There’s no doubting how essential a resource of water is to life. Given that it’s a natural resource that can be replenished, it’s one that most of us tend to take for granted. Our growing dependency and carefree use of water has led to shortage especially in the more urban areas. This proves dangerous considering the growing population in such urban areas, the result of which leads to a growing demand in water supply.

With that rise in demand, comes an increasing need to conserve. The growing importance of water has made this a necessity to prevent depletion. While many actions have been taken to conserve water, one that stands out is rainwater harvesting.What is it? Quite simply put, it involves the collection of rainwater from the surface that it drips on. The water is then collected and stored so as to meet a variety of needs.

So why consider it then? Why should it be a part of corporate social responsibility? Apart from the fact that harvesting rainwater is among one of the top methods to conserve water, there are a variety of benefits associated with it.

• The first and most obvious benefit of rainwater harvesting is that it could certainly help save on your water bills. There’s no dependence on dams or other means of storage to retrieve water.
• Let’s not forget that the investment cost is quite low to harvest water. It also provides individuals with a sense of responsibility to manage the water being used.
• In areas where water isn’t very abundant such as metros and cities, rainwater harvesting can prove to be crucial as it increases the overall availability.
• It reduces the dependency on groundwater since the rain water is harvested.
• It reduces the chances of rivers and dams getting dried up.
• In other cases, it helps in reducing water logging and can also reduce the chances of soil erosion.

The uses for such water can also be many. The rain water that’s collected can be used for flush tanks, laundry, washing dishes, watering plants in the community, washing cars and so on.

Today, rainwater harvesting should be taken into serious consideration especially in urban areas and cities such as Bengaluru. This is solely because rains can often be sporadic causing concern for the availability of water. 2017 proved to be a more than decent year for Bengaluru in terms of rainfall with monthly averages achieving over 200 mm. While this was good for Bengalureans, the same case cannot be made certain for the years to come. Hence the need to conserve this precious resource.

This is where developers and builders have also come into the fray to help communities save water. Habitat Ventures have been designing their projects with such initiatives in mind. This is seen in the ongoingprojects Habitat Eden Heights, Hoodi Circle, Whitefield as well as Habitat Iluminar, Near RVCE Mysore Road that makes use of percolation channels to help harvest rainwater in planned and well thought out manner.

If you’re looking real estate investment from builders and developers that indulge in such conservational techniques, then Habitat Ventures may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Bengaluru is an incredible city to live in. Being known for many things, one of them was how wonderful the climate has consistently been through the years. While still maintaining that status to some degree, the situation has changed over the recent years.

Admittedly, there was a time when air conditioners were considered a luxury. Today however, they’re considered a necessary commodity. The summers in Bengaluru today, can sometimes be quite unforgiving. 2017 was officially declared the hottest year the world has experienced and with 2018 said to be much hotter, Bengaluru has been no exception to that theory so far.

And with the temperature on the rise, residents need to resort to keeping their homes as cool as possible during the summer. Air conditioners can be a quick fix for that, but not everyone owns one and it can also cause a huge drain on your pocket. So with that in mind, here are some easy ways in which you can keep your room cooler in the summer.

1. Cross Ventilate

This is quite a common method taken up. It’s also something you’ve definitely done in the past. When the conventional means just aren’t enough, you could consider strategically opening the windows in your room. You could find a draft coming in from one of the windows. Open that one up along with the one at the opposite end to let the draft flow through. This creates a cool flow of natural breeze to enter your home leaving the surrounding pretty cool.

2. Time to Unclutter

If you haven’t been paying much attention to the surroundings in your home, chances are that you’ve probably let your rooms become more cluttered. This is understandable as you don’t always have the time to move things around. Books, newspapers, bags and furniture can sometimes make for an environment that’s quite stuffy. Best to get rid of unwanted clutter in your room to make it airier and free.

3. Light It Up Right

It’s a bit of an understatement when people talk about how the lighting can also play a role in the overall temperature of the room. This is especially the case with incandescent lights. Not only do they consume more electricity thus, impacting your energy bills, but they also tend to radiate a considerable amount of heat thereby, making the environment just a little bit hotter. It’s best to have such lights replaced with much cooler LED bulbs or even CFLs.

4. Allow Nature to Work

Believe it or not, but plants in your home can actually play a major role in regulating the temperature in addition to just the quality of air. Plants can sometimes act as conditioners and placing them strategically around the house can work wonders in effectively cooling it. Placing plants around the sunnier areas of the home can effectively grant you more shade. Making use of vines and shrubs along the stairs or even the balconies of your home can effectively help keep the environment cooler and purer in terms of air quality.

5. Invest in Breathable Curtains

While it’s one thing to leave your windows and doors open, it’s not always the most feasible thing to do. Given that the summers can be harsh from time to time, it’s always best to keep your home as aired out as possible. Avoid investing in dark synthetic curtains as they make the surroundings warmer. You could actually opt for screens made of jute as they provide the perfect mix of shade and ventilation.

6. Hack a fan instead of turning on the A.C.

Not even an air conditioner can give off a faux sea breeze, but this simple trick can. Fill a mixing bowl with ice (or something equally cold, like an ice pack), and position it at an angle in front of a large fan so the air whips off the ice in an extra-chilled, extra-misty state.

7. Turn on your bathroom fans.

Or the exhaust fan in your kitchen, for that matter. Both pull the hot air that rises after you cook or take a steamy shower out of your house or apartment.

The summers can provide for some trying times, but with these hacks, they can certainly be made more pleasant. Are you looking to invest in a new home? Then why not invest in one from Habitat Ventures? Among a plethora of facilities, the homes are also buitl using porotherm blocks that help keep your home cooler during the summer and warm during winters.

Buying a new home can sure classify as one of the happiest events in anyone’s life. Whether it is your first home or another, you would always have your dreams and plans and would want them to become a reality eventually. There is, however, one thing that can strongly back up your dreams when it comes to getting your dream home and it comes down to the availability of funds to purchase your home.

Times have changed now and getting a home loan is not that scary process as many previously made it be. There are numerous financial institutions with numerous home loan plans available. But there starts the confusion- which home loan plan do you opt for? What would be the interest rate? What would be your monthly EMI and loan tenure? Answering all such questions would be easier if you have a fair idea about your home loan eligibility.

There are four main credit bureaus in India- CIBIL, Highmark, Experian and Equifax. These are responsible for tracking the credit performance and providing credit scores. CIBIL score is the most popular parameters that most banks and loan lending institutions consider today for granting home loans and other types of loans and credit cards as well.

The ways in which your credit score Impacts a Home Loan

• The exact requirement of credit score would vary from one loan lender to another. Taking the CIBIL score for example, most banks consider scores above 700 to be a good one for home loan applications. This means that if the score is anywhere above 700, the probability of your loan application approval increases. The credit score is usually a number that lies between 300 and 900. A score close to 900 indicates a good credit performance.
• With a good credit score you would be able to avail better benefits for your home loan and the home loan insurance
• A good credit score is also likely to fetch you better interest rates for home loans.

Credit scores are so important because these act as a possible indicator of your credibility. Home loans are generally high value loans. And banks would definitely not take the risk of lending the amount without doing a thorough background check of the credit performance of the applicant. Credit bureaus make this work simple by consolidating the income, expenditure and credit performance of the individuals and generating a number which is called the credit score. So what can you do to improve your credit score before you apply for a credit score?

1. Start early:

If you have not focused on your credit score earlier, now is a great time to start. You would be able to generate your credit report online. CIBIL allows you to download the report for free once every year. This would help you understand your credit performance even before you apply for a home loan. So in a matter of few months you can work on your score and increase it significantly.

2. Stay away from unsecured loans:

Bank overdraft, personal loan, credit card loans as well as unsecured business loans are some of the major unsecured loans availed. These are easy to obtain and require less documentation and processing time. But they can bring down your score. On the other hand obtaining secured loans and strictly adhering to the payments can improve your score. A wise financial plan would be to strike the perfect balance of unsecured and secured loans.

3. Pay your credit card bills on time:

Having too much outstanding amount, owning too many credit cards and exhausting the credit card limits are all factors that can reduce the score. Even delayed payments can have an impact on the score. So clear your credit card dues and try cutting down the use of credit cards for all your transactions.

4. Multiple loans can affect your score:

Having too many loans active at a time, or opening too many loans within a short period of time can also have its effects on the credit score. Too many credit requests indicate shortage of funds and this in turn influences the credibility of the borrower badly.

As a quick fix, try clearing all your delayed payments and start timely repayment of any existing debts. As a long term resolution, make it a point to keep a check on your credit card usage and avoid unsecured loans as much as possible. When you have a co-applicant for the home loan the above factors and the credit score of the co-applicant should also be considered to come to a conclusion about your eligibility in terms of the loan amount and interest rates. So understand your current situation before placing your home loan application so that months before the actual request for funds you can enhance the chances of approval and avoid all glitches in the whole process. And in the end you would also end up saving a lot of time and efforts.

It’s a question you’d find yourself asking every time you consider buying a brand new apartment. “Should I live in a gated community? Or move in to an Independent Apartment?”. While many may advise moving into more independent based apartments, today’s standards of living seek to change that notion.

When you think of a “gated” community, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? The idea of exclusivity. The fact that these communities lie away from the city leaves a sort of mystery in the air about them. But in spite of the mystery that gated communities bring, there are a variety of benefits to consider about them, especially if you’re considering moving into one.

1. High Level Security & Safety

The first and most obvious thing you’ll notice about gated communities is the fact that every single one of them consists of a security check at the very entrance. Whether you’re a resident of the apartment or just a guest paying a visit  you will always be greeted by security guards at the entrance of gate who oversee the check-ins and check-outs. While this may sometimes seem to be an annoyance for some, it’s seen as an obvious deterrent for would be thieves and vandals.

2. A Closed Community

While we may have mentioned the word ‘mystery’ earlier, it’s quite far from the notion. Such apartments bring a much greater sense of community and brings about the socio-economic equality of the residents. This is specifically because the people living in these gated communities are quite like minded and value their safety and privacy. The overall environment is more controlled leading to a greater sense of awareness among the people living in it. This also results in a number of events such as parties, meetings and so on taking place for leisure purposes.

3. Higher Value of Living

Gated communities today, are growing more and more popular in the eyes of would be house owners. This is specifically because such communities come equipped with a number of incredible amenities and advantages to add to the overall quality of living. Amenities such as kids play areas, swimming pools, gymnasiums, community halls, private parking spaces, sports facilities and even supermarkets only seek to add to the appeal of living in a gated community. With the presence of such amenities, leads to a more premium lifestyle thus making it worth every penny of your investment.

4. No Clutter, No Noise

We’d earlier mentioned how gated communities seem like a mystery. This is because they’re situated in areas that are apart from the cityscape. Most gated communities are situated in areas that are rather peaceful and most importantly, quiet. This only adds to the quality of life as residents are no longer disturbed by the constant noise and clutter that can only be experienced staying deep within the city. This is further enhanced by the landscapes within these communities that are surrounded by greenery.

5. Traffic and Regulated Speeds

Speaking on the point of noise and clutter, we also need to consider the traffic and speeds involved. Living in independent apartments can prove to be a detriment especially since roads are also independent. This is quite problematic when children are involved.Vehicles turning in from busy main roads into these residential roads, could make it unsafe for residents and children especially when they’re driving too fast. This is obviously not the case for gated communities since traffic is more regulated and organized making for a safer outcome overall.

There’s no doubting that gated communities hold a much greater value for living as compared to independent apartments these days. They offer a variety of benefits that can seem quite unparalleled when compared to independent apartments. If you’re looking to live in a more gated community, Habitat Ventures offers you that prospect with its two ongoing projects Habitat Iluminar, Near RVCE Mysore Road and Habitat Eden heights, Hoodi Circle, Whitefield.

Should you buy an apartment or should you build yourself an individual house? This is a never-ending dispute among homebuyers everywhere. If you are a first-time homebuyer, in particular, you might have a lot more confusing tasks to handle before you decide to settle down in your first home. There is the concern of how you would get a home loan and whether your credit score is good enough to fetch you good deals for home loans. And even before that, there is the actual choice between an apartment and an individual house. Here are some questions you’d probably consider answering before you come to a conclusion.

• What is my budget?
• Am I looking for a calm and quiet location or are you looking to settle in the heart of the city?
• Do I want to move in very soon or would I prefer waiting for a few more years?
• Safety or privacy- which would be a primary concern?

The fact is that both apartments and individual homes can fulfill all of these conditions in one way or another. But then there are some distinct factors that help make your choice.

Choice of locality

In a metropolitan city like Bangalore, we have seen that the available open spaces are getting depleted by builders and their projects. There are more and more people moving into the city and there is an ever-increasing demand for homes. But the space crunch cannot be forgotten. If you would like to settle in a locality that is in the heart of the city, or perhaps find a house close to your office or children’s schools then finding a plot to build your individual house might be a tedious task. On the other hand, you would be able to find a large number of options in apartments. The expansion of the city borders and the increased urbanization of the outskirts in the recent years has been to tackle this bottleneck. Ideally, unless you already own a plot somewhere in the center of the city or if you stumble upon a builder that offers villa plots in prime locations, you would be left with only one choice if you want to own an individual house- choose a plot in the remote parts of the city. In the second case, where plots are sold in prime locations, the costs are going to be sky-high.

Flexibility vs. Ready Availability

When you build an individual house, you have the absolute freedom to choose the design and appearance unless you own a plot in a community with strict guidelines on the external appearance of the houses. But with apartments, you may or may not be allowed to make any modifications to the main construction. You can, however, choose to splurge on the interior design to give it your personal touch. If you are buying a resale property while choosing an individual house, it would be ready to move in. But when you build a home on a plot it would take a considerable amount of time for the construction to be fully completed. In terms of an apartment, if you choose a reliable builder with RERA registered you have the assurance that you would get your home within the stipulated time. And with an apartment, you simply have to pay the price of the property and the builder would take care of all the construction and timely delivery. You do not have the hassle of finding architects and contractors to help you build as with individual houses.

Privacy vs. Safety

It’s a no-brainer that the privacy that an individual house offers is quite something. That’s not to say that apartments are lacking. Real estate developers today make it a point to create apartments that ensure an individual’s privacy is maintained by others. The common areas would be accessible to all the residents. But there is one factor that draws most home buyers to apartments and that is round-the-clock security. Most apartments today also come with surveillance cameras, 24/ 7 manned security guards and monitored visitor management system. This is to ensure that the absolute safety of the residents is assured at all costs. Let’s not forget the fact that living in a community adds to the safety factor as having more neighbors around can only prove to be beneficial in the event of an emergency.

Amenities

If you own a villa or build a house in a gated community, then you would be able to access the amenities. But in most cases, this is missing with individual houses. Apartment owners, on the other hand, would be able to access the very best amenities within the premises. This saves a lot of time and efforts, especially in a busy life. Maintenance costs and efforts will also be cut down in the case of apartments since the costs are taken care of by the community/society.

So should you buy an apartment or an individual house?

While each has its own benefits:

• If you are looking for the resale value based on land appreciation then individual homes are better. The building value depreciates here, however. Apartments, on the other hand, would have an appreciation value based on the development of the locality but then there would be no land value attached, except the small portion of undivided share offered with the flat.
• Plot owners get delayed tax benefits but apartment owners can immediately avail them, especially for their first home.
• The homeowners’ association makes it easy to get any type of work done in an apartment. This includes the likes of plumbing, electrical fittings and so on. But with an individual house, you would have to run and get things done yourself. And there is the hassle of getting the grants and permits all by yourself when you build the house. The registration process is also going to take a tad bit longer than when you buy an apartment from a trusted builder who can get it all done quite quickly.

So in the end, while the choice does rest more in favor of an apartment, it is your choice after all. Weigh all your options and pick the best one that would suit you and your family.

Property in Bangalore Should you buy yourself a new home or should you simply rent one? This is a never-ending debate! Considering the real estate scenario in Property in Bangalore several real estate experts now recommend that buying a Property in Bangalore would be a lot more beneficial than renting one. Sans, the financial burden and the sudden commitment that you would be caught up in, buying a home can actually fetch you a wide variety of perks. With the market fluctuating wildly and with so many external factors influencing the real estate prices here are the real advantages of investing in a house rather than renting one, if you are a resident of Bangalore:

Rents and EMIs often Tally

If you are looking for a Property in Bangalore in a decent locality, one that is spacious and one that is packed with all the modern amenities then the rent is definitely going to be pretty high. Now there are several developers that deliver quality homes with all the sophistication at rates. So the EMI paid per month often would be very close to the actual rent that you might be paying. No matter how long you stay in a house and how much rent you pay, it is still not going to be your Property in Bangalore. But when you buy a house all the monthly expenditures go into a property registered in your name.

Easier and Affordable Home Loans

Housing loans are now easier to get than ever before. As long as you have a steady source of income, you would be able to easily qualify for a housing loan. And the process, on the whole, has now become quicker and a lot more convenient. There is very little paperwork involved and in a jiffy, you would be able to get the funds in your account. So if you are able to find a property that suits all your requirements, one that is a good value for money then you would be able to purchase it without any delay. No matter what tenure you look for you would be able to find a wide range of home loan types to suit every situation.

Who Wouldn’t like the Tax Benefits?

With the tax slabs changing you cannot fully rejoice when you get an increment. Without the right investments, a major chunk of your hard earned money goes in paying taxes. But when you own a Property in Bangalore, with your housing loan you would be given tax benefits. Money saved is money earned after all! For some, the income tax slab itself would vary once a home loan is applied.

A Great Investment in the Long Run

There are several places that people prefer to invest in including stocks, gold and more. But real estate continues to be one of the top choices of investment. Some buy a house in a locality where they might not be residing simply as an investment. And if you choose a sought after neighborhood you could also offer your house for rent and this can be an additional source of income which can further ease the burden of the monthly EMIs. Unlike most other investments, a property chosen in a stable real estate market comes with an appreciation value instead of depreciation. So when you choose to resell the property in future you would be able to fetch a good price for the same.

You are Inspired to Save More

Right from the time, you think about buying a Property in Bangalore you are inspired to save more every time. Larger the down payment you make less would be the financial burden in the form of EMI. Strict monthly budgets, automated saving strategies, and other such plans would have to be executed so as to meet the objective of accumulating funds for the house’s down payment. And even after you purchase the property given that you would be paying the EMIs for several years it would keep you motivated to save more and avoid unnecessary expenses.

Nothing Beats the Freedom of Residing on your Own Property

Finally, it is always a great feeling to have your own place that you can call “home”. And you have complete freedom to customize the house and modify it to suit your taste. Interiors and other modifications within the property can all be done without worry. And all of this can happen if you are ready to pay just a little more than what you pay every month as rent.

RERA has also now made things favorable for home buyers. And the property prices in Bangalore are now pretty good in comparison with other major metro cities. So now would be a great time to buy your own home and obtain relief from the hassles of paying rent and exorbitant rental advances for a house.

The Global Real Estate Market has seen a variety of trends over the recent past. From DIYs to Affordable Houseplants, the list is quite comprehensive. However, one trend that has been getting an increasing popularity, is convertible furniture. With our lifestyles constantly changing at a rapid pace, we also see an increase in demand to keep up with current trends. Convertible furniture adheres to that trend of adding that little bit of sophistication to our living spaces while also being incredibly economical and functional in terms of space.

Today, it’s reached a point where people invest in such furniture regardless of space. Here are a few examples of convertible furniture you could consider for your home as well:

• Wall mounted beds – these can be tucked back on to the wall when not in use. There are also those that come with storage space at the bottom of the bed so that you can use them as storage shelves during the day when the bed is not in use.

• Convertible sofas – probably the most popular convertible furniture that people in small apartments love. This can be used as a sofa during the day and can instantly be stretched out to act as a bed at night. This is ideal for tighter spaces as it can save the space occupied by a bed as well as the cost incurred.

• Folding tables – We find folding tables of all sizes and shapes in the market. The smaller ones can be used as a laptop table on the bed or even as a makeshift bedside table. Larger ones can be used for adding extra dining space when you have guests at home.

• Convertible nursery furniture – one of the major areas where you might be spending a huge sum is the nursery furniture. So choosing convertible nursery furniture can help add all the facilities to your kids’ room while also allowing them a lot of free space to move around. For example, cribs that can be converted to kid’s bed and sofa are very popular. So once your child outgrows his crib you do not have to throw it away.

So Why Consider Convertible Furniture

As mentioned earlier, convertible furniture is gaining more prominence with time. This is a trend that is probably not going anywhere. There’s no doubting the benefits involved with them either:

• Convertible furniture can be more economical than choosing individual furniture. They help cut down the time, efforts and the price spent on finding individual pieces of furniture and instead deliver all the benefits in a single shot.

• They take up very little floor space. This allows you to focus on accessorizing your house in a variety of ways. For example, when you save all the space that a large table takes up in a room by investing on a folding table you can place a potted plant instead and add more life to your room.

• Convertible furniture is slick in terms of the styling. These are up to date with the modern trends in the furniture segment. The design, quality and the durability are all on par with the current market demands. They are not just useful but also look cool and this is something that any homeowner would love.

• Moving becomes easy. You do not have too many items to carry when you shift to a new home.

• There are many ways to use them. While most pieces of convertible furniture are designed with some primary objective in mind most of these can be used in multiple other ways too. You can renovate and revamp the looks of your home with these.

So why settle for the boring old style of furniture when you can get a lot more for the money you pay by looking for convertible furniture!