05 Aug 2025

Australia's residential property market continued its upward trajectory, recording new national price peaks despite a visible deceleration in growth. Limited housing supply and steady auction activity have sustained the upward pressure on prices. Major cities including Darwin, Perth and Sydney witnessed notable gains, although the pace was more tempered compared to earlier trends. Analysts suggested that improved consumer sentiment, coupled with expectations of interest rate cuts, may help maintain modest price increases in the months ahead.Read more

04 Aug 2025

The National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) urged the government to expedite the approval processes for real estate developments, highlighting the resulting benefits of lower input costs and accelerated supply of housing and commercial properties. NAREDCO also called attention to the pressing need for skilled construction labour and proposed greater collaboration between the government and industry bodies for workforce training. Challenges such as high land costs, regulatory delays, and inadequate rental policies were flagged as obstacles affecting affordable housing and overall sectoral growth.Read more

04 Aug 2025

India's housing sector witnessed a shift in buyer preferences in the first half of 2025, with overall home sales across eight major cities declining by 5%, but the total transaction value rising by 9% to INR 3.59 lakh crore. A joint report by CREDAI and CRE Matrix highlighted that higher property prices and demand for larger, better-located homes have driven this surge. Despite fewer units being sold, cities like Delhi-NCR saw a notable jump in market value share, especially in premium segments led by Gurugram and Noida.Read more

04 Aug 2025

Bhubaneswar Development Authority conducted a transparent draw to allocate flats to urban poor under Affordable Housing Projects and in-situ slum redevelopment schemes. A total of 38 beneficiaries were assigned units across multiple sites, each required to contribute a specified beneficiary share. The Vice-Chairman reaffirmed the authority's focus on inclusive urban development and emphasised that infrastructure and basic services are integral to the housing effort. The initiative reflects a continuing commitment to relocate slum-dwellers into formal dwellings and enhance living conditions citywide.Read more

04 Aug 2025

Lodha Developers Ltd is preparing to establish a presence in the Delhi-NCR residential sector, with plans to acquire at least one land parcel during the current financial year. Managing Director and CEO Abhishek Lodha indicated that the company intends to enter the market cautiously, adopting a pilot-based approach and forming a dedicated local team. Known for its operations in Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru, the developer has recently posted robust financial performance, reporting significant growth in both profits and income during the April-June quarter of the current fiscal year.Read more

04 Aug 2025

Haryana's Chief Minister has unveiled a major welfare push: one lakh Antyodaya families will receive 100 sq yd plots with ownership documents, and hospitals in ten districts are set to begin offering private-grade treatment at subsidised prices. Fuel subsidy, farmer support, water and health infrastructure, and youth employment drive are also featured. This builds on earlier pledges and reveals a broader vision beyond just land allotment. The initiative marks a tangible shift in how welfare benefits reach rural underprivileged communities.Read more

04 Aug 2025

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has rolled out a new mechanism to automatically update property tax records in the name of new owners following property registration. This reform removes the need for manual name change applications and visits to municipal offices. Mutation charges are now collected at the sub-registrar's office itself, triggering real-time data integration into GVMC's system. Officials have called on citizens to stay informed about the new process, which is being seen as a major administrative ease measure in Andhra Pradesh's ongoing push for urban digitisation and governance transparency.Read more

04 Aug 2025

The Supreme Court has allowed a petitioner challenging Haryana's stilt-plus-four floors (S+4) construction policy to seek interim relief from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It also granted liberty to request an earlier date for hearing expected to be advanced from October to sometime in August. The petition questions the state's decision to revive the S+4 building permissions despite previous concerns over infrastructure stress. With policy opponents raising legal and environmental red flags, the upcoming High Court proceedings are likely to significantly impact urban planning in Gurgaon and other cities.Read more

04 Aug 2025

The Uttar Pradesh government has increased the property value cap under its 1% stamp duty relief scheme for women buyers from INR 10 lakh to INR 1 crore. With this change, a woman purchasing property in her name can now save up to INR 1 lakh on registration, especially in urban centres like Noida and Ghaziabad. The move is expected to boost homeownership among women, promote joint ownership within families, and support housing demand in the mid-segment market. Real estate players, however, feel the cap could be raised further to reflect the prevailing market values.Read more

04 Aug 2025

The Cascades Neopolis in Hyderabad has become the world's largest and India's only residential development to receive the WELL v2 Pre-Certification Platinum from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), highlighting a transformative milestone for the country's residential real estate sector. Developed by GHR Lakshmi Urbanblocks Infra LLP'a consortium of GHR Infra, Lakshmi Infra, and Urbanblocks Realty the 63-storey luxury project has been assessed across ten key wellness parameters including air, light, water, and community. It now stands as a benchmark for health-centred design, sustainability, and futuristic urban living in India.Read more

03 Aug 2025

The Gujarat High Court has reopened contempt proceedings against Pacifica Developers and its top executives after lifting a stay on a 60-day civil prison order issued by GujRERA. The case involves non-delivery of a booked flat and its alleged resale to another party. Despite initially promising a settlement and depositing INR 24 lakh, the developer failed to file the required appeal. The court viewed this as an abuse of process and ordered the release of the deposit to the homebuyer, while sending the contempt matter to a division bench for further action.Read more

03 Aug 2025

A consumer forum in Coimbatore ordered PNB Housing Finance to compensate a borrower family with INR 10 lakh and litigation costs after their original title deeds went missing post-loan repayment. The ruling also mandated document reconstruction via certified copies and cancellation of related deposit warrants. This action comes as part of a broader regulatory push that obliges lenders to return property papers within 30 days or face penalties of INR 5,000 per day. Historic rulings against banks like PNB affiliate UBI and ICICI underscore the growing scrutiny over handling of original property documents and deficiency in service.Read more

03 Aug 2025

India's real estate sector is regaining momentum, with increased optimism among developers and financial institutions, according to the NAREDCO-Knight Frank Real Estate Sentiment Index for April-June. The Current Sentiment Score rose to 56 from 54, while the Future Sentiment Score jumped to 61, ending a four-quarter decline. The rebound is driven by economic stability, lower inflation, strong GST collections, reduced interest rates, and growing demand in premium housing and office leasing, especially from GCCs and co-working operators. NAREDCO President Hari Babu and Knight Frank CMD Shishir Baijal emphasized the sector's resilience, improved liquidity, and its readiness for sustained growth in the coming months.Read more

Authored Article - Ankit Lodha, Founder, LA Empire

03 Aug 2025

Vacation homes, once a luxury limited to the elite, are increasingly becoming mainstream assets for modern homeowners in India. Driven by flexible work culture, wellness-focused living, and rental income opportunities, buyers are opting for second homes in scenic destinations such as Goa, Lonavala, and Coorg. With millennials and Gen Z prioritising work-life balance, developers are responding with eco-conscious, tech-enabled properties. The trend reflects a shift towards sustainable, multi-functional real estate investments that combine leisure, income, and long-term lifestyle goals.Read more

03 Aug 2025

In a significant step towards providing affordable housing, 679 houses have been successfully completed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Bhaderwah, Jammu & Kashmir. This achievement, part of the central government's initiative to house underprivileged families, marks a notable milestone in rural infrastructure and welfare for the region. Bhaderwah Block Development Officer Yasir Ahmed W confirmed the completion, highlighting the government's commitment to "Housing for All," with a special focus on improving living conditions for poor and tribal families who previously resided in unsafe dwellings.Read more

02 Aug 2025

Actor Akshay Kumar recently sold two flats in Borivali East, Mumbai earning nearly 91% profit on the transaction. The combined sale value stood at INR 7.10 crore. These properties, located in Oberoi Sky City, were originally purchased in 2017. One of them, a 1,101 sq ft apartment, fetched INR 5.75 crore, while the smaller 252 sq ft unit was sold for INR 1.35 crore. The resale took place earlier this week, with both transactions showing significant appreciation and highlighting strong demand in the western suburbs.Read more