Top 3 localities to buy an apartment in Karachi

It has been noticed that demand for flats for sale in Karachi never drops significantly. This huge demand rests on the fact that the constantly growing city is short of space and affordable houses. Moreover, it also a reality that, compared to houses, flats are somewhat cheaper. For instance, there is  20% difference in the average sale price of a 3-bedroom house and a 3-bedroom flat in prime locations. In less-than-posh housing societies, this difference is even higher.

As living in an apartment in Karachi is a lot more affordable and convenient, new projects are being initiated from time to time. The existing demand makes it certain that the market rate and asking rate of flats goes up gradually and constantly. This price appreciation is more likely for newly built apartments for sale in Karachi, which, if inhibited by the owner, are considered new for 3 to 5 years.

Not all areas in Karachi have space to accommodate new apartment projects and that’s why relatively new societies located in the north often see launch of apartment projects. We have also seen that price appreciation is somewhat constant for the new apartment units and that is why they are deemed an exceptional investment option. Furthermore, because apartments are always easier to let out, many investors are drawn in by the regular monthly income generated by rental yields.

With all this in mind, this particular question arises: where should one buy an apartment in Karachi for investment purposes? The answer lies in the data vigilantly maintained and regularly updated by Zameen.com.

Three most popular areas among apartment buyers

According to the search trends stats recorded during February 2015, the top 3 localities for buying an apartment in Karachi are Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town and Gulistan-e-Jauhar, precisely in that order. The stats for renting an apartment are slightly different with Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town bagging the top spot, followed by Gulistan-e-Jauhar and DHA.

Let’s take a closer look at these localities and discuss average sale prices, rental prices, and annual rental yields.

DHA

The 2-bedroom apartments for sale in DHA Karachi come with a price tag of PKR 8,614,097. On average, this apartment is rented out for PKR 37,650 monthly and enjoys an  annual yield of 5.24%.

For 3-bedroom apartments, the average sale price is PKR 13,000,000 and their average rent is PKR 60,000. A unit such as this can offer an annual rental yield of 5.54%

The average sale price of 4-bedroom apartments in DHA is PKR 21,000,000. The average monthly rent of these apartments is PKR 120,000, with an annual rental yield of a whopping 6.86.

Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town

According to our stats, the average sale price of 2-bedroom apartments in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town is PKR 6,743,697 and to rent one, you would need to pay PKR 21,091 on a monthly basis. The annual rental yield for these apartments is 3.75%

For 3-bedroom apartments for sale in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, our stats reflect an average sale price of PKR 11,600,798. With an average rental price of PKR 41,932, recorded in February 2016, their annual rental yield comes to a decent 4.34%.

The average sale price of a  4-bedroom apartment in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town is PKR 15,000,000 and its rental price is PKR 55,500. A flat here can earn you an annual rental yield of 4.44%.

Gulistan-e-Jauhar

In Gulistan-e-Jauhar, you can buy a 2-bedroom flat for PKR 3,250,000. The average monthly rental price of these apartments is PKR13,500. These units can fetch you an annual rental yield of 4.98%.

For a 3-bedroom apartment, the average sale price recorded by Zameen.com is PKR 6,500,000. Letting out such a flat can generate PKR 30,000 on a monthly basis and an annual rental yield of 5.54%.

The price quoted for 4-bedroom apartments for sale in Gulistan-e-Jauhar is PKR 9,500,000 and its average rent is PKR 55,000, which can earn you an annual rental yield of 6.31%.

That, folks, is all the information you need to make an informed investment decision for buying the right apartment in Karachi. The annual rental yield alone is enough to decide about the area where your investment can help you reap maximum returns. If you wish to seek additional information in this regard, feel free to let me know through your comments.