Property as an investment

Buying real estate to let or to sell later, as distinct from buying a home to live in. It should be judged like any other investment: net rental yield, expected appreciation, costs and liquidity — not sentiment.

What it means

Buying real estate to let or to sell later, as distinct from buying a home to live in.

Why it matters to a household

It should be judged like any other investment: net rental yield, expected appreciation, costs and liquidity — not sentiment.

Where it trips people up

Ignoring the costs. Maintenance, property tax, vacancy periods, brokerage and high transaction costs all sit between gross yield and what you keep.

In an Indian household

Rental yields in many Indian cities run between 2% and 4% gross, which means the case usually rests on appreciation — a less certain proposition than rent.

Where FamTally comes in

FamTally is a free AI-driven money manager built for Indian families. It holds your loans, income, expenses, assets, insurance and goals in one place, forecasts five years ahead, and lets you ask an assistant questions about your own numbers rather than looking up general advice. Everything on this page is the kind of thing it works out for you automatically.

Stop doing this in a spreadsheet

FamTally keeps your loans, income, expenses, assets, insurance and goals in one place, forecasts five years ahead, and answers questions about your own numbers. Free, and built for Indian families.

Start free

Questions people ask

Property as an investment

Buying real estate to let or to sell later, as distinct from buying a home to live in.

Why does it matter?

It should be judged like any other investment: net rental yield, expected appreciation, costs and liquidity — not sentiment.

What do people usually get wrong?

Ignoring the costs. Maintenance, property tax, vacancy periods, brokerage and high transaction costs all sit between gross yield and what you keep.

Is there anything India-specific?

Rental yields in many Indian cities run between 2% and 4% gross, which means the case usually rests on appreciation — a less certain proposition than rent.

Keep reading