Quotes regarding Budget expectations of the Real Estate Industry 

Mr. Tanuj Shori - Founder and CEO, Square Yards

"The Indian housing market is clearly moving out of a luxury-led upcycle and into a more value-driven phase, with the mid-income segment poised to anchor growth as premium demand begins to stabilise. From the 2026 Union Budget, one should expect a sharper focus on improving affordability through enhanced tax relief for mid-income homebuyers, higher interest deduction limits and sustained investment in urban infrastructure. Equally important is policy support that encourages supply in the affordable and mid-market segments, as recent launches have been disproportionately skewed towards higher ticket sizes. A budget aligned to these realities can strengthen end-user demand, improve price-to-income dynamics and support a more balanced and sustainable phase of urban housing growth."

Mr. Badal Yagnik - CEO & Managing Director at Colliers India

"Budget 2026 is expected to prioritize growth across economic sectors and usher in equitable real estate development through policy incentives and tax rebates. The Union Budget is likely to serve as a guiding tool balancing fiscal discipline alongside growth - keeping India globally competitive in key sectors including real estate. Standardization and revision of affordable housing criteria to reflect price reality of Tier I cities can provide a demand-side boost to residential real estate. Also, supply side push through infrastructure augmentation and capacity building can trigger long-term growth levers across real estate segments. Furthermore, real estate democratization and retail investor participation can be encouraged by making REITs and SM-REITs more attractive. While Indian real estate is at the cusp of an accelerated growth trajectory across asset classes, the upcoming budget should incentivize sustainability adoption in built structures and holistically revitalize urban development plans. Most importantly, the budget needs to lay the foundation for sustained long-term growth, cushioning the impact of global volatility and trade frictions to an extent."

Utkarsh Kawatra - Co Founder and CEO, nyHQ by ANAROCK (Commercial Real Estate, Flexible Office) 

“The Union Budget this year is unlikely to bring dramatic announcements for commercial real estate, and that is not necessarily a negative. For offices, stability and predictability matter far more than incentives, because companies plan expansions based on confidence in policy and clarity on the economy’s direction rather than short-term tax benefits. This Budget is expected to signal continuity, which helps keep the office market moving steadily.

This stability will be reinforced by infrastructure investment, which is quietly shaping where office demand is heading. Improved metros, roads, and urban connectivity are creating new micro-markets along transit corridors, and Tier-2 cities are increasingly becoming first-office destinations rather than fallback options. As companies assess these evolving locations, they are approaching long-term commitments cautiously, expanding in phases and testing teams and markets before signing large leases. This cautious approach is widening the gap between intent and commitment, and it is in this space that flexible and managed offices are increasingly valuable.

Flexible spaces allow businesses to grow in a measured and reversible way. CFOs prefer opex over capex, founders value speed, and HR teams need offices that are ready from day one. The model is particularly suited for global capability centres and startups, which want to start fast, remain flexible, and scale without friction in an environment of global uncertainty and currency volatility. Combined with hybrid work trends, this is driving a more distributed office footprint, with smaller offices across multiple locations instead of a single large headquarters.

Despite strong momentum, over 30% YOY growth and over 10000Cr of overall revenue, the flex office sector continues to operate without a formal definition or regulatory recognition. It is time for the government to acknowledge flexible workspaces as a distinct real estate asset class and essential component of India’s real estate ecosystem. Clear definition of flex and the industry with the help of the government can unlock further financial efficiencies, improve ease of doing business, and support startups, MSMEs, and enterprises that increasingly rely on flexible work models.

Overall, commercial real estate remains resilient, but flexible offices are growing faster because they align with how companies actually grow today — testing, scaling, and stabilising without locking themselves into irreversible decisions. Budget 2026 does not push companies to grow faster; it pushes them to grow smarter.”