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- After the 2008-09 crisis, the housing segment was the first to recover in the real estate market. Now, prices have peaked in several locations and any price increase in these markets will be inflation-driven.
- Several developers which focused on luxury housing earlier faced competition due to the entry of new players. So, many shifted focus to affordable homes to create demand and diversify risk.
- Booking agreements favour the builder. It's important to read them carefully while buying a property. This is important because most clauses in these agreements are aimed at protecting builders from legal troubles while giving very few rights to buyers.
- Experts believe that the wide gap between demand and supply in residential real estate will keep prices firm over the long run. If chosen carefully, investment in real estate is likely to give steady returns.
- Lack of transparency and tight regulations in the real estate sector is making buyers take investment decisions with limited understanding of the risks involved.
How to bypass cyber censorship and access blocked sites
A court order has had hyperactive internet service providers blocking access to 'illegal' content. For those who have been inconvenienced by over-zealous ISPs, here are a few tips to access such blocked content.
Money Today portfolios gain strength despite low indicators
In spite of the ups and downs, the portfolios have managed to regain strength. In the last quarterly review in June, two of the portfolios, Wealth Maximiser and Money Builder, had negative returns. Both have shown profits this time.Holding mutual fund units in demat form offers little benefit
Online platforms, which offer click-of-mouse transactions and consolidated viewing of portfolios, that too without any annual fee, can be a better option.Banking stocks have delivered double-digit returns in past five years
Banking stocks managed to deliver double-digit returns in the five-year period as is evident from the average return given by banking sector funds.
Wockhardt among top gainers with returns of over 170 per cent
Wockhardt is among the top gainers in the past six months with return of over 170 per cent.Stock investment: How to respond to negative research reports about companies
Research reports by well-known firms can move stock prices. And if the report is too harsh on the company, the result is a bitter controversy, with both sides pointing fingers at each other.How to shield your investments from insider-trading scams
Insider trading, a subset of securities fraud, is a dominant evil in stock markets across the globe. But the sad thing is that retail investors, the biggest losers in such scams, know little about the evil. Here's our attempt to change that.Investing in realty stocks? Back companies with low or zero debt
Investors should keep in mind that real estate companies are highly sensitive to interest rates. Any rise in interest rates and inflation affects them adversely. Also, if the economy is in a bad shape, the sector will face a lot of challenges.
NHB asks housing finance companies not to charge pre-payment penalty on dual rate loan
The National Housing Bank (NHB) has asked housing finance companies not to charge pre-payment penalty on a dual rate loan, after the same has been converted into a floating rate loan.Sebi nod to AMFI proposal of single window to transact with multiple fund houses
Sebi has given its nod to AMFI's transaction platform that offers a single window to both investors and distributors to transact with multiple fund houses.Sebi boost results in higher cost for mutual fund investors
Sebi has come up with a slew of measures to increase retail participation, give more flexibility to mutual funds and companies issuing initial public offers and encourage distributors. Some of these steps may, however, result in higher cost for mutual fund investors.Interesting trivia from the world of personal finance
Interesting trivia from the world of personal finance.Sebi nod to investing up to Rs 50,000 without quoting PAN
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has said that investors can invest up to Rs 50,000 (lump sum or SIP) in each fund house every year without having to quote PAN.A look at recent rulings which can affect you
A look at recent rulings which can affect you
Money Today experts answer personal finance queries
Money Today experts answer personal finance queries.
Value for money gadgets: Dell Inspiron 17R, LG Optimus 4X, HP Envy and more
Sam Abraham introduces new products and services to help you zero in on those that offer value for money.Online specialty stores are catching on. Here are some popular ones
Specialty stores are the latest in-thing in e-commerce. While the earlier websites followed the 'all-things-under-one-roof' strategy and became the virtual versions of department stores, the new ones sell only one type of product. Here are some such single-vertical websites.Petrol price worrying you? Check out these fuel-efficient cars between Rs 3-25 lakh
The simplest way to save on petrol costs is to buy a fuel efficient car. So, Auto Bild give you the most miserly petrol cars in four price brackets.Different ways to buy physical gold and what to keep in mind
Money Today takes a look at the different ways to buy physical gold and some important things you should know before purchasing it through each of these routes.
Career: Promoted to position of team leader? Here's what to do
The average age of workers in any Indian company will be in the twenties over the next few years. The drop in the average age of managers at workplaces also brings challenges for all stakeholders.
Damaged your car? Why third-party insurance claims might not help
Third-party insurance is compulsory for vehicle-owners. But not many seem to remember to claim it when their vehicle is hit by another. Even if they do, they probably drop the idea after learning about the complications involved.Surrendering an endowment policy? Here's how to calculate its value
If you stop paying premium before the end of the policy term, you are entitled to receive an amount, called surrender value, depending on the number of years completed, the premium and the bonus received.
All you need to know about investing in exchange-traded funds
Financial planners are increasingly recommending Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to investors who have long-term goals and want to invest in equity without taking too much risk. However, there are certain things you need to know before investing in ETFs.Investment tip: Merits and risks of investing in US equity market
You can diversify your portfolio to include funds that tap the world's largest economy. We look into the merits and risks of investing in the US equity market in the present scenario.Key disappointments and surprises from India Inc's Q1 FY13 numbers
Companies in automobile, metals, infrastructure, and real estate sectors remained under pressure in the first quarter. But private sector banks, and companies in IT, pharmaceutical and FMCG sectors put up a good show.
Commodities with good global demand can give decent returns
Export pull can be a big plus for any asset. While it's a general rule that commodities with good export demand can deliver good returns to investors, it's not the only rule.
Best banks to take education, house and car loan from
Are you scouting for a loan to buy a house, a car or for your child's education? Given below are the best deals on offer from public and private sector lenders.
Money Today readers write back to the Editor with their feedback
Money Today readers write back to the Editor with their feedback on the magazine's personal finance coverage.
