2 weeks ago
79 Years On: Real Estate Records Map India's Growth Story
Every year on Independence Day, people in India look at how the country has grown.
One way to see this growth is through the buildings and offices India has built.
India's office market has now crossed one billion square feet of space, which is a huge amount.
In the first half of 2026, companies rented out about 45.5 million square feet of office space, the most ever in a six-month period.
Around 8.5 billion US dollars flowed into real estate during that time, mostly from Indian investors.
Even though prices for everyday things went up, shopping spaces still grew.
Big improvements like new trains, airports, and ports are opening up new areas for growth in India.
An expert says India needs to build its next 500 cities and train more workers.
India's central bank thinks the economy will grow by 6.7% next year.
All of this shows that India is still busy building its future, looking ahead to 2047.
India's organised office market has crossed 1 billion sq. ft. of office stock, underpinned by REITs, institutional investors, private credit, and banks.
Office leasing hit roughly 45.5 million sq. ft. in H1 2026, the strongest half-year on record, with new supply additions at an all-time high for any H1 period.
The real estate segment saw about USD 8.5 billion in capital inflows in H1 2026, up nearly a third year-on-year and the strongest half-yearly performance since 2018.
Domestic capital now drives the overwhelming majority of real estate investment, while retail leasing grew by a fifth year-on-year despite inflationary pressure.
The RBI projects India's GDP growth at 6.7% for FY2027, and the author urges building the next 500 cities and strengthening execution capacity ahead of 2047.
- Who
- The author, Chairman & CEO for India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa at CBRE, writing an opinion piece on India's real estate sector.
- What
- India's real estate sector reached record milestones, including 1 billion sq. ft. of office stock, record H1 2026 leasing and capital inflows, alongside diversification into new asset classes and infrastructure.
- Where
- India
- When
- 79 years after India's independence in 1947, with data covering the first half of 2026.
- Why
- Real estate is described as one of the most honest records of India's economic progress and its growing ability to absorb global shocks.
Key facts
- Office stock
- 1 billion sq. ft. (threshold crossed)
- H1 2026 office leasing
- ~45.5 million sq. ft. (strongest half-year on record)
- H1 2026 capital inflows
- ~USD 8.5 billion
- Inflow growth
- Up nearly a third year-on-year (strongest since 2018)
- Retail leasing growth
- Up a fifth year-on-year
- GDP growth projection FY2027
- 6.7% (RBI)
- Years since independence
- 79
- Author
- Chairman & CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE
Sources
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