Choosing which community to join is important. Choosing the wrong financial model for your situation and discovering this two years in is more consequential. The buy-versus-rent decision in senior living determines your capital exposure, your liquidity, your exit flexibility, and your family's financial security if circumstances change.
According to Marintel Advisors (2026), approximately 78% of India's organised senior living market operates on an outright purchase model. This reflects both the dominance of branded real estate developers in the sector and the strong Indian cultural preference for property ownership. But ownership is not the right model for every family and the growing rental and deposit-based segment exists for good reasons.