Realty Updates – Page 12

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who announced Union Budget 2017, has granted infrastructure status to affordable housing. This move is a good boost to real estate sector.

The announcement of affordable housing being given Infrastructure status is a welcome move and will act as a catalyst to meet the objectives of Housing to all by 2022. Credit off-take towards affordable segment of housing will lead to creation of supply especially for both stake holders the first home buyer and developer who will now have access to cheaper funding.

Finance Minister also announced that National Housing Bank will refinance individual loans worth Rs 20,000 crore in 2017-18. On the all-important front of personal income tax, the existing tax rate for incomes between Rs. 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh has been reduced to 5%, and taxpayers in other categories will also save Rs. 12,500.

Key highlights for real estate sector in Union Budget 2016-17:

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to get Rs 23,000 crore
• Affordable Housing has been given the Infrastructure status
• National Housing Bank to refinance Rs 20,000 crore loans
• No cash transaction above Rs 3 lakh will be allowed
• 1 crore rural houses will be created by 2019
• New FDI policy under consideration
• Rs 2.41 lakh crore has been allocated to boosting infrastructure for transportation
• Total allocation for the infrastructure sector is Rs 3,96,135 crore
• Allocation for National Highways to be at Rs 64,000 crore
• Indra Awas Yojana will be extended to 600 districts
• Holding period for capital gains tax for immovable property reduced from 3 years to 2 years
• Real estate developers to get tax relief on unsold stock as liability to pay capital gains will arise only in the year a project is completed
• Tax break of 1 year post receipt of the completion certificate, for the unsold stock
• Instead of Built up area of 30 and 60 sq meters, the carpet area of 30 and 60 sq meters will be applicable for affordable housing
• Indexation for capital gains shifted from 01-04-81 to 01-04-2001
• Window for availing 3 year profit-linked incentives for start-ups increased to 7 years against 5 years earlier

The budgetary allocation for the flagship of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), popularly known as ‘housing for all’ (HFA) scheme might be increased by the government. The government may allocate Rs 3,000 crore to the National Housing Bank (NHB) to provide loans to housing finance companies.

The housing ministry M Venkaiah Naidu has asked states to undertake a fresh demand survey to assess housing demand. A technical committee set up by the ministry had earlier estimated urban housing demand at nearly 1.9 crores. Sources informed that the initial reports from states have indicated the demand to be around 1.4 crores. A Ministry Official said that they will get the final estimate soon.

While a group of secretaries (GoS) dealing with health, urban development and sanitation has made the recommendation for providing more funds to NHB, housing minister M Venkaiah Naidu has sought more money for the PMAY scheme in cities and towns.