Women account for Just 11% of the home loan market, leading only in Gurugram and Noida

Despite growing financial independence and increasing participation in the workforce, women's home loan market participation remains significantly low in India. Recent industry data reveals that women represent only 11% of total home loans sanctioned in 2025, highlighting a persistent gender gap in housing finance.

The findings, released ahead of International Women’s Day, underline the disconnect between women’s rising interest in property ownership and their actual access to housing credit.

Women’s Share in the Home Loan Market Remains Limited

According to a report titled “Women and Housing Finance in India: Progress, Barriers and the Opportunity” by Urban Money, a fintech mortgage platform, only 11% of the 56,523 home loans approved in 2025 across 13 major cities were issued to women borrowers.

These markets include major housing hubs such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Noida, Pune, and Thane.

The data shows that women's home loan market participation remains far below potential, even though women represent nearly half of India’s population and play an increasingly important role in the workforce and economy.

Also Read: Digital Real Estate Is Transforming Access to Property Investments

Gurugram and Noida Lead in Women Borrowers

Interestingly, women borrowers surpass men in average loan size in only two cities: Gurugram and Noida.

In Gurugram, the average home loan size for women stands at ₹64.5 lakh, compared with ₹57.8 lakh for men. Similarly, in Noida, women borrowers average ₹32.1 lakh, slightly higher than the ₹29.4 lakh average for men.

Experts believe this trend may be influenced by joint ownership structures, where properties are purchased in women’s names to benefit from tax incentives and lower stamp duty charges available in certain states.

These exceptions highlight the broader opportunity for expanding Women account home loan market participation if supportive policies and financial accessibility improve.

Loan Size Gap Reflects Financial Constraints

Across the country, the average loan ticket size for women is ₹23 lakh, compared to ₹29 lakh for men.

The disparity becomes even more visible in certain cities. Chennai recorded the lowest average loan size for women at ₹12.7 lakh, indicating a wide gap in borrowing capacity.

Meanwhile, Thane emerged as one of the most balanced housing markets, where loan sizes between male and female borrowers are relatively similar.

Such variations demonstrate how regional economic conditions and employment opportunities influence women's home loan market trends.

Ownership Aspirations Higher Than Loan Access

Interestingly, women show strong interest in property ownership even though their borrowing share remains low.

Industry estimates suggest women accounted for around 30% of property registrations in 2025, showing increasing participation in home ownership decisions.

Surveys also indicate that nearly 75% of women consider real estate their preferred investment asset, viewing it as a stable and long-term wealth-building tool.

This gap between ownership intent and loan access continues to shape the broader Women account home loan market landscape.

Structural Barriers Continue to Limit Participation

Experts say several structural factors affect women’s access to housing finance long before they apply for a loan.

Women currently make up 28% of India’s corporate workforce, but representation declines sharply in senior roles and falls to only 8% at the CEO level.

Income inequality, career interruptions due to family responsibilities, and employment volatility can affect documented repayment capacity, which remains a key factor in loan approval decisions.

Common reasons cited for home loan rejections among women applicants include:

• Insufficient income
• Inconsistent employment history
• Low credit score
• Limited credit history

These factors collectively limit the growth of women's account home loan market participation, despite growing financial awareness.

Industry Leaders Highlight Untapped Opportunity

Industry leaders believe the housing finance sector still has enormous untapped potential in women borrowers.

Kanika Gupta Shori, COO and Co-Founder of Square Yards, noted that women are increasingly active participants in financial markets but still face barriers in accessing housing finance.

According to her, improving credit access for women could significantly strengthen the Women's account home loan market while also enabling long-term wealth creation.

Amit Prakash Singh, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Urban Money, added that deeper reforms are needed to improve credit eligibility rather than relying only on surface-level incentives.

Also Read: Mumbai Real Estate Registers 8% Growth in Feb 2026; Stamp Duty Up 21%

Why Increasing Women Borrowers Matters

Encouraging more women borrowers in the housing finance ecosystem can generate multiple benefits.

Greater participation would support:

• Financial independence for women
• Higher homeownership rates
• Broader financial inclusion
• Expansion of India’s housing finance market

Strengthening the Women account home loan market could also unlock a large untapped borrower base and drive sustainable growth for the real estate sector.

Conclusion

While women continue to show strong interest in property ownership, their participation in housing finance remains disproportionately low. With women accounting for only 11% of total home loans sanctioned in 2025, the Women's home loan market highlights a clear gap between aspiration and accessibility.

Bridging this divide will require targeted financial policies, improved credit access, and stronger institutional support.

As India’s housing market continues to evolve, empowering women borrowers could play a crucial role in building a more inclusive and resilient real estate ecosystem.