Real estate experts are urging homebuyers to stop using super built-up area as the primary metric for assessing apartment costs [1].
This shift in evaluation is critical because relying on inflated area measurements can lead buyers to overpay for properties. By using a more accurate metric, consumers can determine the actual value of the living space they are purchasing before committing funds.
During a segment on CNBC TV18, host Sonal Bhootra discussed the pitfalls of traditional property measurements with industry leaders [1]. Mayank Agarwal, founder of The Green Cottage, and Chintan Vasani, a partner at Wisebiz Developers, joined the conversation to highlight common mistakes made by those entering the property market [1].
The discussion focused on the discrepancy between the total area listed by developers and the actual usable space within a home. The experts said that the super built-up area often includes common spaces that do not contribute to the private utility of the apartment, a factor that can distort the perceived cost per square foot [1].
This caution comes as the broader landscape of homeownership faces significant challenges. Some reports indicate that the concept of homeownership feels broken in 2026 [2]. This sentiment echoes a long-term struggle with the accessibility of the "American Dream," a term coined in 1931 by historian James Truslow Adams [3].
Agarwal and Vasani emphasized that buyers must scrutinize the breakdown of carpet area versus built-up area to avoid financial surprises. They said that understanding these distinctions is the only way to gauge the true cost of owning a home [1].
“Buyers should look beyond super-built-up area and use a more accurate metric.”
The emphasis on usable area over super built-up area reflects a growing demand for transparency in real estate pricing. As buyers face a more volatile market in 2026, the move toward standardized, honest metrics is an attempt to reduce the information asymmetry between large developers and individual consumers.
