A Valentine Gateway: Low-cost Accommodation Options to Celebrate with your Valentine

As a result of increasing tourism in northern Pakistan, the number of low-cost accommodation options for travelers, such as apartments, cottages, and villas (as opposed to regular hotels which are more expensive), is increasing significantly. Surrounded by majestic mountains, the return on investment of these options ranges between 15 to 18% per year; their resale value increases by approximately 22% every three years.

If you are considering traveling to the following destinations with your valentine or even later this year, or investing in property there, factor in the following:

·        Bhurban. Located between Kashmir Road and Murree Road, Bhurban is a picturesque town that is a 45-mnute drive from Islamabad. Attractions include Ayubia National Park, an expansive golf course and hiking trails. Apartments are increasingly available for short-term rentals; facilities include swimming pools and complimentary WiFi.

Rental range (per night) – Apartments: $ 70 to $ 100

Purchasing price range – Apartments (450 – 800 sq ft): $ 120,000 to $ 180,000

·        Pir Sohawa. Located 17 kilometers from Islamabad, Pir Sohawa overlooks Daman-e-Koh Park, a popular vantage point 3,600 feet above sea level. Options include apartments, cottages, and villas. In addition to fine-dining restaurants, they provide facilities such as gyms, spas and swimming pools as well as corporate lounges and conference rooms for business travel. Activities include high-rope courses as well as hiking and walking trails.

Rental range (per night) – Apartments: $ 20 to 50; cottages: $ 30 to 60; Villas: $ 70t o 90.

Purchase Price Range – Apartments: (1,300 to 1,500 sq ft) $ 50,000 to 70,000; cottages: (300 to 500 sq yds) $ 150,000 to 180,000; villas (800 to 1,000 sq yds) $ 270,000 to 300,000

·        Skardu. Located at an altitude of 7,500 feet, Skardy is enchantingly beautiful; it is a one-hour flight from Islamabad. There are several accommodation options there, the majority of which overlook the majestic Kachura Lake. These include luxurious suites in resorts and cottages; facilities include swimming pools, spas, and fine-dining restaurants.

Rental range (per night) – Cottage: $ 30 to 50; Suite: $ 70 to 100

Purchase price range – Cottages (250 to 350 sq yards) $ 170,000 to 220,000; Suite: (500 to 800 sq yards) $ 280,000 – 570,000

Give Your Kitchen an Uplift: Five Kitchen Decorating Ideas on a Budget

Are you thinking about decorating your kitchen? Although there may be myriad reasons why you would want to do so, remember that renovating your kitchen by having it re-designed and equipping it with modern kitchen decoration accessories can increase the value of your home by 8 – 10%. Here are few kitchen décor ideas in a budget:

Countertops – The most popular material for countertops is granite. Although they are available in light and dark colors, black and maroon are the trendiest kitchen designs. Granite has high durability (it is heat and stain resistant and does not absorb liquids) and is easy to maintain and aesthetically pleasing. Price: $ 5 to $ 12 per square feet.

Cabinets – No matter what kind of cabinets you have, just a coat of paint can transform them. Kitchen décor designers recommend that cabinets be painted in two different shades; popular combinations include mint green-and-maroon, grey-and-pink and black-and-white.

Price: $ 10 to $ 15 per square feet.

Tiles – Kitchen renovation materials worth considering are sandstone and rubber because they are durable and easy to maintain. Sandstone tiles will give your kitchen an ‘earthy look’ and are available in shades of red and brown. Rubber tiles are a little more expensive but more contemporary looking.

Price Sandstone: $ 18 to 20 per square feet.

Price Rubber: $ 25 to $ 35 per square feet.

Walk-in Pantries – Floor-to-ceiling pantries are not only best in simple kitchen designs but also ideal for storing kitchen appliances and large pots and pans. Their width ranges between five to six feet and they are usually seven to eight feet deep.

Price: $ 350 to $ $ 450.

Other kitchen décor themes you should consider: Island Kitchen theme ($350), Skylight Kitchen theme ($ 150) and stainless-steel backsplashes ($ 10 per square feet).

Living Coral in Hotels – Pantone’s Color of 2019

Colors not only serve aesthetic purposes, but they are also known to have varying effects on how you think, act or react. In fact, certain colors are believed to have the ability to soothe or irritate, and even affect your blood pressure and appetite.

In Carlstadt, New Jersey lies the headquarters of Pantone LLC who take the business of color very seriously. Every season, they release the Fashion Color Trend Report which highlights the season’s top colors and they are consequently spotted on runways, interiors, and buildings.

On December 6, 2018, a vibrant and lively hue coined ‘Living Coral’ was named the 20^th Pantone Color of the year. It has been described by Pantone as a color of ‘carefree happiness’. Laurie Pressman, VP, Pantone Color Institute, expressed that this shade “Symbolizes our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuit”.

Pantone and Tribute Portfolio (Marriot International’s new chain of independent hotels) have partnered to create a pop-up pantry that allows people to experience an immersive tribute to Living Coral at selected hotels. In collaboration with different artists and influencers such as Diplo and Sia, they will introduce interactive Pantone Pantries starting in Art Basel in Miami, and then move on to Savannah, Georgia and then the Netherlands this year. Each pantry will reflect the ‘spirit’ of each city to take guests on a journey of the character, color, and design that will showcase the uses of this trending color.

Pantone is also working with Material ConneXion and Adobe Stock (Software that designers use) in order to bring living Coral to creatives and designers; it Is expected that the color will be seen in homes in the form of statement walls, mirrors, and homeware, the exterior of buildings and will thus shape architectural and interior design trends.

The name of ‘Living Coral’ has been inspired by a ‘feeling of sunsets and the marine invertebrate; it is linked with the natural world of coral, a beautiful living organism that is facing extinction due to increasingly warmer oceans. Not only does this hade evoke a sense of punchy optimism, but it also serves as a reminder of the state of our environment.

Pakistan’s Real Estate Market Trends in 2018

The year 2018 was not an especially lucrative one for the real estate sector, primarily due to the economic downturn, as a result of which Pakistan real estate market transaction decreased significantly.

Here are a few trends that emerged in 2018:

Residential Real Estate Investment Trends

• The prices of houses increased by up to 10%; rentals remained the same when compared to 2017.
• The prices of, and demand for, plots increased by 5 to 15%, particularly in Punjab real estate, where the sales of one-acre plots increased by 8-10%.
• Apartment related real estate market decreased by 10 to 15%; their prices decreased by 12 to 18%.
• The demand for affordable property within gated communities increased by up to 20% and their availability went up by 10%.
• Investments in plots and house on the outskirts of metropolitan cities within gated communities increased by 15 to 20%.
• Foreign real estate investments made by overseas Pakistanis decreased by 10 to 12%.
• Areas that attracted most investment include DHA (Bahawalpur), DHA (Islamabad), Bahria Town (Karachi) and Phases VI and IX, DHA (Lahore).

Residential Real Estate Investment Trends

• Property prices increased by up to 10%; rentals remained the same.
• Foreign real estate investment in Pakistan market increased by 20%
• The demand for multi-purpose commercial buildings (which consist of retail and office space) increased by 10 to 15%.
• Investment in property along the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) increased by 5 to 10%.
• Popular real estate investment destinations included areas on the outskirts of cities such as Gwadar, Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Key commercial areas that attracted investment included Jinnah Supper (Islamabad), Clifton and Shahrah-e-Faisal (Karachi) and Gulberg (Lahore).

Other Real Estate Investment Trends Include:

• The demand for, and value of, agricultural land increased by 10 to 15%
• Construction costs increased by 15 to 18%.

Low Cost House Plans with Estimate in Hilly Areas

The trend of establishing low-cost house designs and floor plans within hilly terrains is gaining traction, where property prices are increasing, and a significant proportion of the population is unable to afford housing. These houses, which resemble caves, are considered to be earthquake proof and are not affected by landslides. According to a report by (General Growth Properties, 2018) the demand for, and value of, these houses are increasing by 15 to 30% every year, and they are also used as storage space as well.

Here is an in-depth look for cheap house building ideas:

• ·        To construct a ‘cave home’, space within a hillside must be purchased; its price is 25 to 40% lower compared to the cost of regular plots.
• ·        These houses are spread over at least 400 square feet and usually consist of two large rooms; kitchens, restrooms and living areas (usual verandahs) are located outside.
• ·        Another low-cost house construction technique is to build plastered walls with clay instead of regular paint, and floors are paved with concrete. These are easy to maintain and relatively inexpensive.
• ·        These houses usually do not have windows; however, entrances are at least seven to eight feet high in order to allow a substantial amount of sunlight to enter.
• ·        Due to their location, these houses stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, which makes them eco-friendly.
• ·        Indoor plumbing is usually not available; however, electricity is.
• ·        The estimate of the low-cost house plan is in between $ 35,000 and $ 40,000, and this makes these houses affordable for a significant number of people in hilly areas. An increasing number of people are purchasing them and placing them on rent; monthly rentals range between $ 1,350 and $ 1,800.

How to increase home value for appraisal by using four building material

Over the last five to ten years, an increasing number of houses are being constructed with eco-friendly blocks instead of those made with regular concrete. Not only are they durable, but they can also withstand the impact of climate change. Furthermore, their presence can increase home value for appraisal significantly.

What makes property value increase:

Here are four building materials to consider when constructing a house:

1. Insulated concrete blocks are made from polystyrene or polyurethane foam and then filled with concrete. Introduced in Europe in the 1960s, these blocks are easy to stack, lightweight (they weigh 40% less than regular concrete blocks) and provide thermal protection. Houses in which these blocks are used are 15 to 25% cooler during the summer and warmer during winters. Their presence can be the best home improvements to increase value by 10 to 15%.

2. Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a building material that contains air pockets within the concrete and this makes it 30 to 40% lighter than regular concrete. Available in the form of blocks and slabs, it provides thermal and sound insulation and is fire-resistance. Its presence can increase a home value for appraisal by 25 to 30%.

3. Straw bales have been sued for centuries to thatch roofs and building walls. This renewable material is usually covered with cement to make sturdy building blocks that are resistant to fire and decay. Straw bale walls can also be used in houses to create positions. Their presence is what home improvements add the most value by 10 to 12%.

4. Green blocks are made of concrete and covered with a plant-based slide. Mostly used on the facades of houses; they are durable, eco-friendly and low maintenance in terms of their cost. They are also effective insulators and keep homes cool during summer and warm during winter. These are what makes property value increase by 8 to 10%.

Six Factors to Consider While Investing in An Organic Farmland

The trend of establishing organic farmlands is gaining traction in Pakistan and their number has increased by nearly 30% in the last two years. Unlike 'regular' agricultural land, the soil that is used in organic farmlands does not contain any pesticides or chemicals. Fruit and vegetable grown on these farmlands are therefore considered to be healthier than those grown on non-organic ones.

If you are thinking about investing in an organic farmland, factor in the following:

1. Farmland sizes range between two and eight acres

2. The value of, and the demand for, organic farmlands increased by 18 to 20% every year.

3. Investors are increasingly purchasing regular farmlands and converting them into organic ones by treating the soil and then renting them out. Rentals amount to 15 to 18% of the total value of the property.

4. People who choose to grow crops on the farmland they have purchased benefit from a return on investment (ROI) that ranges between 22 and 30% each year.

5. Organic farmland is increasingly available in the following areas:

Islamabad: Fateh Jhang Road

Karachi: Gadap and Malir

Lahore: Bedian road and BRB Canal Road

Rawalpindi: Chakri Road

6. The prices of organic farmland are as follows:

Purchase price range: Rs. 1.6 - 2.5 million per acre

Monthly rental range: Rs. 40,000 - 55,000 per acre