A Bharadhwaj Investsmart Story - The Real Cost of Too Much Real Estate





Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

A Lesson from Sanjeev’s Story

The mid-morning hum of Bharadhwaj Investsmart was in full swing when the reception phone buzzed for the fourth time that day. “Sir, Mr. Sanjeev has called again,” the receptionist whispered to Vaidy, the firm’s founder and seasoned wealth advisor.

For two days, Sanjeev had been relentlessly seeking an appointment. That afternoon, he finally arrived - tall, well-dressed, but with tired eyes. The moment he sat down, his story tumbled out.

A Real Estate Fortress

From the outside, Sanjeev’s life was enviable. A senior executive in a multinational, a hefty salary, and a line-up of properties:

  • A spacious Mumbai apartment for his family
  • An ancestral-style house in Kerala
  • An “upcoming luxury project” touted as the next big thing
  • A weekend farmhouse in Karjat

On paper, his net worth sparkled. But almost all of it was locked in real estate.

The Sudden Jolt

Two weeks earlier, Sanjeev’s mother was hospitalised unexpectedly. Surgery, medicines, and aftercare expenses mounted quickly.

When he opened his banking app to transfer funds, he froze - his account balance was alarmingly low.

EMIs for his properties and steep maintenance charges swallowed most of his monthly income. The “upcoming project” was still years away. Selling the farmhouse would take months, and the market wasn’t favourable.

Sanjeev was asset-rich, but cash-poor.

A Hard Truth

Vaidy listened patiently before saying, “Sanjeev, you’ve built a fortress - but one with no gates. Your wealth is trapped inside.”

He explained the old principle: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Real estate can be valuable, but overloading on any one asset class leaves you exposed.

Liquidity - the ability to access cash without significant loss - is as vital as returns. Life’s emergencies, job changes, or sudden opportunities all demand funds you can tap into instantly.

A Balanced Plan

Vaidy suggested:

  • Keep one primary residence, reduce exposure to multiple illiquid properties
  • Allocate part of his portfolio to diversified equity mutual funds
  • Maintain an emergency fund covering 6–9 months’ expenses in liquid or ultra-short-term debt funds
  • Get adequate health and critical illness insurance

“I thought I was being smart investing in what I could see and touch,” Sanjeev admitted. “But I never realised I’d feel this helpless when I needed cash.”

The Takeaway

Real estate offers stability and tangible value - but it’s not the whole picture. Over-concentration can turn wealth into a cage.

True financial strength lies not just in assets, but in the freedom to use them when it matters.

Diversify. Keep some assets liquid. And remember - even the grandest fortress is useless if you can’t open the gates when you need to.

The content made available in this article is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the content, it should not be considered as a substitute for professional consultation. 

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