Women make up half of the global population but less than 40% of the global workforce, according to the World Bank. In real estate, women have long been driving forces, not only shaping homes but also redefining the industry's landscape. International Women's Day and Women’s History Month, both in March, spotlighted the strides women have made in real estate, while acknowledging the challenges that persist.

Representation within the real estate workforce

The financial independence of women has been a subject of evolving legal and societal concerns. In a world increasingly championing gender equality, certain laws — though passed centuries ago — still serve as silent sentinels of a woman’s economic dignity.

The time spent at home has significantly increased compared to pre-pandemic days, leading to a noticeable shift in the housing market. There is a clear trend where people are no longer compromising on the idea of buying their own homes. Despite the risks, many are eager to move from smaller homes to more spacious ones. Additionally, the desire for homes with separate rooms for isolation or holiday homes to spend quality time with family members has risen.

To correct a flaw in the ready reckoner (RR) rates, where slums, redeveloped slums and chawls have been paying on par with the plush high rises next door, the government has decided to embark on ‘micro zoning’ of areas in Mumbai. The decision was taken after the economic disparity in areas that stand cheek by jowl, particularly with the redevelopment overdrive in the city, came to the government’s notice.

Residential sales across India reached 88,274 units in the first quarter of 2025 ( January-March), a 2% year-on-year (YoY) increase and the premium housing segment with homes priced above Rs 1 crore was the key market driver, accounting for 46 per cent of the sales, shows data analysed by property consulting firm Knight Frank India. 

India’s real estate market is witnessing a new pricing trend, with under-construction (UC) homes now outpacing the prices of ready-to-move (RTM) properties across major metros, according to the latest insights from real estate platform Magicbricks. 

Institutional investments in Indian real estate increased 31 per cent in January-March this year to USD 1.3 billion, driven by a sharp jump in inflows in the residential segment, according to Colliers India. Real estate consultant Colliers India noted that this growth was primarily driven by domestic investments, which accounted for 60 per cent of the total inflows during the latest March quarter.

"With USD 0.8 billion inflows, domestic investments saw a 75 per cent annual rise and were largely focused on industrial & warehousing and office segments," it said.

The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) announced an increase in property transfer fees across Navi Mumbai by 5 to 10 per cent, depending on the size and type of the property. The revised charges came into effect from Tuesday. Moreover, flats in registered housing societies and commercial shops will face a 50 per cent hike in transfer fees.

“The decision was finalised during CIDCO’s recent board meeting, with the new rates applicable for the current financial year,” said a CIDCO official.

2024 saw a significant 50 per cent rise in investment in Indian real estate, hitting $8.9 billion. The greater part of this was driven by foreign institutional investors, who made up 63 per cent of the total, with local investors contributing 37 per cent. With 45 per cent of all investments going to residential premises, office space came in second with 28 per cent. The commercial property industry was overtaken by warehousing and industrial properties.

The Noida authority on Wednesday said that it has sought a status report on the fire at the commercial complex in Sector 18, and also approved a fund of ₹30 crore to procure firefighting equipment for the city.

The Noida authority has also decided to organise workshops to sensitise staff, the fire department and others about safety precautions. The authority will organize workshops for its officials — from junior engineers to senior managers — to raise awareness about fire safety and emergency response.