Name: Sunil Jaiswal
Age: 36
Nationality: British
Job: CEO, Sumansa Events
You've just finished organising the Indian Property Show – how successful was it? It was a phenomenal success. The IPS grew 21 per cent this year with more than 63 exhibitors offering investment opportunities to some 15,000 expatriate Indian visitors. The next Dubai show runs from December 4 to 6.
How much business was done? Builders are always shy to reveal figures but it was at least Rs3bn (Dh256m)
Why is it a good time to buy property in India? It's always a good time to invest in India. And the recent growth and development that the Indian economy and markets have seen has only added weight to the market. Property is still affordable – the average investment required as calculated at the show was only Rs5.1m.
But in line with worldwide scenarios, aren't the markets headed for a correction? In terms of market sentiment, we're seeing a mix of highs and lows. In my opinion, India is a great market to invest in, with a diverse property mix, choices and hard-to-beat deals constantly on offer. That's something we all need to pay attention to. Even if you were to take the US market presently, what we're seeing is a low price phase – which is an excellent time to invest. The problem lies with how we view a situation.
Who can buy property in India? Currently, ownership is restricted to Indians and persons of Indian origin.
What markets in India offer the highest returns? That's a loaded question… Tier II cities like Nagpur, Mysore, Mangalore, Noida, Gurgaon and Pune are lapping up a fair bit of attention with new development, and property is growing at between 10 and 15 per cent a year. The areas seeing the best growth are out-of-town developments close to new economic zones, industrial areas and airports.
Where do you yourself own property? I began in England, with a four-bedroom apartment. Today my portfolio spans three continents.
I'm listening to…
1. Forbidden Love by Madonna
2. Hold Diver by Dio
3. My Culture by Maxi Jazz and Robbie Williams
4. Tourniquet by Evanescence
5. Ni una Sola Palabra by Paulina Rubio
I'm reading…
Meatball Sundae by Seth Godin. The cover caught my eye. Then I read the author's name and bought it! It's a super book packed with insights about why "old marketing" (the meatballs) doesn't get with "new marketing" (the whipped cream). Great reading. Seth makes you laugh and think.