Mumbai real estate update: Homebuyers pay a premium for flats with a better view; however, the view is frequently damaged due to the AQI levels.

Homebuyers in the Mumbai real estate market’s mid and luxury segments are increasingly preferring premium views, whether they are sea-facing, sea-view, or forest-view apartments.  While many developers market the project using the views as a significant selling point, social media users complain that the sea and woodland views are frequently contaminated throughout the winter.

Do homebuyers prefer paying a premium for the view?

According to real estate advisors and developers, purchasers frequently pay more for apartments with greater views.

“Homebuyers pay a premium for a greater view, whether it’s of the sea, the forest, or the mangroves. Homebuyers pay a hefty premium for a view that includes a balcony. Jitesh Punj, a real estate expert from Mumbai’s suburbs, explained that it could subsequently become a garden view, swimming pool view, or clubhouse view.

How much premium do homebuyers pay for the better view?

According to real estate specialists, the price is determined by location, view quality, and product segment. For instance, a major developer in Mumbai’s Vikhroli charges roughly 30 lakh premium for a mangrove view flat.

In Mumbai’s Dahisar, western suburbs, a 2 BHK flat in a tall structure with a better view of the forest and creek costs roughly ₹1.80 crore to ₹2 crore. A comparable flat in the same stage can cost between 1.50 crore and 1.60 crore. As a result, the tall skyscraper charges a premium for the view, according to Punj.

AQI levels spoil the view

According to netizens, while homeowners pay a premium for apartments with a greater view, the view is spoilt by the air quality index (AQI), which reduces visibility in the winter.

“Why buy an apartment in a tall building with a view? It is polluted in the winter and gloomy during the monsoon, so the balcony is once again closed. As a result, we practically buy the view for the summer,” one user wrote on X.

Another X user stated, “It is polluted most of the time of year.”

Construction restrictions in Mumbai?

In light of rising air pollution as winter approaches, Mumbai’s civic body has issued a warning to construction sites and industries: if the AQI of a ward remains consistently above AQI 200 (“Poor”) for three days or more, all construction and industrial activity will be halted under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP 4). Flying squadrons have been formed to enforce these laws.

What is the difference between a sea view and a sea-facing apartment?

Marine Drive in Mumbai is a prime example of seafront apartments in the city. Sea-view flats, on the other hand, can be found near Churchgate Station. The majority of these towers are taller than the sea-facing buildings along Marine Drive, offering an excellent view of the sea.

However, the ‘sea view’ provided by these buildings is not permanent, as there is always the possibility of the ‘view’ being obstructed by a taller building that may rise in front of it in the future.

Green view apartments in Mumbai?

The majority of housing units in the neighbourhoods surrounding Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) or mangroves have a view of the green. Apartments in suburban Mumbai’s Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Goregaon, Vikhroli, Wadala, Bhandup, and Mulund, among others, offer green or forest views.