New Delhi, April 2 -- Stock markets have corrected by 7%, while gold and silver have surged by 70% in 2025-26. With gold retaining strong momentum amid elevated global uncertainty, investors are reluctant to sell.

In such a backdrop, where the broader economic outlook remains weak and liquidating assets like equities or gold is less attractive, big-ticket purchases such as homes tend to feel more daunting.

That is when low-upfront-cost subsidy schemes offered by real estate developers begin to appear as the only viable way to afford a home. Under these schemes, buyers can book

a property by paying just 5-20% upfront, with the bulk of the payment deferred until possession.

But before you fall for the "affordable home" pitch, understand...