Should you buy or rent a home?

Summary: Buying a home feels like a natural milestone, especially when EMIs promise ownership while rent feels like money gone forever. But property decisions are rarely that simple. Prices have stagnated in several major cities, rent–buy math varies sharply across locations, and real estate no longer guarantees the easy returns it once did. This piece breaks down how to evaluate the rent-versus-buy equation, what today’s property cycles really look like and how RERA has changed the landscape for end-users and investors. As part of our new ‘Home Buyers’ Guide’ series, we aim to help our readers make clearer and better-informed property decisions. Housing is a basic need. If you are renting, buying a house may seem like the sensible long-term decision. In fact, property prices in certain major cities have remained relatively stagnant in recent periods, which means buyers may find a more favourable entry point than they could have a few years ago. For many young families, the idea of paying EMIs and building home equity – rather than paying rent that yields no long-term asset – is understandably appealing. However, before jumping in, it is crucial to conduct a thorough rent-versus-buy analysis. This is because in many cities, such as Mumbai and Bangalore, high

This article was originally published on December 01, 2025.