India’s residential real estate market is witnessing a clear change in buyer behaviour. Even as developers continue to announce new project launches, a growing share of homebuyers are choosing ready-to-move or completed properties. The preference reflects a mix of practicality, risk aversion, and changing market realities, with buyers placing greater value on certainty than on early-stage price advantages.
Recent data from leading property consultancies shows that completed projects now account for a majority of residential sales in several key markets. This shift marks a departure from the earlier appetite for under-construction homes, where buyers were willing to wait years in anticipation of appreciation.
What the Numbers Reveal
According to Anarock’s 2025 reports, ready-to-move homes accounted for nearly 60% of residential transactions across India’s top seven cities. Mumbai recorded a 12% year-on-year rise in absorption of completed inventory, while Pune saw a 15% increase. In NCR markets such as Gurugram and Noida, more than half of residential sales were concentrated in ready projects.
Consultants attribute this trend to prolonged construction timelines, rising input costs, and buyer fatigue with delayed or stalled projects. While ready homes typically command an 8–10% price premium over under-construction properties, demand remains strong due to the lower risk involved.
Certainty Trumps Speculation
On the ground, brokers say the buyer mindset has changed decisively. “Today’s buyers want certainty. They are willing to pay more for a ready flat rather than wait three or four years for possession,” says a Mumbai-based resale broker operating in Worli and Thane.
Site visits reinforce this sentiment. Buyers can physically inspect the actual carpet area, balcony size, views, and amenities before making a commitment. In contrast, under-construction projects rely heavily on brochures, floor plans, and sample flats, which may not always reflect the final product.
A Pune-based buyer visiting a ready project in Kharadi summed it up simply: “I wanted to see exactly what I was paying for, from the layout to the view. With a ready home, there are no surprises.”
Pandemic-Era Shifts Still Matter
The pandemic years played a significant role in reshaping buyer priorities. Work-from-home and hybrid work models made immediate usability of space more important than speculative appreciation. Buyers sought homes they could occupy immediately, with functional layouts and access to completed amenities.
During the same period, rising construction costs forced many developers to make design compromises in new launches. Thinner balconies, reduced carpet efficiency, and fewer common facilities have become common trade-offs. Buyers, now more aware and informed, are factoring these compromises into their decisions.
The Financial Case for Ready Homes
From a financial perspective, ready-to-move homes offer clear advantages. Buyers avoid the dual burden of paying both rent and EMIs during the construction period. For investors, completed properties provide immediate rental income.
Market data shows that rental yields in ready projects are typically 4–5% higher than those in under-construction properties. Liquidity is also better, with resale transactions closing faster since buyers can move in immediately or start earning rental income without delay.
Resale brokers add that completed projects allow for more realistic negotiations. Pricing can be adjusted based on the property’s actual condition, location within the project, and rental potential, factors that are harder to assess in early-stage developments.
Impact on Developers
The growing preference for ready inventory is reshaping developer strategies. Builders are under increasing pressure to accelerate construction schedules and deliver projects on time. Marketing efforts are also shifting focus, with greater emphasis on showcasing completed developments rather than pre-launch promises.
Developers with strong execution track records stand to benefit, while those relying heavily on aggressive pre-sales may find it harder to attract buyers. Rising regulatory scrutiny and higher construction costs are further narrowing the margin for delays.
A More Mature Buyer Market
Industry experts believe the trend towards ready-to-move homes will continue into 2026. As buyers become more data-driven and risk-averse, certainty is likely to outweigh the lure of early-stage discounts.
For the broader market, this shift signals maturity. Indian homebuyers are no longer buying on faith alone. They are evaluating usability, value, and risk with greater care.
As one Mumbai-based broker put it, “The era of buying on brochures is fading. Buyers today want to walk into a home, not a promise.”
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