The more liberalized FDI regime now further attracting global capital flow to Indian real estate sector. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) system will also have a major impact especially in sell to build model in Real Estate. And the Benami Property Act will surely curb the parking of black money in real estate.
Track2Realty Exclusive: The NRI enquiries are unlikely to materialise as sales because Indian real estate has lost its credibility. Moreover, given that general elections are around the corner, real estate is in doldrums as all the black money that has been pumped into realty, is slowly being drained out to fund elections.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Elections, real estate and black money have a symbiotic relation. Track2Realty tries to understand this unique and complex relation of the sector and the politicians where cash is king, yet they deny and dismiss it. The colour of currency may be projected as white in public posturing, the cycle of cash transaction with black money starts from entry level itself. Lack of transparency is what keeps the cycle moving.
Track2Realty Exclusive: It is said that this sector encourages black money and corruption, which is sad and upsetting for all developers/entrepreneurs who put in their best efforts to run the business.
Track2Realty: Today there is no entry barrier in the sector for any fly-by-night operator with black money to back his initial pomp and show to lure customers. But for a serious start-up there are many perils that plague. Problem is all the voices are being raised to ease only a section of the developers with often myopic vision with regard to the future of the sector.
When the Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed home buyers to withhold 1% of the sale consideration as Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), it became a free-for-all kind of football match with developers and property consultants alleging that it could encourage black money component in real estate, while tax consultants believed otherwise and pointed out that the reach of the banking sector in rural area makes it easier to detect unsavoury deals.
Property rates in the capital are set to zoom further as Delhi Government on Monday, October 31, hiked the circle rates by up to 250 per cent to check black money in sale and purchase transactions.
The Income-Tax department is planning to look into all suspected real estate deals to check involvement of black money component and tax evasion.
The government is keen to clean realty deals and wants to crack down on money laundering. It wants a closer look at the real estate market, widely perceived to be the biggest sink of black money in India.
Terming stamp duties as a “big obstacle” in ensuring transparent transactions in real estate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday batted for reducing such levies to check the flow of black money in the sector.