Summary of this article
Half of the respondents have stated that they would like to purchase a home in the next 2 years which indicates a healthy demand.
Buyers will want to ensure they are getting value for their money. Value will depend on each buyer’s situation but most will be attracted to price, space, connectivity and possession time.
Ready/near completion homes are popular to over 60 per cent of buyers. Buyers want to know when they can take possession.
India’s housing market may be facing higher construction costs, economic uncertainty and cautious buyers. However, the desire to own a home remains strong. Nearly half of prospective homebuyers surveyed by Colliers say they are willing to purchase a house within the next two years. The findings from Colliers’ Homebuying Sentiment Survey 2026: Decoding India’s Evolving Buyer Preferences, based on responses from around 1,800 people across more than 30 established and emerging residential markets, suggest that buyers are still in the market - but are taking longer to make up their minds and looking more closely at what they get for their money.
According to the survey, about 54 per cent of respondents believe external factors, such as geopolitical tensions, commodity price volatility, supply-chain disruptions, and changing interest rates will have a relatively low impact on the Indian real estate sector.
At the same time, affordability is emerging as the biggest hurdle. Around 31 per cent of respondents identified property prices and affordability as their primary concern. Job security and visibility of future income were other key worries.
“People are still looking to own homes, but they are weighing their options more carefully before making a commitment,” said Ravi Shankar Singh, managing director, residential transaction services, Colliers India.
According to him, buyers are paying close attention to the overall value of a property, the ease of financing, and whether the home and its location fit their requirements. These factors play an important role in turning buyer interest into actual purchases, he said.
Buyers Want The Right Home At The Right Price
For homebuyers, the decision is no longer simply about buying a property in a preferred location. The survey shows that affordability tops the list of purchase considerations, followed by unit size and layout, social infrastructure, and connectivity.
For homebuyers, it is not just about how a house looks or how many amenities a project offers. The size and layout of the home, along with its connectivity and the availability of schools, hospitals, offices and other everyday conveniences, matter just as much. Around 75-80 per cent of respondents rated these factors as important when choosing a home.
Inside gated communities, safety remains a top priority. Buyers also want some breathing space, with green and open areas ranking high on their list, along with spaces where residents can interact and spend time together. Younger buyers, however, appear to have a slightly different wish list. Those under 30 show a much stronger preference for fitness and wellness facilities, giving these amenities nearly twice the priority given by respondents overall.
The preference for apartment sizes is also fairly clear. About 62 per cent of prospective buyers favour two- and three-bedroom homes. Larger homes find greater preference in Delhi-National Capital Region (Delhi-NCR), Bengaluru and Hyderabad, while Mumbai continues to see demand for more compact homes.
Ready Homes Gain An Edge
For many buyers, knowing when they can actually move into their home matters as much as the price. More than 60 per cent of prospective buyers prefer ready-to-move-in or nearly completed homes over projects that are still at an early stage of construction. The preference reflects a desire for greater certainty and less worry about delays for possession. For many buyers, the attraction is straightforward: they can see the actual home, assess the neighbourhood and have greater certainty about when they can move in. It also reduces the perceived risk of construction delays.
There is, however, a generational difference. Around half of buyers under 30 are comfortable taking construction-related risks, partly because early-stage projects can offer lower prices. Among buyers above 30, only 36 per cent are willing to take such risks.
Pricing and payment terms can also make a difference. Around 65 per cent of respondents said attractive prices and flexible payment plans are critical in helping them make an immediate purchase decision.
End-Use Remains The Main Driver
The survey also shows that the Indian housing market continues to be largely driven by people buying homes for themselves. About 51 per cent of respondents plan to purchase a house for self-use, while another 16 per cent are looking at a second or vacation home.
For developers, the message is relatively clear: buyer interest exists, but converting that interest into sales will require more than new launches. Homes need to be priced realistically, offer practical layouts and good connectivity, and provide greater certainty on possession.
Vimal Nadar, national director and head of research, Colliers India said the demand for homes is likely to remain firm, but developers will need to align their products more closely with buyer preferences and affordability. “The festive season typically serves as a key catalyst for home purchases,” he added.
With buyers becoming more selective, the next phase of housing demand could, therefore, be less about simply putting more homes on the market and more about offering the right home, at the right price, in the right location - and with greater certainty on delivery.
