Sure, it makes great financial sense to own a piece of realty. Investing in property & land is a smart decision. On the other hand, renting is like throwing your hard earned money down the drain. Might as well take a home loan & pay the EMIs. If I ever earned a lakh a month, then maybe I’d finally get around to saving for a house. But that’d be mostly as an investment option than for emotional reasons & because my tryst with insurance, gold, PPFs, RDs & mutual fund is over.
Growing up, I did dream of building my own home; of having a place modeled on one of the oriental dance gurukuls. Windows -big & wide, almost the size of a door, letting in sunshine & air. Walls-made of red bricks, no cement, no plastering. Curtains-in pastel colors fluttering in the air. Mango & jackfruit trees with low branches & circular mud mounds around them for sitting. A large courtyard lined by flowering plants.
As I grew, I realized the business of building a house is laborious: hiring the right contractors, architects, interior designers, shelling out money, overseeing the construction. The stress & strain involved in seeing your vision take the shape of an abode. Not my cup of tea. Not anymore. I just want to be free, especially of a commitment as deep as this one. Because when I do get involved with something, I get involved to the point of exclusion. I become an insomniac with maniacal attention to detail & an obsession to oversee everything myself, not resting until the task at hand is completed. The dedication would tie me down & completely exhaust me. I admire those that have seen their dream homes being built & now living happily in them. Hats off to all of them! Truly!But why do I not want to? Maybe I’m scared of being rooted; a phobia unheard-of, strange –yes, but a real one for me. As a tenant, I can go to any area in the city. I change job locations, I change residence. No worries. But mostly, owning a house has never been one of the indicators of happiness for me. Maybe my mother’s death has something to do with it. It left an impact on me the extent of which I’m yet to fully understand. She passed away in far away Lucknow, amongst complete strangers, in an army quarters with no family beside her; just my brother who was posted there & with whom she had gone to live for a while, her first visit there. I would at least like to die in my own house, after all the struggles & sacrifices it takes to build one.
Or maybe I feel it is a huge effort. The years & the money it takes to own a decent house is astounding. Is it worth my endless toil? Is it worth setting aside my today for an unforeseen romantic future? Is it worth all the penny-pinching I’d do to afford it? A vacation would send me on a guilt trip. I’d constantly worry “arey kitna paisa barbaad ho raha hai”. Changing or quitting a job would not be an option (& neither would getting fired!) because the EMI ghost would haunt me. I couldn’t put life on hold just to live in my “own house”; particularly if it made me pay through my nose.
I left my parental own house in 2001. I’ve cooked in 8 different kitchens (of varying sizes) since I came to Bangalore, which means I’ve changed my residence almost every year!! In spite of this, I still haven’t developed a desire to buy a house! Assuming I would live for another ten years & will be as happy as I’m right now & was in the past 10 years, I see no reason why I should worry about my not worrying about saving for a house! “There is something wrong with her”, I hear you say. I agree. I think so too!
Well i guess end of the day its your choice, if you feel happy this way than thats the way it is.
ReplyDeleteWhen i came from india the first preference was to have a home, and i worked hard all 7 days and 2 jobs at a time. and it took me almost a year to find that initial downpayment...
and as you say yes it takes a long long time to have your own home.. I ma still paying and still got a a lot of years to pay for yet.
but i have seen a couple of my friends who are so happy to live on rent as they get what they want, I mean I need a few things done in the house but it has to wait as cant afford it :) while on rent I could have just moved to the house that i wanted..
You take care and keep smiling
Bikram's
yeah personal choice at the end of the day.
Deletemust say you put it a great deal of time & effort to realize your dream of a home. it takes a lot of determination to be able to do that
well written :)
ReplyDelete- Shanoj
thank you Shanoj
DeleteTask and pressure on building a house is damn tough(as far i have seen) but the joy of living and freedom that a own house gives, worth taking any efforts :)
ReplyDeleteDeepaK
yeah i am sure the joy one feels once the house is done is beyond words
Deletewell owning a piece of land in the city where anyone works is a distant dream for all of us, but i guess i ll settle for a penthouse apartment if i can :P #someday
ReplyDeletea heart-felt amen to that - the penthouse
Deletekabhi chai pe bulana :)
Interesting subject- and one which I was discussing with my son and his wife while visiting them. There is always a bit of a dilemma with the whole rent vs. buy- you seem to have laid it out completely- even with personal reasons underlying some of your thinking. At the end of the day, it is each person's choice- there are pros and cons to both sides.
ReplyDeleteWell written and well said!!
and the dilemma may be there because none of us really that "STINKING RICH" :D
Deletetrue, pros n cons both ways
ha ghar ghar ki kahani khatam kar gayi mui mahengai...I totally want to own a house...why..maybe to decorate it.. rent ka ghar interior nahi kar sakte na.. change karna padta hai :D :D
ReplyDeleteLOL ...kitna valid reason kaha tumne...rent ka ghar interior nai kar sakte...
Deletehaan yeh mehengai kha gayi hamein
I can somewhat understand where you are coming from, especially the emotional part of it. But as far as I know the lady of the house is always eager to settle down in her "own house", maybe that would be her life long dream. But its different in your case. Very nicely you have expressed that dilemma. :)
ReplyDeleteBut one thing I didn't get is, you have moved 8 times in little over 10 years I believe but isn't that more stressful and draining? Didn't it make you think, well if we had our own house, we wouldn't have to go through so much trouble of settling in a new home every other year? :)
But, I see it differently - that is the flexibility one gets while staying in rented houses. :)
Deleteyeah the packing n shifting is a bit of a trouble but the excitement of a new home overrides it and also having a man around to handle the logistics helps with the stress n strain part of it :DD (we need men!!)
DeleteWell my bro, and a close friend have a similar opinion... They say, instead of 'compromising' into a house which we can 'only afford' to buy, with the same amount(emi is atleast 10,000 more than rent in pune for a 2bhk), can't we just stay in an awesome rent ka flat..?
ReplyDeleteFor me, it would be 2 options: Pay rent for a awesome dress which you can wear only a couple of times..so each time you want a new dress, pay the rent for it, which will be lesser than the amount of actually buying it!!!
Or buy the dress, and still wear it only a couple of times.. but in the end be a proud owner of it!!!
Poor analogy(but dresses is the best analogy for women :-)), but you actually have to choose between, an asset or having the choice to live anywhere...
That's another advantage in rented houses. For the same amount you pay as EMI, you can stay in a much much better house. :)
Deleteyes in the long run the proud ownership bit is what tilts the scale in favor of the asset but somehow weirdo that i am i don't yet have an "itching" desire to own one but i do understand your point. and yes the dress analogy worked :))
DeleteYes one cannot escape feeling that there is "something wrong with her" as you yourself have put at the end!! Being in Bangalore where you see nothing but beautiful complexes coming up and not wanting to possess one must call for lot of determination and stoical resignation to live in rented places.This does'nt make economic sense as you have said in your post.Cut the coat according to cloth or buy a flat or house according to your means and budget is the way to go.With prices of real estate going up North,that is possibly the best investment.
ReplyDeleteBut you write well to justify your stand!!!
hahah yes Sir i agree there is something wrong :)
Deleteof course seeing some beautiful apartments/bungalows makes me go "wow, so nice" but it is just wishful thinking/day dreaming but not a strong strong desire in my heart. i feel to own a house one must start with a very strong desire for it.
true, possibly the best investment.
Typical aquarian! I am not at all surprised Sujatha. I loved the way you guarded your stand. Noone can blame you.
ReplyDeleteEvery individual will have his own dreams to realize, you have yours, go around the world and realize them. :) Loved this post.. :)
i actually visualized you like one of the rishis/devis with a kamandal saying, "go around the world & realize ur dreams"
Deleteand thought wow if this could happen,i will offer anything in return :)
thanks Sahana :)
I am completely with you ... :) I have never ever thought of owning a house. Maybe cos most of my childhood I have stayed at rented houses and when my dad eventually build a house, I had to move out for studies. ;)
ReplyDeleteBuilding a house is so tedious.. like ya said, EMIs, builders, interior designs, furniture, blah blah.. oh god, gives me a nightmare.. better we live in houses, others have built. And John is exact opposite. He is obsessed of buying lands and properties. Lets see whats in store for us :)
And i always wonder, who is your muse? from where you get such interesting topics????
actually that's good for u. u complement each other very nicely there. this way, u wont put unnecessary pressure on him, like other biwis do, & on his part, he'll manage his finances very responsibly & build a house very happily too
Deletehaha i have no muse :( wohi toh problem hai. thats why i struggle to write & take almost 10 days to write just one post.
Your stand is justified but the most preferred investment is realty today. Owning one in my perspective is a must for you could build, decorate and renovate as we want, financial security apart. I think it is worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteyes, it is surely a preferred investment with most. when i see how some of them are so house proud, it does make me realize it must have been so well worth the effort for them
DeleteSujatha, a lovely post! It is said' Fools build houses and wise men live in them'! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above comment, and your post. I feel that its a waste of efforts to build a house (for myself) because I generally don't prefer to live in any city for more than two years! First, I will have all the EMI which will prevent me from taking any risks like I am taking right now, and second I need to maintain a house from far away, which demands endless long distance trips.
DeleteA house is valuable as an asset only if we sell it. About 80% of the people don't sell their houses and for them, there is no value except perhaps saving of rental amount (but for that they have already paid higher EMI for so many years).
Having a house so that children will take care of us in our old age is a myth. In fact, having an own house might prevent us from enrolling in an old age home, where we might get better care instead of staying alone at our own house. In 40 years from now, I expect old age homes to be swanky and best of class! :)
Destination Infinity
PS: How are other's able to comment? I am not seeing any comment form. I can only reply to a comment!
That is not right sir..
DeleteThats one reason why kids remain in there parents house all their life, they dont make anything of their own.
Not sure if i agree to the above statement
haha ab kya batein Sir. woh line padke dil khush ho gaya :D
Deletethough i know ki in today's times it's the financially wise man who builds a house and mere jaise fools live in them :0
Rajesh, same pinch :))
Deletebut u know it was very surprising for me to read your response. for a Taurean, you are so different!
but maybe not! because the things you pointed out are some of the very practical aspects of the issue
and i agree with the children taking care myth.
but the old age home thing you wrote made me think. i hadn't thought of it that way at all. new perspective you presented
To each his own..Buying a house gives a feeling of being rooted and builds an asset in the long term is what we are told .. I fall in the same bracket as you : Don't have a house and my parents are after me to buy one..Can't buy reason same: no one lakh per month salary :-(
ReplyDeleteVery interesting topic will follow the responses...
haan! sachchi... ek do lakh har mahina kamate toh kya kehna :)
Deleteyes, very mixed and interesting responses have come for this topic
I guess owning a house in Bangalore is not so easy as it sounds; so, you are completely normal and you have nothing to worry about your attitude. Let's hope that everyone relishes their dream of buying a house in the days to come........
ReplyDeletereal estate in Bangalore is like asking for a small piece of heaven, so expensive :D
Deletewell at least for middle class family like mine
Interesting... U r right that it is a big headache, but isnt that the thing that attaches u to the house? That u bled thru all ur pores to get this house up!!! I would like to take that kinda strain anyday... To each his (or her) own I guess!!! :)
ReplyDelete'bleeding through all our pores'... see, now that's what scares me. wish it wasn't that hard! but i know that no truly beautiful dream comes without its share of the hard work
DeleteFirst things first, what happened to ur old (white) template??? That was nice too, not that this is not nice!!!
ReplyDeleteOh! I dream everyday of having my own house! So that I can live irritation-free! Without house owners telling me, where I should park my vehicle, when it is possible/not possible to switch on the motor for the water, when to come home (as if they are my parents), how many nails to put into 'their' walls, at how many decibels to play the music, how late into the night can my friends visit, the list if (uff!!!) endless!!!
I hate house owners as much as I used to hate my Mathematics teachers. The most unbearable of them being their you-are-living-here-cos-I-let-you-live-here" look!!! How much rent you pay doesnt matter! They always look at us like they are doing charity!!!
House-owners are horrible. They think too big of themselves just because they own a house or two. They think their tenants are cheap because they don't own one. That too, those who have built their first house are too much. They keep getting reassured about their superiority by harassing their tenants. That's another major reason why people go for own houses.
Deleteaah! i changed it! got bored!
Deletetrue, i have heard a lot about such crazy owners. luckily i didn't have any problems (not very serious ones at least). but i know they do make their tenant's life hell
i do hope you will have your own house one day! god bless :)
and i hope if it is in Bangalore i can rent it out for like a real cheap amount :DDD i am getting poorer by the day :O
This is a common phobia among all nomads around the world, including me!But trust me, even the biggest of all nomads, would want a little piece of land which they can call their own and live in peace in the last years of his/her life.Think about it, at least after your experiences with house owners :)
ReplyDeletehmmm i guess so. let's see.
Deleteif it happens that way, i hope i can get to live for very long in it :)
there really is no end to our wishes, is there!
सुख-शांति,खुशी सबके अपने-अपने पैमाने हैं ज़रूरी है स्वयं की खुशी। सुंदर प्रस्तुति...
ReplyDeletehow nicely you have said it in Hindi :) liked it very much.
Deletethanks for dropping by Indu. appreciate it
And is it Nrityagram in the Pic, Lovely Place.
ReplyDeleteI know its too much to ask for but cant stop myself by wanting a home similar to Nrityagrama :D
and this dream is still alive even after owning a home and puking lots of emi every month!
yes Nrityagram. i finally visited it in 2008. it is such a nice place.
Delete"puking" emis!!! haha i guess that is better than puking rent :D
Given the present property prices and the interest rates on housing loans, it probably makes more sense to opt for a rented home, and invest any savings towards a larger down payment once the rates improve. There is something about owning property that appeals to the human nature even in the face of the impermanence of all things. Enjoyed the post.
ReplyDeletethat's true. it is a longing that cuts across races and nations. we humans do look for some form of permanence
Deletesujatha- guess what, at today's dramatic ups of the real estate and the economic sector on the whole it seems wiser to rent one than to invest on one.
ReplyDeletehave you seen kannada movie ambrtha dhaare!! chennagidhe alva.
you've given a very different view compared to others
Deleteyes i have watched Amruthadhaare. howdu chennagide.
I think the only reason people buy a house is because of the future..Maybe you are someone who lives in the present..good thing, isn't it?
ReplyDeletei hope so too that it is a good thing :)
Deleteyeah, the future weighs heavily on everyone's minds
You touch upon the very feelings our parents had about owning a home. "I want to die in my own home". But to buy something in Bengaluru is very expensive. :(
ReplyDeleteBangalore is a scary place as far as realty is concerned!
DeleteEvery one dreams of owning a beautiful house located in serene environment with peaceful surroundings.
ReplyDeleteYour decision to drop idea of pursuing your dream house is realistic and economically sensible.Whats the point in shelling out 50lakhs or more for a flat which you can get at monthly rental of 15k-20k...Investing in piece of land is advisable.
Iam from a business family,my peers invested heavily in real estate till early nineties for the simple reason that rent recieved would be in proportianate of investment...Not any more...If i invest 45-50 lakhs for a flat,at best i would get 15k monthly rent which adds upto 2lakhs for a year---4% return on investment,gov bonds give 8% tax free returns....
Massive infrastructure development in metros have ensured that there is ample flats/houses available to be leased out for rent...Live as long as u wish..then shift to better and new place.
wow that's amazing calculation there! shocking actually to see that interest wise it really didn't work out so well. not even as good as govt bonds!!! strange considering all the money handling & investing gyan we get!
Deletethanks for sharing this insight Vinod. gave me something to think about
Nothing wrong. You are enjoying your life sujatha
ReplyDeletethat i am :)
Deletethanks Latha
Each one has their own kind of enjoyment or happiness. If you are happy being like this, go ahead enjoy life.
ReplyDeletei am!
DeleteConstructing house is a horrible experience in anyone's life. It's so painful. It's not worth the pain. People lose focus on everything including career and lose a lot of things in that one year or so.
ReplyDeleteNext, paying money to builders before the flat is ready is a big risk. I know people who are running after builders for years to get the work completed. Now they think they shouldn't have longed for a house. :(
So, I think, buying an old or ready-to-occupy house is better than all these. But, our people have a lot of sentiments about buying old houses and you don't come across many ready-to-occupy new houses. I was lucky to get one such flat for a reasonable price with its own limitations in Bangalore.
Another thing is, every one wants to own a house in the heart of the city. If I can't afford it, I should look at what is affordable for me. It's all about compromising, which most people are not comfortable with.
And, as you said, rented houses give us a lot of flexibility. You can keep changing your house every year to stay near the office if you are a job hopper (these days, most of us are so). You can stay in a much more luxurious house for the same amount.
All said, it takes a lot of courage not to be worried about future. We all know you are courageous enough. :)
yes, i've seen & heard about of some of those shattered dreams & the frustrations of running after builders esp after shelling out big money & waiting endlessly. it will break me completely to go through such an experience!
Deleteyou are very fortunate indeed you found a good flat.
courageous? haha yeah...no money na! only courage is left :DD
sensible choice.... it is more fun to move around and travel around the country than lay down roots....
ReplyDeletethank you :)
DeleteThis is a very personal decision & so many views have already been given.I beg to differ with u but u have presented your case very soundly.Never thought of becoming a lawyer?
ReplyDeletelawyer? haha one pundit actually told me that is an alternate career if not training/teaching :DD
Deleteoh thank god your blog page opened today. finally!!
been trying since last week. it wasn't opening. i got error message saying this page not available/blocked or something. i tried going through your indiblogger profile, through ur link on one of the discussion forums but noting worked. wanted to drop an indimail regarding the prob. but well it is working today
Building your own dream house is not as tough or as terrifying as you imagine. First drive the demons out of your mind. Then develop a passion for your dream house. Have determination. Importantly identify the right architect & civil contractor. This requires a bit of market survey. If this is done and the money is available the rest is not difficult. You actually start enjoying your "labor". Make the labor your love. Have zeal & enthusiasm. Wish to review your decision ?
ReplyDeleteAnd property is the best investment you can make today.
true, definitely the demons are in my mind
Deleteyes, property is one of the most preferred investments.
but best? i am not very sure anymore. i am of course no financial or real estate expert. but after reading Vinod Vyas's response, makes me want to think again!
I am not a great fan of the idea of taking a bank loan(yes, that is the only option if you want a house in NCR. You can save all your life and it won't do. Or live abroad for 10 years and then come back. :P) and paying the EMIs to 'own' a house.
ReplyDeleteAnd it has a lot to do with the kind of houses people are buying these days. An apartment in a high rise building isn't my idea of a house. And buying a piece of land and building your home, apart from saying is damn expensive, is too ..too much of an effort.
And the other reason, which I can absolutely identify with is that feeling of 'getting bound'. I will feel like I am in a chain. Oh, this life..just asks sometimes absurd questions of yourselves.. Hehe... :D
chalo at least a few of us think alike :)
DeleteLike they say, there's never a good time to buy a house. Conversely, there's never a bad time to buy one!! Personally, even I am in the same phase.. Should I buy one now, should I wait..?!!?
ReplyDeletefor no apparent reason, but i suddenly thought of Hamlet and his famous ques
Deletevery difficult to sort this question out
ibought my own house at the age of 36 and paid heavy EMI which wasnt easy for me but i strongly believe ,if theres a will theres a way and i have a roof on my head in a fairly decent place in Delhi .but buying or not buying a house is a personal choice and depends on circumstances.As a mother i secured my girl child as i know, nobody who would take care of her in my absence and a roof on your head is the biggest security,yes if i had no child i would have worked and saved enough for my old age and travelled the world and passed away while travelling may be...homes are built with hearts ,your happiness is more important more brick walls ,like i said circumstances....you are the best judge and dont let your past dominate your thought...but when you do buy a house do invite me for house warming :)
ReplyDeletethat's really wonderful - a house of your own at just 36! really an achievement Alka. i am feeling your pride through your words. God bless ur home!
Delete@Sujatha - "Flexibility"..."i am happy this way" are just excuses and nothing else...
ReplyDeletemy dad owned a house and he had to sell it coz of some reasons and i know the pain it caused...as i told you..we just bought new one and we dint gonna stay there...
owning a house doesnt mean you need to stay ther..and trust me if you can manage to get one then you can jut rotate money to get couple of more properties..
House gives sense of POWER, STATBILITY and HAPPINESS...if you say you dont want one, you are just fooling yourelf.
i am sure it gives a sense of power & so on. good for them :)
Deletebut so far i never had a raging urge to buy/build something of my own.
"Mango & jackfruit trees with low branches & circular mud mounds around them for sitting" - Somehow reminds me of "Malgudi Days". What finally convinced us to buy was the thought of perhaps having to downsize after retirement. Also, once we paid the down payment of 5 or 10%, we'd pay less weekly to the bank for our own home than to our landlords to rent their property.
ReplyDeletemy parental house was like that. actually most houses in my place (coastal town of Mangalore) are like that :) and of course, in addition to mango n jackfruit we had lots of coconut trees too and cashew trees
Deleteyeah need to work out the economics of it very carefully i guess
Very heartfelt and beautifully written. Each one of your reasons for not wanting to build your own house is valid and has a deep emotional (or logical) connect as well. But then, that house of your dreams you described in your own words sounds like a real dream house. So if and when you manage to build it, it would indeed be a fulfilling experience. :)
ReplyDeletetouch wood! i mean, amen to your last line! :)
DeleteWell, even with your own house, you can move. You can always put your house on rent :). I guess once you have kids who go to certain schools, you are sort of not so a nomad any more. I had moved many places too and spent my entire childhood moving from place to place and living in government accommodation. It is not the house that makes you stay in one place, it is the place that does :).
ReplyDeleteya you sure have moved and how!
Deletei have always wondered about people who give build their houses, then give it away on rent & then go & live in a rented place themselves! they surprise me :)
Hahaha. Well, I have a work in progress drafted blog on the exact opposite of what you have said. Maybe, I should get around to publishing that afterall! If not owning a house may give a sense of freedom to one, to another, the very same will not give a feeling of belonging and make him want to own a house. Each to his own I guess.
ReplyDeletereally? that would be fun to read then :) pls do publish
DeleteLol at the last line!
ReplyDeleteWell i dint think that..this is your choice at the end and if you are happy about it then why not!
everyone takes the concept of house it his/her own way,for some people it is a token for satisfaction,that atleast they got their own house...and for others its just another formal needs of this life on earth and they dont take it seriously..in this part of the world tho,its one of the must! I have seen people going crazy for having their own house..and then those people too who dont care a bit about it! they invest that money in something else instead and live peacefully...so yeah its a matter of one's own choice!:)
yes i have heard about your part of the world. my school friend married a Pakistani! so she does tell me little bits of life there. true, for some it is such a "must." here too land and house are very dear to us.
DeleteRented is always better choice , when you compare it with buying a house with all those financial limitation we have . And if you have saved/earned a hell lot of money or you have inherited ancestral wealth then its best to buy a house .
ReplyDeletethe ancestral wealth point you brought out is absolutely correct. then it does make better sense to buy one!
Deleteearned/saved hell lot of money? aahhh!!wish!!!
Me too wished , but i would never buy a house , would travel all over world spend all money i earned .
DeleteWhat a house gives: Happiness! So as long as you are happy it doesn't matter whether you are in your own house or a rented space.
ReplyDeleteThe write-up was just a treat to read with sprinkle of a dream that every one wants materialized.
the opening lines of your comment - perfectly said
DeleteIm curious about why you arent as excited to have your own house but I understand your point somewhere just as well.I have always dreamt of having my own home,a place ,no a space I can call my own.Where Im surrounded with reminders of my life and the things I love.Im havent strted with the decorating coz Im still a visitor to my home back there.But happiness is where your heart is,so thats all that matters.Like my tiny apartment,its small,but we have decorated every little corner ourselves.Its okay Suji,even Im a little like a nomad over here.Its rental but its still home.
ReplyDeleteIn this day and age,it isnt affordable anymore,but dont stop hoping.Look out for opportunities.Im in the same boat as many of the people,looking for land to invest for the future.What life has in store for us, we dont know but still dont stop trying.:>
ReplyDeletethe decorating part and the shopping for it part of a own house is lot more exciting than the building part of it
DeleteI always wanted a house of my own, but never managed it. I hated moving from house to house. But Delhi gave me staff quarters where I have been staying ever since (more than 10 years). Yet I dream of building my own house after retirement!
ReplyDelete10 years one house!!!! whoa!
Deletei pray your dream comes true.
It completely depends on the individual preference, his/her lifestyle etc. For someone who travels a lot and changes job location often, it may not make sense to put up all the savings in one place.
ReplyDeleteBut I would look at it from a futuristic security perspective. I know someone who built a house by taking a loan of 7 lakhs 10 years ago. He is still paying the loan by EMIs. But the current value of that place is more than 40 lakhs and he sold it... Now he is more wealthier than before!
You could secure your next generation by passing on this appreciating asset.
And from your post I can sense that you have a great taste of architecture. I mean the pastel colors, brick walls etc... Really good taste I say. (My thoughts completely sync with yours on this element). Nice read :)
Cheers!!
that is one huge ROI. lucky guy!
Deletei agree - one of the reasons for owning property is the thought of securing the future for self & our children. i am amazed at the sacrifices my parents made just for that. of course, most of the parents do that.
First, for your dream house, you can go to my mum's house in HP. It is small with green house, farm, mango orchid and a river nearby. I firmly believe in investing in land as I have made money in property. Also, my father is a landlord, it's in my genes. I have a flat near Chandigarh and my husband wants to buy a house in Chandigarh which is minimum 2.3-4 crores affair. I am against it. Buy a property, go deep in debt and destroy your present for a future which you are not sure of. Owing a house is a pride but it should come at the cost of sacrificing the quality of life.
ReplyDeleteLastly, house is more than bricks and cement. Practically, it doesn't matter in which house you live...How you live, is more important...
Stay happy and blessed...:)
Hi Saru, I second your thought here... House is more than bricks and cement... Completely true... Its an emotional affair for many :)
DeletePS: Huh, this threaded comment is so good!
Sorry, it should not come at the cost of sacrificing the quality of life...Typing mistake...
DeleteI click photos of every house we move in. I move in every 6 months, except for 1 house in Noida. It was hell when we live in there. And yes, this way of commenting is so cool. I don't have it on my blog...:(
Deleteno Saru don't invite me. i am shameless. i will actually go to your mom's place :DDD. To be able to stay, even for a short while, in such a beautiful place as HP is kismat!
Deletehave you read Rich Dad, Poor Dad? you must have. yes i agree with what you said there - identifying & investing in the right kind of property at the right time without burning our hands is a sign of financial intelligence. i admire that quality. because most people tend to gt too emotional in these matters & go deep in debt.
About the threaded comment, it is there in blogger now. Switch to new blogger interface, go to settings, select posts & comments, select embedded.
Sujatha, I wish I could also see the house where Saru's mom lives:)..
Deletethat was one lovely last line - i dont need an expensive house, i need a lovely home. nice. like that.
ReplyDeleteA biggest challenge of todays people, everybody keep this desire into their and put their heart and soul into this. My father tells me how hard they worked to get the home and equally feel pride and accomplishment. I dont know why this burning desire to own a home is not with me. So if you seriously looking to buy a house then buy it. Nicely written:)
ReplyDeletethank you Mithlash. yes parents feel lot of pride when they look at the house they built, it shows the many years of hard work they put in & the sacrifices they made to make their dream come true
Deletelovely post... Everytime i thiink of saving or investng money, my dream house comes to my mind. My mom has always emphasized of investing in real estate and that has always made me work for one house of my own...
ReplyDeletestarting young is the best way to start off working on your dream i guess. it is a great motivator no doubt
DeleteI too feel the same way! :-) I would like to have my own home but today with spiraling prices i will never be able to get a home of my choice. There are compromised to be made! And am not willing to make those compromises. What is the point in owning a house and it is not to your liking! To build a house of your choice not only needs money, but as you said, lot of time & effort! So, better to be happy where you are rather than toil for the tag of, 'Proud Owner'!
ReplyDeletethank god! 1 more person who thinks alike!
Deletei know, the compromises bit is one of the things that pushes us back and the prices toh its just skyrocketing these days
Lived most of my childhood in government houses .NE is full of British style beautiful houses.We shifted place/house almost every fourth year .That was lot of fun but also lot of work with packing ,unpacking ,renovating etc.Finally feel settled when now have a home of our own for the last sixteen years.
ReplyDeleteyeah seen only in pics the NE houses. they are spacious, beautiful, earthy.
Deletewould love to see some pictures of these types of houses
DeleteI've spent my entire childhood in just the tea garden houses. And they felt mine. Never wanted to have my own house :)
ReplyDeleteBut I love decorating houses. Putting things the way I like it :)
I won't mind having a tiny house. But I love the cozy feeling :)
tea garden houses! hmmmm lovely n lucky :)
DeleteInteresting thoughts!! :)
ReplyDeleteDifferent strokes for different folks!! :)
yes definitely :) each person has his or her reasons for either of the options
DeleteEven i want to own a house....but i agree with your points too....why to get the burden of a house and ghostly emi's when i am still happy without it. ;-)
ReplyDeleteyeah the EMIs are scary unless one is already heavily loaded with pappa ka paisa :))
DeleteWelcome to the Club
ReplyDeleteCheers !!
:)) Cheers!
DeleteIf you can afford the down payment, buy the house NOW. :)) It gives sense of stability and permanence.
ReplyDeletenot too sure about the stability/permanence part of it but well if it gives that feeling to 'house owners' good for them :)
Deletethis post to me seems connecting two extremes.On one hand,I'm getting all the financial/future planning gyan but suddenly there's a dash of childish desires..'home sweet home' types!!
ReplyDeleteI liked ur idea of being a nomad! complete freedom..and when I have got my parents to take care of housing/property building and all..I'm relishing ur nomadic idea.bit expensive though that way!as long as one can afford,nomadic seems a brighter option to me!!
yup true, torn between two extremes :)
DeleteIt is not so difficult to build and own a house. If you start the work you will find a pleasant experience to build our own house according to our choice.
ReplyDeletehmmmm...maybe so Sir
DeleteThats strange Sujatha...anyways theres always an architect you know ;)
ReplyDeleteoh yeah!
DeleteI get them all of Google :D Really have to search :)
ReplyDelete!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteWell written.I can absolutely relate to that.
ReplyDeleteCommitments and responsibilities sometimes exhaust people who are obsessed and who pay attention to even minor details.I find myself one such who makes sure I'm involved in every aspect.
Along with that my impatience doesn't help at all.Considering everything if I say,"I am not particularly interested in responsibilities", my friends give that weird look too.
But here you have presented the idea well.Good one,nice read.. :)
i know that weird look very well :D
Deletetrue, it can really weigh us down but not everyone understands
Tell you what...
ReplyDeleteThe couple who signed my marriage certificate, it's their story. They have two children, father in law lives with them in a good sized flat in Indiranagar posh area. The flat was purchased by FIL. They bought land, in yet to be developed area outside Bangalore...They dedicated good three years of their life building the Bunglaw...They were all excited, have a good loan but they can pay it back by selling the flat or renting it.
They planned to move to the Bunglaw, spent few days there and moved back to the flat. Why? The lady is too scared to live in a lonely house way too far from the city. She was horrified with the notion, what if, something happened to FIL and they do not get medical attention in time, what if the kids didn't like? And, now she feels the place is haunted!!!
So, I would say, better be merry than having big time loan and too many complications. It will happen when it has to. I do not even have a car, never had one :D How about that :D
ouch! what a mess!
Deletemeri toh raaton ki neend haraam ho jaati in a situation like that
true, better to live well than have complications
It keeps telling me you have posted a new blog post- but when I click on the link, it just says it doesn't exist- my blogger home page has been acting up again. I hope I'm not missing something :)
ReplyDeleteno no you haven't missed anything.
Deletei've been trying to put up a post since morning but somehow the text appears with a white patch behind it & the writing is not visible. tried so many times but same problem. so i delete it every time!!! that is why it is showing up on your dashboard :(
Dreaming abt constructing a home is much better than constructing one. Coz we'd never be satisfied... Besides... Staying in the same home?? Uh oh...
ReplyDeleteone more person who thinks alike :))
Deletehahah yeah the dreaming part - no tax on that :) plus can keep changing the decor as we wish :o
I love the new photo.. :-))
ReplyDeletethank u :)
DeleteLove the honesty in this post. I think things like owning property, where to live, etc. are intensely personal things and each person has the right to make his/her own decisions. I would love to own my own home from a financial perspective. But the thought of staying rooted in one place makes me squirm. I guess that's why I, like you have changed 8 kitchens in the past 8 years.
ReplyDeletethank you Gayatri.
Deleteyou are a world citizen, aren't you! :) resident of three countries!
Well, settling down and being stuck in one house doesn't really appeal to me yet. But, then I can afford to do so for at least a few more years before society starts saying something similar to your quotes in the last line. But, seriously, why should that even matter?
ReplyDeletetrue, why should it matter!
Deletewelcome to Conversations! And thanks for your comment :)
another feather in your cap ... it's outstanding...
ReplyDeletei was really moved by your thoughts :)
you have put all your heart into this post... and it shows...
Thanks for such a beauty !
Cheers!
thank you Vijender for reading an older post & responding to it :)
DeleteThough "roti kapda aur makaan" are the three basic necessities , yet,for the third, I prefer to have a home rather than a house !
ReplyDeleteNice post !
a home - true :)
DeleteIm getting proud for you. You did it with your own idea.
ReplyDeletethank you :)
DeleteThank you for sharing your info. I really appreciate
ReplyDeleteyour efforts and I am waiting for your next post thanks once again.
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