Purchase of Land -- Checklist

To learn about all necessary checks in connection with land transactions read this recommended article, which starts:


Purchase of Land – Legal Checklists

Owning a house is an important thing in one’s life. However, one needs to be careful while buying a property to avoid falling into legal hassles. Before buying a land, a number of checks need to be done to confirm that the land has a clear and marketable title. The legal status of the land is one of the first issues that should be addressed before confirming a property.

Title deeds

The first step is to see the title deed of the land, which you are going to buy.

Confirm whether the land is in the name of the seller and that the full right to sell the land lies with only him and no other person.

It is better to get the original deed examined by a lawyer. This is to check details like whether the seller has permitted any entry/access to others through this land and whether any other fact has been suppressed/left undisclosed by the owner of the land.

Along with the title deed, you can also demand to see the previous deeds of the land available with the seller.

In some cases, more than one person may own the land. So before registering, check if there is more than one owner, and if there is, get release certificate from the other people involved.

The article then goes on to cover the following categories:


Title deeds
Conveyance Deed or Sale Deed
Tax receipt and bills
Encumbrance Certificate
Pledged land
Measuring the land
Purchasing land from NRI landowners
Power Of Attorney
Agreement
Stamp Duty
Registration
Changing the title in Village office


To read the article in full go to this link here.

Unnatural Farming Processes

In my Bird and Ecology Blog, Arunachala Birds, which generally concentrates on matters specifically pertaining to Tiruvannamalai and surrounding countryside, I have made an interesting posting about GM crops and how they are affecting the lives and livelihood of farmers in this country. It is essential that all of us, NOT JUST FARMERS, have full, up-to-date information about GM crops and other unnatural processes.

For the first part of the narrative which is entitled:

"Is Monsanto Responsible For 200,000 Farmer Suicides?"

go to the link Eat Real Food.

And for information counteracting the remark GM supporters often make, "that bio-crops are the only way to feed the world's booming population in the future," go to the link entitled "The Problem with Franken Food."

If you have information about organic and natural farming techniques being used, or being planned to be used in the Tiruvannamalai area, please send me details so I can make a posting on this Blog. Also if you are a farmer and have organic produce for sale and would like me to mention it on this Blog, again send information to Meenakshi Ammal at the contact address, top left of this Blog.

Sharon Muench's Arunachala Memories

“I first came to Ramanashram in December 1973. In essence little has changed since then. On the surface, much has changed for better and for worse! The Hill, back then, was bare with no trees. It was covered, for most of the year, in feathery green lemon grass, as tall as a small child. Women and children would swarm over the lower hills, cut down the grass, bring it down in bundles on their heads, bigger than themselves. Even the smallest child who could walk carried a bundle. After the harvest they set fire to the Hill. It burned for a while, then turned black till the new grass grew. Now the Hill is tree-covered, delightfully green.

The Ashram has expanded. The dining-room has been extended, the office relocated to the forecourt. More traffic. More noise. More people. That winter season, there was only a handful of foreign visitors staying at the Ashram. They had all been coming for years, knew each other well. Ramana Maharshi back then, was the world’s best kept spiritual secret. Everyone stayed for months at the Ashram, but I was given only a few days. I was devastated. I’d come all the way from Guyana, South America, overland; this was my home, and I planned to stay forever. I couldn’t believe they’d throw me out that quickly; for what? Bhagavan was my Guru!

One of the Westerners stood out from all the others. He was tall, well-built, in his forties and carried himself with easy authority, and radiated a natural joy. I was shy and insecure; to me, he seemed a spiritual giant. I heard he was known as Doctor Hugo, and had lived many years at the Ashram. One morning, sitting on a large stone half-way up to Skandashram, I saw Hugo and four or five other foreign devotees walking slowly up towards me. Hugo was talking to Phillip, an Englishman with whom I’d spoken a few times. I had the uncanny feeling they were speaking of me. Indeed – when he reached me, Hugo stopped. “I hear you’re looking for a place to stay,” he said, “try so-and-so.” He mentioned a name and went on his way.

Sharon Muench at
Ramana Ashram, June 2010

A few days later I moved into Brunton’s Cottage in Palakottu. Back then there were three simple huts in Palakottu, grouped around the water tank. There was direct access to the Ashram through the back wall. None of the huts had plumbing. And we fetched water from the street taps and walked out to the Hill for our toilet.

Soon after that I joined this little group. Every morning we trooped up to Skandashram, sat beneath the Mango Tree at the top, and Hugo would talk. He was a brilliant speaker. Every word came from his heart. He spoke of the Path and the urgency of it. The pitfalls of meditation, the tricks of the ego, the beauty of God, and His Grace. He told stories. Hugo had been the personal doctor of Papa Ramdas for many years, and had many an anecdote. Often he laughed, a deep, rolling, infectious laugh that had us all laughing too. But most of all he infected us all with his deep, abiding devotion to Bhagavan.

In April 1975 I left India for Germany. I settled here, and embarked on a life in the West with all the ups and downs. That year, Hugo, with an Indian friend, bought a large plot of land on the giripradakshina roadway. It was scrubland, bare, uninviting, filled with stones and thorny bushes. A few years later it would be a paradise. They built two simple huts on it, and moved in. That was the start of what was to become The Shantimalai Trust, the most comprehensive charitable trust in the District.

It began with the early morning queues. Long before dawn they would form. By 6 a.m. there would be snakes of poor Indians squatting on the road outside, waiting for medical treatment. Hugo and his friend Kurt had been Homeopathetic Practitioners in Germany, and it was their seva now to treat the Indians. From those beginnings, big things grew: A full-blown Medical Centre offering free treatment. An English medium school offering a first-class primary and secondary education An orphanage. A child sponsorship programme. A farm. Cows were donated, sewing machines were donated, wells were dug. Women were trained in handicrafts. Young men found industrial training and jobs. Villages were restored.

Friends of Hugo, Westerners, donated whatever they could, money and time and expertise. They came in the winter, joined this project or that, helped in whichever way they could. Those were glorious days indeed. In recent years Shantimalai has scaled back its activities, passed on its projects to other sponsors.

Some of us have moved on; our lives have taken new turns. In my case, it’s been a bumpy road, with ups and downs. I’ve written novels, seen them published through Harper Collins. In recent years, my husband has become crippled by disease. As parkinsonism takes its toll, I look to the future. He now needs 24/7 care, and we’ve reached the point where it is physically impossible for me to continue. The idea of putting him in a home is unbearable, he is only 66 years old! – and more and more my thoughts turn to Arunachala.

Why not create my own facility? Not only for him but for others – Indian and Western devotees alike. A retirement home consisting of 8-10 double cottages set in a beautiful garden with day and night Indian carers. A haven and a home.”

For more information about this developing project, please contact Sharon at:
sw.maas@gmail.com

[Narrative by Sharon Muench]

Report on Housing Costs, Economic Times

I'm posting the below article which recently appeared courtesy of the Economic Times, India, just to show how much more expensive cities are in India. The below prices fairly takes one breath away! And what kind of jobs do the apartment purchasers do exactly that they can afford such prices?! And we thought it was getting expensive in Tiruvannamalai!



“An apartment on the 100th floor of 'Burj Khalifa', the world's tallest building and one of the most-sought after addresses in the world today, comes at a price of Rs. 38,000 per sq ft. But if you think that's a soaring price, consider this; the real estate price in Delhi will beat that by a mile, reports Economic Times

The apartments on Prithviraj Road and Aurangzeb Road in Central Delhi are much more expensive. While, the per sq ft rate of apartments in Marble Arch and Tata Apartments on Prithviraj Road is around Rs. 65,000 per sq ft, Ansal apartments on Aurangzeb Road have a price of Rs. 55,000 per sq ft, according to Senior Broker Hemendra Sharma.

In Vasant Vihar and Chanakya Puri in South Delhi, apartments built on smaller plots of 400-800 sq metres are commanding prices of around Rs. 45,000 per sq ft. In fact, there are not many luxury condominiums available in central and south Delhi. However, there are several bungalows on independent plots of around three acres with a permitted area of construction of 3500 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft. These plots are commanding a price of Rs. 200 crore to Rs. 500 crore. So the per sq ft cost of these bunglow comes to a whopping Rs. 5 lakh per sq ft.

Condominiums in Mumbai are even costlier. The per sq ft rate in Mumbai's NCPA Apartments at Nariman Point is between Rs. 90,000 and Rs. 1 lakh.

Gulam Zia, National Director, research and advisory services of global property consultants Knight Frank says, "In the posh upmarket localities of Delhi and Mumbai, where there is a scarcity of land, property prices have shot through the roof." Adds Zia, "Property prices in Mumbai's western and central suburbs of Worli, Lower Parel and Prabhadevi are upwards of Rs. 40,000 per sq ft."

Real estate prices in India are inverse to the country's image of a developing nation. "Mumbai and Delhi command one of the highest per sq ft rates in the world," says Anshuman Magazine, CMD, CB Richard Ellis, South Asia, a leading global property consultancy firm.

In India while the land cost itself is high, the cost of quality is even higher. If one is paying Rs. 38,000 per sq ft for an apartment in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, for the same price or more in Mumbai or Delhi one will only be paying for the location and not for the construction or amenities. In terms of amenities and quality there is just no comparison. Magazine adds that, in the U.S. when a buyer looks to buy a home, he or she first looks for the amenities on offer that would suit his or her lifestyle, whereas in India it's all about land and location for the buyer.

While Mumbai and New Delhi are in a zone by themselves as far as realty pricing is considered, other big cities like Chennai and Bangalore are yet to see such pricing, though the rates have dramatically shot up in the recent past.”

Land Contact

Below I have just posted information on three separate agricultural parcels of land which are currently available for purchase in the Tiruvannamalai area. In all cases, planning permission for projects will be easily available. Please Right Click on all photographs to view an enlarged version. For more information, particularly rate, please get in touch with me direct at the contact link at the top left corner of this page.

Ashram or Community

Right Click to view enlarged version of all photos



The below agricultural parcel is ideal for an Ashram or Community Resource. The land is set in a very tranquil area south of Arunachala. Water is plentiful and the size of the parcel is 5 acres.

To reach the land you go down the Sathanur Dam roadway for about 7 kms and then turn right into the Arunachala countryside.

Serene Countryside

The below series of photographs are of pristine, agricultural land located south of Arunachala. Take the Sathanur Dam roadway for about 7 kms south and then turn right into the countryside -- which lays at the back of the Samudram Erie.

The land is flat except for a hilly mound surrounded by trees in which currently stands the shell of a simple house and a cow shed.

Water is in abundant supply and can be found at an easy level.

The beginning of Reserve Forest lies a couple of fields away from the land, making the whole area open and peaceful.

The land is about 10 kms from Tiruvannamalai which means it will be spared from developers, but is only about 6 kms from the base of Arunachala (as the crow flies).

This land parcel consists of 4.8 acres.

Tharadepet Village

Right Click on photos to view enlarged version

This beautiful agricultural land is located on the outskirts of Tharadapet Village and is about 12 kms (as the crow flies) southwest of Arunachala but about 18 Kms by roadway. The land is reached by leaving Tiruvannamalai on the road to Sathanur Dam and then turning right after about 10 kms into the surrounding countryside.

Arunachala is clearly visible from the land but on the day we visited the Hill was surrounded by mist so wasn’t able to take a photograph of Arunachala from the land.

The land has two agricultural tanks (one appears in the photos). The hand drawn sketch of the land will give an idea of its location and shape. Apparently some of the land has not been farmed for several years so in places is overgrown.

The size of the land for sale is 10.40 acres.

Tiruvannamalai 18 Kms East

If you are interested in getting out of the Tiruvannamalai area, the below photographs are of a place near Kondam Village off the Tiruvannamalai-Vellore Highway. The land which is located around 18 kms from Arunachaleswarar Temple is in a peaceful setting.

The below photograph is of the Vellore Highway with ancient Tamarind Trees on both sides of the road.

Seasonal crops are being raised throughout the year. Rice, Groundnut and sugarcane are the major crops. The red soil is fertile and is maintained in pristine condition. A massive well and pump set, is used to facilitate irrigation. Under ground tubes are used to carry water from the well. A 5 horse power motor is used to pump the water from the well.

The next two photographs are of the trees framing the Vellore Highway and the 2.60 acre land parcel on offer, is located 150 metres distant.

For information about the cost of the land please get in touch with me direct at:
arunachalagrace@fastmail.fm

8 Kms from Arunachala

Am posting the below photographs of a beautiful agricultural farm comprising 5.8 acres and currently available some 8 kms from the base of Arunachala.

The access road to the land is excellent. Turn left and it takes you direct to the Bangalore Highway, turn right and it zig-zags its way through the countryside to Perumbakkam Road and Ramana Nagar.

At the entrance to the land stands a beautiful ancient Kali Shrine.

Encompassed with an ancient Tamarind Tree.

The water table at the land is around 40 feet. There are two agricultural wells located on the land and the water is sweet and abundant. The land has not been cultivated for over three years - so it has had time to divest itself of pesticides and chemicals.

Surrounding lands are cultivating paddy, sugarcane, vegetables, dhals and spices and are abundant with coconut trees.

The land is ideal for an ashram or cultivation. To find out more about this beautiful agricultural offering, please get in touch with me at:
arunachalagrace@fastmail.fm

Buying a home?

Found an excellent article entitled, 'Buying a home? 6 vital steps to follow', by Pankaj Anup Toppo., and which was originally posted in Outlook India (Money). The article starts starts:


"When the real estate sector was on a dream run from 2002-03 till around January 2008, home buyers in most cases overlooked many issues that are coming to the fore now. Avoiding some common mistakes can make the process of selecting and buying a house a little simpler.

Before you buy. Most mistakes happen at this stage.

Home search. A typical home search starts with scanning advertisements. But, this means you will have to check everything on your own - the developer's credentials, his ability to deliver on time and the approved building plan. Not easy to do. Developers aren't usually forthcoming with this information. Even if they are, analysing it is tough, especially if you are a first-time buyer.

If you find a house on your own and at a price that suits you, getting a loan from a bank or a housing finance company isn't easy. The institution will do its own due diligence before approving the loan, which means you will have to wait for some more time. And, if the lender finds a problem with the project, it may not sanction the loan.

A simpler way is to approach the bank or the HFC from where you plan to take the home loan. Most of them have a list of pre-approved properties. They include properties on which the necessary checks have been done. If you choose from this list, loan approval will be faster. The only hitch is that these properties will typically cost a little more."

The article goes on to discuss; payment mode, developer agreement, property dealers, choosing the Bank and facts to consider after the purchase.

To read the article in its entirety, please go to this link here.

Harvesting Rain

Though we usually tune out the pitter-patter of rain on the roof, water flowing down the gutters and into the storm drain is a valuable resource. We not only depend on water, we also pay for it. So, why not put that rainwater to use?

Nearly any homeowner can collect rainwater, since the roof and gutters do most of the work. Furthermore, they can harvest huge volumes. An inch of rain, falling on a 2,000-square-foot roof, produces 1,200 (4,500 litres) gallons of runoff, which is enough to supply a family of four for about two weeks.

Using rainwater has obvious budgetary benefits, but there are reasons to do it besides putting a dent in the water bill. For those facing water shortages, harvesting rain can help keep the lawn green, or even provide water for indoor use. However, water to be used indoors, whether for washing or for drinking, must be thoroughly treated.

There are a slew of benefits that come with the purity of rainwater. Plants prefer it, especially if tap water has been treated with softening salts, which dampen plant growth. The lack of minerals in rainwater make it more effective for washing hair or doing dishes. Furthermore, reducing or eliminating mineral deposits in pipes and water heaters can extend their life, requiring less maintenance and associated costs.

Collecting rainwater also reduces pollution-causing runoff, and if it is collected and used without the aid of pumps or other powered equipment, provides a carbon-neutral water source.

The simplest form of rainwater collection is also the most affordable: a rain barrel positioned under a gutter’s downspout. The barrel is typically fitted with a spigot at its base to fill a watering can or attach a soaker hose (which bleeds out water all along its length, providing effortless drip irrigation), and a filter or screen at its top to prevent a buildup of leaves and other debris.

With a little work a barrel’s capacity can be increased. When the barrel is full, runoff is directed through a spout near the top of the barrel called an overflow port. This spout can be made to flow into another barrel, increasing capacity.

However many barrels are connected, though, a downspout must be attached to the last overflow port. This attachment directs overflow away from the building, preventing water from pooling around the barrel’s base.

With a few simple materials and a bit of ingenuity, a rain barrel can be built at home. There are countless tutorials online on how to do this. Check out Google for links. Though buying a premade barrel is easier, it is also more expensive.

A world apart from rain barrels are the more complex setups that provide water for indoor use. These systems use cisterns that hold thousands of gallons, and have treatment systems to remove sediment and harmful organisms from collected water.

There are several methods for treatment, but one of the most common is a combination of filters and ultraviolet light. These very fine filters remove particles, some organisms, and can even absorb bad odors and tastes. After filtration, an ultraviolet light shines on the water as it flows through a clear quartz tube, killing any remaining pathogens.

The prices for these systems can vary widely depending on your needs, and are not do-it-yourself projects. Above-ground is generally cheaper. Unlike rain barrels, either option (on a large enough scale) can make a household totally water-independent.

[Extract from emagazine]

In next month's Arunachala Grace Newsletter there will be a narrative on rainwater harvesting concepts utilised in Tamil Nadu. If you wish to receive a copy of this free bi-monthly Newsletter, check out the subscription facility at the left hand column of this page.

Ashoka Apartments External

Below are the initial drawings of the external view of Ashoka Apartments. The final drawings will be similar to the below except for small details.

Still to come are aerial views looking down into the apartment block which will show the lift and stairwell in the centre surrounded by a garden with the backs of all apartments looking over the garden.

The lift starts from the garage and goes up to roof. The roof will include a general room for the use of meditation and as a quiet area. The basement will include a coin-operated laundry facility available to all residents.

Expect to post more details the next week. To view plans of each floor of the apartments go to this link here.

Right Click on all photographs to view enlarged size

Devananthal Plots

Right-click on all photos and plans to view enlargement

This posting is about land at Devananthal which is available at reasonable rates for housing. This area is just passed Vediyappanur off the Girivalam roadway. For this reason it is area which will probably maintain its integrity far longer than other spots in equal proximity to the Hill. The darshan of Arunachala is spectacular.

The land is available for sale in the dimensions stated at the bottom of this posting. The developers will also, when requested build a house for the land purchaser. They have already built one house (the red house, fifth photograph down).

I am including (in this posting) the plan of a smaller more inexpensive model house of the developers. Artistic representation of the finished house is also included in this posting.

For fuller information regarding pricing of both land and house prices, please get in touch with me at:
arunachalagrace@fastmail.fm

Larger house already built

Land Area

Plots in Square Feet

Plot 1 – 26,535, Plot 2 – 5,562, Plot 3 – 5,587, Plot 4 – 5,612, Plot 5 – 7,413, Plot 6 – 7,000, Plot 7 – 7,000, Plot 8 – 7,000, Plot 9 – 7,000, Plot 10 – 7,000, Plot 11 – 6,475, Plot 12 – 11,343, Plot 13 – 9,187, Plot 14 – 9,089, Plot 15 – 9,778, Plot 16 – 8,016, Plot 17 – 7,308, Plot 18 – 7,182, Plot 19 – 7,056, Plot 20 – 8,883, Plot 21 – 6,562, Plot 22 – 6,511, Plot 23 – 6,885, Plot 24 – 6,787, Plot 25 – 6,345, Plot 26 – 6,400, Plot 27 – 6,400, Plot 28 – 6,058, Plot 29 – 5,885, Plot 30 – 5,636, Plot 31 – 10,695, Plot 32 – 10,118, Plot 33 – 9,599, Plot 34 – 8,211, Plot 35 – 7,970, Plot 36 – 6,068, Plot 39 – 6,383, Plot 40 – 7,777, Plot 41 – 6,687, Plot 42 – 6,612, Plot 43 – 6,537.

Small Model House

Plan For Above Model House

Ashoka Apartments Information

I've been provided with information regarding pricing and facilities at the Ashoka Apartments - so to those who have already been in touch requesting additional information, its on its way.

Please note that I have now substituted the original plans with new ones (in the previous posting) which are clearer and easier to view. The apartment sizes remain exactly the same. Also please note that the square foot of each apartment is calculated on 'plinth' not 'carpet' square foot i.e. it includes the balcony.

I'm waiting to receive plans of the apartment complex (hopefully within the next week) from several different angles including a view looking into the central part of the complex, (which includes the lift, staircase and garden). I will post the additional drawings when received.

Ashoka Apartments

[Plans updated on June 25th, 2009]

Right-click on plans to view enlargement

In response to requests from readers of Arunachala Land, I am now posting drawings of the plans of the Ashoka Apartments, Ramana Nagar to be built opposite Sadhu Om Colony down the road from the Post Office.

The Ashoka Apartments will have 15 apartments, 6 of which will be for direct purchase and the remaining 9 apartments will be available for rent on 3 year Long Leases.

The Complex is 3 storey with secure perimeter gate. Each apartment will have a balcony facing outward and will be facing inward towards a centre arboreum (garden). Special facilites offered at this Complex include: meditation hall on roof, lift, 24-hour security, basement car parking and laundry room in basement.

Ground Floor

1st Floor

2nd Floor

Apartment Specifications

Ground Floor

Apartment A = 397.4 sq ft

Apartment B = 343 sq ft

Apartment C = 473 sq ft

Apartment D = 1219 sq ft

First Floor

Apartment E = 467 sq ft

Apartment F = 349 sq ft

Apartment G = 488 sq ft

Apartment H = 488 sq ft

Apartment I = 349 sq ft

Apartment J = 467 sq ft

Second Floor

Apartment K = 467 sq ft

Apartment L = 349 sq ft

Apartment M = 488. sq ft

Apartment N = 488 sq ft

Apartment 0 = 348 sq ft

Apartment P = 467 sq ft

Plinth Area in Square Feet (i.e. carpet area + balcony)

Please keep checking back as I will be posting more information, including drawings of what the completed apartments will look like. For specific enquiries please email me direct:
arunachalagrace@fastmail.fm

Beautiful Arunachala Land

The below is a sequence of photographs of a four acre parcel of land up for sale. The land is located about 7-8 kms (as the crow flies) from Arunachala and is located in a peaceful, rural unspoilt area.

The land is in pristine condition and is currently under paddy (rice) cultivation.

Water is sweet, plentiful and easily available.

The land is surrounded by other farms also under cultivation. The area is unspoilt and there are no quarries, electricity pylons or polluting industries nearby.

The land is easily accessed by a direct, well maintained village roadway.

The view of Arunachala is spectacular.

The area is surrounded by reservoir areas and Forest Hills -- so future development of this area will be limited thereby the land and surrounding place will retain its pristine, unspoilt rural ethos.

For further information please get in touch through email -- information at the top left corner of this page.