"A focus on infrastructure development, affordable housing, and ease of doing business during the upcoming Budget will be instrumental to shaping the sector's trajectory.

Overall, we anticipate a strong emphasis on policy measures that encourage sustainable development, smart cities, and digitisation within the real estate landscape. A reduction in home loan interest rates and repo rates, coupled with special bank and EMI discounts, will be key to supporting continued growth. Recognising millennials as the driving force in the property market, revising the price cap for affordable and mid-segment homes can invigorate their homebuying spirit. A hike in the tax rebate on home loan interest under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act, from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, will also catalyse housing demand. Additionally, tax breaks and a review of Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates will make affordable housing more accessible and enhance the financial viability of such projects. Considering Bengaluru as a Metro will offer higher HRA benefits to individuals as well as attract more talent to the city since there will be tax relief amidst the loan burden on house property.

Further, in alignment with the global shift towards sustainability, we look forward to incentives or subsidies for green building certifications and renewable energy installations in commercial real estate projects. We propose bringing REIT units in parity with listed equity. Reducing the holding period for long-term capital gain benefits from 36 months to 12 months would make REITs more attractive to investors. For SEZs, we are seeking simplified compliance through a single window clearance system, concessional tax rates or tax breaks for both developers and SEZ units, and to ease the denotification process. This would streamline processes, making SEZs more attractive for investment.

Our expectations align with the national agenda for economic revival, and we look forward to policies that foster a conducive environment for both domestic and foreign investments.”