How to know for sure if 2015 is a good time to buy property in Delhi?

Everyone wants a house in Delhi. And while buying a property in the main city has been a distant dream for many, real estate developers suggested that the property prices across the city has dipped in the past two years.

“Residential property prices in several areas of Delhi having declined by 10-20% in 2013 and then stabilized in 2014. Fence-sitters are watching the market movements to determine if prices will slide further,” said Santhosh Kumar, international director at JLL India.

He added, “Residential prices in established locations of South and Central Delhi such as Vasant Vihar, Defence Colony, Jor Bagh and Golf Links saw a decline of 15-20% in 2013 and remained at those levels in 2014. A correction in prices was also observed in areas like Westend, Shantiniketan, Prithviraj, Aurangzeb Road and Amrita Shergill Marg, but in a lower range of 10-15%.”

However, property prices in Gurgaon and Noida remained stable last year. According to market players, the supply in this market has been more than the demand, which has resulted in excess inventory. “A bad economy made property buyers cautious in their purchases. The consumer sentiment was down coupled with high interest rates. All tthis resulted in a sluggish demand,” said Sunil Singh, a property broker in the region. In order to boost the demands, developers have been doling out heavy discounts on their projects.

Interestingly, the prices in areas such as Neemrana, Sohna and Delhi’s J and L zones recorded an increase of 15% to 35% last year. This is in contrary to the negative market dynamics and the stagnant property prices in Delhi and NCR. “The only exception to the appreciation observed in these locations was Yamuna Expressway, which remained stable. However, low land prices and development potential continue to help Yamuna Expressway remain an attractive destination for investors” added Kumar.

BI India shares some tips offered by Kumar for home buyers interested in investing in Delhi and NCR.

South and Central Delhi

According to Kumar, if you are interested in buying an apartment in South and Central Delhi, then 2015 is a great time to do so. “The next six months are likely to witness an increase in developers’ pain; persistent negotiation can result in excellent deals,” said Kumar.

Gurgaon and Noida

According to market players, Golf course road in Gurgaon is the next upcoming area apart from Sohna Road and Dwarka Expressway. However, in Noida, Kumar has advised property investors and home buyers to invest in projects in Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and Noida City, that are being built by developers with proven credibility.

Delhi J and L zone

For the ultra rich property buyers, buying or developing farmhouses or townhouses is a good option. “However, due diligence highly advised for buyers,” noted Kumar.