Pune: Younger Indians continue to show strong confidence in homeownership, with Gen Z recording the highest Housing Sentiment Index (HSI) among age groups, according to the latest HSI released by Magicbricks on International Youth Day.
Homebuyers aged up to 30 years recorded an HSI of 128, ahead of Millennials at 119 and Gen X at 110–109. The findings indicate that sentiment towards homeownership remains strongest among younger buyers and gradually moderates across older age groups.
The trend is even more pronounced among first-time buyers. This segment posted the highest HSI at 130, compared with 118 among renters seeking homeownership and 110 among existing homeowners planning to buy a second home.
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Nearly 75% of first-time homebuyers are aged up to 44 years, highlighting the significant contribution of younger households to India’s homeownership demand.
The latest survey also points to a broader and more diverse pool of residential decision-makers. Female participation in the HSI survey rose from 18% in the previous edition to 40% in August 2026, more than doubling from the earlier edition.
While the aspiration to own a home remains firm, buyers appear to be taking a more measured view of affordability and future price growth. Homebuyers are currently targeting properties priced at an average of 4.9 times their annual household income, down from 5.2 times in the previous edition.
Price expectations have also moderated. About 69% of respondents expect residential property prices either to remain unchanged or increase by up to 5% over the next year, suggesting that buyers are not anticipating sharp near-term appreciation.
Younger buyers are also influencing preferences for larger homes. Housing sentiment improves from the 3 BHK category onwards, with 4 BHK homes recording the highest HSI at 131, followed by 4+ BHK homes at 128. The report indicates that 3 BHK and larger configurations continue to attract strong sentiment, reflecting demand for larger homes suited to families.
Despite the moderation in overall sentiment, the near-term purchase outlook remains positive. 54% of respondents said they intend to purchase a home within the next 6–12 months. At the same time, the majority of prospective buyers continue to maintain relatively conservative expectations about price movements, with nearly seven in ten anticipating stable prices or an increase of no more than 5% over the next year.
“Young and first-time homebuyers continue to demonstrate the strongest housing sentiment, even as the overall market becomes more measured. The findings underline that homeownership remains a strong aspiration for younger India, while the growing participation of women reflects an increasingly diverse base of residential decision-makers. Buyers are balancing these aspirations with affordability, value and long-term considerations,” said Prasun Kumar, Chief Marketing Officer, Magicbricks.
India’s overall HSI stood at 112 in August 2026, keeping the index in the bullish zone and above the neutral benchmark of 100. However, the reading moderated from 142 in the previous edition.
The HSI uses the Diffusion Index methodology, which measures the balance between positive and negative survey responses on a scale ranging from 0 to 200. The August 2026 edition is based on responses from 2,769 prospective homebuyers across 11 major residential markets.
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The latest findings suggest that younger and first-time buyers remain important drivers of India’s residential housing outlook, even as purchase decisions become more considered. For younger households, in particular, homeownership continues to remain a significant long-term aspiration, supported by strong housing sentiment despite more cautious expectations around affordability and price growth.
