Hyderabad realty shocks NRI couple: 15- year investment yields just 0.5% return in dollars.

An NRI couple’s 15-year real estate investment in Hyderabad yielded just a 0.5% annualised return in dollar terms, despite a sale at ₹90 lakh. After taxes, maintenance, and currency depreciation, their $111,740 investment in 2010 returned only $120,000 by 2024. Experts urge NRIs to avoid fear-driven purchases and instead rent before deciding to buy. The couple’s delayed possession, prolonged EMIs, and modest rental income highlight risks of project delays and inflated return expectations. Financial advisors stress factoring in rupee depreciation, transfer costs, and staggered payments when evaluating real returns. While Indian real estate can diversify an NRI’s portfolio, it requires careful planning. Investing in assets with returns higher than annual rupee depreciation (typically ~4%) is key. This cautionary tale underscores the importance of assessing opportunity costs—such as missed equity market gains—and long-term financial goals before investing in Indian property, especially for those planning eventual repatriation.