There are many reasons why NRIs should invest in real estate in India. The most important being that the sector is growing at a record pace and there are indications that the growth will continue in the coming decade. Economic growth is fuelling rapid urbanisation increasing demand for housing and commercial real estate. New projects across price segments in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities will soon overtake those in the larger cities. And as the demand increases the returns on these investments are bound to improve on long-term investments. NRIs with a large corpus of funds can be assured of healthy returns if they buy property in India.
Let us look at different options for NRIs who wish to buy property in India:
Residential Real Estate
The options for NRI real estate investment in residential property are plenty. Depending on the long-term use and budget NRIs can choose to invest in metro cities, Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 cities. The large-scale infrastructure developments across cities are creating new markets in suburbs of large cities and new micro markets. Tier 2 cities are now attracting serious interest from developers in Kochi and investors as there are many projects to invest in at prices that are lower compared to large cities.
With an overall prediction of growth in the sector, returns on investment in smaller cities can be as lucrative as those in large cities if not more. There are many types and formats of residential properties ranging from flats, apartments, independent houses, villas, and plots to luxury and ultra-luxury segments with innovative amenities to fulfill the personal and social aspirations of the residents. The development of self-sufficient townships that have all the features of residential projects with social infrastructure is on the rise meeting the demand for these by modern home buyers.
Commercial real estate
Although commercial real estate requires more capital for investment it also commands higher rentals and prices. The economic growth is fueling the growth of current and new businesses which ultimately require commercial spaces for their operations. Investing in retail spaces, office properties, industrial plots, mixed developments, and warehouses can be highly lucrative for NRIs. The investors can be assured of healthy returns as the economic growth is expected to be robust till 2030.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
REITs are funds that invest in real estate stocks in the capital markets. The returns earned as rentals and mortgages are paid to the investors in the form of dividends. These investment instruments are like mutual funds where investors do not individually buy or invest in properties but instead invest in a pool of real estate equity.
These are the various investment options in real estate that NRIs can invest in. It is always advisable to perform due-diligence before investing in any property or instruments by consulting industry experts and doing market research.
