01 Sep 2025

The only home ever owned by screen legend Marilyn Monroe is at the center of a legal and cultural battle as its new owners seek to demolish it. The Spanish Hacienda-style house in Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood, where Monroe died in 1962, was purchased in 2023 for USD 8.35 million. Shortly after the sale, preservationists successfully petitioned the city to designate the property a historic landmark, halting the demolition. This ruling is now being challenged in court by the owners, who claim the home has been extensively altered and no longer holds historical significance.Read more

31 Aug 2025

The Bombay High Court has directed 11 occupants of four unsafe buildings in Vasai West's Diwan and Sons Housing Enclave to vacate within two weeks, clearing the way for demolition and redevelopment. The Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation had already classified the buildings as dangerous, with a technical advisory committee confirming their poor condition. While 90% of residents supported redevelopment and appointed a builder, 11 opposed the plan. The court ruled that minority objections cannot jeopardize safety or stall majority-backed redevelopment, granting a short Ganpati festival-linked extension. If dissenting occupants fail to vacate, eviction will proceed with police assistance to ensure timely redevelopment.Read more

31 Aug 2025

Haryana RERA has directed Agrante Realty to compensate buyers of its delayed Kavyam affordable housing project, after the developer failed to hand over possession despite collecting nearly the full sale amount. Acting on four complaints, the authority ordered interest payments of 11.1% per annum on sums paid by buyers, effective from the due date of possession until units are delivered. The rate, based on SBI's lending cost plus 2%, reflects market norms. Importantly, the ruling will apply mutatis mutandis to all similar cases, setting a strong precedent for accountability. The decision strengthens homebuyer protections and underscores RERA's role in ensuring timely project delivery.Read more

31 Aug 2025

More than forty Apartment Owners Associations in Noida staged a collective protest against FIRs filed over accidents and disputes within their housing complexes. They argued that holding associations criminally liable for incidents such as falling planters or quarrels among residents was unjust, as these issues extend beyond their authority. The groups demanded fair investigations and a clear framework of accountability while cautioning that the agitation could intensify without government intervention.Read more

31 Aug 2025

The Supreme Court on August 22, 2025, upheld a Bombay High Court verdict, ruling that a landowner has the first right among stakeholders to undertake redevelopment in a slum rehabilitation area. The court dismissed an argument from the Maharashtra government and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) that the authority should have priority. The court's decision, which quashed a state notification for land acquisition in Mumbai's Kurla area, reaffirms the constitutional protection of ownership rights and sets a key precedent for future redevelopment projects.Read more

30 Aug 2025

Delhi's luxury condominium market offers strong returns, especially in areas like Dwarka Expressway, Rohini, Moti Nagar, and South Delhi, where infrastructure growth is driving demand. For first-time buyers, financial planning is key, with down payments of 10-30% and home loans at 7-9% interest, alongside costs such as stamp duty, registration, and maintenance. Location significantly impacts long-term value, with prime hubs like Vasant Kunj, Greater Kailash, Noida, and Gurgaon offering accessibility and lifestyle benefits. Modern projects feature amenities such as clubhouses, gyms, pools, smart automation, and advanced security. Buyers are advised to ensure developer credibility, verify RERA approvals, and conduct thorough legal due diligence.Read more

30 Aug 2025

The Maharashtra Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (MREAT) has ruled that MahaRERA cannot extend possession deadlines without homebuyers' approval. The ruling followed a case filed by Neha and Nitin Walavalkar, who had been waiting for their flat in the Clan City-Ruby project in Taloja since December 2017. The tribunal rejected the builder's claims of COVID-19 and infrastructure-related delays, directing payment of interest to the Walavalkars from January 2018. This decision reinforces that possession terms in agreements remain binding and cannot be altered unilaterally by regulatory authorities.Read more

29 Aug 2025

New sales of single-family homes in the US have declined, highlighting continued weakness in the housing market driven by affordability pressures and subdued consumer sentiment. Although the previous month's figures were revised upwards, persistently high mortgage rates, slow wage growth and abundant housing supply have kept demand weak. Builders are lowering prices to attract buyers, but economists suggest conditions will remain challenging, particularly with labour market softening and inventories hovering near levels last seen over a decade ago.Read more

29 Aug 2025

The Haryana government has waived stamp duty on residential plots up to 50 sq yards in urban areas and 100 sq yards in rural areas under housing schemes such as PMAY, Mukhyamantri Shehri Awas Yojana, and Mukhyamantri Gramin Awas Yojana. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said the move will ease costs for lower-income buyers amid revised collector rates, which rose 10% in most categories and were capped at 50% where values were disproportionately high. He stressed that stamp duty percentages remain unchanged since 2008. The policy aims to provide targeted relief to genuine buyers while curbing undervaluation and black money-driven land deals.Read more

29 Aug 2025

A mother and her toddler daughter were killed and nine others were injured after a portion of an "illegal" four-storey building collapsed onto an adjacent chawl in Virar, Maharashtra, early Wednesday morning. The tragedy, which occurred around 12:05 am, has left an estimated six to seven people feared trapped under the debris. The Ramabai Apartment, constructed in 2012 with 50 flats, lost a section containing 12 apartments. Rescue operations are still underway, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with unauthorized and dilapidated structures in the region.Read more

29 Aug 2025

The Bombay High Court has instructed all municipal corporations across Maharashtra to immediately halt work and initiate legal action against builders found in violation of new safety norms. The court's directive follows a series of fatal accidents, including one where a rod fell from a metro construction site, and aims to enforce stringent safety protocols for high-rise buildings. The new measures, part of a report from an expert committee, are now a mandatory condition for all future building permissions, making any breach a civil and criminal offense punishable by law. This decisive action is a critical step to ensure public safety.Read more

28 Aug 2025

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has granted in-principle approval to Adani Group's proposal to acquire debt-laden Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL), subject to the group securing a bid in the ongoing insolvency resolution process. The clearance comes following a Supreme Court ruling mandating competition watchdog approval before any resolution plan is put to vote by creditors. Alongside Adani, Dalmia Bharat has also secured regulatory approval, while several other companies, including Vedanta Group, Jindal Power, and PNC Infratech, have applied for permission to submit their respective plans.Read more

28 Aug 2025

UP RERA has launched a weekly initiative called RERA Samvaad to interact directly with homebuyers and address their concerns over delayed possession, pending complaints, and legal remedies. The regulator stated that complaints will be treated with priority and strict action will be taken against non-compliant developers. Scheduled every Saturday, the initiative seeks to build greater transparency, accountability, and consumer trust in the real estate sector.Read more

28 Aug 2025

The Bhendi Bazaar redevelopment by the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust has focused on transforming lives alongside modernising infrastructure. Families who once endured congested and unsafe living conditions are now moving into safer, greener, and more dignified homes. Children gain access to open play zones, women step into secure and functional spaces, and communities benefit from sustainable design elements such as rainwater harvesting, solar lighting, and tree-lined boulevards, creating a more liveable environment.Read more

28 Aug 2025

Suraj Estate Developers Limited, a prominent South Central Mumbai-based real estate firm, has acquired a land parcel at N.M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, for INR 6.44 crores, inclusive of registration and stamp duty. The plot will be merged with its adjoining Ambavat Bhavan project to form a consolidated land bank, enabling a premium residential development with an estimated GDV of INR 130 crores. Positioned under DCPR 33(7), the scheme will feature optimised layouts, enhanced frontage, and extensive parking, catering to the value-luxury housing demand in Mumbai's Lower Parel micro-market.Read more

28 Aug 2025

The LIFE Mission housing project in Wadakkancherry, Kerala, faced delays and poor construction quality. NIT Kozhikode has recommended structural repairs and retrofitting to make the existing buildings usable. The Kerala government has submitted this report to the High Court, which will decide on the project's next steps. The outcome will determine whether construction can resume and the housing can be delivered to the 140 beneficiary families.Read more