A two-day SBI-The Hindu Group Home Expo, a property trade fair organised by The Hindu group of publications, got under way at Trivandrum Club, Vazhuthacaud, here on Saturday morning.
Thirty major builders from the city and Kochi are showcasing their homes, villas, and flats apartment projects across the State at the expo, powered by icloud Homes. Five stalls providing free legal, design and construction, paint, kitchen, and Vaastu consultation are the highlight of the show.
S. Venkataraman, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India (SBI), who inaugurated the expo, said the event was novel, as not only renowned builders, but other service providers such as Vaastu, interior design, and legal experts were also taking part in it, so that those looking to buy or build a house could find information on many aspects under one roof.
Mr. Venkataraman later said it was a positive sign that the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) had been introduced in the State. With inward remittances from various countries, including those in the Gulf, picking up, the possibility of an upswing on the home-buying front was a good thing for the State. “We foresee a lot of demand for housing, and the expo will provide a good opportunity for people to visit and decide to buy homes.”
N. Mahesh, architect, said in bigger cities with big players, the absorption was too little, and it had become a buyer’s market. In Thiruvananthapuram, the market was bouncing back after this glut. The expo’s five kiosks, dedicated to free consultation on various aspects of a house, would help attract more footfall, and establish the show as a regular feature in the city.
S.N. Raghuchandran Nair, president, Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the expo significantly provided an opportunity to non-Credai (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India) to participate.
Kaanipayyur Krishnan Nampoothiripad, Vaastu consultant, said there were a lot of enquiries about Vaastu. In their desire for safety and comfort, people would ask about location, direction, and measurements.
For colourful homes
Paint consultant S. Vijayakumar said the kiosk at the expo would provide expert guidance to visitors on what they had envisioned for their homes and how to realise it, the stage they would need to consult about paint, and what care should they take instead of settling for run-of-the-mill work.
Vipin Austin, Deputy General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation; Partha Sarathi Patra, General Manager – Network 1, SBI; G.K. Maya, General Manager, Canara Bank, Kerala Circle; K. Srikant, chairman, SFS Homes; S. Krishna Kumar, managing director, Nikunjam Constructions Pvt. Ltd.; K.K. Joshy, senior general manager (Advertisement-Kerala), The Hindu; and Saiju Mohammed Basheer, chairman, Indian Institute of Architects; were present at the inaugural event.
Options are galore at the expo, with homes ranging from ₹35 lakh to ₹3.5 crore on a single platform. A range of home loan products, offered by leading banking and financial institutions such as the SBI, are available. The SBI offers zero processing fee for all bookings. For women borrowers, there is a five basis point concession.
Discounts to the extent of ₹100 to ₹500 a sq ft are offered by the builders for bookings made at the fair. Indian Oil Corporation is gifting fuel coupons for ₹100 for the first 125 visitors on the expo days, subject to prior registration.
The expo has been held in other cities such as New Dehi, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, and abroad such as in Dubai.
It is being held in Kerala for the first time. The Kochi edition was held on August 3 and 4, before the Thiruvananthapuram leg this weekend. It will be open from 10.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
