Buying a home is probably one of the biggest purchases you will make in your lifetime. But to make sure the cost of the property fits into your budget, you must understand the different factors that contribute to the final cost of property investment.
You are probably aware of some factors, like construction material, land, and labour charges. But you cannot rely simply on the per-square-foot charges as quoted by the builder to estimate the cost of your property investment.
Here are some – potentially hidden – components that make up the total cost of property investment in India:
PLCs are usually levied on a ‘per floor, per square foot’ basis and are the costs you must pay to access “prized locations.” This may simply be the floor rise charges or premium costs for penthouses that come with gardens or lake views. This cost is not fixed and will vary from builder to builder and from time to time.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2010, many developers still charge hefty amounts for covered parking spaces. This can range anywhere between ₹1 to ₹5 lakh on top of the price of your flat.
Clubs in residential societies have become a rising trend and do not come free of cost. You must pay a one-time membership fee – for a predetermined period – to access these clubs. This can turn into a recurring expense after the initial period ends.
Builders also tend to charge additional costs for civic amenities like fire safety, electricity backup, and water – adding them to the total cost of the property. Builders often levy charges like External Electrification Charges (EEC) and Fire Fighting Equipment Charges (FFEC) at the time of purchase. And you may also have to bear the costs of getting an electric connection for your home.
EDC and IDC are the charges developers must pay the state government for infrastructure and amenities – like access roads, parks, or civic infrastructure – development in the surrounding areas. However, builders often pass these costs on to the buyers, adding to the overall cost of property investment.
Residential societies charge maintenance fees for the amenities they provide. Builders often take an upfront maintenance deposit at the time of purchase to cover maintenance for up to 2 years. After this, the residents are responsible for establishing a co-op society and setting a maintenance amount to be collected monthly or annually.
Although not hidden, buyers often end up overlooking brokerage fees when working with a real estate broker. They often charge 1–2% of the total house cost as brokerage, which adds to your total cost of property investment.
The state government charges anywhere between 5–7% of the property value as stamp duty. This is a compulsory fee to get the house registered in your name. Additionally, you will also need to pay 1–2% of the property value as registration fees to the court for the full and final agreement indicating the change of ownership.
Every under-construction property in India is subject to GST – 1% for homes under ₹45 lakh and 5% for more expensive homes. Ready-to-move properties, however, are exempt from GST.
If you are opting for a home loan, you will also need to factor in loan processing fees in your property investment budget. These fees will cover the basic administrative costs, costs to carry out credit checks, and any additional costs for value-added services – like property search, flexible tenure, or online loan application.
Your property investment costs do not end with the purchase and registration of your house. You have to budget for moving expenses, interiors, furniture, electrical appliances, and any other additional costs when buying a house. These costs can easily go up to ₹10 lakh even if you are focusing only on basic necessities.
There is no way you can avoid these charges when purchasing a property. So be sure to plan for these and keep some room in your budget for any unexpected changes.
The Squarea team can help you understand all the costs involved in property investment. Get in touch with us today to start your home-buying journey.
For more details on this subject, please email: hello@squarea.io
India’s commercial real estate is undergoing a transformation. REIT in India office market have gained momentum as investors seek liquidity, stability, and institutional quality. At the same time, capital is concentrating in high-activity micro markets of real estate, which are demonstrating the greatest resilience, scale, and REIT readiness. This progression brings the focus to REITs and their growing role in shaping the future of India’s office market.
A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) allows individuals to invest in income-generating property portfolios with the benefits of liquidity, transparency and regular distribution, attributes that align strongly with the risk-mitigation and yield-preservation goals of Indian HNIs and UHNIs. As India’s real estate market matures, REITs offer both institutional access and greater market sophistication.
To understand the opportunity, it is essential to first examine how the REIT market in India has evolved and where it currently stands.
India now holds approximately 488 million sq.ft of REIT-worthy Grade A office space, with 56% of that stock concentrated in the top 10 micro markets. Within these hubs, a striking 72% of Grade A inventory, nearly 275 million sq ft, is either already listed under existing REITs or has the potential to be listed in the future. (Colliers)
Such concentration makes it clear that the future of REITs will be shaped not at the city level alone but within specific micro markets that consistently attract occupiers and capital.
Not all office corridors meet REIT standards. Only those with scale, liquidity, rental visibility, and a strong occupier base can deliver institutional confidence. These qualities become most visible when we look at leasing patterns across India’s top hubs.
These occupier dynamics explain why such high-activity hubs dominate the REIT in the Indian office market, and also highlight why Pune micro markets attract REIT investors seeking both stability and growth.
Pune is increasingly centre-stage in this narrative. Colliers identifies three of India’s top 15 high-activity micro markets here - Baner-Balewadi, Hinjewadi, and Kharadi. These hubs offer a compelling mix of affordability, scale, and tenant stickiness.
As a result, REIT-ready Grade A office spaces Pune are now being considered alongside Bengaluru and Hyderabad, positioning the city firmly on the radar for commercial real estate investment Pune 2025.
With Pune office market REIT potential firmly established, the focus now shifts to assessing how REITs and high-activity micro markets across India are poised to shape the next phase of institutional investment.
High-activity micro markets are set to remain the backbone of India’s REIT growth story in the years ahead. The interplay of occupier demand, institutional confidence, and evolving asset quality points to a maturing market with sharper opportunities.
Together, these dynamics underscore why HNIs and UHNIs should align portfolios with high-activity corridors, where REIT ready commercial properties in Pune and other leading cities provide both resilience and growth potential.
At SQUAREA, we specialise in bridging discerning investors with curated access to these premium, REIT-ready office corridors. To explore the best office micro markets for REIT investment in India and beyond, connect with us at hello@squarea.io or call +91 90 9641 9641.
Rising inflation has become a defining challenge for investors worldwide. It eats into cash reserves, compresses returns from fixed income products, and often adds volatility to equity portfolios. For Indian HNIs and UHNIs, this means only traditional allocations may no longer guarantee long-term security. The search is for inflation proof investments in India that not only preserve wealth but also deliver growth. Among available options, real estate as an inflation hedge has consistently demonstrated its resilience.
India’s performance in recent quarters illustrates this strength. According to Knight Frank’s Global House Price Index, Indian residential prices grew 7.7% annually in Q1 2025 in nominal terms and 4.2% in real terms. The country ranked 15th out of 55 tracked markets, ahead of mature destinations such as the US, UK, and Australia. Quarterly, prices rose 2.9%, showing steady buyer confidence even as borrowing costs shifted. This momentum reinforces real estate’s role in protecting wealth during inflation. (Knight Frank)
Inflation reduces the real value of money. For investors, this erosion means that returns from cash, deposits, or bonds can quickly fall below the inflation rate, leaving portfolios exposed. Equities, though offering higher potential returns, remain subject to volatility and cyclical risks.
This is why investors prioritise assets that retain value during inflationary periods. Real estate investment India has historically shown its ability to absorb shocks, maintain capital, and generate income streams that adjust alongside rising prices.
Real estate has several structural features that make it resilient in inflationary times. These factors distinguish property from other asset classes that tend to underperform when prices rise.
These attributes show why property is often viewed as the strongest asset in the real estate vs inflation equation, offering a practical and proven hedge. While fundamentals are global, India’s market performance in recent years shows them playing out with particular strength.
The Indian residential market is demonstrating exactly how real estate performs under inflationary pressure. Transparency reforms, stable demand, and investor confidence have built a strong foundation.
These fundamentals make real estate investment in India not just a defensive move, but also a growth-led strategy. However, not all property types perform the same - residential, commercial, and alternatives each play distinct roles in hedging inflation.
Residential property is the most direct hedge, with ownership preferred during inflation.
Commercial and emerging formats add further resilience.
Recognising these opportunities is one part of the equation. The next step is knowing how you can strategically allocate capital to capture them.
For sophisticated investors, the key lies not only in recognising real estate’s inflation resilience but in building portfolios strategically.
By combining these approaches, investors can transform property from a defensive shield into a driver of long-term wealth creation. For HNIs and UHNIs seeking to secure their legacies, Indian property offers not only resilience but also significant upside.
At SQUAREA, we specialise in crafting investment strategies that anchor portfolios against inflationary pressures while unlocking growth potential. To explore curated opportunities in India’s most resilient markets, connect with us at hello@squarea.io or call +91 90 9641 9641.
End-use buyers face a strategic decision — whether to acquire a ready-to-move-in residence for immediate occupancy or to allocate capital towards an under-construction asset. While the latter has historically been associated with higher delivery risk, the landscape in 2025 is notably different. Projects are now governed by RERA-backed regulatory oversight, stringent escrow compliance, and developer accountability.
This evolving ecosystem has redefined the relevance of under-construction inventory, particularly for Indian HNIs and UHNIs seeking customisation, capital efficiency, and future-ready design. As these dynamics continue to shape the market, it becomes essential to assess the strategic value this segment can offer. To understand the continued relevance of this segment, let’s explore the key benefits of under-construction property in 2025 for end-users.
In 2025, the question of "should I buy an under-construction flat" is best answered by examining its strategic merits. For end-users in the luxury segment, these properties offer distinct advantages when backed by due diligence and credible delivery.
1. Price Advantage at Entry
Under-construction homes are priced lower than their ready-to-move counterparts in the same location. In high-demand corridors such as Pune’s western suburbs or Gurgaon’s Golf Course Extension Road, the price differential can range from 10% to 30%. (Sobha)
This lower base cost not only enhances affordability but also improves long-term capital appreciation, especially in projects completing within the next 18–36 months.
2. Capital Appreciation Potential
For buyers not in need of immediate possession, entering early in a project cycle enables higher asset appreciation by the time of completion. This is particularly relevant in micro-markets undergoing infrastructure upgrades, such as Mumbai’s New Cuffe Parade or Pune’s Kharadi.
Additionally, developers often increase pricing in tranches as construction progresses, allowing early buyers to benefit from structured value escalation.
3. Flexible Payment Structure
Unlike ready properties, under-construction homes offer construction-linked payment plans. This phased disbursement allows buyers to align payments with liquidity events or staggered capital deployment, thereby reducing financing pressure.
It also enables financial planning that matches project milestones with investment goals, particularly useful for buyers funding the purchase through asset reallocation or staggered divestments.
Developers of high-end projects typically allow limited customisation in flooring, layout, electricals, or interior finishes if the unit is booked in early phases. This flexibility is especially valuable for end-users seeking to tailor a home to their lifestyle or future requirements.
Completed units, on the other hand, may require costly retrofits or compromise on layout, which is non-ideal for long-term habitation.
Under-construction homes often incorporate newer materials, design efficiencies, and technology integrations. These include better energy ratings, improved ventilation systems, smart home readiness, and modern security systems.
Buyers entering these projects secure residences that are aligned with the latest in home technology, both in terms of functionality and long-term market relevance.
Buyers of under-construction projects generally have access to a wider range of unit configurations, views, and floor elevations. This enables selection that aligns with long-term value, whether in terms of Vastu compliance, sunlight exposure, or exclusivity of position.
This flexibility diminishes significantly once the project is completed and only residual inventory remains.
Under-construction properties offer notable tax benefits for end-use buyers financing their purchase through home loans. End-use buyers of under-construction homes can claim up to ₹2 lakh per annum on interest under Section 24(b) and ₹1.5 lakh on principal repayment under Section 80C after possession. An additional deduction of ₹50,000 under Section 80EE or ₹1.5 lakh under Section 80EEA may also apply for eligible first-time homebuyers, depending on loan sanction timelines and conditions. (ClearTax) Given these fiscal advantages, along with the structural and design benefits, it is worth assessing how under-construction property advantages for end-users compare against ready-to-move-in properties across key decision parameters.
To assist end-use buyers in evaluating both options, here is a comparison of under-construction vs ready-to-move homes in India:
| Parameter | Under-Construction Homes | Ready-to-Move Homes |
|---|---|---|
| Price Point | Lower entry price | Premium priced |
| Customisation | High (during early phases) | Limited or costly |
| Payment Structure | Staggered, construction-linked | Lump-sum or full at possession |
| Availability | Wide unit choice | Limited inventory |
| Capital Appreciation | High potential pre-possession | Lower due to near-peak pricing |
| Immediate Use | No | Yes |
Under-construction homes are no longer speculative ventures. When selected with diligence, they present a compelling mix of strategic location, modern design, and financial advantage.
For buyers exploring this segment, a home buying guide for under-construction projects should start with three pillars: regulatory compliance, developer track record, and capital alignment. These form the foundation for a confident, forward-looking investment.
At SQUAREA, we offer curated access to India’s premium real estate opportunities, selected for their financial, legal, and execution credibility. For tailored investment guidance, reach out at hello@squarea.io or call +91 90 9641 9641.