From homemakers to homebuyers—Indian women have taken ownership of their financial matters. Experts explain why their choice of asset is real estate Till not too long ago, an Indian woman being a homeowner was considered an anomaly. Societal expectations, unequal pay and lack of financial knowledge kept them from dipping their feet into investing. That’s not the case anymore. Experts affirms that Indian women, especially millennials, now understand the profitability of real estate assets. Pointing to a recent survey, “Nearly 70 per cent of women prefer residential real estate investments over other assets, like gold. They want to actively engage in asset building and are taking the bolder route to do that.” Here, we look at what is driving this preference. SIGNIFICANT BUDGETS DRIVE DEMAND FOR BIGGER HOMES Most millennial women are willing to spend anywhere between Rs 45 lakh and Rs 1. 5 crore to purchase a home. “There is high demand for 2 and 3-BHK flats, and most of these investments are for self-use,”. Additionally, they are looking for ready-tomove-in (RTMI) homes or upcoming properties. “Some are even open to purchasing homes in the luxury real estate sector, so as to transform it into a holiday home for themselves. Others, especially those who want RTMI homes, are looking to rent out the property.” TAX BENEFITS AND FAVOURABLE INTEREST RATES, Some experts also believe that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) has made it more convenient for women to invest in real estate. He notes that it is a credit-linked subsidy scheme, thanks to which women get special perks when it comes to home loan interest rates and income tax. “Under PMAY, women can claim a subsidy of 6. 5 per cent on the home loan interest rates and get exemption over additional stamp duty and registration charges.” INVOLVEMENT IN FINANCIAL DECISIONMAKING Indian women and families, in general, are now departing from the idea that men are the sole financial decision makers in a household. This has been liberating, to say the least. “Previously, women were told to keep the accounts of the home, but many were not permitted to have an opinion about it. They didn’t even know enough to have an opinion.” Now, with access to resources and assistance from their partners who had the privilege to learn about this from older generations, women are active financial decision makers. In fact, “In many households, men and women are going 50-50 on residential real estate investments as both parties are now breadwinners.”