Indian real estate has witnessed a revolution over the last few years and is growing at a rapid pace of over 25% across most parts of the country. Search for the dream property is not confined to newspapers; Internet has become a key enabler for NRIs looking for the dream property.

Set to grow to Rs 1,050 crore in the next four years from 30 crore now, the mushrooming online real estate business in the last one or two years has seen increase in the number of realty websites. The major players own about 80% of the market currently. Still in a very nascent stage, the industry is expected to grow larger than any other online sector.

There is much that the realty market has to offer. But staying abroad, it is almost impossible for NRIs to keep track of all the developments in the sector. Serious buyers therefore need right information and professional property services to keep abreast with the latest trends in the Indian realty market. Due to lack of access to Indian newspapers abroad, they are not aware of the various options available for investments. Earlier, one had to refer to relatives and friends in India to get information on the available properties. But now with the introduction of online realty portals, one can find potential information about the various properties, with just a click of a mouse.

Online portals not only help in specifying the search criteria (so that property seekers obviate the need to browse through thousands of listings) but also allow a user to post their requirements or set alerts for getting updates on matching requirements. Portals also allow seekers to shortlist and compare properties, making the search for the right property Online portals with a database of over 7.5 lakh properties, not only suggest enough options to choose from, but also present an insight into the growing and upcoming realty Markets. They also help in providing a check on all the basic facilities like locality, transport facilities, schools, hospitals, Markets, sufficient water and electricity supplies, which helps a buyer make up his mind better.

Property portals also help NRIs deal with the hesitation of investing in Indian properties; NRIs have a perception that Indian developers follow unethical practices that result in unsafe investments.

Property portals have a dedicated customer care team, which follows a rigorous verification process to try and minimise incorrect information that may come with the listings. If need be, the executives call up the seller to verify the rates, specifications etc, so that a richer experience for the property seekers can be ensured. In fact, with the introduction of an online property rating mechanism, which is a user-generated rating system, individuals can rate properties based on their interaction with the sellers, which will help the property seeker a great deal.

Proving to be a boon for the NRIs, the online real estate portals have changed the way property seekers search for desired properties. Apart from making property search faster, sharper and easier, property portals are enabling NRIs to contact sellers in India by sitting in their respective countries, and helping them evaluate property options better. It is not long before the Internet will become the preferred medium for buying, selling, renting and leasing properties in India, and wherever NRIs are based, across the world.