- We expect the budget to push for investment in infrastructure, relax
income tax slabs, assist the private sector and announce more measures that will boost the real estate industry. - There is an urgent need to address the challenge of liquidity faced by the sector, especially after the NBFC crisis.
- An increase in the existing ₹2-lakh tax rebate on home loan interest rates will once again be a good move. This could result in higher demand for
housing especially in the affordable and mid-segment categories.
We expect the budget to push for investment in infrastructure, relax income tax slabs, assist the private sector and announce more measures that will boost the real estate industry.
There are a few key points that should be looked into by the government in the upcoming Budget that will positively impact the real estate industry.
There is an urgent need to address the challenge of liquidity faced by the sector, especially after the NBFC crisis. Liquidity will enhance sentiment in the market with a steady supply of ready to move in homes. If the challenge is not treated on priority, it will hamper the confidence of developers as well as buyers which may severely impact the sector as well as economic growth.
Quick allotment of the Alternative Investment Funding with an initial aid of ₹25,000 crore needs to be executed on priority basis. Another measure can be reviving the Input Tax Credit for the housing sector. After reduction in GST rates, the government had withdrawn the Input Tax Credit. Its revival can provide relief to the developers and housing can be made available at a lower cost.
How to get more people to buy homes
In order to push the fence sitters to buy homes, along with the existing subsidies on
An increase in the existing ₹2-lakh tax rebate on home loan interest rates will once again be a good move. This could result in higher demand for housing especially in the affordable and mid-segment categories. Interest rates on
While these are the demands that need to be resolved on a priority basis, the following are some demands that have been pending for some time, and , if cleared, it can help in reviving the sector considerably.
Since a long time the real estate sector needs an industry status which can help them with finances at a lower cost, especially at times when availability of funding is a major headwind for the industry. Single window clearance can aid in quick approvals and execution of the project.
There is need to redefine ‘affordable housing’
As per GST and income-tax laws, a house has to meet the dual condition of not exceeding 60 square metres of carpet area and a price cap of ₹45 lakh to avail of reduced GST rate of 1% for affordable housing and also the benefit of tax exemption for such projects. However, this condition related to price cap of ₹45 lakh needs to be extended.
Affordable housing will be a major growth driver in real estate. However there are other multiple concerns such as unavailability of urban land at reasonable prices, rising costs of construction, high taxes, regulatory issues and unfavourable development norms owing to which developers are hesitant to enter into this segment. The momentum of infrastructure development should continue so that growth is decentralised and migration to urban areas remains under control.
In conclusion, it can be said that implementation of these measures will revive real estate growth to a great extent and give a boost to demand, which in turn will revive the economy. We are hopeful that the upcoming budget will chart out fresh stimulus in terms of bold fiscal measures for real estate sector to outperform its growth traction.
This article is written by Surendra Hiranandani, who is the founder of House of Hiranandani.
See also:
Income tax benefits on home loan principal and interest
Investment in India's real estate sector to rise 5 pc to USD 6.5 bn: Report
How the world's top 15 luxury housing markets will perform in 2020