ALYF Democratizes Holiday Home Ownership with Innovative Shared Ownership Model
In a country of over 292 million families, only a tiny fraction—roughly 200,000 families—own a holiday home. While the aspiration to own a sanctuary in Goa, Alibaug, or Lonavala is nearly universal, the reality is that 99.93% of Indians are priced out of the market. High entry costs and the nightmare of long-distance maintenance turn a dream of relaxation into a financial and logistical burden. This is the gap Saurabh Vohara is bridging with ALYF.
Formerly the business head at NoBroker, Saurabh launched ALYF to disrupt the "unstructured" and "inaccessible" holiday home segment. By introducing a tech-enabled "Smart Ownership" model, ALYF allows individuals to own a share of a luxury property for as low as ₹18 Lakhs, completely removing the barriers of high ticket sizes and property management headaches.
"There are two larger problems to owning a holiday home: one, they are commercially inaccessible; and two, managing and maintaining them is a big hassle," Saurabh explains. "At ALYF, we solve both."
The Real Estate Aspiration vs. Reality
The math behind traditional holiday home ownership in India rarely works for the middle class. A decent property in a prime vacation spot usually starts at ₹1.5 Crores. Add to that a monthly maintenance cost of ₹15,000 to ₹20,000, and you have a significant financial drain for a property that is likely used for fewer than 30 days a year.
The Ownership Gap in Numbers
- 292 Million: Total families in India.
- 200,000: Families that currently own a holiday home.
- 99.93%: The percentage of the population that is underserved in this segment.
- ₹18 Lakhs: The entry price for a share via ALYF's smart ownership model.
Saurabh realized that for Indians to invest in real estate, they need to see either commercial returns or a lack of recurring costs. ALYF addresses this by offering two distinct models: one for personal consumption where unused nights are rented out to cover costs, and a "Smart Investment" model focused on rental yields and capital appreciation.
How Shared Ownership Works
Shared ownership isn't just about a piece of paper; it's about actual usage. At ALYF, a single property can have between one and ten co-owners. Depending on the number of shares held, owners get a specific number of days to stay in the house. For instance, a 1/10th share grants 35 days of annual usage.
The ALYF Smart Ownership Lifecycle
- Curated Supply: ALYF performs rigorous legal due diligence and picks prime properties with the best views and interiors.
- Shared Investment: Investors buy a fraction of the home (e.g., 1/10th for ₹18-20L).
- Usage Rights: Owners book their stay via the ALYF mobile app (35 to 44 days depending on share size).
- Managed Hospitality: ALYF handles all maintenance, cleaning, and hospitality during the stay.
- Rental Yield: When owners aren't using the home, ALYF rents it out, covering maintenance and providing a return on investment.
To overcome the "trust gap" in a first-mover category, ALYF has introduced Experience Centers in locations like Lonavala and Goa. Potential buyers can book a one-night complimentary stay to experience the hospitality and the property firsthand before committing to an investment.
The Founder's Journey: From Gold Coins to Unicorns
Saurabh's entrepreneurial DNA was evident long before ALYF. From selling gold coins in college to joining the founding team of NoBroker in its early days, he has always gravitated toward high-growth, disruptive environments. He spent seven years at NoBroker, helping build it from a small villa office in HSR Layout into a multi-billion dollar unicorn.
When NoBroker achieved unicorn status in December 2021, Saurabh decided it was time to build his own vision. "I went to the NoBroker founders and said I want to do something of my own. They were incredibly supportive—all three of them are now investors and mentors to ALYF," he shares.
— Saurabh Vohara, Founder, ALYF
Navigating the "Unstructured" Market
Building a real estate marketplace in India is a challenge of sorting out "supply" rather than "demand." Saurabh emphasizes that the major focus for ALYF is getting the legal due diligence right and avoiding the cash components often found in Indian real estate. "Supply is the bigger problem than getting the demand. Sorting the legal hassles and ensuring transparency is our core ethos."
As ALYF scales, the goal is to have 50-70 properties active across key markets. With 10+ houses already sold and a massive expansion into Goa underway, ALYF is on track to change how real estate is bought and sold in the country, making the dream of a "home away from home" a practical reality for millions.
About the Guest
Saurabh Vohara is the Founder and CEO of ALYF, India's premier shared ownership platform for holiday homes. A graduate of Symbiosis Pune, Saurabh has over 14 years of experience in real estate and hospitality. He was an early member and business head at NoBroker.com, playing a pivotal role in its journey to becoming a unicorn. Under his leadership, ALYF has raised $1.5 million in seed funding and is pioneering the "Smart Ownership" category in the Indian real estate market.