by Des Jarlais, Don C, Lyles, Cynthia, Crepaz, Nicole, TREND Group
Published in American journal of public health (1971) (01.03.2004)

by Owning a home is no longer a dream but a necessity today for many women Observing such shifts Vimesh P VP marketing for a real estate developer says In recent years women are realising that it is no more a mans role to earn, plan finances or invest ments They have stepped up to claim their financial independence Considering real estate as a riskfree option, women are investing in it There is a shift in the perception of a home being a byproduct of marriage to it becoming a mustachieve milestoneFollowing a recent survey Anuj Puri chairman at a property consultants group observes that the trend of women becoming independent buyers has been fuelled by the pandemic Our survey showed us that the number of women interested in buying a home for themselves has gone up With the realisation that investing in real estate is safer, more secure than any other investment option the demand for residential properties has witnessed a multifold increase compared to the preCovid period Women are contributing to this surge in demand In todays world women initiate the conversation of homebuying, plan their earnings, investments independently Having a better understanding of the market landscape women have always prioritised real estate when it comes to investment considering their financial security mentions Rajendra Joshi executive director for sales, marketing at a real estate development companyREAL ESTATE AS INVESTMENT, ENDUSER Lakshmi M 31 works as head of HR at an IT company For her owning a home equates to parking her savings in a safe, appreciating asset I have a colossal paternal house in my hometown The flat I bought here is for me as a user, investor I foresee it as the best investment I can sell it or put it on rent whenever neededShe isnt alone Realtors are witnessing a surge of interest among women especially women between their mid20s, 40s as independent real estate investors Many women with disposable incomes are also coming forward to buy a residential unit for their parents in a better localityOne can observe the yearly growth in the sentiment towards real estate investment among women According to a housing consumer sentiment survey report 77 percent of women homeseekers considered buying the property for selfuse, only 23 percent thought of it as an investmentMany industry players believe that the central governments steady push to promote womens homeownership pan India through different policies, initiatives have resulted in this change Sushmita M an employee of a national bank says Various loans schemes for women homebuyers under the state, central government initiatives besides taxation benefits have added a fillip to this niche market For example under the central governments flagship scheme PMAY real estate properties must be registered either in a womans name or with a woman as coowner It has also propelled women homebuyers total sales upward in almost every urban property marketDevelopers are chalking out special deals, discounts to tap into the market cashing in on various governmental initiatives facilitative banking systems, enduring interest among women as independent property buyers Projects are coming up in Kochi that are dedicated exclusively for women It is a daring, new concept Kochi will soon have developments where only women are allowed to stay says Lakshmi Sai marketing manager with a developerRealtors across major cities in the country have mapped out special plans for women consumers, site engineer to the marketing personnel are all womenEnvisioning a similar future Joshi adds Women are increasingly choosing to be independent, professionally thriving Their profile as robust real estate investors will rise meteorically with each passing year
Published in The Times of India (Online) (17.03.2023)