“Driven by education, independence, and ambition, women are fast becoming a dominant force in real estate — with homeownership among female buyers rising by 14% in 2024, outpacing men and turning empowerment into ownership.”– Says Kanika Shori Gupta COO and Founder, Square Yards.
Women’s participation in the economy has a transformative impact on both growth and equality. Although they make up nearly half of the global working-age population — around 5 billion people — only about 50% are active in the labour force compared to 80% of men. This gap, according to the United Nations, could cost the global economy up to USD 7 trillion. Encouragingly, India is making strong progress, with women’s workforce participation nearly doubling to over 40% in 2023–24. As women contribute more to household incomes and take on greater roles in financial decision-making, their influence is expanding across sectors like real estate, retail, and technology — marking the beginning of a broader shift toward economic inclusivity and shared prosperity.
Building on this momentum, the real estate sector stands out as a powerful example of how women are reshaping traditional markets. They are increasingly taking centre stage not just as professionals — excelling as brokers, developers, architects, and planners — but also as homebuyers driving real demand. Insights from Square Yards reveal that in 2024, women accounted for 22% of all homebuyers, up from 20% in 2023, translating to over one lakh residential transactions across major cities. Joint ownerships between men and women made up 40% of total registrations, while sole male buyers accounted for 38%. With women’s homeownership growing at a 14% annual rate, outpacing the 11% growth among men, it’s clear that women are not just participating — they are transforming India’s property landscape with confidence and intent.
This transformation has been fueled by a powerful mix of policy support, financial incentives, and growing independence. Initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), which mandates at least one woman as a registered property owner, have played a pivotal role in promoting equality through ownership. States across India further reinforce this shift with 1–3% stamp duty concessions and reduced registration charges, while lenders such as SBI and HDFC offer interest rate reductions of up to 0.05% for women applicants. Combined with tax benefits under Sections 80C and 80EE and subsidies of up to ₹2.67 lakh under PMAY’s Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme, these measures have made homeownership more accessible than ever.
Empowered by opportunity and ambition, women are transforming real estate into a reflection of progress and equality.
Explore the full findings below in our report:
