Homeownership Eludes Many Women Amid Stricter Lending Regulations

Indian Women and Real Estate: A Growing Aspiration

Key Findings:

• A recent consumer survey by ANAROCK Group reveals that 61% of women are looking to buy homes priced above Rs 90 lakh, a significant increase from 25% in 2019.
• 71% of women respondents prefer residential real estate as an investment, far ahead of alternatives such as gold (18%) or fixed deposits (13%).
• Despite the growing aspirations, women account for only 11% of home loans approved in 2025 across 13 major housing markets.

Loan Approval Gap:

Read also: Treasury Yields Experience Largest Increase in Two Weeks Following Release of Labor Market Data

• The average home loan size for women was Rs 23 lakh in 2025, compared to Rs 29 lakh for men, a difference of Rs 6 lakh per borrower.
• The gap is attributed to lower incomes, career breaks, and thin credit histories among women.

Common Reasons for Loan Rejections:

• Income: Lower incomes often lead to lower loan eligibility.
• Career breaks: Temporary departures from work can create gaps in employment history.
• Credit behavior: Women often borrow less, leading to thin credit histories.
• Workplace trends: The number of women in senior positions is low, affecting income and loan eligibility.

City-wise Differences:

Read also: US-Iran Tensions Spark Uptick in Oil Prices Amid Global Market Decline

• Women borrowed more than men in Gurugram and Noida, possibly due to joint home purchases.
• Chennai recorded the lowest average loan size for women at Rs 12.7 lakh, highlighting a larger borrowing gap.
• Thane showed relatively similar loan sizes between men and women.

Challenges and Opportunities:

• Home loans remain harder to access for women due to stable income and strong credit history requirements.
• Building a stronger credit profile can improve chances of getting a home loan.
• Closing the gap between desire to own a home and access to credit requires efforts from both lenders and borrowers.