Mumbai kids spends millions on real estate

Well they are only gamers who are ready to hook everything from trying to be a castle owner or to be a Mongol warlord. It’s very less known secret of Mumbai, which was found by Ismat Tahseen.

On some special days you can easily find a group of 20 or more members on a single table, where they have got millions among them to make a few deals, which can leave older folk in the shade. It’s two hours strategy game where these kids have to negotiate on deal and have to use maximum resource to make a huge profit. They are playing game which is known as the Settlers of Catan. It’s perfect time when you should say Hello!! to Mumbai Board Gamers. Karan Vashisht, one of main founder of Mumbai Board Gamers stated that, “Now it’s time when we should forget the classic games such as; Ludo and Monopoly because the game which we are playing is the game of moments”.

Find variety with every roll of the dice!!!

The basic concept of game is very simple as it involves a simple concept of buying and selling of stocks and if you will play your card in right manner, so you can rev up your demand as 16 to 25 year old people do. In game you will find a lot of backstabbing as well as treachery, where everyone will aim to hold their card and opponent aims to play a single stroke, which can diminish the stock of competitors. It is not a game of kids as he explains that for younger group (under 12 years) there is Pitchcar, which is located at F1 racing track and whoever will make finish first at 8X5 circuit which is made up of wood, will win. This group was started with four members and now there are 863 club members in all over the city. Karan, who play game with name of K2 talks about his own journey by stating that “I have realized that there are huge thirsts among people who want to play strategy games. And this is the game which requires your vision and minds both in proper manner. From past many years we are playing games on computers and tablets now it’s time to play them physically, one – on – one. We have brought down this game from abroad and in 2012 we experienced positive response as it was very first gaming session”.

Rules to play the game:

Recently, a few board game events which were organized at the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum at Byculla saw a packed hall because it was open forum and all kinds of folks participated in it. However; Kamlesh Avasare, organizer of the game stated that “We also have bad experience as we found that few guys were only trying to hook up with some girls and due to that we asked them to leave the place. And since then we have rules to not to tolerate the spoilsports, flying tempers and dishonesty. People know that we have very strict mandates such as; “Do not cheat”, “Be courteous to everyone” and “Never Steal”.

Price for registration:

Prashant Maheshwari, who is another founder member, met up with another gamer Mohit Goel, who operates a website, and export and import wide range of board games in India at an affordable price.  However; according to Mohit, its not easy because import duty is too high which is about 60 to 80 per cent and to overcome from this huge price we have been musing over levying a small registration fee.  As our game events take place at a café and mini restaurants, where we provide mini meals too, however; some regular places are; XVII Tea Room, Zen Café at Lower Parel and Doolally Taproom at Bandra.

Future plan:

There are great plans for next season as they are planning to organize small marathon session which will end up with food, prizes and game giveaways, reveals Karan. Now gamers from other metro cities such as; Hyderabad, Bangalore and Delhi are showing their interest in these games.

RBI cut key interest rate

With the recent news that RBI has decided to cut the key interest rate, it is expected that this move of RBI will boost the affordable as well as premium housing demand and it also improve sentiments in the sluggish property market. Property consultants and real estate developers have demanded that interest rates should be further reduced. According to one of the realty Magazine, “This move is hope for the reduction in mortgage rates, which would improve residential sales in all over the country that have been suffering from general slackness in recent times. As per the recent research of JLL India, “Housing sales drop by 1.75 lakh units in the primary markets of 7 major cities in 2014 against nearly 2 lakh units in the previous year due to less demand. Happy with softening inflation, RBI decided to cut the benchmark interest rate by 0.25 per cent to 7.75 per cent with a view to boost growth.

Positive views of leading realty developer:

According to Rajeev Talwar, Group executive director of DLF, “It’s an awesome New Year gift and it seems that the finance ministry has putting his effort to convince RBI governor. Given the background of RBI governor, even the small beginning will be marked as big signs of hopes for the Indian economy”. The more he added that, this move would definitely encourage buyers now to invest in new homes or second homes.

Anuj Puri, Global property consultant JLL India Chairman & Country Head stated that “I expect this cut in interest rate to be the first of several to come and these will cumulatively make a big difference for home loan borrowers, as in present, the current interest rate cut will help revive market sentiment, which is very timely”.

Parsvnath Developers Chairman Pradeep Jain, appreciated the RBI decision and stated that realty sector has been struggling from the last 3 quarters with lower demand and more inventories. This decision would help reduction in EMIs and thereby encouraging fence sitters to conclude deals. Developers would also get funds at comparatively lower rates.

This move will instill hope as well as confidence in the real estate industry which is recovering from housing sales is around the corner, stated the Sanjay Dutt, Cushman & Wakefield Executive Managing Director, South Asia. Whereas; David Walker, MD of SARE Homes, said, “This step of RBI will cheer up the markets and hoped that financial institutions will pass on this reduction to customers, which in turn would boost housing demand”.

As per the Lalit Kumar Jain, Chairman of CREDAI, the apex organization of real estate developers, RBI’s decision is as a good beginning but said this is not enough as a reeducation of 200 basis point within short span is needed. Whereas; the Consultant Knight Frank India CMD Shishir Baijal, stated that This decision of RBI is positive approach that would benefit the debt burdened developers and stretched households alike and to comment on this RBI decision Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & MD of property consultant CBRE South Asia, said that this decision is good and in current market situation this reduction in the base rate is an important step in improving home buying sentiments.

According to CREDAI (NCR) President Rohit Raj Modi, “The rate cut will help the real estate developers to expedite projects that were otherwise facing tight fund crunch”. The more he added that home buyers are dreaming to own a home that would also get a boost as we expect an accelerated purchase cycle. Mohit Goel, CEO of Omaxe stated, that this move clearly shows RBI’s shift in stance in favor of positive growth and it is also correct time to usher in a slew of out-of-policy measures such as; to allow the banks to lend more to real estate, easy funding norms and more. Now real estate sector will play role of a catalyst in driving the overall economy.”

Amit Modi the ABA Corp Director said, “This was the most awaited change and development in policy and now easing interest rate will help to revive the health of businesses such as; Real-Estate which are highly sensitive to interest rate movements.” According to Ansal API Vice Chairman Pranav Ansal, “This is so positive step from RBI, which will boost housing sales and improve overall sentiments in the real estate market. The more he added it is a good sign and now real estate sector will look forward to RBI take the drastic steps in its forth coming monetary policy”.