various residential and commercial properties that offer luxurious living at affordable prices. One can buy a home from anywhere between 40 Lakhs to 15 Crores.

If you are looking for apartments with world-class amenities within your planned budget, your search ends in Thane. Ashar Group offers many ready-to-move-in & under-construction properties in different locations of Thane. Not only do these residnetial projetcs in Thane offer exclusive amenities such as a rooftop lounge 300ft above ground, exclusive podium for luxury indulgences and impeccable views of Yeoor Hills & Upvan Lake, but are also available at affordable prices and are among one of the most sought after upcoming new projects in Thane.

CAPITAL APPRECIATION

The advantage of buying a property in Thane is that you get them lower rates and within a short period, you can see the value of your property appreciating quickly.

If you’re looking at buying property as an investment, expect higher returns in a shorter period.

To give you an example: Apartments at Ghodbunder Road are moving upwards at a 33% rate, 13% higher than the average price in Thane west*.

A BOOMING COMMERCIAL HUB

Thane hosts many IT Parks & Business Zones thus creating an enhanced job market, and offering walk to work options for the working populace.

Thane-Ghodbunder Road area is a coveted residential cum commercial hub, also, many IT and ITeS hubs are under construction near Kolshet Road.

Some of the top business parks in Thane are:

  • Ashar Bellezza
  • Ashar Millennia
  • Ashar IT Park
  • Hiranandani Business Park
  • Raheja Mindspacencial

Thane hosts reputed companies such as:

  • Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
  • Syntel
  • Bayer India
  • Navnit Motors
  • Aditya Birla Financial

ADD EASE TO YOUR LIVING

Thane offers ample social infrastructure for people belonging to all age groups. Everything, from malls, theatre, hospitals, restaurants, pubs & bars, educational institutes is at your disposal in Thane.

Some hospitals in Thane are:

  • Shree Mahavir Jain Hospital & Shri Pratap J. Ashar Cardiac Centre
  • Hiranandani Hospital
  • Jupiter Hospital

Some educational institutions present in Thane are:

  • Billabong High International School
  • SMT Sulochanadevi Singhania School
  • Bedekar Institute of Management
  • Shah Institute of Technology

Thane has some of the biggest malls in the city:

  • Cosmos Mall
  • Viviana Mall
  • Korum Mall

Places for nightlife in Thane:

  • British Brewing Company
  • The Irish House
  • Rude Lounge
  • The Beer Café

Best Restaurants in Thane Region:

  • Barbeque Nation
  • SodaBottleOpenerWala
  • Mainland China
  • The Caravan Menu

WHERE WORK MEETS LIFE & LIFE MEETS NATURE

Known as the city of lakes in Maharashtra, Thane houses a total of thirty lakes in the district and is bound by Yeoor and Parsik hills. Projects such as Ashar Metro Towers & Ashar Aria are surrounded by nature and offer mesmerising views of Parsic Hills, Ulhas River, and Yeoor Hills & Upvan Lake.

Naming some of the many attractions of Thane:

  • Kelva Beach
  • Sudhagad Fort
  • Naneghat Hills
  • Ambreshwar Shiva Temple
  • Masunda Talao
  • Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Jai Vilas Palace
  • Mahuli Fort
  • Elvis Butterfly Garden
  • Tansa Dam
  • Thane Creek
  • Suraj Water Park
  • Ovalekar Wadi Butterfly Garden
  • Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary

So, all in all, well planned residential developments, greater connectivity, higher job creation, growing social amenities, budget-friendly prices, and plentiful open spaces in the surrounding areas make Thane a Realty Hot Spot.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are for informational purposes only based on industry reports and related news stories. Ashar Group does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information and shall not be held responsible for any action taken based on the published information.