Month: June 2008
Precautions while buying property from a Real Estate Agent
Precautions while buying property from a Real Estate Agent
Buying from a Real Estate Agent can be a good decision. To serve his best interests, however, a buyer must take certain precautions when buying a property from a Real Estate Agent. Some of these are listed below:
1. Always make it a habit of checking the credentials of the Agent whom you are dealing with. It is always best to choose an Agent who is a veteran and has years of experience in the locality you want to buy property in.
2. If a Real Estate Agent does not “look” professional, make it a point to double check his antecedents. You should not take any chances with your resources.
3. It is your right to know if the Agent is registered under an Association and/or works with a registered brokerage company.
4. Once you have chosen a Real Estate Agent, make sure that all legal formalities are carried out by him.
5. Engage the services of the Agent in personally verifying the property. Don’t hesitate to check and double check.
6. Ask for all the photocopies of all title deeds from the Real Estate Agent. He should have all these from the seller and should be prompt in providing them. Also, seek the services of a property lawyer to check them and ascertain their authenticity.
7. Ensure from the Real Estate Agent that the property is free of litigation and any encumbrances or loans before deciding to buy the property.
8. Get the Agent to register your property with the correct valuation. Correct valuation is very important for a property to earn benefits and appreciation values in the future.
9. Get the Real Estate Agent to procure from the seller consent, permission, sanction, and NOC of concerned Departments.
If these issues are taken care of, dealing with a Real Estate Agent can be a beneficial and fruitful experience.
TIPS – Buying from a Real Estate Agent in India
TIPS – Buying from a Real Estate Agent in India
Buying a property often proves to be a strenuous experience for the buyer. The process of searching for the correct plot, getting it registered, to know when and how much to pay can be trying for the buyer. Buying a house can be an investment of a lifetime and is an extremely important decision because of the costs involved. This means that buyers would want to look at many houses before they decide to buy one.
Since the days of the unorganized and unprofessional small-time real estate broker have made way for educated, tech-savvy brokers organized brokers/ marketing agents/ marketing consultants armed with a team, a huge database and listings, Real Estate Agents are increasingly playing a distinct role in shaping the future of property transactions in India.
Also, property transactions over the years have become very specialized and complex and call for specialized knowledge of property laws and market operations.
As a buyer seeking assistance/advice with the kind of property you are looking to buy and the right time to buy or sell, they can help buyers find just the right kind of place that they would like to call their home or office. The pros and cons of any property are best known to them and they will ensure that legal formalities are completed.
Real Estate Agents normally work independently or for Real Estate brokers and are paid commission on each transaction they help seal. They work from their offices or from home but they literally thrive on personal contacts. They reach out to prospective buyers or sellers by advertising and word-of-mouth promotion.
The benefits of buying from a Real Estate Agent derive from the fact that they:
1. Can advice on a great investment opportunity at a time when property tends to appreciate in value.
2. Can lead you to a host of options to choose from when you want to buy.
3. Can help you decide where you should buy as they know each locality and its future potential.
4. Can help you with filling up of forms and guide you through the process of getting your property registered.
5. Can suggest finance options when you are in need of money to invest in your property.
6. Can give valuable advice on the laws of the property and help make your deal legal and valid.
7. Can ensure that your property is valid and worth your time and money.
Tips while Buying Property
Tips while Buying Property
A buyer should exercise utmost caution while buying property in India, be it for residential or commercial interests. Below is a real estate purchase checklist that includes tips for property buyers, discussed under specific categories:
Buying with preliminary research:
It is advisable to identify the property in terms of:
1. Nature of property:
Whether residential/commercial/industrial
Whether plot of land/flat/floor/commercial space
Whether the plot of land on which the building is constructed or is about to be constructed is freehold or leasehold.
2. Type of Seller:
Whether individual/partnership/HUF/joint stock company/Association of persons. Reputation of the builder or seller.
3. Potential resale value or the potential rental income of the property.
4. Proximity afforded:
Whether close to central business district, entertainment centres hotels, restaurants, transport hubs, hospitals, market, schools, etc.
5. Quality of construction:
Whether structural stability of the building, electrical systems, plumbing systems, drainage, sanitary fittings, roof, walls, ceilings, floors, paint work, foundation, doors and windows is sound or not.
Determining the title and interest of the Seller:
1. Thoroughly check and satisfy yourself with the marketability of the property title in terms of whether the owner is the original owner and whether the title deed is original. Obtain legal opinion through an Advocate of repute, who can examine the deeds to establish the ownership of the property by the Seller.
2. Similarly, if you are buying a resale flat, ask for the Purchase Agreement, which is the Agreement between the current seller and the previous owner and get it scrutinized by an Advocate. He/she will identify whether the seller is truly entitled to sell the property, whether any mortgage exists on the property and if it has been paid off and whether there is any lien on the property.
3. Retain a copy of this document and also check the original.
Avoid engaging in negotiations over a disputed property.
Documentation:
1. Ask for all the legal documents in original. Check whether a ‘No Encumbrance Certificate’ has been obtained to ensure that no mortgage exists/has been existing on the property. Get a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the Builder/ Society.
2. Check for authentic approvals from government agencies like the land development, planning authority and Income Tax Department. Ask for original documents and certificates.
3. Get a full and true disclosure of all outgoings such as municipal and other local taxes, taxes on income, water charges, electrical charges etc.
4. Take a declaration from the seller on what add-on, if any, he is giving along with the property.
5. Make sure to include every conceivable clause in the Sales Agreement. A Sale Agreement is the only written evidence of the deal so it should include everything from payment terms to exact description of the title.
6. Understand the finer details of the sale contract properly to arm yourself with knowledge that shall be beneficial during and after the transaction is complete.
7. Learn about the advantages of Caveat and put one on the title.
8. Take care that all the duties that are to be paid on the property like Stamp duty, Registration fees and taxes is included in the Sale Deed/Agreement to Sell.
9. Ask for any other information and documents as may be prescribed under the law.
Post Registration Activities:
Subsequent to the registration of the Sale Deed, you should:
1. Verify that all the taxes, statutory payments in respect of the property including power, water charges are paid till date.
2. Collect deposit receipts given by power and water supply agencies from the Seller. Without delay, apply to the power/water supply authorities to transfer the meters and deposits in your name.
3. Ensure that the ‘Khata’ in the records of the Local Bodies, Gram Panchayats or the City Corporation is transferred in your name. The original authorization letter of the Seller and a copy of the new ‘khata’ have to be enclosed with the application of transfer.
(A Khata is a document that includes complete details of the land or property in question for the payment of tax.)
4. Get a good idea of the costs of various components like monthly outgoings, costs of utilities. Do research on the mode of payment and the tenure for which you will be liable to pay taxes.
5. It is useful to obtain periodical Encumbrance Certificates at least once a year, and make it a routine exercise.
You can use the services of a real estate expert to complement your efforts in an effective manner, saving time and energy and money.
Source:
http://www.indianrealtylaws.com/buying-property-in-india/tips-while-buying-property.aspx
Car Bazar – The Buying Procedure
Car Bazar – The Buying Procedure
Before you sign the cheque it is important to know opinions and views of people who are already using the same car (Read Owner’s Feedback). Asking friends or other people who have used the car, is better than speaking to a car salesman. People tend to have a biased opinion so make sure you talk to more than one person.
Most car dealers offer you to test-drive a car before you buy it. Driving a car is always better than watching a hundred pictures and reading attractive brochures. You can get a good feel of how the car performs by getting into the driver’s seat, starting, driving, accelerating, turning, stopping and reversing.
Trained staff at the car dealerpoints can help you understand essential aspects of routine and special maintenance required. They can also explain the terms of the warranty offered by the manufacturer.
Once you have finalized the car, you can get the dealers Pro-forma invoice in your name. The proforma invoice gives details of all the costs involved. The basic cost of the car, the sales tax, the octroi if applicable, the RTO charges and the Insurance amount.
The price you pay for your car comprises of the following elements:
The F.O.R. price – This is the Ex’factory price of the car
Transportation and Transit Insurance – Cars manufactured outside Mumbai have to be transported (by truck trailers of railway rakes) from the factory to the dealer’s depot.
Depot / Stockyard charges – The cost involved in stocking and maintaining the car before actual delivery to the clients.
State Sales Tax – Maharashtra State Government collects a Sales Tax of 10% on the F.O.R. price. (Sales Tax charged varies from state to state. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Madras are at the top end -9 to 10 percent, while Gujarat, Haryana, Calcutta, Goa are at low end with 3-4 percent. Earlier, several car owners registered their cars in Gujarat, Haryana, Madya Pradesh etc. and saved a substantial amount, as the sales tax in those states was lower, however today the State Government is more stringent.)
Octroi – All cars registered within the city’s municipal limits are subject to payment of octroi to the Municipal Corporation. An octroi of 4% is levied on cars registered in Mumbai city.
The above elements make the Ex-Showroom price of the car.
R.T.O – In Mumbai the R.T.O. now collects lifetime tax (One Time Tax of 3.5% of Ex’Showroom price, for individuals and 10.5% for Companies)
Insurance – All cars have to be insured before taking delivery. Insurance amount can vary as per the risk covered. Accessories like music systems can also be insured by paying a little more premium. The insurance amount for a comprehensive insurance policy works out roughly to 3.8% of the showroom price.
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GETTING A GOOD DEAL
Competition among manufacturers / dealers works very vigorously. Dealers offer discounts, gifts, free accessories, additional free car services etc. It makes good sense to call two or more dealers before finalizing the best deal.
The Dealers services include the RTO Registration and the Insurance policy for the car. Be careful while informing the Name and Address in which the car is to be registered, as corrections in spellings and rectifying omissions can be a pain later. If you have owned a car earlier, you may prefer to use the services of your existing insurance officer/agent.
While taking delivery of your car, it makes sense to have a little extra time on hand. A rushed delivery can cause you to spend a lot of time later, for having overlooked minor fixes at the time of delivery.
Most cars are transported over long distances – from the production plant / factory to the dealers showroom.
Although a thorough pre-delivery inspection is conducted, you can spend some time checking the following:
The Instrument Panel – Check that the warning and indicator lights, the speedometer, fuel gauge and other gauges work proper. Check if the glove box lock works properly. Flick the wiper lever and turn signal lever and see that they work in all positions.
The Car Insides – The headrest, the seats, and the doortrims come with plastic covers and you can ask the dealer to help remove them. See how the rear seats fold and how to adjust the front seats. Check the interior lights. Put on the seat belts and adjust them properly.
Air Conditioning System – If the car is equipped with an A/C, it makes good sense to check that it works properly for all the positions of the A/C button. Check if the air comes out of all the vents provided.
Other Controls and Equipment – Check the doors, windows and the locks and see if there are any odd squeaks and sounds. Check the bonnet and the fuel cap lid cover levers.
Test the pressure while applying the hand brake and the pedal brake.
Lastly check the toolkit that comes with the car and ensure all items are present.
Car stereos, window weather strips and hub-caps have been the all time favorites, for petty thieves, and many new car owners have been shocked to see them missing, soon after the car rolls out of the showroom. The Dealer can secure them for you.
Most dealers conduct a comprehensive Pre-delivery inspection of the car, and look into every minute details of the car before it is delivered to you.
If you find anything broken, a cracked glass or scratched paint, you should ask the dealer to repair the same before taking delivery of the car. If the dealer cannot attend to your complaint and promises to satisfy you in future, you make sure that you collect a written note from the dealer, promising you to rectify the flaws, sometime in future.
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DOCUMENTATION The car documents are as important as the car itself. You can take a checklist of all important documents that pertain to your car from the car sales person. Ensure that you have all the documents pertaining to your car.
Receipt of payment to the dealer.
The Owners Manual and Service book.
Car Keys – You get a pair of identical keys.
The Invoice (in original and a duplicate copy)
The Sale Tax & Octroi certificate.
The Registration Certificate – The RC book with an endorsement of lifetime tax paid.
The PUC badge – For new cars PUC certification is valid for one year. (Later, PUC certificate has to be obtained every six months.)
The Delivery Note – The dealer issues a delivery note with the time and date.
The Insurance Certificate
All the above documents are very important and are required to be maintained and produced by the RTO and the Income Tax Authorities. Keeping the documents in place will save you a lot of inconvenience.
KEEP A PHOTOCOPY OF ALL DOCUMENTS IN A SEPARATE FILE.
KEEP THE SPARE KEY AT A SAFE PLACE.
READ YOURS CAR MANUAL
Source:http://www.cybersteering.com/cbmain/buyproc/buyproc.html
Building your house in Kerala- An overview
Building your house in Kerala- An overview
Are you thinking of building a house in Kerala? Have you found a plot and need more information… or, are you halfway through your project, and hoping to check out the latest products for your new home?
Through this House Construction Guide, Askin Architecture & Construction Management gives you an overview of what all to expect at various stages of home construction to prioritize your time and effort more effectively.
We will be taking a quick look at the following topics-
1. Financial Advice and Home Loans
2. Finding and purchasing a plot
3. Deciding on what to build
4. Employing a local builder
5. Building Permit from Authorities
6. Foundations
7. Window/Doors/Roofing
8. Interiors/Home fittings
9. Bathrooms/Kitchens
10. Flooring and Tiling
11. Lighting
12. Landscaped garden
Please feel free to contact us at http://www.keralaarchitect.com/message.htm for more clarification on any topic.
Source: http://keralaarchitect.blogspot.com/2007/11/overview.html
Excellent information – visit and read more to get detailed information on several topics
Buying a 2nd house? A checklist
Buying a 2nd house? A checklist
Urmila Rao and Sunil Dhawan, Outlook Money
Even a decade ago, owning one house was seen as quite a financial achievement, a to-do item ticked off life’s list. But these are times of plenty and now more and more people are seeking to be owners of their second homes. If you look around, you will find many people who have bought a second house or are thinking about doing so.
The buzz around you is becoming so loud and conspicuous that it is veering your thoughts as well in the same direction. But before you get tempted and decide to jump on to the second-home buyers’ bandwagon, you need to go through a financial reality check.
Looking at your current and future financial responsibilities, are you in a position to afford a second unit now? And how do you judge your capability of passing the affordability test whilst maintaining financial discipline austerely?
The answer lies in whether you can bear the two costs — down payment and loan.
Outlook Money’s affordability index could be the starting point of your evaluation of the viability of a second home. This table shows you how the two factors work, and would help you decide on affordability by focusing on two pertinent questions.
The first is, how much time gap do you need between the first and second houses for an asset build-up for down payment. The second, if you have bought one house recently, then the wherewithal for the second house goes down substantially for quite a few years. So, a high-budget house of your liking may just be out of reach. Should you then drop the idea, or, alternatively, look around for investing in a tier II/III city where your affordability level is comparatively high?
Down payment
You have to contribute a minimum of 15 per cent of the value of the house as down payment. So, if you are contemplating a house worth Rs 30 lakh (Rs 3 million), you will have to shell out Rs 4.5 lakh (Rs 450,000) from your own kitty as the initial payment.
With your additional inflow of income, you may be buoyant on your ability to match the EMI challenge month after month for years (at 9.5 per cent interest rate spread over 20 years you will have to part with Rs 23,770 per month for this Rs 30-lakh house), but if your concern is just the down payment part, then it’s a disturbing one.
You need to check if you have sufficient liquid investment that can be used for down payment without disrupting your long-term financial goals. It’s best not to meddle with your retirement savings or even the amount kept for kids’ education. Most people end up tapping their emergency funds in order to pay the down payment, as these are the most liquid funds.
But once you use it, you need to have a scheme to rebuild it. That’s because without it you are vulnerable in uninsurable emergencies. Ideally, use a windfall gain as down payment for your second home.
If you have taken a loan for the first house (for self-occupation), it is most likely that you will take a loan for the second one as well. Ideally, you should give a time gap of four to five years to replenish your cash reserves before you go in for a second house if you already have a home loan.
Unless you have witnessed a windfall profit in form of ESOPs or stockmarket gains or other saving assets having performed exceptionally well or received a gift from munificent parents, this time factor should not be ignored.
Gurgaon-based Rajneesh Malhotra, general manager at Park Plaza, Gurgaon, and his wife, an IT professional, both 40, currently jointly earn Rs 2 lakh (Rs 200,000) per month. They recently invested in a second house in Gurgaon.
“We bought our second house six months after an increase in our salaries,” says Malhotra. The couple bought their first house in 2001, also on loan, when their joint salary was Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000) per month. Before homing on to the second unit, the couple waited for four years refurbishing their repository. After they were comfortable with their capital reserves and an enhanced EMI paying capability, they felt safe enough to go for another house. “We paid the down payment for the second house from our savings in the last four years,” elaborates Malhotra.
You also need to take into consideration that besides the down payment there would be other closing costs: stamp duty, registration, builder transfer charges, legal costs and property tax (a second house is subject to wealth tax).
Besides, you need to keep funds for setting up basic infrastructure if you intend to rent it out. The maintenance and operating expense should also be taken into account. Unless you have gained enough financial strength, and that includes not tinkering with the marathon monetary funds, you are not ready to join the race.
Loans
It is quite likely that you would go in for a loan to foot the bill for the second house. A house valued at Rs 30 lakh will mean that you have to pay Rs 23,770 per month for 20 years, at an interest rate of 9.5 per cent. Interest rates are likely to move northward.
So, be ready to dish out more as and when new monetary policies force banks to revise home loan rates. Also, it’s prudent to keep a buffer period in instances where you end up paying EMIs for many more months when the builder over-runs the actual possession date in case of newly constructed houses.
There may even be some additional charges that you had not anticipated. It is advisable not to financially expose yourself enormously to EMIs if you are dealing with an ongoing long-term debt of products such as another house or a car, unless of course, you are sure of a regular or increased ingress of income.
Debt-ratio checklist
The debt-service ratio helps you assess to what extent you can take financial risks. For every Rs 100 earned, your EMI should not exceed Rs 40, and that includes EMIs taken for other purposes. Maintaining this ratio is important as it helps you deal with other expenses easily.
Banks, based on their calculation and judging your repaying capability, may provide higher amount of loans, but it is for you to decide how much to expose yourself financially and how much to keep as emergency funds.
While a second home could prove to be a fantastic investment decision, due diligence is required before you take the plunge. You should buy a second house only if it makes financial sense to you, no matter how easy your friends and family make it seem. When it comes to houses, even two could be a crowd.
What to look for in the Area when you buy a Property
What to look for in the Area when you buy a Property
It’s very important to spend some time thinking about the area that you are planning to move into – and why you want to move there. By considering these factors, you are more likely to understand what it is that you need out of an area.
Here is a list of things that you should take into account when it comes to choosing an area to live in. Prioritize these factors according to how important they are to you. By looking at your requirements, you can better focus your research and your actual property search – and it may even highlight areas that you had never considered before.
Schools
If you have children, you need to look at what types of schools are in the area and what their reputations are like. Find out about their strengths, be it academic or in sport. You also need to consider what your options are if they need to move on to the next level of education in the future.
Transportation
Do you have your own means of transport, or do you rely on public transport? If you own your own transport, you need to look at how easy it is to travel to work, considering the routes that you would take and what the traffic is most likely to be like.
In terms of public transport, find out what is available to you. Check out timetables and routes and ensure that you the walking distance to major transport points isn’t too far away from your new home. It’s also important to get a feel for how safe these places are, especially at times when they are quiet.
Security
Visit the local police station or Neighborhood Watch and find out what is happening in the area in terms of criminal activity. They should also know which spots are targeted and what the most common crimes are. This will help you to assess which security measures are compulsory and how your home security is going to affect your lifestyle.
Talk to Your Real Estate Agent
Don’t be afraid to discuss the area you are looking at buying in with your estate agent – he or she is your best source of information about what is currently happening with the suburb and what the future trends may be. They may also be know a thing or two about future developments in the area that haven’t been widely publicized – and could easily affect your buying decision.
Budget
Set a clear budget according to how much you can expect to sell your home for and (if need be) how much you can borrow from the bank. From there you need to look at the budget in relation to what is available in the area. This brings you to the most important question: Are you going to find a suitable home that fits your basic requirements in that area for the amount that you are willing to spend?
Home vs. Location
Often people are faced with a simple dilemma; get a grotty home in a nice area or a nice home in a grotty area. As a rule of thumb, prioritize the area over the house (as long as the house is in a habitable state if you can’t fix it up immediately). You can renovate the house, but it’s less easy to revive the suburb. You are also faced with the added extras of what comes with a bad area – like crime and litter.
Make Your Own Criteria
These are just a few suggestions of things to look out for, but everyone has certain needs when it comes to looking for the right area to look in. Think of other elements that might affect your lifestyle when you move into an area so that you know that you have covered all the bases.
Source:
http://keralaarchitect.blogspot.com/2008/02/what-to-look-for-in-area-when-you-buy.html
Askin Architecture & Construction Management
http://www.keralaarchitect.com/
Kerala Real Estate Investment Checklist
Kerala Real Estate Investment Checklist
Last few years – Kerala, the beautiful south western state of india is going through a real estate boom. Kerala is one among the third worlds longest-lived, healthiest, gender equitable literate region. Its human development index and standard of living are best in the nation. The hardworking, educated skilled people migrated to different part of the world just for work is adding over 20% of SDP through their remittance. Lion share of this amount is invested in the real estate business and it has resulted in a total revival of the economy. This investment goes mainly on construction of houses and few spend it as a long term investment. Nowadays real estate investment is the most profitable with stability and security. As I mentioned people buys properties for building houses, business, for agriculture and as an investment. In any case the following check list must be a matter of consideration while buying properties. They add value and comfort to you and your property when years pass by.
A) Accessibility
Access to the property is critically important. In kerala it is common that to find an affordable property with no direct road access. Quite often the only access may be through other properties. The access to the property may be permitted by the adjoining holders. But this may invite problems in the future, which will eat most of your time, peace of mind and money. There are different types of access from public road to pavements and it is common in villages having foot path to the property not segregated with fence or walls. Before buying the properties you have to make sure that it has deeded access to the property. If there are no properties between yours and the public road the fewer problems will arise. Without a deeded access you can expect this investment making good margins in the future. Also you may find difficulty in selling off when you are in need of money.
B) Water availability
Kerala has 44 rivers and a network of inter connected canals, lakes, ponds and other small streams. We depend on water for granted and more than 50% of keralites rely on wells for drinking and irrigation water. Though kerala gets good rainfall through out the year it faces acute water scarcity in the summer season. In towns the piped water also available along with the wells. In villages only very few properties are hooked with piped or treated water supply. Depending on your investment plan you may need to make sure that the property will have continuous and adequate water supply. If the property has a well you may need to test the quantity, quality and availability of water. The quality of the water must be checked before you buy the property. This is particularly important when you are planning to stay in a congested place, since in villages the sewage disposal is through the septic system which in most cases may not be properly cemented. If there is no proven water supply you may need to consider digging well or bore well which costs thousands of rupees. It is better to have a study or consult and expert to know about the ground water availability and check the ground water levels in the adjoining plots through the year. This is very important if you are planning to live in that property.
C) Power and Communication Connectivity
Nowadays we cannot imagine a life without power and communication connectivity’s like landlines or mobile phones. In kerala, scores of places still doesn’t have power and communication connectivity. While buying the property you may not foresee a need in the near future, but still I suggest that it is better to have a research on the cost to get it connected before you buy the property. It is not uncommon that the property owners claim that the electricity lines and phone lines are available in the nearest properties and you may get it through their plots. But remember we have hundreds of petitions in the court on this issue and may be you never get permission to take the lines through their property even if you are ready to bear the costs. Again it is costly if the connectivity is far from the property.
D) Sewage Disposal
Malayalees usually gives less attention to sewage disposal when buying a property, though they face different health hazards. Kerala is going through many deadly epidemics like chikungunya, dengue, cholera and other seasonal epidemics which took many lives. As we all like to live and brought up our kids in a hygienic environment it is necessary to give necessary attention on this issue. In Almost all places sewage disposal is through the septic tank system. Most cases the sewage is absorbed in the ground. It is a health hazard and may contaminate yours and your neighbor’s water supply. If wells are around, it is always better to have a test done. This is not a joke; since there was a report recently which claims that most of the wells in kerala are contaminated. You can have a visual inspection of the site for obvious leaks and have a test done on your well water.
E) Boundaries and deeded access to other properties.
In kerala, you can see many of those property advertisements specifies areas like between 10-12 cents, more than 20 cents etc. Most of the properties are not properly surveyed. And if you ask them on the corners they may say like it may be some where here or there. There are no fences to identify the borders. These types of issues have lead to fierce battle among the neighbors. So it is better to confirm the boundaries and corners of your land before you purchase the property. Also you may need to check issues like deeded access to other properties through the specified property which may split this property in to two.
F) Natural hazards and pollution
Kerala have good rainy season with a moderate summer season. In some of the areas both goes to extreme and on worst it affects many peoples daily life. Geographically kerala can be categorized into three like highlands, midlands and lowland. The highlands have gorges and deep cut valleys resulted in many mudslides in the past and have lost many lives. Relatively flat costal belt is frequently facing floods in the rainy seasons. Because of mining and draught of the Bharathapuzha River its basin seems to be little prone to seismic activity, and it is reported to have few tremors in the last decade. Since kerala lies in the center of indian tectonic place most of the state less prone to seismic and volcanic activity. Also a lot of unnatural phenomena’s are reported from many part of kerala recently like sliding wells down to the earth, changing color and smell of the water in the well, colored rains etc… Its cities are much polluted because there are only few measures to check the pollution level from the vehicles and industries. Though in most cases these issues may not be directly affecting your property value but still there are chances.
G) Others
Soil test: – If you are planning to use the property for agriculture you should do the soil test before you buy the property. Also you must verify the continuous water supply through the year as I mentioned earlier. Enquire on the neighbors, since they are the ones who contribute value to your property in the future.
Source:
http://www.totallyproperty.com/india-property/1733-kerala-real-estate-investment-checklist.html
Muhammed Najmi Thayyil
Proprietor of Kerala Real Estate property advertisement, List FREE- House, Flats, Villa, Shops, New Apartment-Builders, Land, Plot for sale and rent.(Kerala-re.com offers free real estate listings for sale and rent in kerala.)
Vitamin D keeps heart in shape
WASHINGTON: The list of benefits conferred by Vitamin D has just got longer. It also keeps the heart fit as a fiddle, besides developing strong bones, healthy immune system and protection against cancer, according to new research.
In studies on rats, Robert U Simpson and his team at the University of Michigan have reported the first concrete evidence that treatment with activated vitamin D can protect against heart failure.
Treatment with activated vitamin D prevented heart muscle cells from growing bigger – called hypertrophy – in which the heart becomes enlarged and overworked, sometimes leading to heart failure.
They also prevented heart muscle cells from the over-stimulation and increased contractions associated with the progression of heart failure.
Heart failure is a progressive, disabling condition in which the heart becomes enlarged as it is forced to work harder and harder, even for routine daily activities.
Many heart patients or those with poorly controlled high blood pressure go on to experience a form of heart failure called congestive heart failure, in which the heart’s inability to pump blood around the body causes weakness and fluid build-up in lungs and limbs.
Vitamin D keeps heart in shape
14 Jun 2008, 2004 hrs IST,IANS
Many people with heart failure, who tend to be older, have been found to be deficient in vitamin D.
“Heart failure will progress despite the best medications,” said Simpson. “We think vitamin D retards that progression and protects the heart.”
Simpson and colleagues have explored vitamin D’s effects on heart muscle and the cardiovascular system for more than 20 years.
Way back in 1987, when Simpson showed the link between vitamin D and heart health, the idea seemed far-fetched and research funding was scarce. Now, a number of studies worldwide attest to the vitamin D-heart health link.
The findings of the study are being published in the forthcoming issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology.
Digicam: Perfect those candid shots!
Digicam: Perfect those candid shots!
TIMES OF INDIA/IANS
Love taking extempore pictures? Pictures without those model-like poses. In fact, many people start out in digital photography taking ‘candids’ — pictures of people in their environment when they are not posing.
However, unfortunately, most of those pictures end up being rejects — unflattering or just plain uninteresting. But the good thing in digital photography is that there’s no penalty for trying. It costs nothing to download the pictures on to your PC and view your results, and you are not compelled to print out anything that’s not worthy.
The trick, however, is to hone the art of shooting candids. Here are some simple techniques that will help you improve your candid pictures.
Get the context right
When you’re shooting people in unposed situations, it’s easy to get tunnel vision, concentrating solely on your subject. But an interesting picture consists of more than just your subject.
It’s a combination of subject and context – and that context includes what’s behind and around your subject. If in your photograph you unintentionally capture distracting or unattractive poles, concrete, or people engaged in distracting activities, the impact of your photo will be diminished.
Go for natural surroundings
Try for uncluttered, natural backgrounds, if possible, or make sure that any people behind or around your subject are part of the story that your picture is telling.
Sure, posing goes altogether against the idea of candids. But the fact is that getting people in the mood to be photographed and in the right environment for a compelling shot often results in photographs that we end up keeping around – and that, after all, is usually the point of taking pictures in the first place.
Focus on eyes!
A rule of thumb in all people photography is always to focus on the subject’s eyes, since that is the natural focal point of the viewer. If your subject’s eyes are out of focus, the entire photograph will be perceived as “off”.
So use the focus point selector on your digital camera to ensure that the main subject’s eyes are where you focus. The only exception to this rule would be if you’re intentionally trying to achieve a special effect through a less conventional method of focus.
Shoot unusual angles
Saying something like, “hey, would you mind moving over here so that I can take your picture” is not that hard, and people often respond favourably, giving you the type of shot that you want.
To make any candid pictures of people more interesting, try shooting them from unusual angles. Instead of shooting people always at eye level, see what happens in your viewfinder when you move to the left or right, crouch down, or stand on a stool.
Try to get your subjects looking up at you a bit rather than straight on. This is especially effective for older people. With children, on the other hand, get down on their level rather than shooting them from above.
Taking a picture of a toddler amid a sea of adult legs can be effective – and draw out an expression from the toddler that’s special.
Lighting does matter
Even if you’re a very experienced photographer, you won’t gain any friends if you show them candids of themselves that aren’t flattering. So don’t spare the delete key.
Lighting is critical to any good photograph, and that includes candids. Try to get your subjects in light that is flattering to them. Harsh sunlight that makes your subjects squint isn’t the best, nor is taking a picture of someone when the sun is at that person’s back, since your camera will be overwhelmed by the light from the back and your subject will end up looking dark.
To compensate for difficult lighting situations, consider using your camera’s built in flash – or an accessory flash – even when you’re outdoor. Flash will fill in any shadows in an unevenly lit scene, and it will enable your camera to better adjust the colours in a scene, which will result in more pleasing skin tones.
Not mouthful please!
With your digital camera in hand, you’ll no doubt be tempted before long to take pictures of people while they’re eating. Casual get-togethers, company events, sporting events, and other situations in which candids are commonly shot often involve food – and new photographers are tempted to snap those pictures when their subjects are chomping down on something tasty.
Avoid that temptation. The reason is simple: people are often in unflattering positions when they’re eating, and they’re generally not in a mood to be photographed then.
They’ll be concerned that they have food on their chin or hanging out of their mouths – and in the worst cases, they actually will. Unless you’re photographing a bride and groom sharing a ceremonial piece of wedding cake, let people eat without the flash bulbs going off.
Courtesy: IANS
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