Why the Numbers Matter

Dhanteras is considered an auspicious day for property and gold purchases. Historically, it has consistently been among the top four days for property registrations in Mumbai — alongside Dussehra, Gudi Padwa, and Akshaya Tritiya. Developers and brokers often align launches, bookings, and registrations around these dates to capitalise on buyer sentiment.

But this year, the registration data tells a different story.

 Key Data Points at a Glance

•  Date: Dhanteras, October 18, 2025 (Saturday)
•  Total property registrations till 7:25 PM: 284
•  October 1–18 registrations: 8,351
•  Average daily registrations in October (so far): 463
•  Dhanteras registrations vs daily average: Almost 40% lower

The 284 registrations recorded till 7:25 PM on Dhanteras are well below the daily average, marking a sharp departure from the usual festive surge.

 Possible Reasons Behind the Dip

1. Weekend Effect:
   This year, Dhanteras fell on a Saturday, traditionally a non-preferential day for registrations compared to weekdays. Some industry experts suggest this may have affected the numbers.
2. Shift in Sentiment:
   The sharp drop is making developers and analysts wonder whether this is a temporary scheduling issue or an early indicator of a slowdown, especially in premium segments where decision cycles are longer.
3. Festive Momentum Yet to Unfold:
   The upcoming Diwali days may provide a clearer picture, as many homebuyers time their registrations for Laxmi Puja or Padwa, depending on family customs.

 Why This Matters for the Market

A strong Dhanteras performance is often seen as a barometer for market sentiment, particularly in Mumbai — India’s largest real estate market by value.

A significant dip in festive registrations can impact short-term developer cashflows, festive sales targets, and investor sentiment.

If the lower numbers persist through the rest of Diwali, it could also indicate cautious buyer behaviour, possibly due to rising prices, high stamp duties, or macroeconomic uncertainties.

 What’s Next

While one day does not define a trend, the Dhanteras slump has caught the industry’s attention. The remaining festive period will be closely watched to see whether this was just a weekend anomaly or the first sign of a more measured festive season for Mumbai real estate.

Also Read: Mumbai Property Market Hits New High: 52,896 Registrations in Jan–April 2025, Revenue Jumps 21%

The post 🏡 Dhanteras Dampener: Mumbai Sees Sharp Dip in Property Registrations, Raising Market Questions appeared first on Square Feat India.

Affordable Housing Sales Share Plummets

According to ANAROCK Research & Advisory, affordable housing—homes priced at ₹45 lakh or less—accounted for just 18% of total sales in the top seven cities in H1 2025. That translates to 34,565 units out of 1.90 lakh sold. In comparison, this segment commanded a 38% share in 2019, reflecting a steep fall in demand.

The supply side tells a similar story. Affordable housing launches have dropped from 40% of total launches in 2019 to just 12% in H1 2025. The slowdown is significant for a segment catering to around 17.76% of India’s population.

MSMEs in the Crosshairs

MSMEs contribute nearly 30% to India’s GDP and over 45% to exports, employing more than 260 million people in both formal and informal sectors. Industries like textiles, engineering goods, auto components, gems and jewellery, and food processing are heavily labour-intensive and central to the affordable housing buyer base.

The sector’s export footprint has expanded dramatically—228% in four years, from 52,849 exporters in FY 2020-21 to 173,350 in FY 2024-25. However, the new US tariffs could reverse these gains, hitting incomes and job stability among MSME workers.

Expert Warning: “Hope Snuffed Out”

Dr. Prashant Thakur, Executive Director – Research & Advisory, ANAROCK Group, warns that the tariffs could deal a decisive blow to the segment:

“This category of homes priced ₹45 lakh or less was already gravely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and is still struggling to find any semblance of firm ground. Trump’s mercenary tariffs will snuff out even the dimmest ray of hope for this segment.”

Developer and HFC Impact

A prolonged demand slump could force developers to curtail launches due to tighter working capital, further squeezing a segment already battling input cost inflation. Housing finance companies (HFCs) serving this market may face higher loan defaults or a slowdown in disbursements as demand weakens.

The Road Ahead

The future of India’s affordable housing segment may hinge on swift government intervention. Coordinated policies, fiscal safeguards, and buyer-focused support measures will be essential to prevent a deeper crisis. Once the poster child of housing policy and a key pillar of electoral promises, affordable housing now finds itself in uncertain territory.

Also Read: http://affordable housing in india

The post Affordable Housing Faces Fresh Threat from US Tariffs on Indian Exports appeared first on Square Feat India.