Luxury projects in far-flung suburbs are luring second home seekers with state-of-the-art sports facilities such as golf courses

Luxury projects in far-flung suburbs are luring second home seekers with state-of-the-art sports facilities such as golf courses

Golf courses, swimming pools, cricket grounds, coaching academies, meditation pavilions, jogging tracks, rolling lawns and sprawling living spaces—these amenities, once associated with high-end resorts in picturesque getaways, are now available to home seekers and investors in the form of gated communities on the outskirts of Mumbai.
These homes offer all the trappings of a luxury resort, but are closer to home compared to other, conventional weekend destinations. This makes them ideal for those who are looking to buy a second home, whether for leisure or investment purposes.
A common thread among many of these projects is the extra attention they pay to sporting facilities.
“These townships are conceived and executed on a sports-centric theme and lifestyle in order to create dynamic and vibrant communities with a focus on health-consciousness and a participative lifestyle,” says Sahel Pramendra, Head-Markets, Jones Lang LaSalle India, adding that while this model is yet to generate a national hold, a few sports cities are already underway at different centres and Mumbai is leading the way in this trend.

FAR BUT FANCY

Earlier, the areas on Mumbai’s periphery had a low-profile image, but with big builders developing top-of-the-line projects at low costs, many investors are picking up homes in farflung suburbs.
Effectively, for the price of a regular 1BHK in the city, buyers can now enjoy the benefits of a world-class township.
“Projects in these areas are cheaper in terms of individual units, but the huge volumes add up to high revenues, which allow the builder the luxury of offering amenities that come at a marginal incremental cost,” says realty consultant Milan Shah of Milan Estates, adding that areas like Thane, Kalyan, Dombivali on the central side and Dahisar, Mira Road, Vasai-Virar on the western side are emerging as preferred housing destinations, thanks to the new wave of ‘economic luxury’.

PROJECT LIST

Take your pick from:

1. Lodha Group’s Casa Bela
project in Dombivili comes with sprawling putting greens.
Cost: The current rate is R5,500 per square foot. So, a 1200-square foot two-bedroom apartment costs R65 lakh.

2. Indiabulls Greens project in Savroli near Panvel will have a world-class sporting infrastructure, including a full-fledged golf course.
Cost: Approximately R40 lakh

3. Nirmal Lifestyle Group is building The Lifestyle City in Kalyan, spread across 150-acres. The project will have space efficient homes on the waterfront and the complex will have Olympic standard sporting infrastructure—from tennis courts and badminton courts to a swimming pool and clubhouse.
Cost: R4,000 per square foot, with the smallest offering—a 1.5BHK apartment for R30 lakh.

4. Ackruti Group is offering low-cost luxury homes in Mira Road. The Hubtown Gardenia has a gaming zone, sports arena, clubhouse and a pergola-seating zone.
Cost: R5,500 per square
foot.