India: a purpose-led property market
This country passes the gate and serves one clear purpose. It is not chosen for income, so we show what to manage up front.
India
Purpose-ledA home base for returning NRIs
NRIs planning to return to India who want a home base plus a long-term holding in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and who will spend in rupees.
Why it works
- A deep market: 171,471 sales in eight cities in the first half of 2026.
- Growing prices: in the first half of 2026 they rose from about 5% in Mumbai and Pune to 18% in Delhi and Faridabad.
- NRIs can own residential and commercial property, and a special power of attorney allows buying remotely.
- NRI home loans typically cover 75% to 80% of value.
What to manage
- Rental yields are low. They are 4.6% in Bengaluru, 4.3% in Mumbai, 3.6% in Hyderabad and 3.2% in Delhi (Q2 2026).Plan around a home and a long-term holding rather than income.
- The rupee matters. It has fallen roughly 4% to 5% a year, which reduces returns in dollars.Match rupee spending plans to rupee assets, and take currency advice.
- Title checks and moving money out need care. Registration records a sale but does not guarantee title, and repatriation is capped at USD 1 million a year through an NRO account.Have a property lawyer check title and a tax adviser plan the transfer.
- 3.2% to 4.6%Gross yield, four cities
- 171,471Sales in eight cities, H1 2026
- 12.5%Long-term gains tax
- USD 1 millionYearly repatriation cap
Passes our three must-pass checks: ownership security, tax and money movement, liquidity and exit. How we score
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Figures from public indexes and agency reports, as of October 2026. Figures change; check current numbers before you act. General education, not advice.
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Not sure which fits you?
An adviser can help you do all of these. Join a webinar, or tell us where you live and we will help you work out how the rules apply to you. You can also read how we score.