COVID has resulted in NRIs scouting for properties to buy in India

​The novel coronavirus wasn’t something that any of us saw coming. However, it has had a profound impact on almost all spheres of our lives. Nearly half the world’s population now has some travel ban and curfew, restricting their movement and activities. This, coupled with unrest around the world, the threat of war and natural disasters is setting the wheels in motion for significant shifts in power. The US is now witnessing a large civil rights movement in the form of #BlackLivesMatter.
 
Similarly, the Gulf and UAE, Europe as a whole, and Southeast Asian countries are reeling under the global pandemic. All of these are countries favoured by NRIs. However, the recent turn of events has made them rethink where they want to settle down finally. This, along with the falling rupee valuation and better RERA laws, allows NRIs to invest in Indian real estate. So, how will this impact our country, and what does this mean for NRIs? Here’s a look at everything you need to know about the impact of COVID-19 on the Indian real-estate sector.

​Rupee Takes A Hit
In recent months, the rupee has been witnessing a fall against the dollar due to various reasons. This has helped non-resident Indians scout for properties in their homeland to settle down, and use as an investment. The past few years had been quite sedentary for the residential real estate market in India. However, all of that will soon change due to NRIs from around the world, considering India as a haven for themselves. Lack of transparency, fear of corruption, and safety issues were holding NRIs back in the past when it came to Indian real-estate. Studies show that those trends are now changing.
 
RERA Improves Credibility
The enactment and implementation of the RERA have helped the real-estate industry better its reputation. The RERA ushered in a new era of transparency, credibility, assurance, and consolidation. All of these have helped the market look more lucrative to NRIs from around the world. The weakening of the rupee has turned India into a substantial market for overseas real-estate investments. Studies show that over 30 % of NRIs want to invest in properties, and that percentage is increasing year-on-year.
 
Why NRIs Should Consider Real-Estate as an Investment​

• Price correction in the last few years allows NRIs to leverage their power of additional income as a result of currency exchange
• Momentum regarding the popularity of properties in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are picking up.
• NRIs no longer have to look for highly expensive properties in just Tier-1 cities.
• The rate of appreciation for such properties has increased as a result of fast infrastructural development.
• Such investments give good returns, as they can be rented out as well. The rise of the property management industry in India, gives them further assurance that their assets will be safe and secure.
• Rise in communal issues, and the fall in the economy in several countries are pushing NRIs to return home.
• The fall in rupee prices and a sluggish market ensures NRIs better prices when they buy properties in India right now.
• The COVID-19 has laid bare the fallacies and problems that several developed nationals have, leading Indians to want to return home in the long run.

RERA has brought in a lot of accountability and credibility into the Indian real estate sector so that NRIs can be more assured.

​The COVID-19 Impact
The COVID-19 has led to the disruption of life in almost every country in the world. It has also led to the rupee falling and the rise in the form of the Indian real estate market. Due to the COVID-19, NRIs are coming into the Indian Real Estate scene due to its emergence as a risk-averse investment option. This global pandemic has renewed interest in residential properties in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Noida, and Gurugram.
 
Furthermore, due to the chance for good capital appreciation, NRIs are also buying commercial spaces now. The COVID-19 has also allowed NRIs to negotiate good deals and even land ready-to-move-in propositions. If that wasn’t enough, banks are low handing out home loans for as low as 7.15% interest rates. Real-estate experts also believe that the COVID-inspired lockdown has led to the rise in the popularity of technology-driven home buying in India. Virtual real-estate sites are now successfully doing virtual tours, closing deals, and negotiating terms like never before. This added with the fact that most States are trying to bring in e-registration of property documents will make it possible for NRIs to buy their dream homes at least hassle.
 
Why PropertyAngel
However, while buying homes has become easier than ever before, maintaining them is of the utmost importance. NRIs tend to face difficulty in the maintenance and upkeep of their property, as they live far away. However, the presence and collaboration with good Property Management Companies will change all that. Clients will no longer have to worry about issues like;

1. Illegal Occupancy and Squatting
2. Tenant Search
3. Tenant Screening
4. Tenant management
5. Paperwork such as rent agreement
6. Utility Bill Payment
7. Compliance for Taxes and other legal issues
8. Property inspection
9. Repair, Maintenance, and Upkeep
10. Renovation Issues
11. Leasing and Registration of Property
12. Periodical Reports
13. Return on Investment

 
People who have large real-estate portfolios find it challenging to manage all those properties when they live so far away. That is where PropertyAngel comes into the picture. These companies leverage their knowledge of the industry and local areas to maintain and manage your property to ensure you get the highest returns. It is difficult to handle all the compliances, paperwork, legal issues, and tenant search when NRIs come home for a month in a year. Therefore, PropertyAngel takes that burden off NRIs by doing it most efficiently and effectively.
 
These PropertyAngel professionals will take care of the property, resolve tenant issues, and supervise the property. This ensures that your property investment remains secure and generates the required income for you. Constant supervision also eliminates the risk of encroachment and illegal occupancy, both of which are serious threats now. So, join hands with us to bypass the cumbersome task of managing your property and ensure you receive the return on investment you always needed! We simplify the tiresome process of managing your property to focus on the more important things in life.
 
 Authored by: Dhivya Naresh