When You Hitch Your Wagon to Someone Else’s Star

Quick Review of Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4), Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara,

I visited Shirwal on the eve of Boomipujan of Vastushodh Projects' UrbanGram, mainly because, I wanted to visit Star City (www.star-city.in).

I haven't visited it in the last 3 years. However, I still remember the hype Star City Shirwal had created when it was launched in June 2010. It had received huge response from Pune real estate investors. Mainly from those who had missed the real estate boom of 2003 - 2007, created by IT companies at Hinjewadi & Kharadi.

Like IT professionals these investors were not young & highly paid. These were middle class - middle aged - salaried persons - working in local industries - who had little extra income plus some home loan eligibility. However, all of them wanted to own a second home - like those young IT engineers. In fact, owning a second home was the only remedy for them - to overcome midlife crises - to overcome their inferiority complex.

Besides, these middle class Punekars, those from Satara - Karad - Kolhapur on Pune Bangalore Highway also invested in Star City Shirwal and claimed their slice of prosperous Pune real estate market.

The huge response of these predominantly Maharashtrian middle class investors proved that greed is easy to sell. You don't need to be a reputed builder. You don't need any track record. You don't need a good property - planning - floor plan & layout plan. What all you need is a marketing skill. Just rope in a celebrity to sell the dream of earning huge appreciation - that's all.

The huge response to Star City Shirwal proved that every prosperity addict real estate investor believes that a builder's main business is to make them rich. So, all of these investors confidently hitched their wagon to Star City Shirwal.

I was visiting Star City Shirwal to see - in 3 years time - how their investment has grown, prospered & appreciated.

"Has anybody taken possession & living in?," I asked security at the entrance gate of Star City Shirwal.

"Not yet. Construction going on," the security guard said.

"Is anybody in the sales office?," I asked.

"Yes," he said and told me where it is.

The sales office was in one of the incomplete buildings. Obviously, before visiting the office, I visited a few flats. Most of them were open, dirty, incomplete & unfinished. In fact, those were not flats - those were bunch of rooms. Then I did what I was waiting to do for the last 3 years - I walked the longest passage connecting 8 flats on the floor. And visited the sales office. Yes, I really did.

The sales person told me that the current property rate of Star City Shirwal is Rs. 2,700 per sq.ft. Saleable areas of the 2 BHK Flats are 909, 935, 971 and their all inclusive prices are Rs. 26.65, 27.40, 28.43 Lakhs + 1.5 Lakhs for Parking. Whereas the 1 BHK Flats come in 590 / 600 / 603 / 652 saleable areas and cost Rs. 17.52 - 17.81 - 17.89 - 19.30 Lakhs. He started telling me about property prices and availability of 3 BHK Flats, but I requested him not to bother and wished him good night.

Besides the gate on Pune Bangalore Highway, Star City Shirwal has one more gate on the back side - on Naigaon Road. I decided to use that road. It was Sunday. No one was at the site. Of course, looking at the incomplete buildings - who knows - even on the weekdays the picture may not be different, I thought.

Suddenly, I saw a middle aged couple discussing something with a guy who was looking like a construction worker. I went to them. Looking at me, the lady asked, "Have you also invested or what?"

"No. You?," I asked.

"Yes. One flat. One shop," said the middle aged lady.

"I didn't dare to book at the launch. I didn't have vision - like you. You know what? Now, the rate is 2700!," I said.

"We booked at 1600!," said the middle aged lady and introduced me to her husband. Both of them were looking like 40 - 45 year old babies.

I was about to ask them whether they would like to have a lolly-pop, but I asked,"Where are your investment properties? Can I see them?"

"That's what we are searching - we haven't been here before - today is our first time - this man doesn't know anything," said the 45 year old baby boy.

"Don't get upset - even if you couldn't find - it will keep on appreciating," I said and took out my handkerchief and wiped his tears.

Contact Star City Shirwal:

880 555 0000 / 95454 55945 / 95454 55948 / www.star-city.in


View Vastushodh Projects' 'Urbangram Shirwal, Dhangarwadi Phata at Chaupal, Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4), Taluka Khandala, District Satara, 412801 in a larger map

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Shops at Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Naigoan Road - Star City Shirwal 412801, 1 BHK & 2 BHK Flats on Pune Bangalore Highway (N H 4) , Taluka Khandala, District Satara

Related Stories:

1) Shanti Savera Shirwal - A Home for the Common-Man

2) Visit Vaikunth Smashan Bhumi at Shirwal

3) Weekly Bazaar in Shirwal

4) UrbanGram Shirwal Launched

5) As rupee pierces 65/$, ICICI Bank and HDFC raise home loan rates

6) UrbanGram Shirwal will be launched on 23rd August 2013

7) A Bungalow for 60 Lakhs near UrbanGram Shirwal

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Star City Shirwal - it's all about Vastu Shastra!

Visit to Star City on Pune Bangalore (Bengaluru) Highway at Shirwal:

View Star City Shirwal in a larger map

Yesterday, i visited Star City at Shirwal (www.star-city.in). I went with my builder friends. From my home on Paud Road, Star City is just 50 klms away. It was a pleasant drive, may be of 50 minutes, in the cloudy afternoon, on the familiar road. So, we had a good time.

At the site of Star City, as i was told, there was nothing much to see. Not even the digital presentation. Because, there was no power. Like, any day in Shirwal - no power for 4 hours.

While waiting, we tried to read the floor plans of Star City Shirwal. But couldn't. Because in the floor plan of 1 BHK Flats, room dimensions were not given, at all.

In the floor plans of 2 BHK Flats, dimensions were printed, in the centimeters, and were too small to read. Plus, 120 cm - means 3 feet 11 inches - wide and 2455 cms - means 80 feet 6 inches - long passage in the 2 BHK Flat's buildings in Star City Shirwal - became a big topic of discussion. We started debating over "What is important in real estate marketing? Information or impression? Planning or Presentation? Pricing and Profit or Interest free finance from the financial institutions through so called investors?"

One of my builder friend told us to shut up and look at the table. One gentleman, wearing shirt, trouser and glasses - must be a graduate - as innocent as an IT professional - must be investing housing finance company's funds as if they are his own funds - was writing a cheque of a booking amount. We got the answer!

Someone tried to talk about the same room size of all 3 bedrooms in the 3 BHK Flats of Star City - only 10 feet x 10 feet 3 inches - but we ignored and kept on "viewing" the happenings at both tables - bookings!

Now, my builder friends started enjoying the visit. For them, there is nothing like "viewing" the property buyer booking a flat. Booking - without much information. Booking - without a sample flat. Booking - without any major site development. Booking - in a project developed by an unknown developer. Booking - in a town like Shirwal, so far away from Pune City. Booking - at Rs. 1,600 per sq.ft. on National Highway 4. Oh! what a sight!! One of my friend thanked me for inviting him to witness this divine happening!!

Every thing was going on well, till one of my builder friend lost his cool. We got an opportunity to meet the salesman. As we were taking our seats, a friendly salesman, actually brother of the builder of Star City, casually said that from tomorrow - they may increasing the property rate. My builder friend started arguing. Just like a typical property buyer! "Why? Why are you increasing the rate by 100 rupees? You should not increase the property price! This is not fair. It's pure greed!"

"He is upset because he had liked your project. While we were waiting, we studied the brochure. Thought that today, we will block the one we like (flat) and send a cheque tomorrow. Now a days, who carries a cheque book or a cash in his pocket?," other friend not only said but took out his valet and showed more than a dozen credit cards.

"No problems! Since we are on the main Pune - Mahabaleshwar - Satara - Kolhapur road, in the last 18 days, many people have stopped here on the way, liked our Star City and booked the flat with whatever amount they can spare at that point of time, even 1,000 or 2,000 rupees. In the next couple of days, of course, they have sent the cheque of balance amount!," young friendly man said.

"Good! You are a customer friendly builder! In Pune, you wont find any. Now, give us a good flat in a good building. Where is your building layout? It is not there in the brochure!," my builder friend said.

I had seen the layout plan of the Star City in New English School Tilak Road, so i was not shocked. But, when the young man showed the layout plan, he was using like table cloth, my builder friends started looking at each other.

"Do you have to get the plans and layout sanctioned from anybody - like PMC in Pune - or you can plan as you want?," one of my builder friend asked very politely. "Shirval is in Satara District. They sanction it," young builder said (now, we were completely aware that we were talking to the family member of the builder of Star City!)

Looking at the layout plan of Star City, one of my builder friend said,"This looks great! I am loving it!!" "Yes, every one likes our project at a first glance! One investor has booked 80 shops and 48 flats in his first visit on the day of a launch !" the young builder said proudly.

"Really! You have shops in Star City? I would like to buy one! Where are shops in this layout?," my builder friend asked. "All gone! Now, you have to buy from that investor! We sold him for 2,700. Now, he asks more than 3,500!," the young builder said and showed the shops located on the both sides of 9 meter - 29 feet 6 inches - wide road in the center of Star City! "This shopping street in Star City at Shirval would be as good as Tulshibaug in Pune!," one of my builder friend said. Young builder took it as a complement!

By this time, one more SUV had come with the visiting property buyers from Pune. They were waiting for information. Looking at them, one of my builder friend said, "There is something special special about this site. I am feeling something since we entered!"

"You are feeling vibrations! This is all because of the 6 months treatment of Vastu! We have "resized" this plot as per Vastu. We have put tons of special metals in the plot as prescribed in the Vastu. There are hundreds of Pyramids placed at the specific points as per Vastu. The size and the location of the main gate is exactly as per Vastu. Hundreds of litters of "Go Mutra" (urine of a cow) is sprinkled on this plot to purify it as per Vastu. This booking is all because of the Vastu!," the young builder said with a smile.

Without talking or looking at each other we got into the car. At the gate, i told the driver to stop for a moment. I got down and shot the photographs of the site of Star City Shirwal, given below. After i finished shooting, i realized that my builder friends had left without me. Suddenly, my complete body started shivering. It stopped, only, when i asked myself, "Ravi Karandeekar, Pune real estate consultant, how about becoming a Vastu Consultant?"

Would you like to share your experience of booking a flat in Star City Shirwal Pune?

If you would like to share your experience, please, send a mail to ravikarandeekarsblogs@gmail.com with a proof of booking (image of check / receipt / allotment letter) and a permeation to publish it on Ravi Karandeekar's Pune Real Estate Market News Blog.

Contact Star City Shirwal:

Site Office
Gate No. 336 / A, Opp. Pandharpur Crossing,
Adjacent Pune - Banglore Highway,
Shirwal.

Corporate Office
Off. No. 154, 155,
Connaught Palace,
Bund Garden Road,
Pune - 411 001

Tel.: (020) 4007 7796 /
Mob.: +91 8805 50000 / 95454 55945 / 95454 55950 / 98904 44067

Related Stories:

1)SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2010

Star City Shirwal receives huge response

2) THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2010

MHFC disburses the first installment of home loans to Anandgram Yavat

3) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2010

May 2010 - Most popular blogs on Ravi Karandeekar's Pune Real Estate Market News Blog

Feel free to call me:

I enjoy talking, sharing my views and giving advice about buying property in Pune real estate market (so, i do not charge anything for the first 3 minutes!) Call +919860044110

If you like to chat, join me, RaviKarandeekarsBlogs on Google Talk.

Yes, my email id is RaviKarandeekarsBlogs@gmail.com Feel free to write. I reply as soon as i can.

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Star City Shirwal receives huge response

New English School Tilak Road Pune - Venue of Star City Event :

Today, Sunday, 6th June 2010, is the second day of a 3 day “booking event” organized by Star City (www.star-city.in),  at at New English School Tilak Road in Pune

. 

Royal Star Group’s Star City is a luxurious township of total 1,000 Flats of 1 BHK, 2 BHK & 3 BHK at Shirwal on Pune Bangalore Highway. Property rate at Star City is, only, Rs. 1,600 per sq.ft. Including MSEB, Legal and 1 year’s maintenance charges budgets are:
1) 1 BHK Flat – 559 – 644 saleable – Rs. 9,29,400 to 10,65,400
2) 2 BHK Flat – 909 – 935 saleable – Rs. 14,89,400 to 15,88,600
3) 3 BHK Flat – 1159 – 1169 saleable – Rs. 18,89,400 to 19,05,400





I visited the event around 6.30 pm. Six salesmen were busy explaining the scheme. So, along with a few families, i viewed the walkthrough of Star City Shirwal for more than 3 / 4 times and entertained myself.



At last, i got an opportunity to meet the salesman. He said only one 3 BHK Flat is available. However, if i insist, he can try to get one 3 BHK Flat for me in one of the 2  buildings blocked by Godrej. “Otherwise”, the salesman suggested, “why don’t you go for a 2 bhk flat? You can get a choice. Even a corner flat with a 3 side view!”

“Wow! But i want to visit the site before booking,” I said. The salesman said, “I can visit the site tomorrow morning and book a flat. But, he can’t promise about the availability of 2 bhk flats. Because, today the event is open up to 11 pm!”

“Yes, i can see that Shirwal on Pune Bangalore Highway has become a star city!,” I said, collected the price list, brochure and took his leave.

Star City Shirwal on Google Maps:

View Star City Shirwal in a larger map

Would you like to share your experience of booking a flat in Star City Shirwal Pune?

If you would like to share your experience, please, send a mail to ravikarandeekarsblogs@gmail.com with a proof of booking (image of check, receipt, allotment letter) and a permeation to publish it on Ravi Karandeekar's Pune Real Estate Market News Blog.

Site Office
Gate No. 336 / A, Opp. Pandharpur Crossing,
Adjacent Pune - Banglore Highway,
Shirwal.

Corporate Office
Off. No. 154, 155,
Connaught Palace,
Bund Garden Road,
Pune - 411 001

Tel.: (020) 4007 7796 /
Mob.: +91 8805 50000 / 95454 55945 / 95454 55950 / 98904 44067

Related Stories:

1) THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2010

MHFC disburses the first installment of home loans to Anandgram Yavat

2) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2010

May 2010 - Most popular blogs on Ravi Karandeekar's Pune Real Estate Market News Blog

Feel free to call me:

I enjoy talking, sharing my views and giving advice about buying property in Pune real estate market (so, i do not charge anything for the first 3 minutes!) Call +919860044110

If you like to chat, join me, RaviKarandeekarsBlogs on Google Talk.

Yes, my email id is RaviKarandeekarsBlogs@gmail.com Feel free to write. I reply as soon as i can.

Join me on Google Buzz at
http://www.google.com/profiles/ravi.karandeekar

Subscribe for Free!

To receive free emails or free RSS feeds, please, subscribe to Ravi Karandeekar's Pune Real Estate Market News Blog

For my blogs on real estate projects near Hinjewadi, real estate investment, advertising and other related topics, please, visit and join my Ravi Karandeekar's Pune Real Estate Blog Group