Historically, real estate and its ancillary investments are considered one of the safest and lucrative industries.

Nepal has been seeing a steady growth in the field of physical infrastructure development, road expansions, commercial building projects, new land acquisitions for residential projects, and the likes in the last decade. This has undoubtedly pushed the demand and prices of the asset upwards and is a promising investment arena today. It offers high returns for comparatively lesser risk when compared to speculative markets of equity and other financial instruments.

Real estate offers a unique appeal of a passive income it can generate and is therefore fast gaining traction amongst small and big investors alike. Surveys and statistics show that this upsurge in the market will continue northwards in the coming years and makes it further attractive for one’s long-term investment portfolio.

So how does one go about this business of investing in real estate in Nepal?

When one thinks of anything remotely related to real estate – whether it is listing, buying, selling, leasing any kind of residential or commercial property – one invariably thinks of a real estate agent.

Individuals associated with such realty transactions have developed over years, maybe by virtue of being the only player or better networking skills.

Now, prima facie there is no warranty in the quality of dealings with such agents. Unprofessional, inexperienced professionals and even scammers could likely pose plausible hassles.  Brokers in Nepal work independently in a loosely unregulated sector. The market in Nepal is deeply entrenched with estate agents of all kinds and one needs to navigate the tasks of viewing, buying, selling, etc with utmost caution and alertness.

So, what’s the alternative, you wonder?

The internet has influenced and changed the shape of doing business in every field and real estate could not have been far behind. It is enabling people to get closer and helping property enthusiasts to seamlessly associate with each other and trade mutually.

Let’s explore the immense value real estate websites are bringing to Nepal’s realty landscape by addressing the many issues inherent to the market ambiguities and the players therein.

Undoubtedly online portal is a faster and easier method to search for appropriate assets. One can remotely access many properties at one website, without having to move out from the comfort of one’s space. This arrangement benefits both agents and investors because it reduces the costs of traveling and visiting physical sites during the shortlisting phase. Given the current pandemic times, this is even more relevant, where movement is severely restricted. The portals work both ways, where sellers can list their properties open to a buyer’s search for further information.

Photographs, videos, and maps are systematically employed to guide prospective buyers through the properties.  With the advancement in technology, a virtual tour is very convenient for evaluating properties before onsite visits. With this approach, the first round of selection is hassle-free and the buyer/seller knows upfront what to expect in terms of pricing, paperwork, and the time to close the deal.

Moreover, a property portal comes with additional search filters that let users see listings based on their specific preferences, budgets, and timelines, instead of being at the mercy of the agent who will push for properties with the highest commissions.

This brings us to a key aspect of a usually complex process of brokerage in property dealings. Buyers and sellers regularly face the issue of irregular commission charges by agents, which at times lead up to deal-breaking, when ironically both parties are keen and willing. Websites on the other end are neutral, uniform, and transparent in any processing fees charged, resulting in net savings to close the transaction.

Furthermore, property portals provide an additional layer of security by furnishing verified property listings and conducting due diligence to verify the legitimacy of paperwork and ownership. Besides the primary services, they also provide other related services under one roof, such as renovation services, interior designing, land valuation, legal and registration services, demolition and construction services, and Vaastu consulting.

Property portals are the future of property dealings in the growing real estate market of Nepal. They make the asset available to a wider audience, allow sellers and buyers to pursue leads remotely, offer credibility by verifying legal checks on paperwork and the authenticity of listings, save money per transaction for both parties while offering visual information about the asset at the click of a button. A win-win for both the investor and the seller/lessee establishing a service standard for the market, which will only shine brighter with time!