As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Union Budget 2026 on February 1, India’s real estate sector is voicing high expectations for policy continuity, infrastructure-led growth, and measures that strengthen housing affordability and investment flows. From luxury and premium housing to affordable homes, senior living, and Tier-2 city development, industry leaders are calling for tax rationalisation, easier financing, faster approvals, and regulatory clarity to sustain momentum and deepen real estate’s role as a key driver of employment, urbanisation, and long-term economic growth.

Anil Mittal, Chief Financial Officer, Smartworld Developers: “The real estate sector eagerly anticipates policies that bolster long-term capital formation and reinforce housing’s pivotal role in economic growth. For developers like us in the luxury and branded residential segments, consistent taxation, expanded institutional financing, and streamlined regulations are vital to sustaining investor confidence and end-user demand. Continued investment in urban infrastructure, mass mobility, and integrated city planning is essential, as superior connectivity and robust civic amenities greatly enhance the appeal of premium developments. Measures that promote formalization, reduce compliance burdens, and maintain market balance will further drive the sector’s maturity. A well-calibrated, growth-focused Budget can empower real estate to contribute more significantly to employment, capital inflows, and India’s urban future.”

Parvinder Singh, CEO, Trident Realty: “In  2026 budget, we hope to see continued policy support for the premium housing segment across India. This becomes especially important for Tier 2 cities, where a lifestyle transformation is underway. Active home buyers are demanding larger living spaces, upscale amenities, and gated community environments that match metro standards. If the government provides incentive-linked funding and greater investment in urban infrastructure, it will further strengthen these emerging markets and enhance buyer confidence. In Tier 2 cities, luxury housing is not only about premium living; it also helps create jobs, attract talent, and build future-ready urban ecosystems.”

Manan Joshi, Founder, Sarvam Properties: “As India approaches the Union Budget 2026-27, Sarvam Properties hopes the Finance Minister will deliver a forward looking Budget that strengthens homeownership and boosts real estate investment. With affordability still a key challenge for homebuyers, we urge measures that enhance tax incentives on home loans and related deductions, helping more middle income families realise the dream of owning a home. Tax relief geared toward home loan interest, rationalisation of GST for construction inputs, and expanded benefits for affordable housing will be vital to stimulate demand and revive stalled projects creating deeper market confidence and unlocking growth across urban and emerging regions. We also support the broader push for economic resilience and future competitiveness, where policies that encourage infrastructure development, improve ease of project approvals, and advance digital and construction technology adoption will strengthen both supply and investment flows across the real estate sector. A Budget that combines tax relief, affordability measures, and growth incentives will not only benefit homebuyers but also sustain the sector as a dynamic engine of employment and economic activity.”

Navin Dhanuka, Director,  ArisUnitern RE Solutions: “As India heads into Budget 2026–27, the real estate sector will benefit most from a stable, forward-looking policy framework that prioritises infrastructure development, ease of execution, and regulatory clarity. Measures such as rationalisation of taxes on construction inputs, faster approvals, and improved access to housing finance can meaningfully strengthen supply-side confidence. Coupled with income-tax reforms that enhance household purchasing power, Budget 2026 can unlock housing demand, support planned urban expansion, and drive sustainable, long-term growth.”

Bhavesh Kothari, Founder & CEO, Property First : “Budget 2026 presents a timely opportunity to strengthen India’s housing led growth story by empowering end consumers and improving capital flow into real assets. We expect continued policy focus on affordable and mid income housing through enhanced tax benefits on home loans, rationalisation of long term capital gains, and easier access to institutional credit for developers. Clearer financing norms, infrastructure led incentives, and faster approval mechanisms for projects will unlock demand in emerging growth corridors, especially among first time buyers and self build homeowners. A sustained push on infrastructure spending, digitisation of land records, and GST rationalisation for construction inputs will further improve transparency, reduce costs, and accelerate project completion timelines. A stable, growth oriented Budget can reinforce real estate’s role as a long term wealth creator while aligning housing demand with India’s evolving aspirations.”

Amit Jain, CMD, Arkade Developers Limited: “As we approach the Union Budget of 2026, the development community is looking for clear and growth oriented fiscal signals that balance economic momentum with sectoral viability. With expectations of policy support for MSMEs, incentives for technology and AI investment and focus on stimulating consumption and job creation, this year’s budget presents an opportunity to unlock new avenues for sustainable but rapid growth. At the same time, meaningful tax rationalisation and targeted relief measures, if considered by the government, particularly in affordable and mid income housing could significantly improve project viability and help us bridge the gap between demand and supply. If the government delivers on these fronts, we expect improved liquidity, faster approvals and renewed investor confidence that will translate into tangible expansion, more homes delivered on time and broad based economic uplift overall.”

Rohan Khatau, Director, CCI Projects: “The upcoming Union Budget 2026 is expected to play a critical role in shaping longterm capital flows into the real estate sector. Targeted focus on infrastructure investment, clarity on REIT and InvIT taxation and incentives that encourage private and institutional participation can enhance liquidity and transparency across the market. Policy continuity and fiscal discipline will be key to sustaining investor confidence, enabling developers to plan responsibly and scale projects aligned with evolving urban demand. Tax reliefs definitely ease out decision making for the potential buyers sitting on a fence so overall taxation easing will benefit the sector largely too. A forward looking budget can further strengthen real estate’s role as a stable engine of economic growth.”

Amit Prakash, Co-Founder & CBO, Urban Money: “The next phase of India’s residential momentum will be shaped not only by construction activity but also by how easily mid-segment and affordable homebuyers can navigate the financial decisions linked to ownership. Housing continues to play an important role in supporting urban employment, allied economic activity, and rising middle-class consumption, making affordability a critical policy priority. Against this backdrop, Budget 2026 presents a timely opportunity to lower financial entry barriers, strengthen affordability, and modernise the systems that support long-term, responsible borrowing.

While today’s consumer is digitally aware and research-driven, the home loan journey for mid-segment buyers, many of whom are first-time urban homeowners, remains fragmented and often intimidating. There is a growing need to enable frameworks that promote clearer financial discovery, transparent guidance, and technology-led processes that simplify decision-making across the borrowing lifecycle. A forward-looking budget that aligns affordability-focused reforms with digital enablement can widen participation, improve borrower confidence, and support a more balanced and resilient housing finance ecosystem.”

Adhil Shetty, CEO, BankBazaar: “As India prepares for Budget 2026, the focus is on easing pressure on household incomes while improving access to formal credit. A key lever is strengthening digital public infrastructure. An allocation of around ₹1 lakh crore under Digital India 2.0—encompassing DigiLocker, the Account Aggregator framework, and fully agentless 24/7 Video KYC—can facilitate faster, safer, and more affordable loans and insurance. With Aadhaar-based KYC and consent-led data sharing already established, deeper investment can reduce processing delays, lower fraud risks, and cut delivery costs.

Housing remains a priority. The ₹45 lakh affordable housing cap no longer reflects urban market realities; revising it can lower EMIs and revive housing-linked consumption. For businesses, extending ESOP tax parity to Udyam-registered MSMEs would support talent retention and formalisation. On taxation, while the New Tax Regime has raised the 30% slab threshold to ₹24 lakh, inflation continues to push professionals into higher brackets. Indexing the top slab to inflation or revisiting it could free up ₹2–3 lakh annually for savings and investments. This can be complemented by a flat deduction for long-term protection products—life insurance, health insurance, and pensions—without adding complexity. Collectively, these measures can enhance disposable incomes and align India’s credit and tax systems with current economic realities.”

Akshay Taneja, CEO, TDI Infrastructure: “India’s real estate sector operates in a tightly regulated environment, and what it needs most is policy stability and a long-term vision rather than short-term relief. With the Finance Bill 2026 being the last chance to set the stage before the new tax regime takes effect from April 1, the Budget must send clear, growth-oriented signals. Tier-2 cities across North India and NCR’s outer belt are emerging as key growth hubs, transforming into self-sustained residential and luxury clusters powered by major infrastructure upgrades.

Revising the affordable housing definition from ₹45 lakh to atleast ₹70–75 lakh, granting full industry status to real estate, and recognising housing as a core part of national infrastructure will unlock institutional capital and significantly boost employment, with the sector contributing 7–8% of GDP, supporting over 5 crore jobs, and attracting NRI investments projected at 20% of sector inflows. Simplified tax structures, rationalised capital gains timelines with indexation, GST rationalisation, uniform stamp duty, and enhanced home loan deductions will strengthen affordability and buyer confidence. Coupled with a single-window clearance system, upgraded PMAY Urban 2.0, and increased incentive-linked funding, these measures will accelerate project delivery, create jobs, and foster integrated, community-centric townships across emerging cities.”

Ashish Narain Agarwal, Founder & MD of PropertyPistol: “India’s urban housing market is undergoing a sharp shift, with affordability declining and premium demand rising. HNI and NRI buyers now contribute ~18–20% of property investments, up from 7–10% a decade ago. Affordable housing (below ₹45 lakh) has fallen from ~37% in 2021 to ~18% in 2025, while luxury homes (above ₹1.5 crore) have increased from 9% to 29%. This mirrors a 50% rise in average prices across top cities over five years—from ₹6,001/sq ft to ₹8,990/sq ft. With urbanisation projected at ~9.2% CAGR through 2028, policy reforms are critical. The affordable housing cap must reflect evolving consumer patterns. Tax rationalisation—including unified capital gains, GST reduction on under-construction homes from 18% to 12% (ideally 5%), and uniform stamp duty—can unlock liquidity. Enhanced benefits for first-time buyers by 15–25%, along with full industry and infrastructure status, would attract institutional investment.”

Vishal Raheja, Founder & MD, InvestoXpert Advisors: “Union Budget 2026 must decisively unlock the next phase of India’s real estate growth by strengthening infrastructure-led development in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Continued investments in airports, highways, urban transit, and digital infrastructure across emerging cities are already shifting demand beyond metros and creating new growth corridors. However, complex regulatory frameworks, prolonged approval timelines, and fragmented land-record systems continue to delay execution, increase costs, and weaken buyer confidence. Limited market transparency and inconsistent valuation standards further affect advisory accuracy, particularly for first-time homebuyers and NRIs.

To address these challenges, the Budget should prioritise single-window approvals, faster and comprehensive land-record digitisation, creation of a national real estate transaction database, and rationalisation of stamp duty and transaction costs. Alongside sustained infrastructure investment, these reforms can enhance affordability, transparency, ease of doing business, and support balanced real estate growth across India.”

Sunil Sisodiya, Founder & CEO, Neworld Developers: “Continued policy stability and growth-oriented incentives will be critical in supporting India’s fast-evolving rental and holiday-home ecosystem, especially in high-tourism coastal markets. With India’s beachside tourism gaining global traction, there is a strong opportunity to position such destinations as world-class residential-hospitality hubs. To sustain this momentum, we look forward to government policy support that recognises the convergence of hospitality and residential real estate. Incentives around infrastructure financing, FSI flexibility, and hospitality-linked residential frameworks can unlock further investment, formalise the luxury rental market, and accelerate the development of high-quality, sustainable real estate.”

Pete Nicholson, Senior Vice President, Nemetschek Group: “As India prepares for the Union Budget, there is a strong opportunity to accelerate digital adoption across infrastructure projects to improve safety, quality, and resilience. India’s national highway network has expanded to over 1,46,000 km, marking a ~60% increase since 2013–14, driven by sustained public investment. However, challenges persist—480,000 road crashes with multiple fatalities in 2023, along with incidents of urban flooding and structural failures in 2025, underscore the need for data-driven planning and maintenance. The allocation of over ₹48,500 crore for high-speed corridors in Bihar and adjoining regions in last year’s budget reflects the scale of ongoing reforms. Integrating digital tools, geospatial analytics, and predictive modelling across dams, highways, and urban infrastructure can enhance efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. We hope the upcoming budget promotes incentives and frameworks for digital engineering and open standards across the sector.”

Shivam Agarwal, VP – Strategic Growth, Sattva Group: “India’s GCC growth today is driven by capability and innovation. As we look ahead to the Union Budget, the priorities that can reinforce this direction are clear:
* Single-window clearances for GCCs to simplify setup and accelerate investment.
* Continued focus on education and future-ready skills, building on India’s advantage as the world’s largest English-speaking talent pool.
* Sustained development of Grade A, institution-quality office infrastructure to support global R and D and decision-making hubs.
At Sattva Group, we are excited to see how the Budget unfolds and how continued policy momentum can further support India’s GCC growth journey.”

Anil Godara, Founder and Managing Director, J Estates: “We believe the 2026 Union Budget will provide a perfect opportunity to acknowledge senior living and retirement homes as a crucial part of India’s real estate. With the elderly population of the country poised to grow 300 percent by 2030, there is an increasing need for well-designed, secure, and supportive communities for seniors. Incentives for developers, GST rationalisation, and clear policy guidelines can help formalise and expand this category. We also hope to see benefits for senior home buyers to ease investment decisions. Senior living is not only about housing, but it’s also about dignity, autonomy, and quality of life in later years.”

Aman Sharma, Founder and Managing Director, Aarize Group: “The NCR area remains the backbone of North India’s real estate sector, majorly contributing to residential and commercial development.  From the 2026 budget, we are expecting policy interventions to fix infrastructure bottlenecks, streamline approval processes, and expedite environmental clearances.  Measures such as stamp duty reductions, easier access to home loans, and incentives for first-time buyers can reassure end-users and increase demand. Focus on infrastructure, connectivity and livability, and further allocations will further aid buyer confidence and support long-term growth. We anticipate the government will recognise NCR’s potential and provide support for sustainable growth.”

Ashish Agarwal, Director, AU Real Estate: “We look forward to a continued policy stability and growth-focused incentives for the NCR luxury housing market in pre-budget expectations for 2026. Increasing incomes, wider global exposure, and a desire for safe, amenity-rich communities are the demand-driving factors for premium homes in the NCR. Buyer sentiment will be further enhanced by supportive tax policies, streamlined stamp duties, and infrastructure development across important areas. Additionally, quicker environmental and development clearances will enable developers to deliver projects more efficiently. The NCR remains one of the most influential real estate markets in the country, and a progressive budget can play a significant role in sustaining this momentum.”

Kirthi Chilukuri, Founder & Managing Director, Stonecraft Group: “As India prepares for the Union Budget 2026–27, the real estate sector looks forward to policy measures that strengthen urban resilience, sustainability, and long-term capital efficiency. Continued focus on infrastructure-led urban development, faster project clearances, and easier access to institutional financing will be crucial for responsible developers. Incentivising green and biophilic developments, renewable energy integration, and resource-efficient construction can accelerate the transition towards future-ready cities. Additionally, targeted demand-side support for homebuyers and regulatory clarity on taxation will help maintain market momentum while ensuring balanced growth across residential and mixed-use developments.”

Shreya Anand, Director, Vedaanta Senior Living: “India is entering a longevity era where older adults are reshaping how we understand ageing. In the next decade, seniors will form nearly 20 percent of our population, yet only a very small share of public spending is directed toward their needs. Seniors today want autonomy, dignity, connection and meaningful engagement, not just basic care.

At Vedaanta Senior Living, we see these expectations every day. Seniors value simple and intuitive technology that supports their safety, health monitoring and connection with family. However, many older adults struggle when essential services rely on complex or forced digital processes. Tasks such as insurance claims or KYC updates can become difficult to navigate. Reducing these digital barriers and making systems senior-friendly is essential for true inclusion.

While initiatives like the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly are encouraging, the pace of demographic change requires clearer and stronger policy frameworks. Assisted living, retirement living and rehabilitation care are increasingly becoming a necessity rather than a luxury, and these services need to be covered under insurance. GST reforms are also important to reduce the financial burden on seniors who choose organised community living.

It is equally important to strengthen geriatric care in rural and semi-urban areas, increase investment in senior-safe public spaces, improve public transport design, and create more age-friendly employment opportunities that keep seniors engaged and included. India is on the brink of a longevity revolution. With thoughtful policies, accessible systems and investment in senior-focused infrastructure, we can build a future where every older adult lives with dignity, independence and purpose.” 

Jagadish Prasad Naik, CMD, DN Group: “As India approaches the Union Budget 2026, there is a strong need to decisively reignite economic growth through real estate and urban infrastructure in line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Increased investments in roads, metro rail, regional transit systems, and last-mile urban connectivity will be critical in unlocking housing demand across fast-emerging Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, while promoting more balanced regional development beyond over-congested metropolitan centres.

Equally important is the establishment of a stable, transparent, and predictable policy environment. Faster regulatory reviews, time-bound approvals, and streamlined clearance processes can significantly reduce project delays, lower execution and financial risks, and strengthen buyer confidence. By enabling developers to deliver quality homes within committed timelines, these reforms can ease pressure on major metros, catalyse the growth of new urban corridors, generate millions of direct and indirect jobs, and meaningfully enhance real estate’s contribution to GDP growth and inclusive economic prosperity.’’

Somesh Mittal, Co-Founder, One Prastha: “Looking toward 2026, India’s real estate sector is set for stable growth, buoyed by rapid urbanization and significant investment in infrastructure, as it transitions towards organized and sustainable growth. The market is now largely end-user led, enhancing stability, transparency, and long-term confidence. Rising incomes, stable interest rates, and better-designed housing are strengthening affordability and genuine demand. Buyer preferences are moving toward plotted and low-rise projects for security, flexibility, and value appreciation. Growing participation from institutional investors, REITs, and NRIs, especially in RERA-compliant assets, reinforces credibility, however the absence of GST Input Tax Credit raises costs. As Budget 2026 nears, we at One Prastha expect regulatory simplification and faster approvals.’’