Chennai’s real estate sector is undergoing a significant transformation in 2025, marked by a clear evolution in homebuyer expectations and priorities. While established areas—like plots in OMR, flats in Tambaram East and apartments in Porur—continue to see strong demand, new behavioral trends are emerging across apartments, villas, and plotted developments.
An extensive study by Findbhk.com (the Chennai based real estate portal), which engages with approximately 250 buyers daily (totaling nearly 75,000 property seekers in the last 10 months), pinpoints key shifts. These trends are driven by rising lifestyle aspirations, improved infrastructure, and a greater focus on long-term livability.
I. Apartment Buyer Trends: Livability Over Location
The primary focus for apartment buyers is shifting from traditional locality-bound decisions to connectivity-driven and lifestyle-based preferences.
- Preference for Peaceful Micro-Markets: There’s a strong move away from central, congested areas towards calm and serene neighborhoods, such as ECR, where demand for sea-facing apartments and coastal communities is rapidly increasing.
- Gated Communities Are Now Standard: Standalone buildings (6–8 units) are losing favor. Buyers overwhelmingly prefer larger gated communities that offer essential amenities like 24×7 security, fitness centers, swimming pools, landscaped areas, and, crucially, walking/jogging tracks, which are now a must-have across all age groups.
- Larger Balconies and Private Terraces are Essential: Buyers are rejecting compact balconies. They now insist on a minimum of two balconies, each measuring 40–50 sq.ft. or more. Homes featuring large 300–500 sq.ft. private terraces are highly sought after and command a premium due to the added lifestyle value.
- Connectivity Drives Decisions: Flexibility regarding locality is increasing, with buyers prioritizing proximity to Metro stations and access to reputed CBSE/ICSE schools over traditional neighborhood preferences.
- Focus on Floor Plan Quality: Buyers are increasingly discerning about layout. They actively reject designs with opposite-facing main doors, common walls between units, or more than five units per floor. Prioritization is given to low-density floors and layouts that ensure privacy, maximize natural light, and promote ventilation.
- Dual Car Parking is Standard: Reflecting the rise in multi-vehicle ownership, both apartment and villa buyers are willing to pay extra for two dedicated car parks.
- End-Users Dominate Demand: The market is primarily driven by first-time homebuyers (end-users) who prioritize long-term living quality over short-term speculation. Investor activity is comparatively lower.
- Usable Space Over UDS: There is a noticeable decline in the emphasis on UDS (Undivided Share). Buyers now evaluate a property based on its usable space and actual livable area. Demand is strongest for larger 2 BHK units (1,100–1,400 sq.ft.), with many buyers actively looking to upgrade to 3 BHK and 4 BHK homes, indicating an increase in overall desired apartment size in Chennai.
II. Plot Buyer Trends: Investor vs. End-User Divide
Plot buyers are clearly segmented into two groups with distinct needs.
- Investor Preference: Low-Cost, Zero-Maintenance: Investors seek plots priced under ₹3,000 per sq.ft. in emerging corridors like Valarpuram, Maraimalai Nagar, Oragadam, and Sriperumbudur. Their focus is on low recurring costs, so they avoid layouts with amenities. Key requirements are 30-ft internal roads and CMDA/DTCP approval, with the strategy being a long-term (7–10 year) hold.
- End-User Preference: Amenities and Infrastructure: Buyers who plan to build immediately are willing to pay a premium for layouts that offer a better living environment, including security, streetlights, recreational facilities, children’s play areas, and well-laid 30–40 ft roads.
- Infrastructure-Ready Layouts Win: Layouts providing features like underground cabling, Metro water provision, and stormwater drains are performing significantly better, as they signal long-term stability and safety to the buyer.
III. Villa Buyer Trends: Independence and Space
Villa buyers show a strong preference for complete independence and usable outdoor space.
- Freehold Ownership Preferred: Buyers strongly favor freehold land ownership and independent, stand-alone villas over UDS-based models, shared beams, or row-house designs, indicating a clear desire for complete land title and independence.
- Backyards Are Crucial: Villas with dedicated backyard spaces for gardening, pets, and outdoor leisure are in high demand. Even compact backyard areas are a major factor in the final purchase decision.
The Chennai residential market in 2025 is fundamentally shaped by the end-user, who now prioritizes lifestyle-focused expectations supported by better infrastructure. Whether acquiring spacious apartments with functional outdoor areas, plots in infrastructure-ready suburbs, or villas with private land ownership, buyers are focused on: Livability, Security, and Long-term Value. These data-driven patterns offer essential clarity to real estate developers and marketers on the current demands of the Chennai homebuyer.
**’The opinions expressed in the article are solely the author’s and don’t reflect the opinions or beliefs of the portal’**
