Finfluencer’s Viral Post Sparks Debate: “Renting Made Me ₹3.1 Crore Richer Than Buying a House”
Finfluencer's Viral Post Sparks Debate: “Renting Made Me ₹3.1 Crore Richer Than Buying a House”
Financial influencer questions India’s property obsession, calling real estate ‘financial suicide’ for today’s middle class
Financial influencer and entrepreneur Sharan Hegde, Founder & CEO of GetOnePercent, has ignited a heated debate on India’s housing market after claiming that renting, rather than buying, made him significantly wealthier.
In a viral post on X, Hegde revealed he spent over ₹1 crore on rent in the past decade but insists it left him richer than homeownership would have. “I’ve spent ₹1 crore on rent in 10 years… and I’d do it again. Renting made me ₹3.1 crores richer than buying would have,” he wrote, adding that while he could afford to purchase a ₹5 crore property today, he chooses not to.
Hegde argues that Indian real estate is disproportionately expensive, costing 15–20 times annual income compared to the global average of 5x. He calculated that a ₹1 crore house ends up costing ₹2 crore in EMIs once interest, stamp duty, and brokerage are factored in—effectively turning buyers into “rent payers to the bank.”
His comparison:
- Buying a ₹1 crore house: After 20 years, factoring interest, taxes, and upkeep, net gains ≈ ₹1.8 crore.
- Renting + Investing: Renting the same home for ₹25,000/month and investing savings at a modest 12% CAGR could yield ≈ ₹4.6 crore—making him ₹3.1 crore richer.
To avoid blanket generalizations, Hegde outlined a four-rule checklist for homebuyers: EMI under 30% of income, 20% down payment, a two-year EMI emergency fund, and readiness for a 30% price fluctuation.
“Your parents got rich buying houses. You won’t. 2025 India is not 1995 India,” he stressed, calling real estate “financial suicide” for many middle-class families. However, he clarified he is not against ownership, only against uninformed decisions: “Renting only makes sense if you invest the money you save. If you rent and don’t invest a rupee, you’ll end up on the streets by 50.”
Hegde’s remarks have triggered sharp reactions online, intensifying the debate over whether India’s traditional preference for home ownership still makes financial sense in today’s high-cost, low-yield environment.
