New Delhi: Shift in Real Estate Industry
Real estate market trends have undergone a subtle shift with an increase in sales in the Rs 1 crore-plus bracket, according to JLL India's Residential Dynamics Report Q4 2025.
Increased Demand for Premium Housing
Premium housing, defined as properties priced above Rs 1 crore, now accounts for 63% of total sales, up from 53% a year earlier, despite a decline in overall residential sales of 11%.
- Premium housing now accounts for 63% of total sales.
- Residential sales declined by 11% in 2025.
- Premium housing saw an increase from 53% in 2024 to 63% in 2025.
New Mantra for Developers: Margins
Developers are focusing on margins rather than building for volume, leading to a tightening in land underwriting and a shift in buyer behavior.
- Buyers are not just upgrading space, but reclassifying housing altogether.
- Homes have become hybrid environments, office, retreat, and status signal.
"In the last few years, buyers are not merely upgrading space; they are reclassifying housing altogether. Homes have become hybrid environments, office, retreat, and status signal, often within the same square footage. The demand for larger layouts and amenity-heavy projects is not entirely new, but the manner in which it is shaping is different today,"
- Mohit Kalia, senior vice president - Sales & Marketing, HCBS Developments
Micro-Markets Rewriting Their Own Scripts
Micro-markets are emerging as premium alternatives to saturated cores, driven by infrastructure and connectivity.
- Infrastructure has become a key trigger for luxury developments.
- Micro-markets are positioning themselves as premium alternatives to saturated cores.
"Over the past few years, the buyer profile has evolved more decisively than most of us anticipated. There is a clear preference for larger homes, better specifications, and integrated developments that offer a sense of completeness. From a realty point of view, this aligns with project viability as well, since premium segments provide better absorption visibility and financial cushioning. However, it also requires sharper execution and a deeper understanding of what today's buyer truly values,"
- Sehaj Chawla, Managing Director, TREVOC Group
Opportunities and Challenges in Luxury Housing
Luxury housing is driven by aspiration as much as affluence, with buyers evaluating projects on design quality, location advantage, brand credibility, and long-term value creation.
"Luxury housing in India is increasingly being driven by aspiration as much as affluence. It's no longer just about higher ticket sizes, but about delivering a differentiated, future-ready living experience. Today's buyers are far more informed and selective; they are evaluating projects on parameters such as design quality, location advantage, brand credibility, and long-term value creation. This shift is pushing developers to elevate their offerings, making luxury a more experience-led and value-driven segment rather than just a price-defined one,"
- Salil Kumar, Director-Marketing and Business Management, CRC Group