Kolkata: Despite global economic headwinds, including layoffs by several large and small corporates, the bull run in the Indian housing market continued in the first quarter of the year.
Quarterly housing sales are at an all-time high in the last decade, with approx. 1,13,770 units sold in Q1 2023 across the top 7 cities, revealed latest ANAROCK Research data. This is a 14 pc yearly rise against approx. 99,550 units sold back in Q1 2022.
The two leading western markets MMR and Pune accounted for over 48% of the total sales in the top 7 cities, with Pune witnessing an over 42 pc yearly jump.
New launches across the top 7 cities also breached the one lakh mark and witnessed 23 pc yearly rise – from 89,140 units in Q1 2022 to over 1,09,570 units in Q1 2023. Interestingly, MMR and Pune again saw the maximum new supply, accounting for 52 pc of the total new launches across the top 7 cities. Individually, the two cities saw 58 pc and 34 pc yearly increases in their new supply, respectively, according to media statement.
Despite spiralling new launches in this and the previous quarter, the available inventory in the top 7 cities remained almost similar at about 6.27 lakh units by Q1 2023-end. On a q-o-q basis, unsold stock saw a 1 pc dip across the top 7 cities. Among the top cities, NCR saw highest decline in its unsold stock in Q1 2023 – by 22 pc.
Anuj Puri, Chairman – ANAROCK Group, said, “The residential market’s winning streak continued in the first quarter of 2023 with housing sales in top cities breaching the previous high of Q1 2022. The quarter has recorded the highest ever sales in the last decade amid significant rise in demand for high-ticket priced homes ( >INR 1.5 Cr).”
“However, emerging headwinds could pose a challenge in the short-term,” said Puri. “Persistent inflation concerns along with another possible rate hike by the RBI in the near future could dent the housing market’s growth trajectory in the upcoming two quarters. Once the dust of the ongoing economic disruptions settles, it is likely to regain again, backed by rise in homeownership sentiment.”
