Properties, Homes & more

Finding inspiration for interior design can be tricky. Going to the usual stores often leaves you feeling uninspired and one of the crowd. Sometimes it takes looking a little bit further to find design that truly inspires and invigorates the left hand side of your brain.

One of the best places to find inspiration is from the thousands of blogs that are dedicated to design and interiors. Many famous interior designers and industry professionals like to maintain blogs to log their creative inspirations. For those of us that do not live in the World of design these blogs are a great place to start in order to quickly get up to speed on the latest trends and developments. Often you will find that there are styles that you were not aware of and ways of styling a living space that you had not considered before. Often the high street sofa store do not cover new and breaking styles of sofa so it is always worth checking other places before it is too late.

Interior design blogs will also give you ideas on how to style rooms. Practical tips outlining the do and do not’s’ can come in very useful. Things like spacing, colour, and practical advice can make all the difference to your success.

When looking for sofa and interior blogs make sure you follow blog rolls rather than simply relying on search. Many bloggers do not make an effort to get search visibility so it is always advisable to check out the blogs that are popular within blog rolls. Many bloggers are also willing to have dialogue with you and may be able to help if you have any specific questions.

Once you have looked at many sofas and taken plenty of time looking at blogs, I would strongly advise that you print out your favourites and make a collage. A collage will provide the visual stimulus that will help you decide which style suits you best. After taking in to account other factors such as price and sizes you will be ready to choose the sofa of your dreams. Good luck!

For more info about sofas, you may visit the sofa information section on sofasofa.com.

As I have written in my previous post: Beware of “teaser” home loans, I have mentioned that advisers are warning individuals against obtaining a “teaser loan” only because of the lower interest rate, as it could have serious impact on their finances if the interest rates were to shoot up when the floating rate kicks in after the initial years.

Although all prominent banks have introduced teaser home loan rates as they are flush with money due to lack of demand from companies for funds, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a stern stand on this “bad practice” and have categorically asked all the participating banks to END TEASER LOANS. As reported by Economic Times, RBI is concerned mainly because borrowers may subsequently find it tough to repay the loans, once interest rates go up after the first couple of months (during which the rates are fixed at a fixed rate). I hope banks are ensuring that borrowers are well aware of the implications of such rates and the appraisal takes into account repaying capacity of the borrowers when the rates become normal. [Refer: RBI sees red over teaser home loan rates]

As per RBI’s directions, SBI will be terminating its teaser loans offers by March End, and HDFC will continue till end of February. However, ICICI Bank has immediately withdrawn all its teaser loan schemes. [Ref: Economic Times]

Reference: The Economic Times

Home loan providers are now insisting on construction-linked disbursal of funds to new projects, as they look to make developers more accountable after getting stuck in several stalled projects.

A number of developers have either stopped construction midway or slowed down due to shortage of funds and poor sales in 2008 and 2009. Lending institutions expect the move to help them monitor the progress of construction and make developers accountable, said a senior executive with a public sector bank. “Buyers in such projects are in a difficult situation. They have to pay monthly installments towards the loan without getting the possession of house. They also end up shelling out monthly rents during the period,” he said, requesting anonymity.

HDFC, one of the largest lenders in the home loan segment, has, allegedly, discontinued the practice of upfront disbursals and linked the flow of funds to progress of construction.

Developers initially used to offer homebuyers up to 10% discount on upfront payment. These developers subsequently diverted substantial part of funds to other projects. The delay in completion of work left buyers in a lurch. There is a high probability of default by such borrowers.

In construction-linked payment, the home finance companies or banks do not release the funds up front. They release of around 30% funds initially and the rest is disbursed as per the progress of projects. In such cases since the exposures are not full and the monthly repayment obligation for borrowers will be lower.

Many developers have now changed the payment schedule to construction-linked as against timebound payment. This is good for the industry. However, banks and home finance companies should release 30-35% of the funds towards the land and development cost. The lenders have also become more conservative in disbursal of loans. In a volatile real estate market, they offer lower valuations for the property against which they disburse the funds.

According to industry estimates, disbursements of home loan in the organised system of financing in the first six months of the current fiscal has been around Rs 60,000 crore. In 2008-09, it touched Rs 1,00,000 crore approximately, while in 2007-08 the amount was around Rs 1,30,000 crore.

Valentine’s Day is a day to express your feelings and renew the bond of love you share with your Valentine. To make this Valentine Day memorable for your beloved declare your love to the world by sending a cute and heartfelt Valentine’s Day message to us!! We will carry your message along with your name in this page dedicated to lovers and their messages.

So what are you planning for your Valentine? Some may plan something regular, like gifting flowers (especially, red roses), jewelry, dress, greeting card, etc. But I have something else in my mind for my beloved Valentine. I am not gifting her something unusual. It will be something absolutely out of this world. Something she will never expect and never forget!

Here is the list of my options. I am requesting each one of you to please suggest which option I should go ahead with…

Should I gift her PERSONALIZED COOKIE ARRANGEMENT & FLOWERS?
Should I gift her set of EXCLUSIVE JEWELRY WITH PERSONALIZED TIMELESS MESSAGE?	Should I gift her PERSONALIZED T-SHIRT that carries a message specially created ONLY FOR HER?
Should I gift her a much-desired and most-awaited BEAUTY CARE & BODY UPLIFTMENT SESSION to make her look even more beautiful & seductive?	Should I gift her EXCLUSIVE SET OF SPECIALLY PREPARED LINGERIE?
Or, last but not the least, SEDUCTIVE PERFUME that is specially prepared for her by FRANGRANCE SHOP keeping in mind her personality and tastes?

Guys… Please help me make the correct choice. I want to make this Day very special for my Valentine. I am waiting for your suggestions…

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Suddenly, it’s raining home loans! Banks, which were, until recently, reluctant to open their purse strings to home loan customers, are busy chasing them with teaser rates - where the interest rate is kept lower in the initial few years.

However, advisers warn individuals against obtaining such a loan only because of the lower interest rate, as it could have serious impact on their finances if the interest rates were to shoot up when the floating rate kicks in after the initial years. All prominent banks have introduced teaser home loan rates as they are flush with money due to lack of demand from companies for funds.

Ideally, one should buy a house only because one needs it and can afford it. Lower interest rate shouldn’t be the reason one should be going for a housing loan. ‘Taking a decision on the basis of current interest rate wouldn’t be right and wise, especially if you are going to switch to the floating rate after the initial period. The reason is: the teaser interest rate may be only 8% or max 8.5% in the first year or for the first three years, but after the initial period is over, you would be paying prevailing floating rates, which is not so easy to predict. And it may not be in your favour as well!

A lot of people make (incorrect) assumption about the future rate on the basis of the current benchmark rates. This method of reaching indicative rate only proves to be costly for them in the long run. For example, because of some unforeseen events, if the interest rate hardens suddenly, people might find it difficult to service their home loan, as the EMIs could shoot up beyond their ability to take care of them. So take a very serious look at your cash flow & finances before opting for such a teaser loan.