Real estate ownership may soon become a distant dream for future generations, according to a thought-provoking LinkedIn post by finfluencer Akshat Shrivastava which has sparked widespread discussion online about the financialisation of land and housing.
In his post, Shrivastava, who is also founder of Wisdom Hatch, argues that while earlier generations could afford to buy homes on modest incomes, the same no longer holds true today — and the situation may worsen significantly for today’s children. He attributes this shift to the changing nature of land, which he says has evolved from a static asset into a powerful financial product that generates continuous cash flow for large landowners.
“Our kids may never own a home. Hear me out. And, think logically.”
Land Ownership Is Becoming Increasingly Concentrated
Using Mumbai as an example, Shrivastava highlighted how land ownership has become heavily consolidated. He noted that just six major landlords control around 20 per cent of the city’s land, allowing them to dominate supply and pricing. With the emergence of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), fractional ownership models, and similar financial instruments, landowners no longer need to sell property to unlock value.
Shrivastava explained that land is now monetised through structured financial mechanisms that provide steady income streams, while ownership remains intact. These assets can also be leveraged to raise loans, enabling owners to acquire even more land — further concentrating ownership.
A Warning for the Next Generation
Drawing parallels with Hong Kong, Shrivastava cautioned that restricted land supply and vested interests could push cities toward extreme housing scarcity. He pointed out that policy decisions often favour large stakeholders, limiting the release of land despite rising population pressures.
“By the time your children grow up, the world could look like a giant Hong Kong: where owning a home would be close to impossible.”
He criticised traditional personal finance debates that focus narrowly on rent-versus-buy calculations, arguing that they overlook long-term structural shifts in land economics. Concluding his post, Shrivastava urged families who can afford homes today to consider buying — not as an investment, but as long-term security.
“The takeaway: if you can buy a good home today, do it. Don’t look at it as an investment. Treat it as insurance for your children– in a world where home ownership is becoming impossible by the day.”