By Aurelius Business Desk
India's real estate sector attracted equity capital inflows worth $8.5 billion in the first half of 2026, marking a 32% year-on-year jump compared to $6.4 billion in H1 2025, according to a report by global property consultancy CBRE. This is the highest half-yearly figure on record for the industry.
The second quarter alone contributed $3.4 billion, remaining broadly stable compared with the same quarter in the previous year. Land and development site acquisitions, along with built-up office assets, together accounted for nearly 94% of total equity investment inflows during the quarter.
Domestic capital continued to dominate the market. Around 92% of Q2 investment inflows came from domestic investors, with global investors making up the remainder. Developers led total capital infusion with a 34% share, closely followed by domestic institutional investors at 32%. Institutional investor inflows rose 51% quarter-on-quarter in Q2 2026.
Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR and Mumbai together made up nearly 60% of total inflows for the quarter, reaffirming their status as India's top real estate investment hubs.
CBRE India Chairman & CEO Anshuman Magazine noted that the momentum reflects the resilience of India's real estate capital markets, and that this trend is expected to strengthen further in the second half of 2026 as foreign investors re-engage amid stabilising global conditions.
On the residential side, separate data from JLL showed housing prices across India's seven major cities rising 8-20% year-over-year in Q1 2026, with Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR and Kolkata leading price growth at over 12% each.
Aurelius Business View: Record capital inflows amid global uncertainty signal strong investor confidence in India's structural growth story. However, with rate cuts largely priced in and rental affordability tightening in top cities, second-half momentum will hinge on how quickly foreign capital re-enters.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Readers are advised to consult a financial advisor before making real estate investment decisions.
