Real Estate vs. Equity Investments: A Case Study on Wealth Creation
The debate between investing in equities versus real estate has been ongoing, with individuals often choosing based on their personal preferences and requirements. In the Indian context, many people aspire to own a home early in life due to its emotional importance. However, from a wealth creation perspective, which is the superior option—real estate or equities? Let's explore this through a real-life example: In 2011, a young working couple (H-27, W-24) considered purchasing a house in a fairly good location within a tier 1 city. The property was priced at ₹85 lakh, and with their savings, they planned to take a ₹70 lakh loan, resulting in an approximate EMI of ₹70,000. The husband's father, a long-term investor, advised the couple to consider investing in the equities instead, especially since they already owned other ancestral properties and only intended to rent out the new property. Despite the couple's desire to own their property, the father proposed an alternati...