As Chennai’s residential market continues its steady transformation in 2025, homebuyer priorities are evolving in noticeable ways. While demand remains robust for established locations - including plots in OMR, flats in Tambaram East, and flats in Porur - deeper behavioural patterns are emerging across apartments, villas, and plotted developments.
A comprehensive study by Findbhk.com, a Chennai-focused real estate platform, highlights substantial changes influenced by improved infrastructure, rising lifestyle aspirations, and a greater focus on long-term liveability.
FindBHK interacts with nearly 250 property buyers every day, and over the past 10 months, the platform has engaged with approximately 75,000 home seekers across the city. These interactions offer a clear understanding of what today’s Chennai buyers prioritize.
1. Apartment Buyer Trends: Livability Takes Priority
A. Rising Preference for Peaceful Micro-Markets
A strong trend in 2025 is the increasing preference for calm, serene neighbourhoods. Many homebuyers—especially families and working professionals—are open to moving away from central Chennai to quieter regions such as ECR.
The spike in enquiries for sea-facing homes and coastal communities further reinforces this shift.
B. Gated Communities Outperform Standalone Buildings
Earlier, standalone buildings with 6–8 units were widely preferred. Buyers today increasingly choose larger gated communities offering: Walking/jogging tracks, 24×7 security, Landscaped areas, Well-designed circulation spaces, Fitness centre and swimming pool Walking tracks in particular are now considered essential across age groups—something standalone structures cannot provide.
C. Balconies & Private Terraces Drive Faster Sales
Buyers now insist on: A minimum of two balconies Balcony sizes of 40–50 sq.ft. or more Small balconies fail to attract interest. Units with private terraces of 300–500 sq.ft. sell the quickest and usually command a premium due to their lifestyle appeal.
D. Metro & School Connectivity: Key Decision Drivers
The expanding Chennai Metro network has reshaped locality preferences. Buyers no longer insist on a particular neighbourhood — they prefer homes close to:
Metro stations and Reputed CBSE/ICSE schools
This marks a shift from location-based choices to connectivity-based decisions.
E. Floor Plan Quality Matters More Than Ever
Homebuyers actively reject: Opposite-facing main doors, Floors with more than 5 units, Apartments sharing common walls. Demand is strong for low-density floors and layouts with good ventilation, privacy, and natural light.
F. Dual Car Parking Becomes Standard Expectation
The rise of multi-vehicle households has made two car parks a common request. Buyers are now prepared to pay extra for dedicated dual parking slots.
G. First-Time Buyers Lead the Apartment Segment
Findbhk.com’s data shows that end-users — not investors — are driving apartment demand. Liveability outweighs speculative appreciation for most buyers.
H. UDS No Longer the Primary Evaluation Metric
A large portion of buyers no longer places major weight on Undivided Share (UDS). Instead, they prioritise: Usable space and Practical livable area
Demand is particularly strong for 2 BHK units of 1,100 –1,400 sq.ft., compared to compact layouts. Many are upgrading from 2 BHK to 3 BHK, and from 3 BHK to 4 BHK, reflecting a growing preference for larger homes. This indicates a shift from technical ownership parameters to practical daily utility.
2. Plot Buyer Trends: Distinct Behaviours Among Investors & End-Users
A. Investor Choices: Low-Cost, Low-Maintenance Plots
Investors prefer plots under ₹ 3,000 per sq.ft. in high-growth corridors like Valarpuram, Thaiyur, Maraimalai Nagar, Karanodai, Padappai, Sriperumbudur, Manimangalam and Oragadam.
Their expectations include: 30-ft internal roads, CMDA/DTCP approval, Minimal or zero monthly maintenance Investors deliberately avoid sports amenities, as these increase recurring costs and affect returns. Their strategy is to buy low and hold the asset for 7–10 years.
B. End-User Preferences: Amenities + Infrastructure
End-users, who plan to construct immediately, are willing to pay more for: Security, Streetlights, Children’s play areas, Recreational facilities, 30–40 ft internal roads Such buyers view maintenance charges as part of a quality living environment.
C. Infrastructure-Ready Layouts Gain Momentum
Layouts with: Underground power cables, Metro water provision, Stormwater drainage are increasingly preferred, as buyers associate these with safety, planning, and long-term value.
3. Villa Buyer Trends: Space, Ownership & Independence
A. Strong Preference for Freehold Over UDS-Based Villas
Many villa projects in Chennai follow the UDS model. However, most villa buyers clearly prefer: Full freehold ownership, Stand-alone villas, No shared beams or row-house formats This highlights a desire for independence, clear titles, and control over one’s land.
B. Backyards Are Becoming a Must-Have
FindBHK data shows increasing demand for backyard spaces. Buyers value them for: Gardening, Pets, Outdoor leisure activities Even smaller backyard areas significantly influence buying decisions.
Conclusion
Chennai’s residential market in 2025 is being shaped by strong end-user demand, shifting lifestyle aspirations, and enhanced infrastructure connectivity. Whether it is apartments with meaningful outdoor spaces, plots in fast-developing suburbs, or villas with private land ownership, buyers are gravitating toward homes that promise livability, security, and long-term value.
These behavioural insights, derived from Findbhk.com’s daily interactions and analytics across tens of thousands of buyers, offer developers and marketers a realistic understanding of what Chennai homebuyers truly prioritize today.
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