If you are in the market to buy real estate, then you may be disheartened to learn that an average Manhattan flat is cheaper than a flat in Mumbai. Current property prices could be a sign, that prosperity which long evaded India after independence, has finally come home to roost, comparing as we the prices of Indian real estate prices with those in USA.

One may love or hate the Indian realty boom depending from which side of the fence you look at it i.e. buyer or seller, but the fact remains one cannot ignore it. Property prices have risen 30 to 50% in Indian metros over the past two years and have doubled in many suburban locations.

Investing in residential property these days will return a yield of roughly 5-6% per annum in rental terms, less than what fixed deposits and other investments may fetch you. Hence, realty investors are advised to focus on identifying locations that will not only yield good rental income, but will also appreciate in terms of capital value. Knight Frank (India), a real estate consulting firm say Mulund, Ghatkopar (E), Thane, Goregaon, Malad and Borivali in Mumbai are places to watch out for. In Delhi and the NCR region, Noida / Greater Noida, Gurgaon and Indirapuram are the prime picks, while J.P. Nagar, Banerghatta, and Hebbal among others are hot property in Bangalore. Old Mahabalipuram Road (Chennai), Rajarhat (Kolkata), Madhapur and Gachibowli (Hyderabad) are other places to look out for.

If you know your Indian cities well, you will realise the bulk of real estate action is happening in the suburbs of top metros.

Construction activity, development of self-supporting infrastructure, etc. will see the realty prices in these location appreciate tremendously. Then too, many office spaces and IT parks are mushrooming across Bangalore, Delhi and the NCR region, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Owning just 500 – 1,000-sq. ft. of residential space in the vicinity of these locations, you will be able to command any rental price from people working in these areas. Ever since a hub of industrial units including IT / ITeS opened in Noida, the cost of property in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad (which adjoins Noida) shot up dramatically.

According to a real estate expert, commercial property is the most lucrative generating 12% yield annually, while retail (malls) property could generate 8 to 9%. Whichever, way you look at it; the Indian real estate boom refuses to go away. Whether, you want to buy real estate for rental or end using purposes, you will find that in the long-term, you will be the winner, even though other investment avenues at present may yield more than the 5 – 6% of rental yields.

Land always appreciates in value and as IT / ITeS and other industrial units spring up thanks to India’s off-shoring / outsourcing boom, even rental returns from residential property in and around them will go up. If you have the patience to play the waiting game, residential or commercial property, you will get good rental returns.