New Delhi, Jan. 14 -- As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, India's real estate sector finds itself at a crucial crossroads. While headline numbers point to record luxury home sales and rising property values, industry leaders warn that the underlying reality is far more complex-and troubling. The widening gap between premium housing and mass affordability has emerged as the sector's most pressing challenge, prompting urgent calls for policy intervention in the upcoming budget.

Anuj Puri, Chairman of ANAROCK Group, describes the current situation as a "perplexing point in India's housing history." According to ANAROCK Research, the total value of homes sold in 2025 rose 6% year-on-year to nearly Rs.6 lakh crore. Institutional investments ...