Real Benefits of Investing in Real Estate

Thinking of investing in real estate? The real estate market in India has revived steadily over the last year or so due to improved buyer sentiments. The introduction of RERA has proved to be a major shot in the arm for the sector since it has brought about increased transparency and accountability in the industry. This has heightened buyer confidence and attracted several hitherto fence-sitters back to the market. End-users and investors are both returning to the real estate market in major cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, NCR and Pune among others. In Pune, for example, key projects like Godrej Prana in Undri, Pune are already garnering eyeballs while there are new project launches which are going up in almost every city to cater to this renewed demand.

Another boost for the real estate sector has been the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as part of the Government’s Mission of Housing for All by 2022. Under this scheme, there are interest subsidies given to homebuyers in various segments. This has set off a boom in the affordable housing and mid-range housing segments. Even a rise in the number of home loan applications has been observed throughout the country in this regard. Here are some of the benefits that you stand to get when you invest in real estate- 

1. Earnings- This is definitely the biggest incentive of all for real estate investors. Investing in property for the long haul will help you increase your earnings in the form of rental income. You can be earning attractive rentals depending on the location. In fact, several investors plan wisely and invest in multiple properties to earn rental income from several sources. 

2. Security- After all, real estate guarantees long-term security, at least from the financial perspective, since you will have built up an asset for your family’s future. The property will also appreciate in terms of its value which will give you greater benefits.

3. Taxation- There are several tax benefits to be availed if you are the owner of a rental property. Rental income does not come under self-employment taxes. There are tax deductions available for insurance, property depreciation, travel expenditure, property taxes, legal fees and maintenance repairs.

4. Cover the EMIs- The rental income that you earn from your property will easily cover the monthly EMI to be paid for the property in question. However, before applying for a loan, do bargain for a competitive home loan interest rate and check the online home loan calculator in order to find out the amount payable every month. You should also use the home loan eligibility calculator to determine the home loan amount that you will be eligible for.

5. Beat Inflation- Appreciation in real estate makes it a good bet to combat inflation over the years. The cash flow of a real estate investor will automatically move up with increasing costs of living.

6. Being your own boss- When it comes to real estate investments at least, you will always be your own boss. You will have total control over the investments that you make, the rental plan, choices of tenants, rental prices and property maintenance and management. You will always be the key decision maker when it comes to your investment.

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7 Things to Consider When Shopping for a Laptop

Are you on your way to buy a new laptop? Congratulations! A laptop has emerged as one of the major things to have these days. By having a laptop, you can continue your work anywhere and carry it anywhere.

There are many brands of laptops available in the market with many features, which may confuse you which one to go for. However, more than the brand, you need to consider some vital elements in a laptop before buying it. Let’s discuss some major aspects now:
Vital things to look out at the time of buying a laptop

1) Build quality
The first thing that you need to consider while buying your next laptop is its build quality. The laptop that you want to buy should be durable, solid and look good. You should not opt for a notebook that looks like a piece of plastic.

2) Display quality 
The screen or the display of the laptop indeed plays an essential role in offering the best computing experience. Go for a laptop with a screen display of at least 13-inch and aim for 1366 x 768 pixels resolution with HD. Having a good display is vital to enhance your web browsing, gaming and entertainment experience to the next level.

3) Speakers
Many people like to work on a laptop while listening to music, and if you are among those, and even if you are not, you should check the laptops’ sound quality. To check the speaker quality at the time of purchasing it, you can play a YouTube video, and music to ensure the same. These days, laptops also come with Dolby speakers, which may enhance your laptop’s audio quality.

4) Storage type 
Another vital thing to remember while selecting an idea laptop is the storage type. The laptop’s storage is vital to store the sound, video, document, and all programs. You may find HDD in 90% of the laptops which is good for an average user. However, if you are in need of the high disk speed and best performance; you can consider SSD instead of the regular HDD. SSD is considered lightning fast compared to HDD, compact and even power efficient. The only thing that you will need to consider is that you will have to pay more for having SSD storage.

5) Battery life
Other than Apple, no particular laptop manufacturer lets you know about the battery life. Apple claims that MacBook will offer a battery life of around 10 hours, but it may provide a backup of just around 6-7 hours, which is good compared to others. Thus, you can go for a laptop brand that claims to offer a longer battery life.

6) Weight 
A notebook is not a desktop, and its weight should not become a burden for you to carry everywhere. Be it your office, home or in your travelling; it should be easy to carry around. Hence, try to opt for a laptop that weighs about 1-2 kg. If you are going to buy a MacBook, it will weight of up to 1 kg only.

7) Customer care support 
What will you do when your laptop is damaged and if you are unable to get your problem solved in a hurry? Your work will suffer, and that will annoy you. To keep it off, you should always opt for a laptop brand that gives good after-sales services. Also, check the warranty and replacement claims that you get.

These are some of the major aspects that you should consider while buying a laptop so that your device can accompany you for more years to come.     

Go for an EMI on laptop without credit card

If you have some budget constraints or don’t want to pay the entire amount of the laptop in one go, you can opt for the No Cost EMI facility.

This facility is available only on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network.

You can buy a laptop on No Cost EMI by dividing the cost into monthly installments without paying anything extra. Like this, you can easily buy a laptop on EMI even without having a credit card.   

To commence shopping on No Cost EMI for laptops and 1 million+ products across the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network, you will need to swipe the EMI Network Card. It should be swiped at a partner store on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network to end the shopping.

Even if you don’t have an EMI Network Card, you can still shop on No Cost EMI by submitting your KYC documents and a cancelled cheque at a store. The facility is available at 60,000+ local outlets in 1300+ cities in India.

Bajaj Finserv also offers some pre-approved deals on a host of many more financial services such as personal loans, home loans, and business loans and beyond.

You should check out your pre-approved online loan deals by sharing some of your basic inputs such as city, name, and age to get started! 

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How to manage effectively and wisely volatile markets: 5 valuable tips to follow

The stock market is at times highly volatile and choppy, making it troublesome for those investors who are not better planned or have proper investment strategy. According to the industry experts, market volatility triggers is likely to appear in several sizes and shapes. This can be in the form of policy uncertainty, geopolitical unrest, earnings report, etc., the list of which is almost limitless. Experts also opine that even the most seasoned investors are likely to get rattled with market sudden swings. However, volatility does form part of the investing avenue and should be dealt with calmly and strategically.

volatile markets

Overcoming market volatility

The experts also conclude that dramatic market moves might cause the investor to worry about his investments and strategy made. Natural reaction to it is to eliminate or reduce such stock exposure, expecting future losses, which of course does not make any sense for long runs. It is only by being adequately prepared and having clearly defined plans that the most volatile stocks can be taken care of and benefits derived.

Some tips to follow

Proper investing strategy is to be device with exposure given to different market areas including large and small caps, investment grade bonds, international stocks, etc. to match overall portfolio risk to goals and personality.

•         Keep perspective since downturns usually are short-lived and normal. But the stock market has the capability to manage recovery from such declines and offer investors with long term positive returns.
•       It is essential to comfortable with investments made in the market. Becoming nervous as the market becomes volatile, the portfolio risk level will only be found inappropriate. The key aspects to assist ensure having proper functioning investment strategy is the person’s tolerance for risk, goals and time horizon. Realistic expectations are to be set.
•        Avoid timing the market: It can be really dangerous invest-wise to move in & out of the market during highly volatile conditions. Investor decisions on when to sell and buy funds are likely to cause worse performance when compared to holding the funds. Experts suggest investors to invest during good days and avoid bad days to stay financially safe. Prediction of the market is simply impossible for anyone.
•       Regular investment inspite of volatile market is a must. Those investors investing their hard earned money regularly for months, years and even decades are not likely to get much affected by downturns. Rather than judging the present market condition, it will require disciplined investment approach, which will be quarterly, weekly or monthly to avoid dangers associated with marketing timing. Although no gains or losses will be guaranteed with downturn investing, as prices fall, the investor is sure to benefit with the long run.

·     Avail opportunities. Few actions can be taken as the market is down to be in a better position in the long run. Downturn for example, can offer opportunity to harvest tax loss. 

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Explained: How To Be A Smart Credit Card User

The perception about credit cards is mixed among individuals. The general idea is that credit cards create debt and are negative for an individuals’ financial health. On the other hand, those who have used it, think differently.

For them, credit cards are not only a positive way to avail discounts on purchases but also to manage their budget and improve their credit ratings.

A credit card is among the first choices if you’re looking for how to improve CIBIL score quickly. You can become more creditworthy to lenders with a high credit rating in a short span of time if you use it smartly.
Read on to know how to be a smart credit card user and improve your credit score.

Managing Your Credit Effectively
A credit card company will check your credit score and history when you make an application. Your CIBIL score will go down with each inquiry because making one enquiry will deem you as a credit-hungry individual. Making multiple enquiries will make you look even more, which will be noted in your running credit history.

Help yourself with a healthy credit score by following up on the right habits. Those who know how to improve CIBIL score quickly keep their credit utilisation within 30-50% of the credit limit and so should you. This is one of the guaranteed ways to boost your CIBIL score.

Stick to One or Two Credit Cards

The rewards provided differ with credit cards. For example, an airline credit card gives you reward points on air tickets. You can redeem these points to get discounts on your future ticket purchases.
Similarly, fuel credit cards provide rewards when you purchase fuel. You can redeem these points to purchase free fuel up to a particular limit. These cards also provide full or partial fuel surcharge waivers with these cards.

Another similar type of credit card is a retail credit card. Also known as co-branded credit cards, these provide rewards when you shop from specific retailers.

If you go for movies a lot, then you can avail an entertainment credit card. You can earn attractive rewards when buying movie tickets with these cards. Furthermore, you can also get free movie tickets.

Pay the Bills on Time
Perhaps the easiest of all the ways on how to improve CIBIL score quickly is to pay outstanding credit card bills on time. Contrary to popular belief, a credit card can help you increase your credit score considering if you stick to the payment dates.

On the other hand, failing to pay the bill within the due date can not only decrease your credit score but also invite additional penal charges. These may include a high rate of interest, late payment fees, etc.
Credit cards have a grace period of up to 45 days, giving you ample time to pay the outstanding. All you need to do is follow up strictly on the dates.

Pay the Full Amount Due

A typical credit card bill comes with a minimum amount due and full amount due.

The minimum amount is either a specific percentage of the total or the same with interest. You can pay the minimum amount due if you don’t have the funds to pay the full. However, doing so will reduce your credit score. Moreover, you will still have to pay the total amount due on the next bill.

If you know how to improve CIBIL score, then you must also know that you should always pay the full amount due.

You must also follow these rules mentioned above to manage your credit card efficiently and increase your credit score. With the best CIBIL score, you can avail higher loan amounts sanctioned at the most attractive rates of interest.

Manage your credit cards smartly to get the best discounts and offers. More importantly, stick to the basics of credit usage and improve your credit score fast and easy.

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How can You be Eligible for An Unsecured CA Loan?

In recent times, many banks and non-banking financial institutions have started offering tailor-made loans for chartered accountants to cater to their various needs. These loans are meant exclusively for qualified CA professionals and can be used for a variety of purposes- setting up or expanding your own CA firm, renovating your home, funding your children’s education or consolidating all your existing debts.

Bajaj Finserv offers a suite of loans for chartered accountants with an easy online application process, minimal documentation and instant financing. However, there are certain eligibility criteria that you need to meet before you can avail the finance. Read on to know what makes you eligible to avail an unsecured CA loan and how to get your loan application approved easily.

1. Your average monthly income
Lenders determine your loan repayment capacity by evaluating whether your monthly income is sufficient to service regular loan EMIs. It means that the higher your average monthly income, more are the chances to be eligible for a CA loan. Hence, you should look out for the minimum income required for availing a CA loan before applying.

2. Your location 
The place where you stay plays an important part in determining your CA loan eligibility. Your lender must provide its services in your city of residence. Also, the minimum salary required to apply for a CA loan is higher in big cities and industrial towns, and more so in metropolitan cities like Mumbai or Delhi.

3. Your professional experience
Many lenders require a minimum level of experience for chartered accountants to approve their loan applications. They may ask for your Certificate of Practice (CoP) as a qualified CA to know about your professional experience. Generally, there should be 3-5 years from your CoP till the date of your loan application to qualify for financing.

4. Your age at the time of application
Lenders also look at age of the applicant as a reliable factor before approving their loan application. They prefer younger applicants with a stable and settled professional life. Generally, the age limit to apply for chartered accountant loans fall between 25 to 60 years.

5. Your existing debt liabilities
If you are already juggling too many loans, the lender may find a new loan as an added burden on your monthly finances and hence might reject your loan application. Thus, it’s important to keep your current debt to income ratio as low as possible to increase your chances of getting the loan application approved by the lender.

6. Your credit score or credit history
This is one of the most important factors that determine your eligibility to avail an unsecured CA loan with any lending institution. The lender will scrutinize your credit history and look at your credit score before approving your loan application and if they find it insufficient, they may simply reject your loan application or ask for higher interest rates.

Hence, it’s essential to keep a low credit utilisation ratio and maintain a good CIBIL score to be eligible for a CA loan. Also, with pre-approved offers from Bajaj Finserv, you can avail easy and quick finances with simple eligibility criteria and hassle-free loan approval process.

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Tricks to Organise Your Small Business Supported by a Business Loan

Small and medium businesses are significant contributors to India's growing economy. Approximately 95% or 42.5 million industrial units fall under this category. It is a major driving force behind the projected 7.80% growth in India's GDP this fiscal year.

The number of small businesses is estimated to grow at an exponential rate. As an owner, it is vital to stay ahead of the competition. Investing in the operational setup with the aim to generate better revenues may require financial assistance. A small business loan can be the most effective financial solution to help grow your business.

Here are a few tricks to help you organise your business systematically.

● Integrate technology
Organising a business has become much easier with the help of technology. Appropriate tools and software can enhance your workflow and improve your productivity. You can take the assistance of online book-keeping tools to manage your accounts or schedule meetings and projects with the help of organisers.

You can also use cloud storage for your documents to make the process more streamlined. Studies show an average employee spends almost 8 hours every week searching for misplaced documentation or paperwork. This is a waste of time which can be easily avoided with the help of software or other tools. You will be able to access the documents much quicker, and thereby, enhance work efficiency. You can use the funds of a small business loan to invest in the technology needs of your enterprise.

● Project management optimisation
Regardless of your business size, implementing the right project management pointers will prove helpful for handling clients and employees alike. You can hire skilled supervisors to handle projects, or appoint a good management team to brainstorm new ideas. Having an organised team will greatly improve productivity.

● Utilise your working capital
Sorting out your finances is one key aspect of organising your small business. Make sure you separate your personal expenses from your business’ and keep track of the operational costs. Monitor your invoices, customer payments and in-house expenses too.
You can implement dedicated software to better maintain and organise your business finances. It will also point out financial deficit and help you avoid burnout while running your business.

A loan can come to the rescue in case of financial shortfalls. Business loan eligibility criteria are easy to meet including primarily a minimum business vintage of just 3 years.
Many financial institutions offer such collateral-free loans with instant approval and flexible tenures as per borrower’s convenience.

NBFCs  sanction advances of up to Rs. 30 Lakh with reasonable business loan interest rates. They also provide pre-approved offers for business loans, personal loans, home loans and a range of other financial products and services. It saves time and simplifies the process of financing. You only have to provide some necessary details online to check your pre-approved offer.

● Outsource your time management and customer service requirements
As a business owner, outsourcing customer service and regular operational tasks can help greatly to organise your venture. Attach utmost importance to contact management, scheduling, expense tracking, social media, emails, and liaison management.
You can use chatbots for customer service. Modern chatbots are incredibly efficient and can answer customer queries, frequently asked questions, take feedback, and even accept payment.

Implementing such framework requires large capital; however, it is a one-time investment which can be easily met with the help of a business loan. These services will help you organise the key aspects of your business while saving you time and effort.

An organised business is always more productive and motivating. Create the necessary ambience to grow your venture with the help of an unsecured small business loan.

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Holi Festival - the festival of colors

Holi is one of the festivals that is celebrated all over India. Perhaps the Holi festival is also known as the festival of colors or festival of love. On this special occasion person living together unite and celebrate it in a colorful way. The festival is celebrated equally and lasts for both day and night which actually starts in the evening of Purnima or on the full moon day. This festival falls in the month of Falgun and it is also called as Holika Dahan or Choti Holi. It even welcomes relieve from the humdrum and monotony of everyday existence and let the people enjoy themselves.

Holi Festival

Holi - the festival of colors

In each part of the country, it is known in various names. Moreover, the vibrant colors of an bring positive atmosphere making each other to get closer and enjoy. The Holi festival has lots of significance and is often celebrated as a part of the tradition. Basically the actual Kohli stats by Lightning of the Bonfire on the special occasion which implies that triumph of good over the bad. People would like to enjoy playing with colors where they bring together friends and family and enjoy it in the evening.

Significance of Holi

The Holi festival has lots of significance that often implies the tradition and culture of Indian people. In fact, there are many other aspects related to Holi Festivals which make it one of the most important festivals. Moreover, it is very much close to that of religious as well as mythological as it has been one of the various legends associated with the festivals that we celebrate. There is also a historical significance and background that depicts the significance of the colorful festival. Even the mythology enhancers that the festival is celebrated as a part of Ogress Pootana who tried to kill an infant, Krishna by feeding poisonous milk to it. And there exist many other signs that perhaps made it one of the best festivals ever.

Some safety tips while celebrating Holi

Well, each and everyone who celebrates Holi should have ever followed some tips in order to keep themselves safe while playing with colors. Here you will find some of the tips that will help you to maintain a safe atmosphere around you.

•       You can use natural colors as they do not contain Chemicals and does not harm your skin or eyes.
•     Before you actually start playing Holi make sure your face is cream before as well as after the festival.
•       In order to protect your nails make sure it is fully coated with nail polish otherwise, the colors may damage the nails.
•       If you apply oil to your hair then there are maximum chances that the colors may not stick to your hair and damage it.
•      There are some colors such as pink and red that are often easy to take off instead of preferring other colors
•    It is essential that you have to keep pain Killers or any sort of antioxidant as well as anti-allergy tablets handy.
•     Protect your teeth thereby using dental caps as you can avoid getting unwanted stains on your teeth.

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