Should you buy a home in Pune this festive season?

 Kishor Pate, CMD – Amit Enterprises Housing Ltd.

There are many reasons why people decide to get off the rental housing bandwagon and buy their own homes. One of the most important ones is that a self-owned home is an investment-grade asset which appreciates and safeguards one’s financial future. Also every family has a cherished dream of having their self-owned house, which is a lifetime shelter for them as well as for the future generations. Having a home of their own is the fondest wish of every Indian family. Among other things, the Indian festive season celebrates wealth and prosperity, and nowhere is this spirit displayed more strongly than in Maharashtra.

For realizing the cherished dream of a self-owned home, all aspire to look for property during the festive season. Even from an investment perspective, buying a home in Pune makes more sense than ever before. Property prices on Pune’s residential real estate market saw year-on-year appreciation to the tune of 7.9% last year – and though appreciation has moderated somewhat this year, the current market readings are still between 5-6%.

Price growth has been moderate in 2016 so that buyers are not discouraged from making purchase decisions, especially during the critical festive period. However, given the positive investment scenario and increasing demand for office spaces in Pune, residential real estate demand in the city is going to pick up tremendously in the future. This increased demand is bound to exert upward pressure on housing prices.

In the last quarter of 2016, sentiment on the Pune residential property market has seen the return of outright positivity, and areas that offer better affordability and returns on investment have been receiving healthy traction. Most of the residential project launches in the city have been in the North-West and North-East regions, with the highest demand for housing emanating from the IT/ITeS, BFSI and manufacturing workforce. Areas like Ambegaon, Kharadi, Hadapsar, Balewadi, Hinjewadi, Nagar Road and Wagholi and Nagar Road have continued to attract good demand on the basis of improved connectivity with the key business districts.

However, it is the fringe areas of South-East Pune – specifically Undri and Pisoli – which have seen the most notable pick-up in demand, leading to a significant number of launches over the past few quarters. Relatively lower property prices and good connectivity to central areas with their reputed schools, hospitals and other important social infrastructure has led to the strong emergence of South-East Pune as a real estate contender.

All in all, given the attractive offers and pricing schemes from developers and the continued affordability of the city’s emerging areas, this festive period brings with it a strong rationale for home ownership. For investors, the time is right to identify the hottest growth corridors and make their play before they miss the most favourable entry point and have to contend with higher prices in the future.