When Housing Becomes an Investment

For nearly 20 years, I have lived in a rented flat in Dhaka. When I first started renting, the monthly rent was around Tk 15,000. Over the years, it gradually increased to Tk 30,000. Based on the gradual rise in rent, I estimate that I have spent roughly Tk 52�"55 lakh on housing during these two decades.
Yet I still do not own an apartment.

I am Masudur Rahman, a private-sector employee, and buying an apartment has become one of my important financial goals. My experience has made me think about housing in a different way�"not only as a place to live, but also as an investment.

For 20 years, my monthly rent has provided me and my family with a place to live. But once the rent is paid, I do not own any part of the property. This is the fundamental difference between housing as consumption and housing as investment.

When a person buys an apartment, the money spent on housing can potentially create an asset. The owner can live in the property, rent it out for income or sell it later. If property values rise, the owner may also benefit from capital appreciation.

This is why I want to purchase an apartment.
My problem, however, is not the ability to pay for housing every month. I have been paying rent for two decades. The problem is arranging the large amount of money required to purchase a flat. A buyer needs money for the down payment as well as registration, taxes, legal expenses, interior work and other costs.

For a private-sector employee like me, accumulating this amount is difficult while managing regular family expenses.
Still, I believe housing can be a long-term investment when the purchase is carefully planned. Location, price, construction quality, developer reputation, legal documents and future demand all matter. A well-located apartment may have better rental demand and stronger resale potential.

At the same time, buying a flat does not guarantee profit. Loan interest, maintenance, service charges, taxes and repairs can reduce the actual return. Property prices can also perform differently from one area to another.

My 20 years as a tenant have therefore taught me that housing has two sides. One is the immediate need for shelter; the other is the possibility of building wealth through ownership.

I cannot recover the rent I have already paid, nor do I consider it wasted money because it provided my family with a home. But looking ahead, I want my housing expenditure to contribute to something that I can own.

For me, purchasing an apartment is therefore not simply about escaping rent. It is about moving from paying for housing to investing in housing.

After two decades as a tenant, owning an apartment has become more than a personal ambition. It is my attempt to turn a regular household expense into a long-term asset for my future and my family.

But I can decide what the next 20 years will look like.