November Insights: Property and Finance

Issue : November 2025

Property & Finance

FY26 real estate launches: What to expect & when to strike

FY26 is expected to be the next major turning point in Indian real estate, not just another fiscal year. From luxury high-rises in Mumbai to smart townships in Pune, and green-coded homes in Bengaluru, developers are gearing up for a blockbuster launch season.

But here’s the truth: not all launches are equal. Some will be short-term hype. The next ten years of returns could be determined by a select few others.

Let’s break it down!

What’s really shifting

India’s real estate sector is no longer driven by speculation; it’s driven by demand and data.

According to leading property consultants, FY25 closed with over 40% year-on-year growth in housing launches, and FY26 is expected to continue that momentum, with a stronger bias toward premium and mid-luxury segments.

Why?

Interest rates have stabilised. The RBI’s steady stance on repo rates has kept EMIs predictable, reigniting buyer confidence.
Urban migration remains strong. Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities are expanding faster than ever, creating sustainable housing demand.
Developers are more disciplined. Only serious, RERA-compliant companies control the launch pipeline after ten years of consolidation, eliminating the noise.

To put it another way, FY26 is a year of credibility and consolidation rather than just another cycle of launches.

What to Expect from the FY26 Launch Wave

Direct real estate investment is still very much a part of Indian investor behaviour, even with the growth of REITs, and for good reason.

Premium Goes Mainstream :

Anticipate a spike in the introduction of upscale housing, not only in urban areas but also in developing hotspots like Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, and Lucknow. Think high-end amenities, green-certified buildings, and mixed-use developments designed for the post-pandemic lifestyle.

Smart Projects, Smarter Buyers :

Developers are integrating AI-based home automation, co-working spaces, and EV-ready infrastructure. Today's buyers want more value per square foot, and builders are paying attention.

Tier-2 Cities Step Up :

Developers are integrating AI-based home automation, co-working spaces, and EV-ready infrastructure. Today's buyers want more value per square foot, and builders are paying attention.

Limited-Time Value Windows :

The first half of FY26 will see aggressive pre-launch pricing as developers compete for early traction. But as the year progresses and demand firms up, prices will start inching higher.

When to Strike - The Smart Investor’s Timeline

Timing is where fortunes are made (or missed). Here’s the FY26 timeline at a glance:

Q1 (April - June 2025): The pre-launch quarter. Early-bird offers and launch discounts are common. Ideal for investors with risk appetite and market knowledge.
Q2 - Q3 (July - December 2025): The momentum phase. New projects hit the market, sentiment strengthens, and clarity improves. Best suited for end-users and cautious buyers looking for balanced value.
Q4 (January - March 2026): Expect consolidation. By now, prices will have firmed up by 3 - 6% in key markets, with top developers focusing on execution over sales volume.

In summary, the first half of FY26 is your window if you’re looking for capital appreciation. If you’re looking for possession-linked peace of mind, the second half will give you better visibility.

Watch out for these pitfalls

Expect no “gold rush” of capital. Big institutional funds are more selective now; they’re not throwing money everywhere. That means execution risk becomes more meaningful.
Some micro-markets will face supply pressure. If everyone launches at once in the same corridor, your exit potential could shrink.
Policy, tax, or regulatory changes can knock off a percentage point of value overnight. Always check the fine print—stamp duty, tax treatment, environment/clearance records.

Your immediate checklist

Confirm the builder is RERA-registered and has past projects delivered on time.
Understand the payment schedule - does it align with construction progress and escrow control?
Visit the site (if you can), or at least verify construction updates, status of amenities, local infra pipeline.
Clarify your exit scenario (rental potential, resale value) before you get emotionally attached.

The Bottom Line

FY26 will test both patience and foresight. The market will be inundated with options from developers, but only a select few will be able to meet delivery, transparency, and long-term value standards.
Finding the ideal window is a better course of action than waiting endlessly for the "perfect price."
Therefore, FY26 is the year to take deliberate action, whether you're an NRI reconnecting with India's growth story, a home buyer prepared to upgrade, or an investor planning your next portfolio move.
Because yesterday was the best time to purchase real estate. The next ideal moment? Before the wave crests in FY26.

Home Decor

The Feel-Good Home: Designing for Emotion, Not Perfection

We spend a lot of time striving for picture-perfect interiors, with symmetrical cushions, perfect paint colours, and immaculate corners that are only found in magazines. Perfection, however, seldom feels cosy.

A home that softens the shoulders rather than dazzles the eye is truly beautiful. It’s where the light feels alive, the day slows down, and the small flaws tell tales rather than offer an apology.

Design is evolving. Comfort, connection, and tranquilly are what define the new luxury, not marble floors or simple walls.

It’s the type of house that feels like you, not just looks like you.

Designing from the Heart Outward

Before choosing furniture or paint, pause and ask:

“How do I want to feel in this space?”

That one question changes everything.

Perhaps your living room should be airy and light, a place that welcomes morning light and conversation. Maybe your bedroom should whisper calm, not clutter. Or maybe your kitchen should hum with warmth and life, not perfection.

Design ceases to be decoration and becomes a means of self-expression when emotion becomes the basis.

Imperfection Is Where the Soul Lives

The truth is, perfect homes rarely feel human.

A chipped vase. A mismatched chair. A wall that’s slightly uneven from an old paint job. These are fingerprints, not defects. They tell your story.

The feel-good home finds beauty in the imperfect and the honest. It celebrates handmade, hand-touched, and hand-me-down. It values pieces with history over things that arrived yesterday in a box.

Because comfort is about presence rather than polish.

Let Colour Do the Feeling

Colour is emotion in disguise. It shapes our energy without asking for permission.

Muted browns and warm terracottas provide comfort and familiarity.
Soft yellows and ochres: for morning light, vigour, and optimism.
For peace, relaxation, and reflection, use deep blues and greens.
Natural neutrals: the space between moments; for equilibrium.

A home that makes you feel good follows moods rather than colour trends. The shades you live with should echo the way you want your days to feel.

Textures That Speak in Whispers

A home should be a sensory experience, not a visual checklist.

Think of how a handwoven throw feels on your skin, how a clay cup warms your palms, how sunlight softens the edges of a cane chair. These aren’t design details — they’re emotional cues.

Texture adds depth to stillness. It makes the everyday tactile, intimate, and alive.

Light - The Mood-Maker

Light doesn’t just illuminate; it emotes.

Warm light calms, while cool light energises. Morning light inspires movement, evening light invites reflection. The right glow can change not just how a room looks, but how your heart beats inside it.

Layer your lighting so that daylight shines during the day and candles, lamps, and peaceful nooks take over at night. The goal is simple: comfort in every shade.

Space for Stillness

A feel-good home gives you space to pause.

It’s just a tiny area where you can breathe, not a luxurious corner or a big statement.

A chair by the window.

A floor cushion under soft light.

A single shelf with books that smell like old paper and peace.

These serve as emotional anchors, soft reminders that your house is an integral part of your rhythm and not merely a place to store life.

Rituals That Root You

Every home has its customs, such as having coffee in the same location every morning, listening to music in the evening, and receiving fresh flowers on Sundays. They may seem small, but they give your home pulse and personality.

A feel-good home thrives on these simple repetitions.

They turn space into sanctuary.

Because home is not built once but renewed every day through these small acts of kindness.

The Shift: From Display to Emotion

For years, we’ve decorated to impress, creating curated spaces for photos, guests, and validation. But more people are now designing for feeling. They’re asking:

For years, we’ve decorated to impress, creating curated spaces for photos, guests, and validation. But more people are now designing for feeling.
They’re asking:

That’s the quiet revolution happening in homes everywhere. It’s not about less or more — it’s about meaning.

Your Feel-Good Checklist

You don’t need a makeover. You just need a mindset shift. Here’s where

Here’s where to start:

Keep what feels good. Let go of what feels heavy.
Add life - literally. Plants, light, air, scent.
Layer textures, not things.
Show your story. Photos, art, hand-me-downs.
Make a ritual. Something you do daily that says “I’m home.”

These small, emotional edits add up to a home that feels lived in, not decorated.

The Final Thought

A feel-good home strives for kindness rather than perfection.

It’s where you drop the weight of the world at the door. Where things aren’t always polished, but always real. Where comfort lives in corners, and stories live on shelves.

Perfection is silent.
Emotion hums.
Choose the hum.

Because homes that allow you to breathe are more beautiful than those that shine.

Here’s to homes that don’t perform, they simply belong.

A BRAND OF OUIPL