India has long since divorced the socialistic idealism held in high esteem through the pre-independence era. The infamous license raj gave way to a wave of opulence as capitalism tightened its hold over materialistic personal preferences. 

"In the 1960s, indoor comfort was symbolized by the electric ceiling fan. The next generation grew up in homes that had air-conditioned bedrooms, while today luxury is defined by splash pools, plunge pools and Jacuzzis, along with private gardens with hydrotherapy areas," says Sagar Chordia, Executive Director, Panchshil Realty.

Emerging as the leader of developing Asian countries demonstrated by a steady growth rate, India has a rapidly improving economy with tremendous potential to compete with global phenomenon. As the country rides high on the improving economy, real estate has emerged as one of the fastest growing sectors, according to business insight analysts Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) India. The company points to a healthy rise in demand in the premium housing segment, with luxury homes now a key focus area for developers.

As field experts observe, the Indian marketplace is beginning to understand and appreciate luxury, so there is a great opening for builders having a perspective on style and spoiling luxury. The definition of luxury homes in India has seen a sea change. With rising aspirations, the globe trotter consumer is seeking exclusivity and customization in every nook and corner of his home.

Yoopune is an astounding new residential development from global design brand Yoo, in the city of Pune- the satellite sister of Mumbai, the financial capital of the country. Set within an expanse of 17 acres including a five-acre rainforest, it promises access to a slew of exclusive services on its premises. 

The expatriates also have a direct bearing on the upward trend in demand for uber stylish designer homes in India. Keener than ever before to come home to the comfort of high definition amenities, the NRI’s are aggressively investing in luxurious residential projects "Only a handful of builders today have both the knowledge and experience capital to enter into this segment and deliver a product that lives up to their promise. This makes the demand-supply gap wide, with demand exceeding supply," says Mr. Chordia of Panchshil Realty, Pune.

Panchshil Realty are Pune’s premium construction real estate development company. With a GDV of $2.5 billion under construction, they are known for creating stylish spaces that are intuitive, unique and in a league of their own.

Intended for those interested in knowing whether it is the right time to buy into India property in view of the financial turmoil and declining prices across real estate markets, the road show at London this summer of 2011, lay special emphasis on ‘How to Invest Wisely in the Indian Real Estate Market', backed with appropriate facts and figures from the industry. The events attract heavy footfalls from serious buyers, who join the realty developer company's team of professionals for an informative and in-depth interaction with buyers and help them evaluate options from various developers.

A number of Indian real estate companies held first-time road shows in London this summer, targeting rich non-resident Indians, or NRIs while analysts opine that slowing sales at home is the factor forcing developers to look for buyers overseas.

Pune-based Panchshil Realty hosted its first road show in the British capital last month to showcase its luxury properties, including “yoopune“, styled by French designer Philippe Starck, where apartments are priced at 8.5 crore.

At the day-long show, the developer sold six apartments to high net worth NRIs. Property adviser Knight Frank helped the company compile a list of 600 potential investors and buyers who could be invited to the event. The Executive Director of Panchshil Realty, Mr. Sagar Chordia expressed his view on the positive side of investing back home as against in the far east where real estate is steeply priced. He also reiterated that summer is a great time to connect with corporate Indians who holiday in London.

 Indian property road shows were, until now, typically organized in West Asian destinations such as Dubai and Bahrain and used to be in the form of property exhibitions or investor interactions before a company's initial public offering.

While NRIs seek to buy a second home or invest in the Indian property market, mid-segment projects are also favored by NRI investors because they are easier to sell and exit. Overseas road shows offer a different breed of investors, particularly for high-end property sales, so it is better to go where the money is- seems to be the popular philosophy.