Homebuyers in the Delhi NCR area are benefiting from the current market upswing, as the region has seen a  57% drop in unsold homes over the last five years, the largest decrease of any city in the country. 

According to a recent Anarock report, the number of unsold homes in NCR has steadily decreased from around 200,000 units at the end of the first quarter of 2018 to approximately 86,420 units by the end of the first quarter of 2024. During the same period, the main southern cities of Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai saw their unsold housing inventory fall from over 196,000 units in Q1 2018 to more than 176,000 in Q1 2024.  

Gurgaon now leads the list with a total unsold stock of 33,326 units, down 37% over the last five years, followed by Greater Noida, which had up to 18,668 units at the end of the first quarter. 

According to Pradeep Aggarwal, founder, and chairman of Signature Global (India), Delhi-NCR’s unsold inventory has decreased by 57%, from approximately 200,000 units at the end of Q1 2018 to approximately 86,420 units by the end of Q1 2024, with Gurugram playing a significant role in this positive trend. This will boost the NCR real estate market by instilling buyer confidence and improving market stability. Key contributors to this decrease include extensive economic growth, which increases purchasing power, and significant infrastructure development, particularly the expansion of metro lines and expressways such as the Dwarka Expressways, Southern Peripheral Road Sohna Elevated Road, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and upcoming metro lines. Proactive government policies and regulatory reforms, such as RERA, improve transparency in the real estate sector. Improved connectivity via expanded transportation networks makes distant areas more appealing, lowering unsold inventory stocks. This positive outlook is expected to encourage the creation of new premium and mid-range residential projects for discerning buyers and inventors.” 

However, Greater Noida’s supplies have decreased by a much higher percentage of 70% since Q1 2018. 

Overall unsold housing inventory in Ghaziabad fell to 11,011 units in Q1 2024, down from 37,005 in Q1 2018, representing a 70% reduction in five-year inventory. 

Noida had  7,451 unsold units at the end of the first quarter of 2024, down 71% from the same quarter in 2018 when there were 25,669 units. 

S.K. Narvar, chairman of Trident Realty, says, “The Delhi-NCR real estate market has undergone a tremendous transformation, with a 57% decrease in unsold homes over the last five years. This decline reflects a positive change in the local real estate landscape, indicating improved market stability and a more stable supply-demand situation. The city’s strategic approach to new supply additions has played a significant role in this transformation, resulting in restored buyer confidence and a healthier market environment. The determination of developers to manage new supply additions, combined with regulatory actions such as RERA and GST, have contributed to this optimistic trend. The decrease in unsold inventory indicates  strong demand, modern living preferences, and a bright future for the real estate sector in Delhi NCR.”  

Overall, the top three Southern cities of Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai trailed by 11% in unabsorbed stock. Unsold inventories have decreased by 8% in MMR and Pune in the region to the west. During the period under review, Kolkata, on the East Coast, experienced a significant decline in unsold inventory, which dropped by 41%. 

Ashish Sharma, AVP of Operations at Brahma Group, stated, “The real estate market in Delhi NCR has evolved significantly, resulting in a remarkable decline of approximately 57% of unsold residential properties in the last five years, highlighting the sector’s dynamism. Furthermore, NCR’s unsold stock fell from about 2 lakh units at the end of the first quarter of 2018 to 86,420 units by the end of Q1 2024. Additionally, regulations like RERA and GST have reduced the new supply developers offer in bringing buyers back into the market.  Furthermore, this positive trend will drive residential launches, including luxury projects, as the NCR’s demand for modern, luxurious, and integrated habitation spaces grows. It reflects the industry’s ability to adapt to changing market dynamics while meeting the rising expectations of discerning investors and buyers considering NCRR’s transformation process.” 

One of the reasons South India has been able to report a relatively low decline in unsold inventory is that supply has arrived at a rapid pace, particularly in Hyderabad, where new supply has been exceptionally high over the last two years. 

Finally, the NCR real estate market has undergone a significant shift, with a 57% decrease in collectively accumulated unsold housing inventory over the last five fiscal years. These reasons suggest that the development of the city’s economic growth, infrastructure, and government policies are among the key factors contributing to this significant decrease. As a result, Gurugram has emerged as a key market in India’s real estate market, attracting investors and end users.