Summary of this article
Women remain underrepresented in home loans.
Structural barriers limit women’s property ownership.
Financial inclusion efforts still evolving.
Despite the rising financial independence and rising participation in the workforce, women still remain a minority in India’s housing finance market. A report shared by Aurum Protech Pulse, “Women and Housing Finance in India: Progress, Barriers and the Opportunity” reveals how women account for only 11 per cent of home loan approvals in 2025 across 13 major indian housing markets. The findings of the report show a significant gap between women’s presence in the economy and their participation in large-ticket loans like housing loans.
While women make up nearly half of India’s population and show up on about 30 per cent of property registrations, their share in loan approvals remains significantly low. These markets include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Noida, Pune and Thane.
The report suggests that this gap is not due to a lack of ownership of property among the target audience. The report indicates that women consider real estate as their preferred investment asset, showing strong aspirations for property ownership. Yet, this aspiration does not translate into loan approvals at the same pace. Women out-borrow men in only two markets: Gurugram and Noida. The difference in the lending amount between men and women, Rs 29 lakh and Rs 23 lakh respectively, shows disparities in borrowing capacities, income levels, and credit eligibility, which also shape the lending decisions for the lenders.
A combination of structural and social factors explains why women still remain underrepresented in the housing finance market. One of the key reasons is low participation in the formal workforce as compared to men. As per data shared by the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), female participation in the labour force remains at 33.7 per cent in September 2025. This number further declines at senior management levels. Since banks and housing finance companies assess the eligibility mainly on the basis of income stability and the earning potential.
A city-wise breakdown shared in a report by Hindustan Times also reveals variations in borrowing patterns. Among the 13 cities mentioned, Gurugram and Noida revealed surprising numbers. The average loan size for women is around Rs 64.5 lakh as compared to Rs 57.8 lakh for men in Gurugram, whereas in Noida, the average loan size borrowed by women is about Rs 32.1 lakh compared to Rs 29.4 lakh by men. These two cities are home to a large segment of salaried professionals who work in corporate sectors, which can be one reason to this disparity.
In contrast, the gender gap remains a problem in the other markets; Chennai recorded one of the lowest loan sizes for women at Rs 12.7 lakh. This indicates a wider gap compared to the male borrowers. Some markets, like Thane, show only a slight difference between the two segments of borrowers, suggesting that this could be a regional or workforce participation borrowing trend.
India has introduced several incentives to encourage participation from women in property ownership, including lower stamp duty rates in multiple states, tax benefits and preferential interest rates offered by some lenders. Homeownership also remains a major financial goal for most individuals in India; however, enabling women to participate independently remains a long journey that is hindered by gender gaps in credit access, unequal pay and the need for broader financial inclusion.
