Are Listed Indian Real Estate Developers Thriving Despite Market Challenges?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Resilience in the face of adversity
- Strong pre-sales growth
- Positive pricing environment
- Low unsold inventory
- Market share growth for major developers
New Delhi, Oct 1 (NationPress) In spite of numerous adverse developments, the market for listed real estate developers remains robust. A report indicates that the second quarter of the current financial year (Q2 FY26) may rekindle investor interest and alter current perceptions.
Industry data up to August shows that demand volumes increased year-on-year (YoY). Although this growth comes from a low base affected by last year’s elections, it is noteworthy. Launches, however, have been sluggish as developers have chosen to steer clear of inauspicious dates during this quarter.
According to HSBC Global Investment Research, pre-sales for our covered developers surged by 64 percent YoY, as revealed in their report.
New project launches have garnered a substantial response, enabling developers to sell a considerable portion of their offerings during this period.
The report also emphasizes that sustained sales are strong and will be bolstered by solid collections moving forward.
“We maintain a positive outlook on leading residential developers. The pricing environment and increasing demand in the premium segment—which is the target market for listed developers—remain strong and support profit margins,” the report elaborated.
With low unsold inventory and robust balance sheets, alongside significant cash reserves from the real estate regulatory authority (RERA), confidence among home buyers is evidently rising, the report highlighted.
Major developers continue to expand their market share due to their capacity to manage large and premium projects that are currently in high demand.
However, domestic media and influencers have expressed significant negativity towards Indian residential real estate, with all three major markets feeling the weight of this pessimism.
Moreover, the headline figures indicated a 15 percent YoY decline in units sold in Q1 FY26.
“Narratively speaking, while the National Capital Region (NCR) is viewed as fragile and speculative, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is likely to face oversupply with redevelopment projects. Furthermore, Bengaluru is under pressure from IT job losses and the looming threat of artificial intelligence (AI),” the report noted.