Working Indian couple failed to buy a flat in Bangalore, owns a 3BHK house in the UK

Representative image generated using AI Owning a place you can call home is on the wish list of many people; however, for a young working couple in Bangalore, that almost looked like a pipe dream. They discovered the harsh reality of property prices when they attempted to purchase a flat in the city. Despite having two stable incomes and saving for years, they couldn’t buy one. Later, they moved to the United Kingdom and, in just two years, bought an independent three-bed house. Interestingly, the house was bought on one person’s income. Rising property prices A woman named Neha Sharma shared her story on X, which has gone viral ever since, about the economic realities of two countries. She was reacting to another post in which a user talked about how purchasing a flat in Mumbai was more difficult than in New York. The post read: “2 BHK in Mumbai: ₹3 Cr 2 BHK in New York: ₹4.75 Cr Mumbai: 15x salary (needs 15 years to own) NYC: 5x salary (needs just 5 years to own) This is how insanely broken real estate is in India.” For the woman, seeing this post brought back memories of trying to own a flat in Bangalore. “In Bangalore, with two people’s salaries, we had a hard time buying a flat (later we cancelled it),” the woman recalled. She detailed how she and her partner were able to purchase a house in the UK in just two years, and that too on a single income. The property in the UK was not a modest starter home or a cramped apartment; it was a complete family residence with all the amenities anyone could want. “Two years after moving to the UK, we bought an independent three-bed house, with all kitchen appliances — gas, fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, oven, carpet, lighting, etc. — with a backyard, good views, and parking,” the woman said. The contrast couldn’t be more striking or more telling about the economic realities in both countries. Other than affordability, the woman expressed that the purchasing process was 100 per cent transparent and that they weren’t asked for any ‘black money’. “No one asked for black money. Bought it on one person’s salary. Got a first-time buyer discount. 100 per cent transparency,” the woman added. In the comments, the woman also talked about the nightmare of buying a home in Bangalore. “I had to empty all my savings and ask for favours to buy the flat in BLR — that when we were earning pretty well. Once I met a dealer and he asked me for ₹2 cr as black money. I said to him, ‘Sir, if I had ₹2 cr in my account as black money, I wouldn’t be sitting here and talking to you.’” Internet reacts The post has gone viral, and many netizens have joined the larger conversation about the affordability of properties in India. “India is a nightmare for property buyers; we need a massive crash to reset this. A lot would be hurt, but it’s needed to root out black money fully,” one X user commented. Another agreed: “What you said is absolutely correct. In India, real estate is overinflated because of corruption. It is said that ₹300/sq ft is the commission builders have to give to one person in Bangalore, whom we all know. By paying that amount, builders can loot the public openly.” A third disagreed with the woman’s views and commented: “The reason why it’s easier to buy a house in the UK is that the down payment required is 5% of the property cost, and interest is 5%. A few years ago, you could buy a house at 1% interest. In India, the down payment is 20%, and the interest is a minimum of 8%.” The woman swiftly replied: “It is not this easy. In the UK, people hardly get hikes per year. Also, inflation is increasing. Yes, during COVID, interest rates were very low, but now they are much higher. I am not comparing prices or interest. I am comparing the process and transparency of buying a house.” The woman’s tweet has sparked larger discussions on how property ownership remains out of reach for the average Indian working professional, while in developed Western economies, the same level of income provides not just access to homeownership but genuine comfort and financial feasibility. Disclaimer: The account shared above is based on an individual experience and should not be taken as a general comparison between housing markets in India and the UK. Property prices, affordability, loan eligibility, and buying processes vary widely based on individual financial circumstances, location, and market conditions. End of Article