For decades, homeownership in India has been viewed as a fundamental milestone in one’s financial and personal journey—a symbol of stability, achievement, and above all long-term security. Traditionally, it was considered an attainable goal for the middle class, achieved through steady income, disciplined savings, and access to housing finance.
However, this narrative is rapidly changing, particularly in the metro cities. In Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, property prices have escalated at a pace that far outstrips income growth, placing homeownership increasingly out of reach for the average salaried class.
As prices continue to surge, a growing number of working professionals are questioning whether purchasing a home is still a feasible ambition for most, or if it has become an exclusive aspiration—reserved primarily for India’s wealthy. This shift in the market dynamics has sparked widespread discussions both offline and across social media platforms, reflecting deepening concerns about affordability, urban planning, and economic inequality in the country’s housing sector. Let’s dive deeper and discuss this aspect further.
The Income-Reality Disconnect
Here lies the biggest irony. While property prices have skyrocketed, income levels for an average urban Indian haven’t kept pace. Most salaried professionals have seen modest annual hikes of 5–10%, barely enough to combat inflation—let alone save up for multi-crore homes.
This widening gap between earnings and real estate costs has created a crisis of affordability. A typical salaried household in Delhi or Bengaluru may take decades to accumulate the funds needed for a down payment, let alone manage EMIs, taxes, and maintenance.
As a result, more and more people are delaying or entirely abandoning the idea of homeownership. Renting, once seen as a transitional phase, has now become a long-term lifestyle for many.
If there’s one place where frustrations boil over into conversation, it’s the social media. Reddit, in particular, has become a hub for India’s middle-class youth to vent their housing-related anxieties.
Several Redditors are posting threads on how even dual-income households are finding it nearly impossible to afford homes in decent localities. The sentiment is growing that unless you belong to the top 5% of income earners or inherit property, buying a house in any major Indian city is increasingly unrealistic. Gone are the days when you could rely on a bank loan and steady job to secure your dream home. Now, it takes either significant generational wealth or aggressive investing to even participate in the market.
The Infrastructure Dilemma
What about the suburbs, you might ask? Shouldn’t people just move a little farther out, where things are cheaper?
Technically, yes. But the problem is, India’s suburban and satellite towns haven’t kept up with the demand. Connectivity, public transport, civic amenities, and even basic utilities in many of these outlying areas are inconsistent or outright lacking.
Unlike in global cities like London or Tokyo—where living outside the center doesn’t mean compromising on quality of life—Indian suburbs still feel underdeveloped, making them a hard sell for majority of working professionals.
What’s Next? Will Homeownership Be Only For Riches?
The situation isn’t hopeless, but it demands attention and action. It’s true that affordable housing schemes exist, but their reach and execution leave much to be desired. Urban planning needs to shift focus from luxury towers to sustainable, livable spaces for the masses.
Until then, for millions of Indians, homeownership might remain an aspirational mirage—something to chase, dream about, and maybe one day achieve… if luck, strategy, and circumstances align just right.
At the moment, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the great Indian housing dream is no longer one-size-fits-all—but rather tailor-made for the top 5%.
