It is reported the Indian government plans to change foreign ownership rules in the Indian property sector. (more…)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) left its key interest rates unchanged today according to Reuters.

The RBI said that Indian banks still had to pass on the benefits of earlier cuts and urged them to do so. However most financial and economic commentators expect that the RBI to announce another interest rate reduction in the coming months. (more…)

The age-old system of charging stamp duty on property in India based on the “ready reckoner” will be obsolete in a matter of months according a report by the Times of India.

Instead of this system the inspector-general of stamps and registration has proposed a draft where the value of a property will now be calculated using a number of different criteria. (more…)

India is not facing recession but only a slowdown according to India’s Home Minister, Mr Chidambaram.

Indian manufacturing is facing a sharp slowdown, but Mr Chidambaram said India had “to take counter-(measures) and sometimes corrective measures to ensure high domestic demand. While the government is taking fiscal measures, the RBI is taking monetary measures,” (more…)

After declining for ten consecutive weeks, Indian inflation rose to 5.6%.

Inflation, measured by movements in wholesale prices, rose by 36 basis points for the week ended January 10 from 5.24% in the previous week. It was 4.36% a year ago according to the Times of India.

The demand for timeshare products in India is likely to grow at approximately 16% per annum from 2006 to 2015, facilitated by supply growth of approximately 12% per annum over the same period according to a report released by Group RCI and global real estate consultants, Cushman & Wakefield. (more…)

Hyatt hotels has announced a major Indian expansion plan today over the next four years.

They plan will not only target leading markets in India but also penetrate tier two and tier three cities with the launch of the Company’s new upper mid-segment brand, Hyatt Place. These will significantly boost Hyatt’s property portfolio in India. (more…)

Housing Development and Finance Corporation (HDFC), India’s biggest housing sector lender, has cut its housing loan rates by 50 basis points (bps) following a deposit rate cut by 50-75 bps yesterday. HDFC will now disburse floating rate home loans for property in India up to Rs 30 lakh at 9.75 per cent and loans above Rs 30 lakh for property in India at 10.75 per cent to new borrowers. (more…)

The Hotel Leela group plans to spend 22 billion rupees over one and a half years to set up three new hotels in India, the company’s chief financial officer said on Thursday according to Reuters. The luxury hotel chain operator will use the proceeds from an earlier foreign currency convertible bonds issue V.L. Ganesh told reporters at a media briefing.”The hotels will be set up in Udaipur, Chennai and New Delhi,” he added. (more…)

Is it the right time to buy that house in Delhi that you’ve always wanted but couldn’t afford? From property developers to experts, the general opinion seems to be – the time is right now but many investors are still cautious.