India’s property market seems tough now, but history tells a different story. Real estate expert Rajdeep Chauhan says prices won’t climb forever. Crashes in Japan, China, and the US show the risks when basics weaken.
“Your uncle got a flat in 2007,” Chauhan posts on LinkedIn. “He’s still trying to get his money back.”
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That line starts a bigger point. Property prices go up only if the economy backs them. Chauhan knocks down the idea that real estate always pays off. He points to hard drops seen worldwide.
“In 1989, Japan’s market burned hot. Land under Tokyo’s Imperial Palace beat all of California’s value,” he says. “Then it fell. By 2001, land prices dropped 70 percent. Buyers from the 1989 top still lose money. That’s 36 years back.”
He hits the US too. “Prices fell 19 percent from 2007 to 2009. More than 2.8 million homes lost in 2009. Owners took five to seven years to get their stake back.”
Yet Chauhan says India stands apart—for good causes now.
“India hits all the marks,” he notes. “GDP rose 7.8 percent in Q1 2025. Over 100 million folks join cities. Office space matches demand at 0.49—for every 2 square feet needed, we add 1.”
This setup fuels growth today. The alert remains, though.
“Ask China about 26 percent empty offices. Ask Japan about 1990. Ask US buyers from 2007,” he writes. “Good basics mean profits. Bad ones make you a story at weddings.”