India's residential real estate market recorded steady growth during the first half of 2026, with apartment sales increasing 3 per cent year-on-year to 138,382 units across the country's seven major cities, according to property consultant JLL India. The report showed that healthy demand, supported by higher residential launches, helped maintain market momentum despite broader economic challenges. 
The analysis covered Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Mumbai included Mumbai city, Mumbai suburbs, Thane and Navi Mumbai, while Delhi-NCR comprised Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Sohna. The report covered only apartment sales and excluded row houses, villas and plotted developments. 
Among all the major markets, Bengaluru recorded the highest apartment sales during the January-June period, with 35,017 units sold, marking a 16 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period last year. The city also witnessed a significant rise in new residential launches, with fresh apartment supply growing 41 per cent year-on-year to 48,748 units, indicating strong developer confidence amid sustained buyer demand. 
JLL noted that the overall housing market continued to be supported by long-term factors such as urbanisation, infrastructure development and changing homebuyer aspirations. Siva Krishnan, Senior Managing Director (Chennai and Coimbatore) and Head of Residential Services, India at JLL, said the market fundamentals remained strong as these structural trends continued to influence home purchase decisions. 
He further stated that one of the key trends observed during the first half of the year was the strong growth in the premium housing segment. According to him, homes priced between INR 1 crore and INR 3 crore recorded a 58 per cent year-on-year increase, indicating that buyers were increasingly willing to invest in well-located premium developments offering long-term value. 
Industry stakeholders also highlighted Bengaluru's evolving residential market. Shivam Agarwal, Vice President - Strategy at Sattva Group, said the city's continued residential growth reflected its strong economic fundamentals and sustained end-user demand. He noted that buyers were increasingly prioritising developments offering better quality, connectivity and an improved living experience, driving demand for well-planned residential communities. 
Madhusudhan G, Chairman and Managing Director of Sumadhura Group, said continued demand reflected homebuyers' confidence in Bengaluru, supported by the city's strong employment ecosystem, the expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs), ongoing infrastructure improvements and long-term economic growth prospects. He added that the market was witnessing growing demand for premium homes where lifestyle features had become as important as location. 
Sunil Pareek, Executive Director of Assetz Property Group, observed that Bengaluru was gradually evolving beyond its traditional image as an IT services hub into a diversified technology-driven economy backed by GCCs, artificial intelligence, deep-tech companies and other high-value industries. He added that housing demand was also becoming more segmented, with a section of buyers continuing to prioritise affordability and connectivity, while senior GCC professionals, product leaders and technology entrepreneurs were increasingly seeking larger homes with sustainable features, smart-home technologies and stronger community infrastructure. 
The JLL report also showed that developers continued to respond to market demand. Across the seven major cities, new housing supply increased 9 per cent year-on-year during the first half of 2026, with 168,507 apartments launched. The rise in fresh launches, particularly in Bengaluru, reflects developers' confidence in sustained housing demand and continued market activity. 
Over the past few years, Bengaluru has consistently remained one of India's strongest residential markets due to its robust technology sector, expanding office market and improving physical infrastructure. Several industry reports have also highlighted the city's growing share of premium housing launches as rising incomes and demand from professionals employed in GCCs and technology firms continue to reshape buyer preferences. 
Source PTI