65% women prefer investing in real estate, 20% stocks, 8% gold and 7% FDs: Anarock survey

Real estate consultant Anarock has conducted a survey that suggests that 65 per cent women respondents prefer to invest in real estate, 20 per cent in stocks and only 8 per cent of them in gold. The sample size of the consumer survey was 5,500, out of which 50 per cent respondents were women. At least 65 per cent women respondents prefer to invest in real estate, followed by 20 per cent favouring the stock markets.

Just 8 per cent of women respondents favour gold, and 7 per cent prefer FDs (fixed deposits), the report said.

Among other findings, Anarock said that 83 per cent of women respondents are looking at homes priced above Rs 45 lakh.

"The Rs 45-90 lakh budget range is the 'sweet spot' for 36 per cent of women home seekers, and 27 per cent prefer premium homes priced from Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore. 20 per cent prefer luxury homes priced more than Rs 1.5 crore," Anarock said.

Affordable homes priced under Rs 45 lakh are the least preferred.

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Santhosh Kumar, Vice Chairman, Anarock Group, said, "Over the last decade, women have emerged as a major residential real estate buyer segment, especially in the urban centres."

Their preferences are also distinctly shaping newer trends - from bigger homes, ready-to-move properties to specific budgets, they know exactly what they want, he said.

"And like millennials, their preferences now influence the supply that developers put on the market," Kumar said.

More women are now also buying property for investment.

As per the survey, the ratio of women buying properties for end-use and investment has changed from the previous survey. It now stands at 77:23, whereas it was previously 82:18.

Anarock also noted that there are many benefits that Indian women can avail by buying and registering properties in their names.

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Various government policies support and promote women home ownership in India.

To avail homes under the government's flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY) introduced in 2015, homes have to be mandatorily registered either in a woman's name or with a woman as co-owner.

"Lower stamp duty is another benefit women homebuyers enjoy," Anarock said.

Stamp duty charges are lower in many states, if the property is registered in a woman's name.

Many banks offer discounted home loan rates to women as compared to men. To avail of certain tax benefits, a woman can also become the joint owner of a property with her husband and, if she has a separate source of income, both can claim tax deductions individually, the consultant said.

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