New Year decor trends

The focus this year is on blending different decor styles for a unique character in the interiors.

The emerging trend for the New Year is veering towards subtle and soft colours and design, black and white decorating ideas with a touch of bright colour, impressive centre pieces and oversized furniture and lighting fixtures. Whether your style is contemporary or minimalist, interior design trends for the New Year are focused towards turning your home into a desirable space that will embody definitive style.



Natural materials

Natural elements and recyclable eco-friendly designs will mark the trend for the New Year in decorating the interiors, be it the living room, dining room, kitchen or even the exteriors. The idea is to find new uses for old things and reinvest in pieces that one can use and enjoy for years to come.

Contemporary with a twist

While straight lines still reign in interior decor, a contemporary twist should be deftly intermingled with classic or vintage options, lending variety as well as a unique character to the decor. Simple structural designs with innovative natural and vintage elements are becoming more and more popular.

Colour and texture

Soothing colours and subtle hues will be popular in the New Year. Natural textures tend to be balanced. Handicrafts, knitting and weaving, cardboard and prints, wood and cement and other materials will be popular decor elements.

Tile talk

As for decorative materials, tiles in every colour, design, shape and texture have become the new form of art for walls and floors. Not just for backsplashes but whole walls are being tiled in solid shades.

Vintage and exotic

The vintage elements used need not necessarily be exotic pieces but can be totally mundane in the form of lace used in fabrics and soft furnishings, old attractive jars from the pantry that pack in captivating colours and designs. Even old lanterns, vintage drinking glasses that pack in an exotic shape can be used for display.

Function with aesthetics

Since many live in compact homes, the need for minimalistic decor is growing and as such the approach has to be to combine functional with quality design in decorative objects. The kitchen is compact with open shelving and counters are decorated with cookware in lush pastel shades.

Fitted kitchens with smart functional designs that blend well into your design scheme with smart storage options like toe-kick drawers underneath lower cabinets, pull-out shelving and built-in charge ports for tablets and other devices are options to look out for in the New Year.
Pretty patterns

In terms of patterns on fabrics, stripes will harmorics, stripes will harmoniously co-exist with florals, hand sketches and geometric depictions, all displayed in an array of colours and textures.

Furniture sets in one colour, material, form and style will also be in vogue in the coming year. Modern interior design with ethnic ac cents, fabric prints and furniture items is what people will fancy.

Green home

Inject more greenery into the home. Patios and rooms that open into the outdoors typify this trend. This year will be all about embracing the outdoors by having your living space reflect and interact with nature. Hence, terraces, sky roofs and balconies will be incorporated into design to let natural light and cool breeze pour into the home.

Rough and natural tiling, natural and unpolished wood, indoor plants, bench like seating arrangements further carry forward this trend.

Smart lighting

LED lights have changed the way we illuminate our homes. The innumerable LED lighting solutions available nowadays can create a number of effects, moods and ambiences and have given rise to a host of new design opportunities. From chandeliers to under-the-counter task lighting, the size and colour options of good quality LEDs are showing up in every room of the home.




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How to afford a second home?

Even though there are several good options for investment available in the market like fixed deposits, mutual funds and stocks among other things, a large chunk of the Indian investors prefer real estate as their investment option.

No wonder the demand for second homes is growing, especially among those in their late thirties and mid-forties. Experts believe that better capital returns and the need of a vacation home are the two most popular factors driving the demand of second homes. This said and done, how many of us can afford to buy a second home? What are the risks involved? How can we manage our finances efficiently that the EMIs of the second home do not hurt our liquidity or savings?


The tips and tricks given below might answer some of these questions

1. Watch out for the right time: One must look out for the right time for investment and consider all the factors and behavior of the market very carefully. For the last two years, the real estate market almost all across India has not reaped very high returns as both demand and sales volumes have been low. However, in the last six months, things have started to improve and investors are returning to the market.

2. Try to limit your search in areas with steady appreciation rates: Recent studies by JLL and Knight Frank have pronounced that peripheral areas of metro cities have had proved to be good long-term investment options. Though you might not get good rentals in the beginning those looking for returns post 10-12 years, might find these areas lucrative hubs. Do make sure that these areas fall under the municipal corporation’s limits and the state and the central government have infra plans in the pipeline

3. Define your goals and interests: Be specific about your motive of purchase and what do you want to get in return from it. For instance, if you are investing in a property as your vacation home, you can fetch good returns by renting it out for some time. You should do your homework about the current preferences of the tenants and what the kid of people moving in there, so as to gain maximum benefit. For instance, you can expect white-collar employees to come for rental options near IT hubs in metro cities

4. Consult an experienced property consultant: It is better to work with an experienced property dealer who can help you understand well about your requirements and suggest you the best as per availability in the market. There are no rules that define a good property consultant or a broker but do make a thorough research about his reputation in the real estate market. Experts recommend going with those with at least five years of experience in the realty industry

5. Determine your affordability: Discuss with you family or partner about the amount that you can afford to spend as monthly EMls in case you are going to avail a home loan for your second home. Moreover, it is very important to ascertain your affordability by defining you current expenditure pattern, liabilities and liquidity. If needed, consult a financial consultant for doing this job.

6. Explore the financial market: Before finalising any financial institution for your home loan. It is highly recommended that you explore the market once and negotiate them to cut down the home loan interest rates. This can bag at least 5-1 0% of a direct benefit to you.

7. Act like a tax savvy: You should act like a pro when it comes to tax-related matters. The tax implications on a broader perspective depend on how sound is your financial situation. One should consider all property taxes, utilities and other applicable expenses. On the counterpart, if you are thinking to rent out your property then. You have to report all rental receipts to the IT Department as income excluding the expenses you have made against that income.


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Property Investment is the most efficient way to save tax

As the celebrations and wishes of the New Year fizzle out we are now faced with a more real question. The question of tax saving for the year; and always it is the time when those of us working in the area of personal finance are flooded with questions about tax savings. What is the most efficient way to save tax?

How should we allocate our tax investments for the year? For me the answer is very clear, every rupee saved on tax is a rupee earned and a home loan is the most efficient tax saving instrument available to us. You can claim a deduction of a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh on principal repayment and Rs 2 lakh on interest payment (in case the home is self-occupied).If the home has been rented out, you can claim the total interest paid as a deduction. While I strongly support the argument to increase the deduction on home loans from the current limits, we should make the most of the deduction that is available to use now.

There is no debating the stability of real estate as an asset and as an investment in this country. But if like me you live in one of India's big cities, you know that's easier said than done. On an average, renting a home, especially in Mumbai, is at least 80 percent cheaper on your monthly budget than buying the exact same one.

A modest one-bedroom apartment in one of Mumbai's very distant suburbs like Kandivali (E) currently costs a minimum of Rs 1 crore and upwards depending on the age and quality of the construction. Just to drive home that point. That's Rs 1,00,00,000! So we are talking about a cash down payment of Rs 20 lakh and a monthly EMI of roughly Rs 95 thousand to 1 lakh for the next 20 years! If you were to rent the exact same apartment it would cost you about Rs 20,000. If you are a young homebuyer an EMI of Rs 1 lakh might seem like a tough ask. You would never be able to change jobs with ease, take a sabbatical or go back to school for that midcareer degree you have been thinking about.

But how do you buy your first home and still manage to have some head room after paying your EMI. Here is a possible solution. Rent in Mumbai and buy in a smaller city. A two-bedroom home in a city like Thane, Ambarnath, Bhiwandi, which currently offers a promise of higher capital appreciation than Mumbai, can still be bought for Rs 40 lakh which will translate to a total outgo of roughly Rs 30,000 in EMIs.

Add that to the rent and you are still only committing Rs 50,000 a month. You can claim the tax benefits on your home loan and also claim your HRA deduction. If you rent out the purchased apartment when it is ready to occupy, you will also be able to claim the total interest paid as a tax deduction. The calculations seem to make sense, now all you have to do is find the right home in Thane.



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Buyers opt for homes in posh areas

The year 2015 has been a good year for homebuyers and bad for investors as property rates have remained static or even negative in some parts of Thane and Mumbai.

Sale deed of ownership of land or agreement to sale with the land owner or partnership deed or JV deed with the land owner.

This certificate is issued by a competent advocate lawyer practising in land laws and property matters. This certificate is issued only after thoroughly checking the track record of land since the land law was formed in 1947. The title report shows when and how many times that particular land survey number was transacted and how the ownership of land was changed.

But posh areas such as Vasant Vihar, Hiranandani Meadows and Waghbil are what the home buyers are preferring as witnessed by three to four per cent price hike in these areas.

According to the data provided by 99acres.com, while property rates have increased by just 1% in some areas of Thane and Mumbai, most of the regions have witnessed 3-4% price rise in the last quarter of 2015. And the most prominent price hike is in Vasant Vihar, Patlipada, Hiranandani Meadows, Kapurbawdi, to name a few.

“While areas like Majiwada have seen just 1% growth in property prices due to heavy inventory, transactions are high in Hiranandani Meadows and above mentioned areas,” said Jitendra Chauhan, vice-president, sales, 99acres.com.

“This is because the real home buyers are coming forward to buy homes in these areas which have ready-to-occupy flats,” he adds.

According to a real estate consultant the reason for movement in the above areas is because of real home buyers. “People want to stay at a good place and it is these people who are drawing the demand in the areas. And only resale is happening,” he said.

Thus, the above areas have seen price hike of Rs500 per sq feet and above.
 

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Source - dnaindia.com

Tips for a homebuyer

Be it the first property, dream home of one's life or a second property for investment, buying a property is always an important and most watchful event of one's life. Here we give some important check points which one must take into consideration before taking an important decision of your life.

Land: Sale deed of ownership of land or agreement to sale with the land owner or partnership deed or JV deed with the land owner.

Title certificate: This certificate is issued by a competent advocate lawyer practising in land laws and property matters. This certificate is issued only after thoroughly checking the track record of land since the land law was formed in 1947. The title report shows when and how many times that particular land survey number was transacted and how the ownership of land was changed.

NA order of the land: NA order is conversion of land use from agricultural to non-agricultural. Before commencement of construction, this order is a must with any developer or builder.

Approved project plans: All project plans, technical drawings plans must have been approved by the respective government and local authorities.

Construction permission: This is one of the most important documents any builder developer must acquire from government or local authorities before starting the construction.

Plinth check certificate: This is again an important document issued by the authorities showing that the construction is in progress as per the approved plans and technical drawings.

Environmental clearance certificate: A builder developer must possess environmental clearance certificate.

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State-of-the-art Kalwa bridge to end traffic woes

Is removal of water meter of the society legal? TMC workers had removed water meter from pride Paradise Society and after inquiry they showed e-work order of TMC. We asked them to justify the work being done but they said if the work is not done they might face ire from some affluent people from TMC and might loose their job
- Ivan D Souza, Pride Paradise 

Normally, water meter, if legal, is not removed. The same will be enquired into and if anyone is found guilty, action will be taken. However, work of extending the pipeline at the fag end of this water district was taken up by TMC to restore water supply to Pride Paradise society.

It has become risky to travel at night due to rise in number of dogs. This has been the case since a year. We have dog lovers in our area, who feed the canine, but I am not sure whether they get the dogs vaccinated or not. When TMC men come, they are unable to catch any. I suggest that TMC take help from dog lovers in catching, vaccinating them and control ever-increasing population
-Manoj J Sharma, Swastik Residency Kavesar Ghodbunder Road

As per the Animal Birth Control Rules 2001 & Relocation Clause 7(6), the municipal corporation can undertake sterilisation of dogs and relocate them in the same area. The TMC is trying its best and around 46,000 dogs have been operated and vaccinated so far and dog birth is being tried to be brought under control. As per your suggestion, we will definitely seek help from animal lovers in this regard.

The road right in front of our building at Ovala Naka connects to main Ghodbunder road (in front of Honda showroom). It was dug-up a few months back for water pipeline related work. However, the filling up work has been left incomplete. Considering the well-constructed and maintained Ghodbunder Road and service road, this is disappointment and can cause bikers to skid/fall. Also, the road just beside footpath and main Ghodbunder Road is not levelled properly from Cosmos County to Ovala Naka, which can increase lane size and reduce congestion if levelled appropriately
-Ketan Gujkar a resident

The work in question had been undertaken by Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation with permission from the MSRDC. The work, however, had to be halted midway during the rainy season. We will now write to the MSRDC immediately to get the work done from Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation at the earliest.

Request to take urgent steps to stop trucks plying through Kalwa since it is creating havoc in the evening while coming from office. We waste tremendous time and national property petrol and adding worst health problem due to pollution. It is a humble request to kindly save us and stop trucks plying through Kalwa at least till 11pm
-Zafar Shaikh, Kalwa resident

The TMC is planning for a long-term solution to this issue by constructing state-of-the-art bridge at Kalwa. New approach roads, one on the other end of Kalwa bridge, second at Kalwa-Belapur road and third at Saket road, will help to ease traffic congestion in this area. The work has already started and is expected to be completed in 30 months.

Thane lacks proper parking arrangements, especially Talao Pali and other areas, where there are no signboards and vehicles are towed or clamped without any sign boards. I am unable to use my brand new car for past more than two months due to fear of parking
-a resident

The TMC has decided to create on-street parking facility since development of off-street parking facility will require some more time. For this purpose, it is proposed to demarcate parking lots on the roads which are selected in consultation with the traffic department. Parking/no parking boards will be erected on these roads to facilitate the vehicle drivers to identify the parking and no parking stretches on the roads. Activity in this regard has already been started by providing this facility along St John High School compound wall near Talao Pali.

Stagnant water at the fountain at Court Naka causes potential fear of dengue and malaria. We had earlier complained about it, but no action was taken. Moreover, it is aesthetically unappealing
-Dr Rachana Acharya, Waghbil Road

Instruction is being given to remove the rainwater collected in these fountains. The TMC will also undertake beautification of the existing traffic islands on grant of advertisement rights basis shortly, wherein these lacunae will be taken care of. The agreement in this regard has already been signed and Court Naka fountain restoration and beautification will be done within two months.

Tikuji Ni Wadi Road (from Manpada flyover) and Gladys Alvares Road is a six-lane highway. A huge sum of civic funds may have been spent on its construction, but this is going to waste. Buses, trucks and broken down vehicles are parked in the slow lane. Footpaths are incomplete, blocked, broken or occupied by hawkers/swatters forcing public to walk in middle lane of the highway. Only the third (fast) lane is left for vehicular movement. Instead of enjoying this modern convenience, residents of surrounding societies like Shubhra Arambh, Happy Valley, Cosmos, Eden Valley, Hiranandani Meadows are facing hardships
-Malcolm Rodrigues, a resident

The TMC is in the process of implementing parking policy as well as hawker policy. On implementation of these policies, it is expected that these issues will be redressed. Apart from this, the TMC has proposed a pedestrian subway at Vasant Vihar junction. It shall be provided with small shops for vendors. Regarding repairs of footpaths, we shall undertake a rigorous drive in the coming months. We are also working on a soft mobility plan, especially in terms of pedestrians way and exclusive cycling track. Regarding parking of vehicles, the same shall be coordinated with DCP (traffic).

No proper roads in big complexes like Neelkanth

The road link from Tikujiniwadi Circle to Neelkanth Woods to Ghodbunder Road near TMT proposed depot is incomplete due to tussle between the forest department and TMC.

Due to this, residents in this area with big complexes such as Neelkanth Greens, Neelkanth Woods and Cosmos Lounge are not getting proper roads. The street lights are not maintained properly and we are even denied our right to get pipeline gas connection from the MGL.

Regarding sewerage connection, only TMC officials will be able to explain. Thank god, we have TMC water connection. How soon this will be addressed? Now the civic body, the state and Centre is ruled by the same coalition, so we should get relief.
-Shantaram Shinde, Manpada resident

On lines of New Delhi, restrict vehicles a day per week

Seeing the situation in New Delhi, it’s time to take proactive step to reduce road traffic and thereby pollution. One way is to restrict vehicle to come on road a day per week.

The number plate shall be provided with suffix “letter”. For instance, MH-04 4321T, the letter T stands for Tuesday, which means that vehicle should not be driven on Tuesday. Black T stands for Tuesday and red T for Thursday.

This will be applicable to all type of vehicles, public and private, trucks and buses. This will ensure that each vehicle will be rested a day per week. The letter in this regard must be issued by the RTO.
-Sandesh Walde, Thane resident

Least city can do is regulate dusty ops

We should be wary of the recent Chennai floods and the Delhi pollution control steps. The storm water channels and the estuaries where the water drains, should be regularly de-silted. Scientific steps should be taken to ensure that the drains are properly sized to handle floods. Regarding air pollution, the least that Thane can do is to regulate dusty operations such as granite slitting, rampant spray painting of automobiles at open spaces without proper fume extraction. Yet another dust generating operation is the practice of layering newly tarred road surfaces with stone/cement dust.
- Radhakrishnan Iyer, Manpada

Launch an online parking slot booking app

I have read about several parking issues being faced by Thanekars in the city close to station and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) is planning to construct a building dedicated to parking. I would suggest if you can look at an online parking slot booking app similar to bookmyshow where you can book your seat online and pay for the same immediately. This will ensure transparency in collection and people can plan their trip accordingly.

Another way of handling this parking problem could be if housing societies could allow empty parking slots to be given to people who need it as most people are out for during office hours and weekdays and slots are empty.

Security concerns of societies can be addressed if they tie up with fixed people and their papers and car documents are verified before slots are given to them. This may help societies earn money, reduce parking issues and ensure utilisation of space during the day.
-Ketan Gunjkar, a resident

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Source - dnaindia.com