A new housing finance study has revealed that women accounted for only 11% of the 56,523 home loans sanctioned across 13 major Indian cities in 2025, highlighting persistent barriers to credit access despite increasing financial participation among women.
The findings come from the report “Women and Housing Finance in India: Progress, Barriers and the Opportunity”, released by Urban Money, the fintech mortgage arm of Square Yards. The analysis examined lending activity across key housing markets including Gurugram, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and several cities in Delhi NCR.
Limited Share Despite Strong Ownership Aspirations
The study highlights a notable gap between women’s growing economic participation and their actual access to housing finance. While women represent nearly half of India’s population, their participation in mortgage borrowing remains disproportionately low.
Interestingly, women account for around 30% of residential property registrations across India, suggesting that many are involved in property ownership through joint ownership arrangements or family investments rather than independent borrowing.
Surveys also indicate that nearly three out of four women prefer real estate as an investment asset, underscoring strong demand for property ownership among women that is not yet fully reflected in mortgage participation.
Gurugram and Noida Show Higher Loan Sizes for Women
Although the overall share of women borrowers remains small, the report identifies a few markets where women are taking relatively larger home loans compared to men.
In Gurugram, the average home loan size for women reached ₹64.5 lakh, exceeding the ₹57.8 lakh average loan taken by men.
A similar pattern was observed in Noida, where women borrowers took loans averaging ₹32.1 lakh, compared to ₹29.4 lakh for men.
According to the report, this trend may reflect joint ownership strategies and financial optimisation, particularly in premium housing markets where families leverage benefits such as lower stamp duty for women buyers and tax advantages.
Sharp Regional Differences in Borrowing Capacity
The study also reveals significant regional differences in women’s borrowing capacity across Indian cities.
At the lower end of the spectrum, Chennai recorded the lowest average loan size for women at ₹12.7 lakh, highlighting disparities in income levels, credit eligibility, and housing affordability.
Meanwhile, Thane emerged as one of the most balanced markets, where the difference between average loan sizes taken by men and women was relatively small.
Overall, women borrowers took home loans averaging ₹23 lakh, compared to ₹29 lakh for male borrowers, indicating a clear gap in borrowing capacity.
Structural Barriers Continue to Limit Access
Industry experts point out that several structural and socio-economic challenges continue to affect women’s access to housing finance.
According to Kanika Gupta Shori, India has made significant progress in women’s economic participation. Increasing numbers of women are pursuing higher education, entering the workforce, launching businesses, and actively investing in financial instruments such as mutual funds, insurance products, and retirement plans.
However, this progress has not translated proportionately into easier access to home loans or independent property ownership.
Shori emphasised that women remain one of the most under-served segments of the housing finance market, and improving their access to credit is critical for advancing financial inclusion and long-term wealth creation.
Income and Credit Gaps Affect Loan Eligibility
The report highlights deeper systemic issues affecting women’s mortgage eligibility.
Women currently represent around 28% of India’s corporate workforce, with representation declining sharply at senior leadership levels and falling to roughly 8% at CEO positions. These gaps often translate into lower income levels and reduced borrowing capacity.
Factors that frequently impact loan approvals include:
- Lower documented income levels
- Career interruptions or employment gaps
- Limited credit history
- Lower credit scores
- Irregular employment patterns
These structural constraints often affect credit eligibility even before women formally apply for housing finance.
Need for a More Inclusive Housing Finance Ecosystem
According to Amit Prakash Singh, the industry must move beyond offering incentives and focus on strengthening women’s credit profiles.
This includes enabling women to participate more independently in the credit ecosystem, improving financial literacy, and developing lending products that better reflect women’s career and income realities.
Expanding women’s participation in housing finance, he noted, could unlock significant growth opportunities for both lenders and the broader real estate market.
A Critical Opportunity for India’s Housing Market
The report ultimately underscores a critical imbalance in India’s real estate and financial systems. While women are increasingly active participants in economic and investment decisions, their access to housing finance remains limited.
As homeownership continues to play a central role in long-term wealth creation in India, bridging this credit gap will be essential for building a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable housing market.
