The contribution of women investors in India’s recent real estate boom has transcended residential real estate to include significant commercial property investments. Much of this push can be attributed to the rising desire for financial autonomy among women, and the significant advantages that commercial real estate investments offer over their residential counterparts. Recent government initiatives have also incentivised such investments among savvy women investors, further driving their participation in India’s thriving commercial real estate sector.
Stability and growth
Women investors have traditionally been more risk averse than men in terms of their investment choices; with real estate investments being inherently less volatile than other investment alternatives, they stand out as a stable and secure means of wealth accumulation over the long term for women. Further, commercial properties accrue higher rental yields and more consistent income flows, of which the latter can be attributed to longer lease durations and the nature of tenancy – with most commercial properties leased to business entities and corporate firms, the management of these properties is typically less cumbersome and more streamlined. Such advantages can offset certain drawbacks such as higher interest rates on loans for commercial property and relatively fewer tax incentives as compared to residential properties. Significant infrastructure investments by the government and Mumbai’s vibrant commercial landscape have further spurred demand for office spaces – a 2025 Cushman and Wakefield report states that the net absorption of office space was 10.93 million square feet in Mumbai in 2024, a three-fold increase from 2022. Rental prices in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region too have reflected this increase in demand, with a 16 per cent year-on-year increase.
REITs to investment
The introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) offers a unique opportunity for women investors who do not have a sizeable investment surplus but are still eager to leverage the gains of investing in real estate. With minimum investment amounts as low as INR 10,000 to INR 15,000, REITs open up participation to a diverse section of investors, while saving them the efforts of managing and owning a commercial estate. REITs are also regulated by SEBI and the properties under them are professionally managed, offering investors more security and peace of mind. For women seeking to diversify their investment portfolios and secure a regular source of income, REITs can prove to be a worthy choice.
Women-led, women-owned
India’s rapidly growing start-up ecosystem, which is currently ranked as the third-largest in the world, is experiencing increased participation from women. As per data from Bain and Co, India currently has 15.7 million women-run enterprises, constituting 22 percent of the overall entrepreneurial landscape. This surge can be attributed to multiple complementary factors, including improved access to capital and favourable government policies, and has also spurred an uptick in the number of women investing in commercial real estate spaces, such as offices, retail and mixed use projects, to supplement their ventures.
With the 2025 outlook for India’s commercial real estate sector largely optimistic, the participation of women investors is likely to continue to grow. With the industrial and retail segments likely to keep driving demand, women investors stand to gain significantly from their commercial real estate investments in the coming months.
Shared by : Mr. Hiren Chheda,
Managing Director of Ekatva Group
