First Goa development
 

Have any of you come across this development http://www.firstgoa.co.uk
Reading their info makes buying sound like a walk in park!
GH

Re: First Goa development
 

Sounds like timeshare or one of those holiday clubs.

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi

Have lost the will to live to even get into this. Suggest you check any thread with "douglas" on it and trace his investigations. Believe them all and you will be saying good bye to Goa before you start. Listen and learn though, and if nothing else you will read some rib tickling stories.:thumbup:

Re: First Goa development
 

HOLIDAY CLUB TIMESHARE

BE CAREFUL. READ AND LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES.

Re: First Goa development
 

In England walking in the Park leads to dog muck on your shoe, or being accosted by drunks and beggars or not being able to walk on the grass, so I suppose it is like trying to buy property in Goa, you end up in the c**p or your intimidated by unsavoury characters or you're just not wanted on that precious piece of land. It all amounts to the same thing, be careful where you tread and in future don't go where you are not allowed or wanted.
Sorry just feeling fed up at the moment.
Regards

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi

I would like to firstly give you all some background. I am a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) living in the UK. I am looking to invest to invest in Goa. I have read some of the horror stories regarding purchasing properties in Goa for the ex pats.

I am basically looking for good advice regarding the Fist Goa development. As far as I can tell it looks like a good investment in terms of buying a property in a 5* Hotel complex.

Does anybody else know anything more about this investment in terms of location, viability etc.

Apologies in advance if this is not the type of post this site was set up for.

Thanks
J

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi J,


Welcome to the forum.

As a PIO you are free to invest in property (other than agricultural land), in Goa. Check the Govt of India regulations.

With regards to the First Goa development however, despite what the developers may tell you, it is extremely unlikely to go ahead for many reasons including the fact that the developers do not yet own the site which it is planned on!!!. I would strongly recommend to you (or anyone else looking at buying in this development) not to part with any money.

Are you looking purely in terms of investment, to let out, or for your own use?

Kind regards

Tom

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi Tom

I was actually looking to use it as an investment to let and occasional holiday use.

How do you know the land has not been purchased and that it is unlikely to go ahead? I would be interested to hear as information related to this development is hard to come by.

Many Thanks
J

Re: First Goa development
 

Good Sound Advice!!!:thumbsup:

Re: First Goa development
 

Thank you Remi! :)

J,

The land on the plateau on which the First Goa project is due to be located has been a contentious issue for many years now.

Over the years, there have been many proposed developments.
In recent times, three separate groups have shown an interest in acquiring the land from its various owners.
The first group are the GIDC - Goa Industrial Development Corporation, a government department who plan on building a food processing factory on the land.
The second group are the Tourism Ministry and the Leela Palace Hotel in Mobor, who wanted to run cable cars from the hotel in Mobor across the sea/river up onto a golf course on the plateau.
The third is the Claremont Group - developers for the First Goa Project.

A compulsory purchase order by the government for the land to be used as a food processing factory went through earlier this year, but to date none of the families who own the land have got paid.
The ownership of the land is now in question. Local opinion is very much against any form of development on the land, and it is a highly sensitive issue.
Irrespective of all of this, even if the Claremont Group could acquire, and get the permissions to build on the land, their proposed plans (which I have seen at least) would not be viable. Under the CRZ regulations in Goa, no new constructions can be within 200m of the shore. The plot runs along the coastline, so most of it would be impossible to construct on without breaking the CRZ Regs.
The green lobby in Goa are extremely powerful, and they have not even got started on this one yet! They have successfully blocked the construction of a proposed golf course on the land since the 1980's!

Over the years, some very powerful figures in Goa have tried to do something with the land. If they have never succeeded, what chance do a bunch of UK developers have?
The developers have been extremely badly advised, and a lot of people can and will suffer as a result.

Hope this answers your question.

Kind regards

Tom

Re: First Goa development
 

:thumbup:
Thanks for that Tom - we need more people like you for the serious side of the forum. Our aim is to stop people parting with the hard earned cash on dubious deals.

We have enough problems of our own, without others loosing out.

Thanks again
Noni

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi Tom

Many thanks for your post it was greatly appreciated and more detail than I expected.

I can't believe that Claremont International and Exclusively India / Hamptons International (who are currently marketing it in the UK) are not aware of these fundamental issues. If the prospective buyer is not able to get a refund this is such a scam.

There must be some law against this especially when it is being openly marketed in the UK???


kind regards
J

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi,

These firms marketing Goan property for purchase in the UK are all marketing
on the grey side of the law - they do not come under the Estate Agents
Misinformation Act. They will tell you when they are in a corner they work for a foreign developer.

FN cannot legally purchase property at the moment in Goa, the Register is closed to FN and you are not allowed to register your Deeds. You cannot get the required Visa.
Then you have people like us who HAVE registered our Deeds, done everything by the book, and are being investigated by the Directorate of
Enforcement.

The system is totally unfair, and the Agents in this country should be called to book, and you try and find an Goan Advocate who knows which way the law is meant to be read in Goa. They don't know themselves.

The people selling these properties in this country should be exposed for the liars they are.:curse:
Read the BUYER BEWARE thread, contact the Agents and see for yourself the lies they tell.

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi Noni

Are you a PIO?

Re: First Goa development
 

Unfortunately not! But you have to be careful whatever you are, white, pink, brown or an alien - the Government?FEMA etc. keep moving the Goal posts. Remy is one.:wub: (a 'noffi alien ) :rofl:

I am mad that these Agents can sell to us FN promising, and say can get your Deeds Registered when the Register is close and to PIO's when the land has problems. From what I have learnt over the last few months on this site, it is a minefield. But too late for me and many of my friends. These Agents really ought to be exposed. I'd put them in Fort Aguada.

Re: First Goa development
 

The government is putting restrictions on all Foreign Investment according to some news articles........i think this will eventually have consequences for PIO/NRI investments in the future.

The goalposts will keep moving and laws will keep getting ammended and changed.

love and peace,
Remy

Re: First Goa development
 

:wub: and peace to you! Have heard that they are stopping FN's purchasing shares out there as well, and those that have them have to sell them.
Haven't heard from our Bank as yet - but it may be right.
All the politicians out there can do is make our lives difficult, take bribes and fight amongst themselves. No time for putting their policies, like garbage, roads etc, into action.


Got the Rants to-night.

Re: First Goa development
 

noni said No I haven't heard that, it seems unlikely - do you have a link?

AndyD 8-)#

Re: First Goa development
 

If you read Babu's letter to us, he says it lasted for a day, the market fell and it was recinded.

Re: First Goa development
 

Ah! PN's = participatory notes - - must admit I'd never heard of them before but from waht I can find out this is nothing to do with FN's (in fact you can track one of the Indian stock exchange indexes directly on LSE).
No it is actually to stop Indians or NRI/PIO's investing without disclosing who they are. I read that the biggest offenders are the big family owned indian conglomerates buying (and manipulating) their own shares under cover.

hth <bg> AndyD 8-)#

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi London John. I understand that the land has now been aquired by investors - is this the case

Re: First Goa development
 

Does anyone have any info on this development. Is it still going ahead. I am keen to buy a couple of units. Claremont is very professional and seems to be very well respected in the investment market place.

Re: First Goa development
 

Jonnie,

Sorry for the delay in responding, I have not been on this site for a while now.

Claremont have been very badly advised from the outset. They have a good track record in the UK, but have entered into a market which they have no experience of, and have been very naive. I suspect very strongly that they will end up getting their finger badly burnt, with little recourse.

Whatever Claremont may say, the land has not been acquired and I can assure you of that.
This issue will take years to resolve - nothing is going to get built for a very very long time. Even if it does, Claremont will certainly not have a hand in it. I would strongly advise that you do not financially commit yourself to anything, even if it is just a "deposit"!

Kind regards

Tom

Re: First Goa development
 

Thanks for the feedback much appreciated. Since my last mail I have booked three units on this development which is extremely well designed. If you get any further info please let me know. I will let you know how things pan out

Re: First Goa development
 

Dear Friend:

No point of loosing your faith in living in goa.. I am a British citizen and an OCI card holder. I have managed to buy 2 fantastic properties in Goa - one in Dona Paula with sea view (102 m. sq area flat) opposite to Governers house and the other is a villa in Candolim with all facilities. Fortunately,I have found a guy in Goa who is a local wealthy businessman who helped me to buy these properties.I am in the process of buying another 2 bed room bunglow with all facilities in Anjuna less than 250m from famous Vegator beach( you can walk down from back of the property complex).
(SNIP) to help anyway I can who wants to come to Goa and live here short or long time.

Re: First Goa development
 

dear dipak.
straight forward,you´re so good,,do yourself believe in santa?please not another one,do us a favor,we just had enough of goa,you can own all goa if you want,we just don´t care.please guys(fn´s) don´t buy from anyone in goa,you will be ripped off.please ,please.not another victim.:curse:

Re: First Goa development
 

Jonny,

What have you been told then? When do they reckon work will start on site?

Kind regards

Tom

Re: First Goa development
 

:curse: Hi Camelo, unfortunately you are very right, but people will not believe you - I am coming to the same conclusion as Douglas let them get on with it IT IS THEIR MONEY I have been ripped off by Goans, although I (think) I have many friends unfortunately a lot of them are out for their own ends.

It is alright for Dipak as presumably he is PIO

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi Noni, Dipak is actually OCI which is better than PIO as it is for life, not just the 15 years that a PIO lasts. It's near enough dual citizenship although the Indian government says they do not have dual citizenship. :confused:

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi Tom
They have not given a date but I am told it will start by the end of the year. They have had a number of set backs with planning permissions and some bad press from the "save Goa2 regime. I meet with Claremont at their offices and I was very impressed with what they are trying to achieve in Goa and have invested my money with them. I suppose only time will tell anyway it’s not like I have to go to Goa to get my money back should things go wrong.

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi catpat,
too true.....the guys i bought from have two passports!!
they live in uk but have all the bonuses,much like most of Swindon
no doubt....
peace
rip:curse:

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi Jonny,

Unlike many people on this forum who have dealt with Goan developers, you obviously do have the advantage that you will have recourse in the UK if the project fails to commence. However, it is absolutely scandalous that they are happy to continue take money off people under the circumstances. Although i guess it is all just sitting in their account gaining interest for the time being! ;)

Are they telling their clients that they have now acquired the land? If that is the case then that is disgraceful!

They deserve to be exposed to the Goan press, as this would be of significant political interest.

Good luck anyway!

Kind regards

Tom

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi Tom

I have been away on business so sorry I did not reply sooner. I went to see the site in Betul and it was absolutely fantastic. I think the developer is still having issues with planning. I met with the local Claremont guys in Goa and they seem to have a very good team in Goa. I'll keep you posted on how things go

Jonny
:thumbsup:

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi Jonny,

Yes I agree, the site is absolutely fantastic - but unfortunately Claremont, still to this day do not actually even own the land, let alone be in the position to apply for planning permission!!
I defy anyone who tells you otherwise to prove it!! The local Claremont guys are not being honest - obviously under strict orders from Birmingham!!

Did they advise you when they estimate construction work will be commencing??

I would love to know what they are telling their clients, as there must be many irritated people wondering why work has still not commenced!

Otherwise, out of interest - are you Indian/PIO/OCI?
Are you buying purely for investment / do you plan to live there yourself?

Kind regards

Tom

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi Tom
I am purley buying for investment, I am not a PIO but my business partner is and I shall be buying in her name.

You seem to be very knowledgeable about Claremont and Goa, have you also invested.

Jonny

Re: First Goa development
 

Hi Jonny,

I have not invested.
I will explain in more detail;

The reason why I know a lot about this project is that a significant proportion of the site is infact owned by members of my family.
I must admit that I also have an additional personal interest in that I have houses and land in the local vicinity, and believe that if ANY large tourist development was to come up, it would spoil the whole area.
North Goa has been completely spoilt by cheap tourism and riff-raff from the North of England "buying" their apartments, and I certainly would not like them appearing on my doorstep!!! The sooner that the Indian Government only issues an absolute maximum of 3 months validity on tourist visa's to foreign nationals, the better.
Apart from some of the cheap Russians that have appeared in recent years, that part of South Goa is still relatively peaceful and unspoilt.

I cannot really elaborate or comment on any link or dealings that I may or may not have had with Claremont at the present moment in time - but when the project is cancelled I will be in a position to go into far more detail should you be interested.

The next time that you are in Goa, I suggest that maybe you go and have a chat with the guys at the local Panchayat - they will tell you exactly the same as i have about the site.

In due course, If you or any others have problems getting your deposit back, let me know, as I do have access to all the documentary evidence to prove what I have told you.

I hope that this helps, and answers your questions.

Kind regards

Tom

Re: First Goa development
 

'London Tom'

I am from the North of England and I most certainly DO NOT consider myself 'riff-raff' as you so nicely put it - I certainly hope I never have the misfortune to meet a pompous ar**hole like you in unspoilt South Goa - with an attitude like yours I hope you get a 'mega project' bail hostel (should such a thing exist in Goa) in your back garden.

As for maximum three month tourist visas, you say your family own land so you must be PIO/OCI - if that's the case then I hope the British Government revoke any visa/permission to be in the UK that you may have & replace it with a maximum three month one!

Hemingway.

Re: First Goa development
 

HEAR HEAR HEMINGWAY I cannot beleive such a :curse:could write a post like that considering all the money that has been invested by FNs over the past few years, i really dont think your username suits you at all londontom you are clearly being disrepectful and racist.

Re: First Goa development
 

What can one say about such stupidity !
Reminds me of that joke Man 1 'Who is that man over there?'
Man 2 'Oh,he's my brother,he's also the village idiot !'
Man 1 'How very unfortunate,sorry about that'
Man 2 'More unfortunate than you can imagine, the
village is London !'
:curse::curse::curse:

Re: First Goa development
 

:thumbsup: enfield/heminway/poppet

I just could not believe what I was reading, and like others after reading
Blue Max, and finding out on Google what a troll was, I now find we have another. Are all Trolls Indians? :curse: