KEY HIGHLIGHTS FOR REAL ESTATE SECTOR IN UNION BUDGET 2017

Affordable Housing has been given the Infrastructure status
* 1 crore rural houses will be created by 2019
* National Housing Bank to refinance Rs 20,000 crore loans
* Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to get Rs 23,000 crore
* Real estate developers to get tax relief on unsold stock as liability to pay capital gains will arise only in the year a project is completed
* Instead of Built up area of 30 and 60 sq meters, the carpet area of 30 and 60 sq meters will be applicable for affordable housing
* Holding period for capital gains tax for immovable property reduced from 3 years to 2 years
* Window for availing 3 year profit-linked incentives for start ups increased to 7 years against 5 years earlier
* Tax break of 1 year post receipt of the completion certificate, for the unsold stock
* New FDI policy under consideration
* No cash transaction above Rs 3 lakh will be allowed
* Rs 2.41 lakh crore has been allocated to boosting infrastructure for transportation
* Indra Awaas Yojana will be extended to 600 districts
* Total allocation for the infrastructure sector is Rs 3,96,135 crore
* Allocation for National Highways to be at Rs 64,000 crore
* No cash transactions above 3 lakh
* Indexation for capital gains shifted from 01-04-81 to 01-04-2001