Author: admin

The summer months are around the corner many of us are already getting our home air-conditioners serviced or investing in a new one perhaps. After all, summers are synonymous with cranking up the AC to counter the sweltering heat. According to a report, India is all set to record a 2.2 times jump in cooling energy consumption by 2027, an alarming piece of statistics considering the amount of carbon dioxide emission this entails.

However, there are smarter alternatives to cut down on power costs, while helping preserve the environment as well. Here are a few simple tips on natural ways to keep your home cool during the oppressive summer months:

# Facilitate ventilation: Keeping doors and windows open during strategic periods like early mornings and late evenings facilitates cross ventilation, thus cooling your home. As a thumb rule, between 5am and 8am and 8pm and 10pm or beyond should be ideal for enabling this critical cross-ventilation. This allows the trapped heat inside your house to escape. Keeping the windows open during the summer nights ushers in the cool breeze.

# Use blinds, natural fabrics: Installing blinds on your windows helps keep the heat out since windows tend to absorb external heat. Closing the blinds during the scorching afternoons can help keep your rooms cooler. Steer clear of synthetic fabrics like silk, polyester or satin and even leather.

# Stick to light shades: Light pastel shades can help keep your home cool during the harsh summer months, giving your walls a fresh, clean look. Go for pastel yellow, beige, aqua or light pink. Lighter colours tend to reflect heat and light instead of absorbing them.

# Water, ice to cool home: You can soak the lower end of your curtains in water and switch on the fan. As the water seeps up through the fabric, the room is gradually filled with a cool breeze. Another simple trick is to keep a bowl of ice below the fan. As the ice gradually melts, it spreads a cool draft around the room. # Use dark curtains: Putting up cotton curtains in bright shades like brown, dark green or maroon helps keep the scorching summer sun at bay. Make sure to use thick linings to avoid fading of the fabric from the merciless sun. During the hottest periods of the day, you should keep your curtains drawn. Your room is bound to feel cooler.

# Roof treatment: Using heat-reflecting UV paint on your roof can keep the temperature in your home a few notches lower. A host of environment-friendly weatherproofing options are now available for the roof, which help reflect harmful ultraviolet rays, resulting in less heat absorption and consequently, lower energy costs.

# Switch to energy-efficient lights: Using energy-efficient lighting solutions with LED or CFL bulbs in often-used areas helps keep the apartment cooler, as opposed to conventional light bulbs which radiate too much heat, leading to fast warming of the rooms. Also make a habit of switching off the lights when not in use and also unplug electronic gadgets when you are not using those.

# Use greenery at home: You can use indoor plants and window planters to help cool and purify the air in your home by helping with the humidification process. It’s a great idea to have indoor plants like aloe vera, ficus, ferns and areca palm. Not only do they add to the aesthetics of your home, they also keep the temperature cooler by having a high transpiration rate and purifying toxins in the air.

So next time you reach out for the remote to switch on the AC, think of these simple hacks instead.

Indians working abroad in rich countries usually manage to save a neat stash and are always looking for stable investment options to park their savings. Nothing provides a safer and more lucrative investment instrument than the real estate market back home, more so since many of them have plans to return to their homeland at some stage. There are a multitude of factors that have been enthusing non-resident Indians (NRIs) to buy property in India, not the least the falling rupee, less red tape in systems and processes of property transactions, improving infrastructure in Tier-2 cities and a more positive economic outlook overall when compared to many developed countries post-pandemic.

There has been a pronounced spike in demand for properties in India among NRIs of late, more so in the 35-45 age bracket who feel this would yield best long-term returns for them. In fact, a raft of premium real estate projects are being launched across Indian metros banking largely on NRI interest. Market analysts predict that by this yearend, cumulative NRI investment in the Indian real estate market is set to touch a whopping $14 billion!!

So what are the pluses in favour of NRI investors?

Dwindling INR: The Indian rupee has been in free fall since 2018, plumbing hitherto unknown depths. NRIs earning in much stronger currencies like the US dollar, the pound sterling, the euro or the dirham, have all sensed a golden opportunity to leverage that currency conversion edge in the Indian realty market and make hay while the INR continues to plunge.

Home back home: While most NRIs would like to return to India to spend their superannuation, an increasing number of young professionals working abroad are investing in second homes back home for their annual or half-yearly visits when they need their own space. At the same time, the asset keeps appreciating, hence giving them the twin benefits of abode and secure income. This trend is fast catching up as the profile of NRI buyers of Indian homes is getting younger.

Attractive returns: As a pure investment option, a property in India is a very attractive proposition in itself, since prices continue to appreciate all the time. While properties in top metro cities were always in demand, there is a new trend nowadays among NRIs from smaller, Tier-2 cities to invest in their hometowns. This is largely due to the infrastructure upgrade in many of these smaller cities and towns, including roads and transportation, better internet services, formatted retail, etc. Also, since the pandemic struck, the inherent security and support of the undivided family system have suddenly become valuable again to many young professionals. Hence the need for bigger homes (also to enable work from home), often in the locality where they grew up…

Less red tape, more transparency: With increased digitization of records in most departments leading to better coordination, the process of buying a property in India has become much simpler and more streamlined for NRIs. RBI and SEBI have also formulated fresh guidelines supporting FDI in the sector. Furthermore, with the introduction of the RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) Act and other reforms, there is greater transparency in deals and more trust between buyer and seller. For NRI customers, this quality assurance and promise of redress in case of any irregularities, has created a much greater comfort level and ensured total peace of mind, thus buoying the NRI market share.

Plethora of options: With an abundance of stocks available not only in leading metros but also in Tier-2 cities, the NRI home-buyer now has a broad basket of real estate properties to choose from, across floor space and formats. The ready access to 3-D virtual tours of the properties has also made it easier for the NRI customer to browse and assess apartments in India sitting thousands of miles away, before making an informed choice. No wonder most real estate developers in India are now investing in a strong digital platform, which has become basic hygiene.

It’s a little strange, but true. Not too many property holders in our country are actually aware of their rights. While a lot is said and written about the rights of tenants, the owners’ legal privileges are rarely discussed. In plain vanilla terms, ownership of a property automatically vests the rights on the owner to use, possess and rent out the premises with proper legal compliance.

What are the basic rights of an apartment owner?

# Right to UDS: While buying an apartment, not only does the homebuyer pay for the flat’s carpet area and common area amenities, but also a part of the land on which the construction stands. This is the right to own an undivided share of land or UDS.

# Right to legal documents: As a homebuyer, you have the right to demand all the appropriate legal documents from the developer/seller, including the signed agreement, letter of allotment, payment schedule, copies of all necessary NOCs and permits, tax receipts, etc. Without valid documents, you will never be able to address disputes/issues with the property that might arise in future.

# Right to repossess property temporarily: The title of a property remains with the owner till such time he/she legally owns that property. The title document is transferred to a buyer only after the entire payment has been cleared. Till such time all dues are paid, the owner can repossess or retain possession of the apartment.

# Right to exclusion: The owner has the right to control trespassing by exercising the right to exclusion which gives him/her control over who gets to enter the premises and who doesn’t. Legally, the owner is not obliged to let anyone enter the property except law-enforcement officers, that too with a valid warrant.

# Right to enjoy responsibly: An apartment owner is entitled to use the premises as he/she pleases, of course without inconveniencing or impinging on the rights of the neighbours. For instance, partying is fine as long as the decibel level isn’t so high as to become a nuisance to the neighbours/fellow residents in the society. Of course, every housing society has its list of dos and don’ts which are expected to be followed by all residents, whether owner or tenant. Also, they are bound by state laws. But as long as they use their premises responsibly, they should be fine.

# Right to rent out: The property owner has the right to rent out the premises to a tenant for residential or business purposes as long as he/she has all the legal papers of the rental agreement in order. The owner is absolutely entitled to earn extra income from the property and also hike the rental amount periodically as per market dynamics.

# Right to sell: The owner of an apartment is perfectly within his/her rights to sell the property as and when desired. The only rider here is that any house loan obtained by the owner must be cleared totally before any sale agreement can be worked out.

# Right to expel: The apartment owner is also well within his/her legal rights to evict or expel any tenant in case the person and/or his/her family has been creating repeated nuisance or breaking rules laid down by the society board. While this was really difficult for landlords earlier with the Rent Control Act, the Draft Model Tenancy Act, 2015 has actually made their job easier to expel errant tenants when it becomes a real problem.

While looking for a new home, you are often faced with the dilemma of whether to go in for a ready-to-move-in property or one at its pre-launch or launching phase. While the first option gives you a real-time look and feel, the second category hasn’t been built or completed yet. It could be under construction or perhaps still on the drawing board. However, most properties start marketing at this pre-launch stage itself, often for the developers to raise interest-free capital to lessen the load of bank borrowing. As a buyer, booking your new abode at this pre-launch stage can yield a plethora of pluses, even if you get to only see the mashed-up model, rendered images or AV walkthroughs.

So, what are the benefits of booking a property at the pre-launch/new-launch stage?

# Early-bird price benefits: Booking your property of choice early can be extremely rewarding financially, since developers usually offer significantly discounted prices at the launch stage. The idea at that stage is to achieve early sales momentum and create a buzz around the project in this fiercely competitive market. So carrying out the transaction at this stage means you save considerably upfront. This saved amount later comes in handy when you are doing up your interiors and fittings. So be the early bird that catches the worm.

# Skip the price spiral: It is quite commonplace for real estate agents and developers to jack up the prices of a property once it gains currency among prospective buyers or once the RERA certification is obtained. Sometimes concurrent infrastructure upgrade in the vicinity or any energizer development like a retail mall or entertainment centre or reputed schools and colleges and medical facilities, etc can provide the kind of traction real estate rate hikes feed on. At times though, just rise in input costs can lead to an upward revision of prices. Of course, market buoyancy can also trigger a price increase when it suddenly becomes a sellers’ market. Again, by booking and securing your property at the launch stage, you can totally wipe out this specter and insulate yourself from such future inflation.

# Make a profit on resale: If you are looking for a secure investment option in the form of a new property, the best stage for you to buy is the launching phase, since you get the best prices and can also get healthy returns when you opt to re-sell the apartment/bungalow at a future date. Irrespective of whether you are a seasoned investor or a first-time home-buyer, you can’t go wrong with a purchase at the new launch phase.

# Ease of payment: While you can avail of tax benefits when you take a home loan, many developers are now offering the option of no ‘EMI till possession’, which can come as a massive relief and you can get yourself organized with a structured plan of loan repayment for the months and years ahead. Also, in most cases, you are required to cough up just 20 to 25% of the property value at the time of booking, and since the developer is paying the interest on loan till your EMIs kick in, he is under pressure to complete and deliver the project on time. So that’s a safety valve against time overrun as well.

# Easy to customize: You can maximize your early-mover advantage by choosing the floor and flat of your choice with the best view, ventilation, location, accessibility, etc. Importantly, you can set up your home with the exact interior solutions and fittings that best serve your purpose. Such customization/alteration can be best carried out at the initial phase when you have booked early.

To sum up

While any investment in real estate, like in any other domain, carries an element of risk, you can minimize your hazards by doing a thorough due diligence on the track record and reliability of the developer. At Pioneer Property Management Ltd, we help you navigate the choppy waters of the real estate ocean by doing all the homework on your behalf and laying out a plethora of options before you to choose from, as per your budget and location preferences.

In today’s era of apartment life in big cities and small, having a small terrace garden is often all the luxury we can afford, thanks to the want of sprawling spaces. This is one of the key reasons why the bonsai form is gaining currency.

The concept of bonsai, which originated in China but is widely known as Japanese art, is the craft of growing a plant to assume a miniature form through special training methods involving techniques of extreme dwarfing. Some bonsai trees are known to live up to 100 years and more.

Globally, there are a few specific plants which can adapt to extreme dwarfing treatment, common among those being juniper, pine, elm, maple and cypress. However, in tropical climatic conditions like we have in India, for bonsai culture we need to turn our gaze towards species like sapota, tamarind, manilkhara, bassia, ficus, etc.

Bonsai plants bring a plethora of pluses to your home and give much more than they take. Not only do they enhance the aesthetic appeal of your apartment, bonsai plants have a positive impact on your health and give you psychological benefits as well. Yet all they need is some sun, some water and a little care.

What are the known benefits of bonsai?

# Purifies air: By whittling down indoor air pollutants, these plants significantly enhance indoor air quality, some breeds more so like the ficus tree.

# Reduces stress: Since they act as companions, indoor bonsai trees provide you the comfort of active interaction while you tend to them. It’s almost like having someone around to converse with. This has a profound effect on stabilizing our blood pressure, alleviating stress and leaving us with a general sense of wellbeing and positivity.

# Helps maintain humidity: These indoor plants can increase the humidity level in your apartment, which in turn can prevent or reduce symptoms like dryness, coughs and sore throat.

# Teaches us patience: Since bonsai trees grow a lot slower than common indoor plants, it requires an enormous amount of patience on your part to tend to them daily, which includes pruning and trimming and honouring the cycles of growth. It’s like an investment for the future and you don’t get instant returns. You naturally develop the virtue of patience in the bargain.

# Stokes creativity: You can literally shape your bonsai and goad it to grow the way you fancy, using appropriate techniques. This can often require a lot of improvising and adaptability, like rope-training your bonsai or guiding its growth with cages, structural pruning, etc. The best part is you learn as you grow your bonsai plant, because you realize along the way what works and what doesn’t. This process can inspire creativity you never thought you had.

# Promotes self-awareness: Bonsai is not just an art form, it’s a hobby which grows on you and helps you relax your mind. In that sense it has much the same effect as yoga or meditation does, by helping you converse with yourself and look inwards to find solutions to external problems. Bonsai teaches us to face challenges with equanimity and overcome those.

# Boosts self-confidence: As you tend to and grow your bonsai, you come across various problems and riddles you must solve and plan ahead. So you are constantly improvising and learning new techniques along the way. This not only does wonders for your confidence, it also inculcates a steely resolve which tells you to never quit. Nothing can be as rewarding when you see the results of your perseverance.

# Teaches compassion: A bonsai tree needs constant nurturing and methodical care to stay alive and live long. This will include chores like cutting off a few branches here and there to aid further growth and a lot of other repetitive tasks like pruning and trimming and watering and shaping. All these activities are devoted towards nurturing a baby plant into an adult tree and requires a lot of care and compassion.

# A family heirloom: Since bonsai trees are known to often live long and can span several human life-spans, it’s actually a wonderful family heirloom you have created to be passed onto future generations to be loved and cherished. It’s like creating a legacy and can be supremely rewarding.

# A wonderful gift: Last but not the least, a bonsai is a wonderful gifting idea on any occasion, be it a wedding or a birthday or any other milestone. It’s unique as a gift in the sense that it embodies all the love and care that goes behind sustaining it and in a way, it brings us closer and exudes an aura of positivity.

An ideal home is a safe and secure place we can come back to. Yes, fancy features are always nice and gratifying. Sometimes though we tend to overlook the safety and security systems and protocols in place at our new apartment we are about to move into. This is all the more relevant in view of the rising crime rate and the complex nature of the offences these days. So while amenities and aesthetics are crucial, safety and security measures are of paramount importance.

Police reports concur that most burglaries and other crimes are committed in collusion with those who have free access to the housing complex like domestic helps, drivers, cleaners, everyday vendors and the like. This is why a thorough background check on all of them should be part of the in-built checks and balances.

Besides some of the standard modern security protocols of having access-control system, CCTV cameras, security gates, smoke detectors, etc, many housing complexes use pre-fitted mobile technology-based security systems these days. Thanks to such a mobile app, you will receive information instantly when your guests reach your main gate and their entry is electronically recorded by the security personnel. Besides, other critical information like a 24-hour panic button to alert the security team, phone number of the nearest hospital for a medical emergency, etc are available on your hand-phone.

Some key security features to look out for in an apartment complex:

# External security: A gated community or a large-format housing complex is the craze these days, as a large percentage of home-seekers prefer an apartment in such a formatted project. The most critical security check points are the main entry and exit gates which should be manned by properly trained security personnel 24×7. If there are multiple towers in the complex, each tower should have a second layer of security check so that all visitors are properly vetted. All this has become much easier now with mobile security apps that can be installed on phones of all residents.

# Electronic surveillance: CCTV cameras must be installed at all the critical corners, inside stairwells, at car parking lots, along the perimeter fencing as well as the lift lobby of every floor. This ensures a multi-layered screening of all visitors and provides a sense of comfort and security to the residents, more so for the elderly staying by themselves.

# Internal security: When it comes to security inside your flat, a key feature has to be fire/smoke alarms. Using good and reliable door locks is another imperative and this includes not just the main entrance, but even your garage door. Many residents are now installing video door phones as an extra security measure.

# Seismic load-compliant: While no structure can be built to be completely earthquake-resistant, there are certain structural protocols to be followed by the developer depending on the particular seismic zone in which the project is located. In highly earthquake-prone regions, the building materials used must be much more ductile and elastic to withstand the tremor to the extent possible. In the unfortunate eventuality of the building collapsing, the damage and loss of lives/limbs can be minimized thanks to the use of seismic load protocols.

# Other common safety features: A gated community should have a clutch of safety and security features and protocols in place. These would ideally include fire and smoke detectors and alarms, an advanced firefighting system including automatic sprinklers, a well-orchestrated security drill for residents to be followed in case of an emergency, proper security instructions inside elevators in the event of an electrical failure along with fire extinguishers. Residents should also be given a list of emergency numbers including ambulance, nearest police station, fire department, etc.

# Secure play/activity zones for children: Young children are always bouncing around and hence susceptible to mishaps. That is why a good gated community should have designated safe play areas for kids. This could include cycling track, children’s park, kids’ swimming pool, playground, activity room, indoor sports facilities, etc.

Syndication in commercial real estate is the model of pooling in resources of multiple real estate investors to build or purchase a new property, which none in the group could have managed individually. It gives you the bandwidth to close more deals dipping into a shared and larger resource pool. Some even treat this mode of investment as retirement planning.

Of course, like any other investment option, real estate syndication too comes with its share of risks and rewards.

What are the positives of syndication?

# Potential of high returns: When your investment works out well, there is a serious amount of money to be made in the syndication business. Studies have shown that syndicate investors have on an average enjoyed returns of nearly 18%, which is extremely rewarding when pitted against many other investment avenues.

# Opens up a whole new world: You can make things happen as a collective that you can’t do alone. That’s the power and thrill of real estate syndication. For instance, as a consortium, you can aim for a large hospitality or retail project or a cutting-edge commercial property, which you could never conceive doing all by yourself.

# Room to expand: By creating a cohort of investors, one can think of broadening the basket of offering by venturing into different domains. That helps you hedge your bets and gives you much greater leverage in the markets as you get to diversify your portfolio.

What are the possible downsides?

# Lack of liquidity: Unlike shares in a real estate investment trust (REIT) or a property you have invested in alone, you can’t just monetize a syndicated property whenever you want to. You are stuck with it for the entire holding period. So it’s not a short-term liquid bet, rather an extended waiting game.

# All eggs in single basket: Since your syndicate’s collective investment pool is typically locked into one single project, your fortunes largely hinge on the performance of that one property. In case it underperforms, the syndicate’s resource pool could become a dud investment. That’s a risk this route carries.

# Investment might bomb: While the returns are usually lucrative and the investment load is shared across the group, there’s always a possibility that one particular syndicate project doesn’t take off. That risk-reward scenario must always be kept in mind.

# No guaranteed passive income: Not all projects will yield immediate passive income, some might not cough up anything at all. Elsewhere the income can fluctuate year-on-year. In any event, brace up for income inconsistencies if you opt for the syndicate investment route.

What is the usual structure of a real estate syndicate?

There are primarily two components of such an investment syndicate. One is the real estate syndicator/s and the others are passive investors.

The syndicators are the ones who structure and run the syndicate by underwriting the deal, doing the necessary due diligence, organizing the investors, making the business plan, etc.

The passive investors, by dint of part-investing in the property, are entitled to periodic passive income from the asset as well as returns on their investment once the property is sold. They also enjoy tax benefits.

So it’s quite clear that real estate syndication presents a great opportunity for generating passive income if you choose your fellow investors well and carry out proper due diligence of the property which you couldn’t have acquired all by yourself. Over a longer period, this route is always likely to yield handsome returns.

When looking for a new home, the flat vs bungalow debate often crops up. While a bungalow is usually a standalone construction on a land parcel where you should have total rights over the construction and the layout, a flat or apartment is a dwelling unit that is part of a residential complex, where the developer takes full responsibility of the construction and you are guided by certain regulations and bylaws regarding modification.

Both the formats have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at some of the plus and minus points.

Pros of owning a house or bungalow:

# You can design and embellish the property according to your wish without being limited by any protocols or regulations.

# You can control the quality and efficiency of the products used, as per your budget.

# You are at liberty to construct extra floors or expand a single floor if the structure design permits.

# Owning a bungalow can give you a sense of great exclusivity and prestige.

# You can indulge in gardening on the adjacent land parcel.

# While involving higher capital expenditure, a house/bungalow also offers greater returns.

Cons of owning a house or bungalow:

# You are completely on your own when it comes to applying for such critical amenities like electricity, water, gas pipelines and the like. This process could be both tedious and costly.

# Obtaining the various necessary green signals from the appropriate authorities can be another painstaking process and also cost a bomb, not to speak of delays in construction if the clearances take time.

# Getting hold of a trustworthy contractor and then monitoring the entire construction process, including overseeing the workers can be a challenging and extremely time-consuming task.

# You will have to spend extra to hire your own security services.

# Without any built-in power backup, you will have to manage periods of power cuts on your own steam.

# Obtaining a home loan could be problematic since banks find it harder to assess independent houses.

# Creating parking space is often a problem.

Pros of owning a flat

# When you choose to buy an apartment, all the hassles of construction, including monitoring the workforce and dealing with the contractors, etc are not your concern.

# All the basic amenities like power and water supply, gas connection, etc are taken care of by the developers.

# Your flat comes with a reliable centralized security system which is part of the common area maintenance (CAM) package.

# You are likely to get other shared facilities like a swimming pool, clubhouse with sports facilities, gym, banquets and even a coffee shop or restaurant perhaps.

# You will be assured of your designated parking slot.

# Obtaining housing finance is easier since most apartment complexes have pre-approved loan arrangements with banks.

# Resale of flats is much easier since the ticket sizes are smaller and ownership is more convenient.

# Cost of maintenance is lower since it’s a shared expenditure.

# You have ready access to a pool of handymen services including plumber, electrician, carpenter, etc.

Cons of owning a flat

# If you want to make any modifications/extension to your apartment, you might be thwarted by restrictions imposed by the housing society.

# Owning a pet could become a problem because of lack of space or an objecting next-door neighbour.

# Sometimes there could be a loud party next door and you might have to stay up all night thanks to the noise.

# You cannot do any independent add-ons or modifications.

# You pay regular CAM charges even if you don’t use all the amenities, and this tariff undergoes an annual hike.

# You have little control over quality of construction and might have to suffer later trying to fix things.

So, it’s difficult to pick a clear winner since both the formats have inherent advantages and disadvantages. If you have a big budget and lots of leisure to monitor construction activity and run after the contractor, you might think of buying a plot of land and building a bungalow. However, few actually have that leeway in today’s high-speed life. Hence, for more people, particularly in metro cities, it seems an apartment is a safer bet these days, which involves much less hassle and also offers a community living experience that is great news for children and the elderly.

There are a number of reasons why investing in real estate can be a wiser, and in the long run more profitable, decision than playing in stocks or the bonds market. For starters, one can pick up a property by paying only a fraction of the actual cost and the rest in comfortable EMIs. The property still becomes your own and you can leverage it. You can earn rental income from it to offset your EMIs or even re-sell it if the market is buoyant. It enables you to save on taxes while real estate never fails to appreciate in value if you give it enough time.

To reap optimum rewards from real estate investment, it’s important to educate yourself, network well, be patient, comprehend the risks and seek professional advice when needed. Perseverance in this arena more often than not leads to success.

What are the main avenues of earning from real estate investment?

# Rental income: Since more than 32% of people in India live in rented properties, renting out your real estate asset is always a great option since while you benefit from a regular revenue stream, your property continues to appreciate on its own.

# Leverage your investment: You can invest only a fraction of a property’s actual value and own it. You will most likely be able to obtain housing finance to fund the rest provided you have a decent credit score and can show a steady income. With time, you can repay your home loan and also leverage the appreciation of your property.

# Ensure appreciation: On an average, any real estate asset appreciates up to around 5% every year without you having to spend a dime on it except for basic maintenance. This is the natural appreciation. However, you can boost the escalation by spending on some incremental repairs and renovation/remodeling. At times, such alterations and improvements can accrue benefits worth nearly 90% of your investments.

# Get tax breaks: As a property owner, you can reap the benefits of a clutch of tax write-offs, including interest on your loan, maintenance expenditure, real estate taxes and insurance, depreciation and others. When you club them together, these can add up to a substantial amount which is your neat gain.

# Earn steady money: When you rent out your property, you earn a steady monthly rental income. This is over and above the appreciation your property will gain naturally.

# Secure your future: As the pandemic underlined, stock markets can be extremely volatile and are tied to so many dynamics. However, real estate more often than not, will keep on appreciating if you give it time. Of course, there could be a hiccup here and there, troughs and crests, but eventually you are more likely to find yourself riding a crest, because real estate has this unique propensity to always bounce back. It’s also a great source of retirement benefit.

# Pass it down to NextGen: When you are leaving behind a real estate asset for your children, you are leaving behind an ever-appreciating and stable legacy which they can leverage. It gives them a great opportunity to make it sweat in any which way they deem fit.

What to look for in a property before you invest:

# The location must be attractive for prospective tenants and it makes sense to invest in a fast-improving neighbourhood.

# Look at the amenities and conveniences around, like schools and colleges, hospitals and shopping centres, etc.

# How safe is the area? Safety and security will always be a major concern for a prospective tenant.

# Study the prevailing property rates and recent sales in the locality to get a grasp of the full picture. It will help you in making an informed decision on your investment.

All said, real estate clearly offers you the least risks while considering investment options. While you can enjoy cash flow even as your asset appreciates, it also gives you instant liquidity should you need it, and more often than not, you can sell at a decent profit. However, nursing your real estate investment over a longer period normally yields bigger benefits.