The Future of Indian Housing
By Mr. Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces
India’s urban population explosion is causing its bigger cities to burst at the seams. Overcrowding, pollution, traffic congestion, and deteriorating infrastructure are the ‘new normal’ – a state of affairs that we have begun to accept as inevitable.
According to the United Nations, about 40% of the Indian population will live in urban areas by 2030. The pressure this puts on housing, transportation, and basic amenities in our cities is immense. Because of these urban ‘growing pains’, many citizens have become disillusioned with their cities and are even considering moving to smaller, less crowded, and less expensive tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
However, there are two catches to this way of thinking – one, most employment opportunities are in our larger cities. Two, the hammer of development is bound to catch up even in the smaller cities. Is there a way for citizens to regain a wholesome, uncluttered lifestyle without abandoning their cities of choice? There is. Integrated townships are a viable solution. But before we get into that, let’s first examine the real-time challenges that our cities increasingly face.
Traffic Congestion
India’s cities are notorious for their traffic woes. In cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, residents spend hours in gridlocked traffic every day. According to a 2021 report by TomTom, Bengaluru ranked as the sixth-most congested city in the world, with commuters spending an average of 71% extra travel time during rush hour. This congestion takes a toll not only on the economy but also on the well-being of urban dwellers, since long commutes lead to increased stress, reduced productivity, and poor mental health.
Pollution and Environmental Degradation
Air pollution is another pressing issue in Indian cities. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks several Indian cities, including Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow, among the most polluted globally. In 2020, air pollution caused an estimated 1.7 million deaths in India, according to a study published in The Lancet. The over-reliance on private vehicles, combined with unchecked industrial emissions has led to worsening air quality, making it hazardous for people to live and work in densely populated urban environments.
Overcrowding and Infrastructure Strain
With the growing influx of people into cities, housing and infrastructure are stretched to the limit. Many Indian cities are ill-equipped to handle their burgeoning populations – resulting in cramped living conditions, inadequate water supply, and frequent power outages. This overcrowding exacerbates social and health issues, leading to an overall decline in quality of life.
The Solution – Integrated Townships
Amid these escalating challenges, integrated townships are the most viable alternative to traditional urban housing models. These large-scale developments are self-sustaining communities that combine residential, commercial, recreational, and educational facilities in one comprehensive layout. Unlike conventional city apartments, which are often isolated and disconnected from essential amenities, integrated townships provide a more balanced and convenient lifestyle.
Integrated Townships – A Brief History
Integrated townships began emerging in India during the 1980s and 1990s. Even before that, cities like Jamshedpur – founded in 1907 by the Tata Group to support their workforce – served as early examples of self-contained, self-sustaining communities. Jamshedpur was among the pioneers of integrated urban living in India where residential spaces were developed alongside recreational spaces like parks and essential services such as schools and medical facilities.
Chandigarh, planned by Le Corbusier in the 1950s, is another prime example of a development plan where housing and public facilities were created alongside commercial business centres. However, these were entire cities with their own municipalities. The concept of integrated townships – large residential complexes developed along with retail, office, civic and lifestyle developments – started gaining momentum in the 2000s.
Today, these townships have emerged as the single most transformative solution, offering a holistic living environment that promotes sustainability, convenience, and a better quality of life. They have become even more relevant if we consider the increasing chaos of modern city life.
Convenience and Reduced Commuting
One of the biggest advantages of integrated townships is the proximity to workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities, shopping centres, and entertainment options. By reducing the need for long commutes, these developments save residents time and money while alleviating traffic congestion in major cities. According to one report, more than 80% of homebuyers in metropolitan areas now prefer housing projects which are within a 10-kilometer radius of their workplaces.
Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly
Integrated townships are also designed with sustainability in mind. Green spaces, efficient waste management systems, rainwater harvesting, and renewable energy sources are increasingly becoming standard features of these developments. Integrated townships with eco-friendly infrastructure reduce carbon footprints and command a higher premium over non-sustainable developments. Moreover, by centralizing resources and infrastructure, integrated townships can reduce the strain on municipal services, thus promoting a more sustainable and resilient urban ecosystem.
Improved Quality of Life
Integrated townships prioritize the well-being of their residents by offering a range of recreational and wellness facilities. From parks and sports complexes to community centres and healthcare services, these projects are designed to cater to all age groups and lifestyle preferences. They foster a sense of community and safety, with round-the-clock security and controlled access points ensuring a secure living environment.
Moreover, the availability of schools and educational institutions within the township means that families do not need to send their children far from home, reducing stress and providing a better work-life balance. Many leading minds in the real estate industry have recognized integrated townships as the future of housing, particularly in countries experiencing rapid urbanization like India.
Not surprisingly, integrated townships outperformed standalone residential projects in both price appreciation and rental yields because of the superior convenience and amenities they offer. Furthermore, the demand for integrated townships is not limited to the residential segment.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more businesses have realized how important it is to have their operations closer to where their employees live. As a result, the commercial real estate segment is also seeing a surge in demand for office spaces within township developments, thanks to the growing trend of the ‘walk-to-work’ lifestyle.
Towards a Better Residential Experience
As India’s cities continue to expand, the traditional model of urban housing is proving to be increasingly untenable and homebuyers now seek alternatives that offer convenience, sustainability, and a better quality of life. Integrated townships are the answer, and will therefore account for more and more Indian residential spaces in the years to come.
About the Author:
Akash Pharande is Managing Director – Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in Greater Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in the region. With the recent inclusion of Puneville Commercial into one of its most iconic townships, Pharande Spaces taken a major step towards addressing Pune’s current and future requirements for fully integrated residential-commercial convenience
FOMO vs. FOBO – In A House Hunt, One Helps and the Other Hurts
By -Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces
India’s real estate market provides many opportunities for home buyers. However, it is not easy to navigate, especially for first-time buyers. With so many options and also varying offers from developers, it is often difficult to decide which property purchase ticks all the right boxes for an individual buyer who has never purchased a property before.
Within this complexity, the psychological phenomena of FOMO – the Fear of Missing Out and FOBO – the Fear of Better Options – play big roles in homebuyer decisions. While FOMO can be advantageous in such decisions, FOBO leads to indecisiveness. This can have potentially harmful results.
FOMO and FOBO – Digging Deeper
FOMO is a state of anxiety induced by the fear that one is missing out on an exciting or lucrative opportunity. In real estate, FOMO is what drives timely purchase decisions. As we know, the best projects sell out quickly and prices are also constantly rising, so FOMO is a positive impulse.
On the other hand, FOBO – the Fear of Better Options – causes aspiring buyers and investors to overanalyze the available options. At any given time, more than just a few properties are available to homebuyers that meet their budget, ideal location and lifestyle expectations.
FOBO tends to paralyze the decision-making process because the buyer is constantly hoping to find a superior alternative even if they have already identified a very suitable option. There is, of course, nothing wrong with having plenty of options, but FOBO tends to get buyers stuck in an endless loop of indecision. This can cause them to miss out on perfectly good properties at acceptable price points.
FOMO Can Be Your Ally
Though FOMO has become a derogatory word on social media, it has its advantages. In the context of residential property, it can induce genuine buyers to make timely decisions. This is very important in a market where the best options are often sold out during promotional launches. Infrastructure development, demand, and escalating development costs are constantly pushing up property prices. Homebuyers who experience FOMO at the right time and act on it are often at an advantage in such a fast-paced market.
In many of our cities, projects in high-demand areas often have limited inventory. Once these options are sold and off the market, there may be no similar options available at such prices for a long time – or ever. FOMO helps buyers to overcome hesitation and act quickly when they see a property that meets their needs and budgets.
Likewise, home loan interest rates can be quite volatile, and they play a major part in the overall cost of acquisition. When interest rates are low, FOMO works to the benefit of buyers by driving them to apply for home loans and closing deals before interest rates go up once more. The same is true for periods of discounts, such as the festive season
First-time homebuyers undergo a lot of anxiety when the time comes to take the plunge. FOMO helps convert this anxiety into productive action. Once buyers finally make their commitment, the fear of missing out goes away and relief takes its place.
FOBO – The Fence-sitter Limbo
In contrast, a state of perpetual indecision leads to stress and regret if good options are missed out on. While FOMO can result in positive action, FOBO tends to freeze the decision-making process altogether. While scouting the housing market for a home, this can have catastrophic consequences.
FOBO results in an endless chase after a ‘better’ property, location, or deal. Buyers in this state of ‘analysis paralysis’ tend to see one favourable option after the other snapped up by someone else, or become too costly for them to buy.
With FOBO, a buyer who finds a home in a good area, in a project by a good developer, and at a price they can afford, will entirely miss the bus as they perpetually look for a better deal. By the time they circle back to the previous option, it is often too late.
The endless search for the ‘ideal’ option in a world where perfection is a myth only results in emotional distress and lost opportunities. Yes, the housing market is replete with options, but no single home buyer can – or should aspire to – inspect them all. Buyers with FOBO are invariably frustrated, confused people who cannot make up their minds on anything of significance.
In real estate, time is money and you can’t afford to lose either. A delay of even a couple of months can mean a substantial increase in property prices due to demand, inflation, or other market factors. FOBO’s inability to commit to a decision often results in missed chances to lock in properties at favorable prices or lower interest rates.
Over time, these costs add up, making the eventual purchase far more expensive than it would have been had the decision been made earlier.
Finding the Middle Ground
That said, there is also a healthy balance of FOMO and FOBO possible. It’s just a matter of finding that mid-point. Even if there is a sense of urgency, a buyer must not make hasty decisions and do his or her due diligence.
It is certainly important to see as many properties as is feasibly possible. This should not be a hurried process. It is best to set oneself a timeline within which a decision will be made. Usually, a month of dedicated searching is ample time. It is also important to factor in market conditions and to take professional advice before signing on any dotted line.
You want to leverage the urgency of FOMO and turn it into positive energy – but set realistic criteria. A buyer should have a list of ‘must-haves’ to refer to, and should not over-extend their budget. Set a limit to how big your shortlist should be.
If it starts getting endless, FOBO has taken over and it is time to snap out of it. You’re looking for a home that makes you happy, which you can afford, and which will appreciate well over time. Once you’ve found this home, make sure that you know that your hunt is over.
About the Author:
Akash Pharande is Managing Director – Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in Greater Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in the region. With the recent inclusion of Puneville Commercial into one of its most iconic townships, Pharande Spaces taken a major step towards addressing Pune’s current and future requirements for fully integrated residential-commercial convenience