India, Dec. 30 -- A Reddit post by a 35-year-old homebuyer in Gurugram, claiming strong gains from a flat purchase, has triggered a broader debate on whether apartments truly create wealth or merely offer lifestyle security.

The buyer said he bought a flat two years ago for approximately Rs.2.25 crore, all-inclusive, including stamp duty, interiors, furniture, and commissions, funded partly by a Rs.1 crore home loan at 8.5% interest. At the time, his monthly take-home salary was around Rs.3 lakh, against which he paid an EMI of about Rs.1.1 lakh. With interest rates now closer to 7.5% and the outstanding loan reduced to around Rs.90 lakh, he claimed the flat is valued at nearly Rs.3 crore today.

"By next year, I should be able to close ...