The Mumbai real estate market in the recent years has experienced a significant boost and is seeing a major shift in market trends and in buyer persona as more and more Mumbaikars, especially first time homebuyers and remote working professionals are looking beyond mainstream real estate hotspots like Andheri & Jogeshwari and moving further north, towards the quickly evolving landscapes of areas like Vasai, Virar, and Naigaon.
This shift is not just about affordability and lower property prices, it's about more space, greener landscapes, cleaner air, a better lifestyle, and future growth potential. With this blog we shall better understand why the migrations are happening and why Mumbaikars seem not to be so thrilled about the Mumbai real estate market.
For decades, Andheri has been a prominent player in the Mumbai real estate and home to all sorts of luxury and ultra luxury apartments and premium commercial properties. Its robust infrastructure, seamless connectivity, commercial presence, proximity to business hubs like Lower Parel and BKC, and excellent rail, road, and metro connectivity made Andheri a go to destination for investing and living, amongst real estate investors, homeseekers and business owners.
The transformation of Andheri from being a quiet, underrecognised, underdeveloped suburb in the early 90s to being a real estate hot bed in the late 90s is what truly cemented its legacy and attracted investors from across for the potential it held. Andheri hosted a perfect mix of private housing and commercial hustle, offering everything from premium gated communities, to affordable homes, to state of the art office complexes and commercial hubs like the MIDC and SEEPZ. It does not stop here, alongside the private and commercial sectors, Andheri also hosts Mumbai’s glamorous entertainment industry, housing major film studios, production houses, media agencies, and an array of other creative studios.
However, the increasing development, migration, and demand lead to a steep incline in property prices. The growing migration gave rise to congestion and traffic in the area and the landscape became more and more cluttered to meet the rising demand. These shifts gradually resulted in first time home buyers, young professionals and homeseekers to move out of Andheri and explore other avenues; addresses that were less congested, less saturated and more affordable.
As the Mumbai real estate continues to evolve so do lifestyle preferences and personal choices. While Andheri is still a mammoth in the Mumbai real estate game, the shift in market trends hints towards the emergence of a new player in the rapidly developing landscape of North Mumbai; Vasai, Virar, Nalasopara & beyond.
The biggest factor driving this shift is cost and in an era where more and more people are seeking affordable homes and are on the lookout for affordable 1 BHK and 2 BHK flats, the property prices in Andheri are far from affordable and reaching record highs. In today’s time a 1 BHK flat in Andheri can easily cost you somewhere around 1 CR-1.5 CR, making it unaffordable and often out of budget for many first time home buyers. In contrast, buying a 1 BHK in Vasai, or a 2 BHK flat in Virar or a budget home in Naigaon is far more affordable and cheaper and homes offer a larger carpet area and are often located in gated communities with all the modern amenities compared to homes in Andheri.
Furthermore, the shift from Andheri to Vasai goes beyond just affordability and budget friendly homes, the rise in population of remote workers and hybrid work culture and the shift in lifestyle is pushing more and more individuals to prioritise a lifestyle that offers more space, utility, value for money, peace of mind, and freedom.
Additionally, the recent infrastructure boost, including the Metro Line 13, the Virar Alibaug Multimoda Corridor (VAMC), and the addition of new highways and railways has improved connectivity and made daily commute more comfortable thus, attracting more individuals and investors. For people seeking larger homes, more green areas and homes with all the modern amenities inside gated communities, Vasai provides a safe haven offering all this plus more at affordable prices, unlike Andheri where everything comes at additional costs.
The Vasai-Virar-Nalasopara belt isn't just affordable but a booming real estate hotspot with many RERA approved townships and residential projects already underway and nearing possession, if you are someone on the lookout then one such project is JSB Nakshatra Veda that offers affordable 1 BHK homes and premium 2 BHK flats starting just as 34 Lakhs* with all the modern amenities, spacious homes and greener spaces, everything you are looking for in one project.
The massive boost in infrastructural development across the Vasai-Virar belt is what truly drives the shift, infrastructure projects like the Purple line, VAMC, the Coastal Road, Mumbai-Delhi freight corridor and the ongoing development and upgrades in road ways and rail ways have brought Mumbai closer and is expected to make the commute seamless furthermore. Unlike other suburbs where we see haphazard and unplanned construction, many projects in the Vasai-Virar belt are thoughtfully planned, strategically positioned and inside townships and gated communities that are RERA registered and follow all compliances and guidelines put forth by the state government. The introduction of these SOP’s and guidelines are crucial as they build credibility and limit the entry of fraudsters. The introduction of RERA and the shift in market is pushing and attracting more and more credible builders to launch new projects and create full fledged ecosystems in the region to meet the growing demand, where families can truly thrive and grow and not just exist.
The Vasai-Virar-Nalasopara stretch is no longer the sleepy underdeveloped neighbourhood that it once was. In 2025 the belt now is a vibrant hub with all sorts of commercial infrastructures, business hubs, and private housing. As the infrastructure continues to grow, the demand will continue to rise, attracting more townships, more builders, more homebuyers, and more investors. Projects like JSB Nakshatra Aazstha are a perfect example of this new wave of development and a testament to the evolving landscapes of the region. Its strategic placement and convenient pricing and lifestyle it offers are a live example of what the people want and how they are making it happen.
As the city stretches northward and expands its skyline, one thing is very clear that the shift of Mumbaikars from Andheri to Vasai and beyond, isn't a retreat but a reinvention and a cry to strike balance and prioritise comfort over chaos and value over vanity. The suburbs that were once underdeveloped and ignored are now turning into tomorrow’s addresses and the epicentre of development and new project launches.
At the heart of this transformation is JSB Group, a name synonymous with quality, trust,and timely delivery, every time, having a strong presence across the Vasai-Virar belt the JSB Group is not just keeping with the real estate demands but it is driving the change. From RERA approved projects or ready to move in apartments with all the modern amenities in gated communities, JSB Homemakers are enabling Mumbaikars and homebuyers alike to own more than a property, they are nudging them to own their legacy.