Festive Season–A Prime Time for Homeownership Opportunities

Festivals in India are marked by a jovial atmosphere, a joyful spirit, and a sense of togetherness. They also signify auspicious new beginnings. For many, these festivities align with significant investment decisions, including home buying. For home buyers, the festive season, which begins during Ganesh Chaturthi and continues up to Diwali, Dussehra, Christmas, and the new year celebrations, is a highly favourable period for property investments. Considering this tendency of buyers, residential developers offer exclusive deals, discounts, tax breaks, and special project launches during the festivities. This provides buyers with more options to explore, which makes India’s festive season one of the most lucrative times for both buyers and developers.

According to CREDAI, festive seasons always bring prosperity to India's residential industry. The festive seasons of 2021 and 2022 saw more than 1.5 lakh and 1.15 lakh residential units sold in India. Similarly, during 2023’s festive season, the number of registrants across categories surpassed previous records. The festivities in 2024 are likely to see similar results, since the housing sector has performed exceptionally well in the first half of 2024 across the top Indian cities, with an increase in buyer interest and a growth in investment deals.

Let's see how the festive season is the best time for buyers.

New Beginnings and Auspicious Investments

In Indian culture, the term festival goes hand in hand with abundance, new hopes, and blessings. Most families look forward to the festive season in anticipation of making substantial investments, as they believe that the auspicious festivities bring good luck and longevity to their investments. Real estate, being one of the most valuable and long-term investments, holds even greater importance during these months. Buying a home during the festival season is seen as a way to secure not only financial growth but also familial happiness and stability as the festive months carry with them a sense of purpose and a positive atmosphere. This psychological advantage plays a significant role in influencing buyer decisions.

Abundance of Offers and Discounts

Deals and discounts by developers make the festive season one of the most compelling reasons to invest in homes. Additionally, exclusive promotions encourage buyers to explore investment options and take advantage of cash discounts, no-cost EMI options, and special gifts such as gold coins, free parking, or fully furnished homes. To differentiate themselves in the market, some developers also offer combined packages that include remission of registration costs, free house insurance, or discounts on parking and other amenities. These incentives significantly reduce the price of a property, thus, enabling buyers to grab a better deal.

Launch of New Projects

Prudent real estate developers realise the significance of timing in enticing homebuyers during festivals. Therefore, many developers pick this propitious season to launch new projects, knowing that homeowners are actively seeking investment prospects. These new launches frequently include early-bird discounts and other incentives to pique the interest of potential purchasers.

Flexible Financing and Loan Offers

Another reason the festive season is ideal for purchasing real estate is the favourable financing options provided by banks and financial institutions. During this period, many banks offer special home loan schemes with reduced interest rates, zero processing fees, and faster approval processes. Some lenders also provide cashback options or reduce the down payment requirement to make homeownership more accessible. This combination of attractive deals and bank incentives results in a win-win scenario for buyers. With lower mortgage rates and increased affordability, it becomes easier to make a long-term investment in real estate over the festive period.

Better Negotiation Power

During the festive season, developers are focused on selling new residential units as well as clearing out their existing inventory. This helps buyers to negotiate and obtain better deals. A high volume of sales activity encourages developers to offer concessions, including price reductions, free upgrades, or extended payment plans.

Higher Disposable Income During Festivals

The festive season coincides with the time of year when salaried professionals receive bonuses, incentives, or annual perks. This increase in disposable income often prompts homebuyers to make significant financial decisions, including property investments. Buyers are more likely to invest in homes when they have more money, especially when favourable deals are available. We too recognise this uptick in financial activity and plan our promotional campaigns for the festive season accordingly.

The Emotional Connect of Festivities

While financial and practical reasons are vital considerations, the emotional connection that Indians have with festivals cannot be understated. For many, buying a home during Diwali, for instance, symbolises bringing the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, into their lives. Similarly, starting a new venture during an auspicious festival is believed to ensure long-term success and prosperity. This emotional pull is the strongest driver behind the increase in real estate purchases during the festive season. Homebuyers feel a sense of achievement and pride in aligning their life’s milestones with culturally significant dates.

Final Thoughts

The festive season is a period ripe with opportunities, especially in the housing sector. New project launches, special offers, flexible financing options, and an overall positive atmosphere make it the best time for homebuyers to make investments. Thus, the perfect time to invest in real estate is now, and with the right developer and offers, potential homebuyers' dream home could be just around the corner.

(This article is authored by Angad Bedi, CMD, BCD Group)