News: Buy a Home or Wait? Advice for Couples in Late 20s-08-02-2026

A viral post about an Indian couple who gave up a lavish wedding to buy a house has revived the debate over whether people in their late 20s who are about to marry should invest in property.

For young buyers, the choice pits a "forced savings" asset against financial flexibility. The common trap is ending up house-rich but cash-poor, with little left for weddings, travel, emergencies or career changes.

Rahul and Priya Kumar, who together earn Rs 3 lakh a month and are preparing to marry, chose to rent and invest instead of putting their Rs 40 lakh savings into a down payment and a large EMI. They placed the money in diversified mutual funds and kept a six-month emergency buffer, leaving them free to chase better career opportunities in other cities and buy later once incomes stabilise.

Abhishek Kumar, founder of SahajMoney, a fixed-fee SEBI RIA, recommends that EMIs stay within 30% to 35% of gross monthly income and that no more than 40% of net worth go into the down payment. Couples should first build an emergency fund covering at least six months of expenses and keep a credit score above 740 to get the best rates, improving a weak score before applying since even small rate differences can save lakhs. A 20% down payment and at least two years of stable income history are also essential, he said.

Whether renting beats owning depends on the market cycle: renting comes out ahead if the gap between rent and total ownership costs, invested elsewhere, earns more than the property appreciates.

B. Srinivasan, director and founder of Shree Sidvin Investment Advisors, said a first home should be treated as a necessity, not an investment, and bought only if the couple is confident of living there for 7 to 10 years, since owning ties a career to one place. The location should be close to both offices; if a job change or move abroad is possible, it is better to wait.

He urged logic over emotion for a 20- or 30-year commitment. Where a good property is available at a rental yield of 1% or 2%, renting and investing the difference makes more sense. Buyers must also count hidden possession costs such as registration, club charges and permissions; if these are high and local rents low, locking up capital is not sensible.