Women Now Power India’s Housing Market: Here’s What’s Driving Their Choices

If an average Joe travelled back a decade, he’d find that most homebuyers were men - understandable then, as they were typically the primary earners and bore the responsibility of providing a home. But India in 2025 tells a different story. Women, now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with men and benefiting from greater workplace parity, have become a high-potential segment for proptech platforms and developers. In fact, women are among the fastest-growing homebuying cohorts in the country, with their registered share rising to 22 per cent in 2024, according to industry sources.

Moving away from traditional security like gold, women are increasingly investing in something more stable, scalable, and profitable — real estate. Today, women account for one-third of home loan applicants. This financial independence has empowered them to seek the best housing options or to invest in real estate.

“This dual motivation - security and investment - is reshaping how developers, lenders, and policymakers engage with the modern woman buyer. Traditionally, women have invested in gold. But with better purchasing power, the focus is shifting to bigger ticket items and stability that comes from owning a home,” says Amit Agarwal, Co-founder & CEO, NoBroker.

Let’s do a deep dive into this shift, its catalyst, and its impact.

What is the Driver Behind The Decision-Making?

1. Rising Purchasing Power and Need For Stability

Women are increasingly pursuing higher-paying career opportunities. They are now equal contributors at work and in the economy, enabling them to venture into the male-dominated real estate sector. And they are even doing this by sharing the burden of home loan EMIs.

“Despite only 13-15 per cent of women being sole homeowners, they are currently active co-owners/participants in not just buying but also choosing, negotiating, and building the home. Along with that, they are also focusing on securing their future and building assets by investing in premium housing, gold, stocks, etc. Particularly after COVID, women were prioritising investing in real estate more than before, hinting at it as a safety anchor in trying times,” says Agarwal.

2. Societal and Government Motivation

In certain aspects, the government, too, is helping women become homeowners. With certain states providing stamp duty rebates to women, lower home loan rates, a faster loan approval process, and similar women-friendly policies, families are also motivated to buy homes in their wives'/daughters' names.

What Women Want? Shift in Real Estate Trend

1. Safe and Secure Housing

A recent survey by NoBroker suggested that more than 54 per cent of women preferred a home priced between Rs 90 lakh and Rs 1 crore, indicating a tilt towards the mid-premium and premium segments in metros. Paying this price also comes with a fair demand for secure housing, premium amenities, quality construction, and a higher quality of life.

2. Seeking Appreciating Assets

Women homebuyers are looking at real estate more than just four walls and a roof. They are looking to pay high rates and achieve high investment returns. They are also looking at the market, understanding the trends, and making calculated investment decisions. They are relying on proptech tools to provide them with real-time information about where, when and how to invest. According to a recent NoBroker survey, 67-69 per cent of women homebuyers buy for self-use and 30 per cent for investment.

3. Regular Rental Income As A Proxy To Financial Independence

Many women today are also viewing real estate as a dependable source of passive income. Rental earnings offer them a sense of long-term financial security and autonomy, something that aligns strongly with their evolving financial goals. “Instead of relying solely on traditional savings or volatile market instruments, women are choosing properties in high-demand locations where rentals are stable and consistent. This steady monthly income becomes a form of financial cushioning, giving them both confidence and control over their personal finances,” informs Agarwal.

Challenges That Still Need Attention

1. Affordability Gap

While the entire real estate market struggles to provide affordable housing, this can affect the average-paid strata, i.e., single-earning women/bachelors. This problem is severe in tier 1 cities, where housing prices are rising every day. Policies to provide relief or increase the volume of affordable housing can help bridge the gap.

2. Limited Awareness of Incentives

Working women are still unaware of the government policies/incentives created to simplify their home ownership. Many eligible women are unaware of stamp duty rebates and PMAY benefits.

3. Token Ownership vs True Agency

While many homes today are registered in women’s names, not all women are able to enjoy the associated benefits or feel true emotional ownership. In many cases, their names are added simply to avail discounts or rebates. This makes it all the more important for women to be equally informed, empowered, and actively involved in every stage of the home-buying process.

“A home is essential for everyone. But women buying homes today signals a powerful shift: homeownership is no longer a privilege - it’s a conscious choice rooted in the pursuit of safety, financial security, and an improved standard of living. As more women step into this role, the impact goes beyond individual families. It strengthens communities and influences the real estate market itself,” says Agarwal.

While still an emerging trend, the future of Indian homeownership is increasingly being shaped by women who value security, independence, and the opportunity to build long-term wealth.