Home buyers’ wish-list for Budget 2020

[ecis2016.org] With the Union Budget 2020-21 set to be presented on February 1, 2020, ecis2016.org News speaks to home buyers across the country, to gauge their expectations and the incentives that they would like to see

Mehul Chopra

IT consultant and corporate trainer, Mumbai

You are reading: Home buyers’ wish-list for Budget 2020

I live in Mumbai now but I plan to invest in a property in Pune. Improvements in connectivity and infrastructure matter to me the most. Pune is slowly gaining recognition as one of the biggest IT hubs in India but the pace of development needs to be quicker. So, this budget, I hope that infrastructure will receive a big boost, as there is an urgent need to iron out the bottlenecks hindering infrastructure growth in urban India.

Property rates are also quite high and so, the government should take into consideration the home buyer’s added burden of high stamp duty and lower the same, in this budget. If there are favourable announcements for exemption on interest paid on housing loans, then, I will definitely take the plunge and buy a property.

Read also : High potential for institutional rental housing, with 11.09 million vacant houses in India: Report

Vishal Khara

Businessman, Ahmedabad

My wife and I have purchased our second home in Ahmedabad, for our post-retirement life, for which we have taken a loan. Second home buyers should definitely be given strong incentives, vis-à-vis tax relief on the capital invested, as well as the EMIs being paid, in Budget 2020. The budget should also give greater emphasis to infrastructure development. Well-thought urban planning is much needed for senior citizens and people who are differently abled. Not only housing but also theatres and restaurants should be made disabled-friendly, to create a more inclusive society. The budget should focus on connectivity, with safer and smoother roads. Also, sustainability should be given its due importance in Budget 2020. The government should encourage solar panel usage, rainwater harvesting and proper waste management systems.

[ecis2016.org] Budget 2020: Changes in income tax laws that can help home buyers 

Sayantani Bhowmick

Experiential environmental designer, Bengaluru

As far as real estate is concerned, the previous union budget had a few hits and several misses. I intend to buy our first home in the Sarjapur-Kudlu area. I am hoping that the upcoming budget focuses on a holistic plan for infrastructure and housing development – i.e., improving roads, local transportation, creating an expansive water management system, etc. What deters a middle-class home buyer from investing in property, is the current marginal limit on tax exemptions. It is insufficient, especially with the uncapped prices for housing projects. As a middle-class woman investor, I hope that this budget will provide more tax exemptions for women home buyers. The government should increase the deduction limit on interest payment on housing loans, from Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 3 lakhs. A tax structure with a uniform rate, is the need of the hour. For example, the ITC (input tax credit) is a mechanism to avoid tax on tax. However, the lack of transparency on ITC, not only affects developers but also impacts pricing and subsequently, the burden is transferred to the buyer.

Read also : High potential for institutional rental housing, with 11.09 million vacant houses in India: Report

Aakash Gupta

Financial expert, Pune

I am planning to buy a property in Pune but real estate is overpriced. First and foremost, we need a huge correction in prices. Inventory is also piling up. I wish the union budget would provide a mechanism to analyse the builders’ portfolios and put a cap on their borrowings. The marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) should be passed on to home buyers, without any extra cost. First-time home buyers should be given a subsidy, irrespective of their income slab. The process of applying for home loans should be simplified and the interest on home loans should be lowered. There should be a reduction of individual income tax rates and the tax benefits on repaying home loans should be enhanced. Also, there is a need to develop a rental housing model that can cater to the ever growing population in cities.

Read also : High potential for institutional rental housing, with 11.09 million vacant houses in India: Report

Khushboo Upendra Sangoi

Corporate communication professional, Mumbai

Today, women are becoming self-sufficient and important earning members in families. My expectation from a fellow woman, the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is poised to present the budget, is that it should be women-friendly and empower them. I have purchased a property in Ambivali, near Kalyan. The cost of the house was Rs 32 lakhs, for which I have taken a loan of Rs 27 lakhs. My wish, is for an increase in the maximum deduction limit under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, for women. Secondly, working women who have home loans, should be given exemption of 0.5% on the interest rate, as compared to their male counterparts. There should be further concessions in stamp duty, for women investors. The government should also allocate funds for women’s safety. Existing solutions like mobile SOS, CCTV surveillance in public transport and all-women patrols, need to be made more pervasive.

Budget 2018: What do home buyers want from the finance minister

January 31, 2018: With the real estate sector going through a transformational phase, many home buyers have adopted a ‘wait and watch’ approach, hoping for the market to stabilise. ecis2016.org News spoke to several home seekers across the country, to gauge what they feel the finance minister Arun Jaitley can do in the Union Budget 2018-19, to make it easier for them to own their dream homes

Aishwarya Sakhuja

Actress, Mumbai

I am planning to buy a house in Andheri west, in Mumbai as it is close to all the major studios. Considering that traffic congestion can be quite severe in Mumbai, resulting in time wasted in commuting, I prefer a place like Andheri, which is centrally located.

I hope that Budget 2018 provides for some reduction in the stamp duty rates. Also, home loan rates, at around 8.25 per cent, are still high and I hope it comes down further. The budget should also allocate more funds for the improvement of basic infrastructure in Mumbai. After demonetisation, I had expected the property rates to reduce. However, I do not think this has happened, as sellers have not reduced prices.

I hope the budget makes the home buying process simpler and registration of properties become smoother, faster and easier.

Mayur U Bhat

Brand strategist and co-founder of a marketing company, Bengaluru

There are no subsidies for people buying houses that cost more than Rs 50 lakhs. To encourage young people to own houses, the government should provide benefits for first-time home buyers, while also being more reasonable with the price limits.

Environment sensitive buildings are the need of the hour. I was hoping to buy a green home but the exorbitant rates have made me reconsider this decision. Incentives or subsidies for green homes, would encourage more builders to construct eco-friendly properties.

I am looking to buy a 3-BHK apartment in Bengaluru, in areas like Horamavu, HRBR Layout or even Whitefield, for which I will take some home loan. Presently, under-construction properties attract a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 12 per cent, which is significantly higher than the previous taxes.

Although ready-to-move-in properties are not liable for GST, the cost of the house itself is quite high. So, the advantage of buying an under-construction house is lost, due to the additional 12 per cent GST. In the upcoming budget, the government should strive to make the GST a tax-neutral proposition, so as to help in reviving demand, as the real estate sector has been struggling for some time now.

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[ecis2016.org] Budget 2018: What do home loan borrowers need

Disha Gawri

Entrepreneur, Hyderabad

The Finance Act of 2017, restricted the loss from house property, which could be set off against other salary, to Rs two lakhs. The government should increase this housing loss set-off limit, as it will allow tax payers to set off a larger part of the house property loss, against other income.

I am planning to invest in a project in Hyderabad, where I will get the possession of the property in four to five years. In case a person has taken a loan for an under-construction house and the construction is delayed beyond a period of five years, the interest deduction gets slashed to Rs 30,000, for no fault of the tax payer. Moreover, a buyer cannot claim exemption under Section 54/54F, if he gets the possession of the new house after three years. So, the budget should provide some increase in the time period, to make it easier for tax payers to avail of the exemptions under Section 54/54F.

Roopali Somwanshi

Lead consultant – IT sector, Mumbai

I am looking to buy my first home, on the outskirts of Mumbai, between Nerul and Ulwe, as this region is affordable, compared to Mumbai city. I hope that Budget 2018 has some allocation, to improve infrastructure in this area. Tax exemption limits should also be increased, so as to incentivise first-time home buyers.

Section 80EE of the Income Tax Act, provided an additional deduction of Rs 50,000 for first-time home purchasers, whose loan was authorised during the period April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. This advantage should be extended beyond March 31, 2017. To avail of this deduction, the value of the property should not to be more than Rs 50 lakhs, independent of the size and area of the house. However, in the city, property costs are higher than this limit. Thus, a person who purchases a house in the city, does not get any profit from this segment. I hope this situation changes.

Sheela Pandit

Senior manager in a multi-national company, Vashi, Navi Mumbai

The finance minister should look into the GST rate on real estate. Presently, the GST rate is 12 per cent, on under-construction properties. This should be brought down to five per cent, as stamp duty is still applicable, which increases the costs for the consumer. Alternatively, state governments should eliminate stamp duty or align it with the GST rates. While the demand for housing in India is very high, prices are sky-high and so, individuals are prefer to stay on rent rather than buying a house. The centre should try to come up with some mechanism to standardise the rates in each area.

I am planning to buy a house in Navi Mumbai, as its affordable compared to Mumbai and has ample greenery. The railway authorities should improve services on the Harbour Line and consider the feasibility of running fast trains between Vashi and Panvel, as it is difficult for commuters to board the trains during peak hours. Moreover, Navi Mumbai lacks smooth connectivity with the existing commercial hubs in Greater Mumbai.

Hence, I hope that the budget focuses on better transport facilities in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai.

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