Buying a property is tough. As if saving money for the goal isn't arduous enough, you have to rack your brain to decide what to buy -an apartment or a built-up house or a plot. Besides lifestyle preferences, one has to look at aspects such as taxation and bank loans as well.

COMFORT ZONE

While buying an apartment, one does not have to worry about hiring an architect, seeking approvals from local bodies and dealing with contractors. The developer takes care of these things and hands you the house where you can start living immediately.

You also do not have to worry about things such as power backup, maintenance and security. You get these services as well as common facilities such as club house and swimming pool. If you buy a plot and build a house on it, you will miss these comforts, unless it's in a gated community developed by a builder.

But plots have a big plus-they are usually ready for possession. Even when part of a big real estate project, you are likely to get possession of a plot much before the flats will be ready.

APPRECIATION LAG

Location is the key to price rise. If the market is stable, the value of a plot will rise over time. As developing a plot is easier than building a structure, the value of your investment is likely to rise faster in a short span. This means you can exit investment bets earlier.

The supply-and-demand equation also works in favour of plots as land becomes scarcer. The value of plots generally rises faster than that of apartments. Also, age does not affect a land parcel, but a structure becomes dilapidated with time. Besides, in an apartment, you have limited layout options.

This is not to say the price of an apartment will not rise. Location, infrastructure and neighbourhood push up the value of both plots and apartments. However, the value of a building has to factor in the depreciation due to age.