2026 Realty Outlook: Under-Construction Premium Housing Stays Buoyant

Premium under-construction housing is now increasingly emerging as a strategy-led segment within India’s residential market. The strong performance of this category in 2025 underscored a deeper shift—one driven by end-user conviction, evolving lifestyle preferences and confidence in execution, rather than speculative buying.

As the market looks ahead to 2026, the outlook for premium under-construction homes is anchored in the quality of demand, where buyers are willing to invest early in well-planned, future-ready developments that align with infrastructure growth and long-term liveability.

In 2025, the premium housing market witnessed a clear reordering of buyer preference, with under-construction projects decisively outperforming completed inventory across key urban markets.

India’s premium residential market delivered a standout performance in 2025, with capital values rising sharply across key cities, led by under-construction projects that recorded price appreciation of up to 36 percent year-on-year, according to Savills India.

Strong end-user demand, improving infrastructure-led connectivity, limited supply in prime locations, and rising input costs emerged as the key drivers behind this sustained uptrend. This shift marked a decisive change in consumer behavior, from a cautious wait-for-completion approach to a more confident buy-into-the-future mindset, where buyers chose early entry into high-quality projects backed by credible developers, robust infrastructure visibility and long-term value potential.

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Moreover, buyers are increasingly guided by lifestyle considerations, favoring larger residences, wellness-focused amenities and low-density developments that offer long-term comfort. Design integrity, sustainability features and brand credibility have become critical decision factors, particularly in the premium segment. This growing confidence has been further reinforced by the presence of reputed developers and RERA-led transparency, enabling homebuyers to commit early to under-construction projects with greater assurance and clarity.

Additionally, infrastructure development has emerged as a silent catalyst underpinning the sustained appeal of premium, under-construction housing. Large-scale upgrades, ranging from new expressways and metro extensions to airport-led growth corridors, are reshaping urban expansion across key micro-markets such as New Gurugram, Noida–Greater Noida, the Yamuna Expressway and other NCR peripheries.

Under-construction projects in these locations are uniquely positioned to absorb and reflect future infrastructure-led value, allowing buyers to enter at a stage where connectivity improvements and civic upgrades are still unfolding, but clearly visible on the planning horizon.

Sanjay Sharma, Director, SKA Group, says, “In markets like Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad, premium under-construction housing has moved beyond being a short-term price play to becoming a true end-user-led opportunity. Latest data reveals that Noida recorded the widest range of appreciation at 9–36 percent YOY for under-construction premium homes, underscoring genuine demand. We are seeing buyers prioritizing long-term liveability and choosing larger homes, integrated amenities and future infrastructure alignment. Trust in execution, clearer regulations and improving connectivity are creating confidence. As infrastructure timelines synchronize with project deliveries, ongoing projects continue to offer value discovery and lifestyle upgrades, positioning them as a strategic choice for discerning buyers in 2026.”

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Rajjath Goel, Managing Director, MRG Group, said, “The continued strength of premium under-construction housing indicates a clear shift in end-user preference towards long-term liveability, design quality and future-ready developments. In regions like Gurugram, improving infrastructure, evolving lifestyle aspirations, and limited supply in prime pockets are encouraging buyers to invest early in well-planned projects backed by credible developers. As we head into 2026, this segment is expected to remain buoyant, driven by informed end-users who are aligning their home purchases with the region’s long-term growth trajectory.”

Ashok Singh Jaunapuria, Managing Director & CEO, SS Group, says, “Premium under-construction housing in Gurugram, especially in micro-markets like New Gurugram, has evolved into a fundamentally end-user-driven segment. As under-construction homes in the city recorded prices surge by 2-19 percent YOY, it clearly indicates that buyers are no longer chasing short-term price jumps; they are investing in future-ready communities aligned with infrastructure growth, from expressways to social amenities. In 2025, we saw strong absorption because quality projects offered better design, open spaces, and sustainability features that older stock simply cannot match. As connectivity improves and employment hubs expand, under-construction premium homes allow buyers to participate early in the city’s next growth phase, making this segment structurally resilient going into 2026.”

Besides, on the supply side, the growing preference for under-construction premium housing is being shaped by structural constraints. Ready inventory in prime micro-markets remains limited, while ongoing projects are offering clear advantages in terms of better layouts, contemporary specifications and locations aligned with upcoming infrastructure. Developers, too, have adopted a more calibrated approach, pacing launches carefully and prioritizing quality over volume.

Vishal Sabharwal, Head Sales, Orris Infrastructure, says, “In NCR, emerging corridors like the Yamuna Expressway have become one of the most compelling premium housing locations, and under-construction projects are at the heart of this transformation. With large-scale infrastructure developments and long-term economic planning underway, buyers understand that value here will unfold over time. In 2025, premium under-construction homes attracted end-users who were willing to wait for superior planning, lower density, and integrated development. This patience-driven demand creates a healthier market. As the region matures, these projects are expected to deliver both lifestyle quality and sustainable appreciation, reinforcing confidence in 2026.”

Paras Rai, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Property Master, said, “The performance of premium under-construction housing in 2025 across markets like Gurugram, Mohali and Faridabad reflected a maturing buyer ecosystem. The trend shows how buyers have become pragmatic, and they prefer entering projects where pricing is still rational, but fundamentals are strong. Under-construction premium homes offer a rare balance: future appreciation anchored in real consumption. As we move into 2026, this segment stands out as a strategic allocation for both homeowners and investors seeking stable, long-term value.”

Thus, in 2026, the premium under-construction housing segment is expected to remain buoyant, supported by steady end-user demand and a maturing buyer mindset. As infrastructure timelines, regulatory transparency and developer credibility continue to align, premium under-construction homes will continue evolving into a long-term asset class that blends lifestyle security with wealth creation, reinforcing their strategic relevance in India’s residential real estate market.