For many modern-day home buyers, who feel apartments are too cramped, row houses may be a suitable alternative. The row house format suits everybody and is among the premium offerings in the market today. You can call it luxury housing, because unlike high-density apartments thriving in Indian cities, row houses offer breathing space. In terms of pricing, row houses range from affordable to premium, on the basis of land availability. Here is a look at this housing format, price of row houses in Indian cities and its potential.
See also: Types of houses in Kerala
What is the definition of a row house?
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Row houses are single-family homes, very much like a bungalow with a differentiation that similar homes are arranged in a row, giving it the name of row houses. A row house development will have a minimum of three properties side by side but they do not share the same stairway or exits. All row houses have a uniform layout and home buyers can customise it at their own level and expense.
See also: All about the different types of houses in India
Trailing the origins of row houses
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The concept of row houses was part of the Dutch and Belgian architectural styles in the 16th century. It was later adopted by the British in the early 18th century to build homes with uniform fronts and heights. The first examples of row houses were in Carstairs Row, Philadelphia, at the turn of the 19th century.
What is the difference between row houses, bungalows and apartments?
What is the difference between a row house and a villa?
Row houses are a series of houses built in continuation, sharing share common walls. Villas are independently designed bungalows.
What is the difference between a Row house and a townhouse?
While townhouses can differ in height, stories and width, row houses are uniformly laid out.
What distinguishes row houses from other types of homes?
What makes row houses unique is their connection with their peers. Each unit shares the same architectural design and layout. Meant for single families, row houses are stacked together, typically with at least 3 units organised in a row.
Row houses in India
In big cities, land is scarce and therefore, row house developments are usually in the suburbs and upcoming areas. This gives developers the capability to offer these lavish properties at a justified price. It is, however, seen that both, tier-1 cities and smaller cities, have the row house concept. Interestingly, some of the smaller markets such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Nashik and Gwalior, fare well on the sales chart. Both, locals and non-resident Indians, contribute to these sales.
One of the important things to note when it comes to row houses in India is its supply. Given that the supply is limited, there is an appreciable amount of demand and sales is impressive. Santhosh Rajan, an agent in Kochi says, “On most days I handle plenty of inquiries from non-resident Keralites for row houses. Keralites born and brought up outside the state prefer apartments but those who were born and brought up here prefer the large bungalows and independence that comes with it.” Rajan also goes on to add that this is the sentiment that most south Indians share, because apartments and vertical living were previously only popular in cities like Mumbai, where land availability for independent homes is limited and therefore, the city did not have any choice. Most other cities, with the exception of Bengaluru, boast of open spaces that can still be tapped.
Pricing of row houses in India
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The pricing of row houses is based on several factors such as land availability, brand of the developer, facilities, location, connectivity and even the target audience of these projects.
Price of row houses in the top markets of India
| City | Minimum price | Maximum price |
| Bengaluru | Rs 15 lakhs | Rs 20 crores |
| Hyderabad | Rs 39 lakhs | Rs 9 crores |
| Pune | Rs 20 lakhs | Rs 16 crores |
| Chennai | Rs 10 lakhs | Rs 12 crores |
| Gurugram | Rs 29 lakhs | Rs 18 crores |
| Noida | Rs 12 lakhs | Rs 10 crores |
*Price range has been sourced from listings available on Housing.com
What are the benefits of staying in a row house
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There are a number of benefits, if you are considering an investment in a row house.
- Row houses are spacious and offer a premium lifestyle and aesthetic appeal.
- Home owners can benefit from higher undivided share of land (UDS).
- It is mid-way between villas and apartments. Therefore, you still have the feeling of living in a community.
- Privacy is not compromised.
- Dedicated parking, water supply, electricity, solar power, etc., are available.
How to calculate UDS of a row house?
In an apartment, every unit has an associated UDS. It is the part of the plot which is given to the home owner as per his/her share. When you pay for an apartment, you are usually paying the land cost, plus the cost of the property. Now suppose there is a redevelopment planned and you are to be compensated by the authorities. This compensation is determined by the UDS. In an apartment, the UDS is the result of multiple divisions. In a row house, given that it is built on a single plot, you have a higher share in land than what you would have been entitled to, if you were in a densely packed apartment.
FAQs
What is a row house?
Row houses are single-family units that are architecturally uniform and in a row. For a row house project, there should be a minimum of three properties side by side but enjoying exclusive rights.
Are row houses affordable?
Row houses are in limited supply. Therefore, in cities where land is scarce, its pricing may be high.
What is the difference between row houses and townhouses?
Row houses have a uniform plan and are in a row. Townhouses may be in different configurations.
Which cities in India have row houses?
Noida, Gurugram, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad are some of the cities that have row houses in the affordable to premium price range.
An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Sunita Mishra brings over 16 years of expertise to the fields of legal matters, financial insights, and property market trends. Recognised for her ability to elucidate complex topics, her articles serve as a go-to resource for home buyers navigating intricate subjects. Through her extensive career, she has been associated with esteemed organisations like the Financial Express, Hindustan Times, Network18, All India Radio, and Business Standard.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Sunita holds an MA degree in Sanskrit, with a specialisation in Indian Philosophy, from Delhi University. Outside of her work schedule, she likes to unwind by practising Yoga, and pursues her passion for travel.
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