Indian real estate sector has witnessed high growth in the recent times with rise in demand for office as well as residential spaces. According to Colliers India, a property consultant, institutional investments in the Indian real estate sector are expected to increase by 4% to reach Rs. 36,500 crore (US$ 5 billion) in 2021, driven by rising interest of investors towards capturing attractive valuations amid the pandemic. According to a recent report by Colliers India, private equity investments in Indian real estate reached US$ 2.9 billion in the first half of 2021, which was a >2x increase from the first half in 2020.

Exports from SEZs reached Rs. 7.96 lakh crore (US$ 113.0 billion) in FY20 and grew ~13.6% from Rs. 7.1 lakh crore (US$ 100.3 billion) in FY19.

In July 2021, the Securities and Exchange Board of India lowered the minimum application value for Real Estate Investment Trusts from Rs. 50,000 (US$ 685.28) to Rs. 10,000-15,000 (US$ 137.06 - US$ 205.59) to make the market more accessible to small and retail investors.

According to the data released by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Policy (DPIIT), construction is the third-largest sector in terms of FDI inflow. Construction is the third-largest sector in terms of FDI inflow. FDI in the sector (including construction development & activities) stood at US$ 52.48 billion between April 2000 to December 2021.

Some of the major investments and developments in this sector are as follows:

• Between January 2021 and September 2021, private equity investment inflows into the real estate sector in India stood at US$ 3.3 billion.
• Home sales volume across seven major cities in India surged 113% YoY to reach ~62,800 units in the third quarter 2021, from 29,520 units in the same period last year, signifying healthy recovery post the strict lockdown imposed in the second quarter due to the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
• In the third quarter of 2021, the Institutional real estate investment in India increased by 7% YoY. Investment registered in the first nine months of 2021 stood at US$ 2,977 million, as against US$ 1,534 million in the same period last year.
• In November 2021, Ascendas India bought Aurum Ventures’ 16-storey commercial tower in Navi Mumbai for Rs. 353 crore (US$ 47 million), making it the largest deal of a standalone commercial tower by a global institutional investor during the past few years.
• REA India-owned online real estate company Housing.com tied up with online legal assistance start-ups LegalKart, Lawrato, Vidhikarya and Vakil in 2021 to offer legal advice and assistance to homebuyers.
• Top three cities—Mumbai (~39%), NCR-Delhi (~19%) and Bengaluru (~19%)—attracted ~77% of the total investments recorded in the third quarter of 2021.
• India's flexible space stock is likely to expand by 10-15% YoY, from the current 36 million sq. ft., in the next three years, according to a report by CBRE.
• To establish an investment platform for the Indian retail-led mixed-use assets, in June 2021, GIC announced to acquire a minority stake in Phoenix Mills’ portfolio (worth US$ 733 million).
• In May 2021, Blackstone Real Estate acquired Embassy Industrial Parks for Rs. 5,250 crore (US$ 716.49 million) to expand its presence in the country.
• To expand into the Indian real estate market, SRAM & MRAM Group collaborated with Area CAS Developers and Infrastructure Private Limited (Area Group), and Gupta Builders and Promoters Private Limited (GBP Group) of India. It plans to invest US$ 100 million in the real estate sector.
• According to Anarock, housing sales in seven cities increased by 29% and new launches by 51% in Q4 FY21 over Q4 FY20.
• Private market investor, Blackstone, which has significantly invested in the Indian real estate sector (worth Rs. 3.8 lakh crore (US$ 50 billion) is seeking to invest an additional Rs. 1.7 lakh crore (US$ 22 billion) by 2030.
• In 2021, working remotely is being adopted at a fast pace and demand for affordable houses with ticket size below Rs. 40-50 lakh is expected to rise in Tier 2 and 3 cities, leading to an increase in prices in those geographies.
• In April 2021, HDFC Capital Advisors (HDFC Capital) partnered with Cerberus Capital Management (Cerberus) to create a platform that will focus on high-yield opportunities in the residential real estate sector in India. The platform seeks to purchase inventory and provide last-mile funding for under construction residential projects across the country.
• In March 2021, Godrej Properties announced it would launch 10 new real estate projects in Q4.
• In March 2021, Godrej Properties increased its equity stake in Godrej Realty from 51% to 100% by acquiring equity shares from HDFC Venture Trustee Company.
• In January 2021, SOBHA Limited’s wholly owned subsidiary, Sabha Highrise Ventures Pvt. Ltd. acquired 100% share in Annalakshmi Land Developers Pvt. Ltd.