LIC Housing Finance posted a 4.5-5% rise in net profit to INR 1,364 crore for Q1 FY26, backed by strong individual home loan demand. Total income rose 7% to INR 7,250 crore, while net interest income gained 4%. Home loan disbursements grew 3% to INR 11,247 crore, but project loans fell sharply. The loan book expanded by 7% to INR 3.09 lakh crore. Asset quality improved, with gross NPAs down to 2.62%. The firm also reduced lending rates, waived processing fees, and launched a new website to boost digital engagement. Marking 36 years of operations, LIC HFL now eyes higher-yield credit segments for future growth.Read more

Brookfield India Real Estate Trust (BIRET) has reported a 13 percent year-on-year increase in its net operating income (NOI) for the quarter ending in June. This growth, driven by strong leasing and a 22 percent re-leasing spread, has pushed the company's committed occupancy to 89 percent. The REIT has also approved a preferential issue of INR 1,000 crore to fund further growth and is in talks to acquire Grade-A properties from its sponsor group in Bengaluru and Chennai. This financial performance and expansion strategy highlight the REIT's commitment to growing its portfolio and enhancing long-term unitholder value.Read more

A recent audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has exposed major irregularities in the registration and welfare disbursement for construction workers in Delhi during the previous government's tenure. Despite a welfare corpus exceeding INR 3,500 crore accumulated between 2019 and 2023, the spending on actual welfare schemes remained alarmingly low. The report also uncovered issues such as incomplete and duplicate worker data, suspected ghost registrations, and discrepancies in cess collection records.Read more

Knowledge Realty Trust (KRT), a REIT backed by Sattva Group and Blackstone, raised INR 1,620 crore from anchor investors ahead of its INR 4,800 crore IPO launch. Units were allotted at INR 100 each, with participation from LIC, Axis MF, Amundi, Tata MF, and others. KRT also secured INR 1,200 crore from institutional investors and raised INR 1,400 crore earlier in June. The REIT holds 46 million sq ft across key cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, with flagship assets including One BKC and Knowledge City. With a gross asset value of INR 62,000 crore, KRT aims to grow through third-party acquisitions and joins India's growing REIT landscape.Read more

In Bengaluru, several flat owners received inflated property tax demands due to errors in their e-khata applications. Staff at BangaloreOne centres reportedly entered identical figures for built-up and parking areas, ignoring actual measurements in sale deeds. As a result, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike issued backdated tax notices running into tens of thousands per year. Homeowners said the system failed to verify entries properly and cited an inoperative online objection portal during the response period. The incident highlights the need for stronger quality checks, document-based validation, and a functional redressal process to avoid penalising residents for administrative lapses in property data handling.Read more

India's top eight cities now host 993 million sq ft of office space valued at USD 187 billion, per Knight Frank, with the figure expected to cross 1 billion sq ft this quarter. Bengaluru leads with 229 million sq ft, followed by Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. Grade A offices make up 53% of total stock, reflecting a shift in workspace demand. Experts note the rising role of Global Capability Centres and the growing need for sustainability and employee wellbeing. Shruti Singh of Carbon Guardians stressed integrating EHS principles and designing performance-based workplaces as India enters a new phase of office growth.Read more

India's real estate sector has raised nearly INR 400 billion via approximately 30 IPOs since 2021, according to Colliers. In the current year alone, seven IPOs have mobilised nearly INR 76 billion. During this period, bank lending to the sector has doubled, while gross NPAs in construction loans have dropped from 23.5% to just over 3%. Profit margins and balance sheet health among leading developers have also improved sharply. The sector is now attracting equity capital across newer formats such as co-working spaces, hospitality, and SM-REITs, marking a broader investor interest in real estate.Read more

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed major changes to the listing framework for large initial public offerings (IPOs) to improve price discovery. The proposal, outlined in a consultation paper yesterday, suggests a two-phase trading approach for IPOs with an issue size over INR 10,000 crore. Under this plan, only institutional investors would trade for the first two days, with retail investors allowed to enter the market from the third day onwards. SEBI believes this will allow for a market-driven price to be established, protecting retail investors from volatility and potential losses. The regulator is accepting public comments on the proposal until August 25.Read more

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently conducted an inspection drive at the Kamala Mills Compound in Lower Parel, taking action against numerous violations of safety and civic regulations. The drive, carried out by multiple departments, found illegal structural alterations, unauthorized extensions, and kitchens operating without proper licenses or fire safety measures. This special focus on Kamala Mills, a high-footfall area that experienced a tragic fire in 2017, is part of the BMC's wider effort to ensure compliance and prevent future incidents. Officials have served notices and issued stop-work orders, with further inspections planned across other commercial hubs in the city.Read more

Sarovar Hotels, the Indian division of Louvre Hotels Group, has introduced its luxury Tulip brand to Nepal through the launch of Royal Tulip Chitwan, developed by KTM Hospitality. The resort aims to offer a blend of comfort, adventure, and local culture. Meanwhile, Marriott International has expanded its portfolio with the inauguration of Fairfield by Marriott Jaipur Tonk Road, marking a continued push into secondary markets and reinforcing its presence in Rajasthan's capital.Read more

Affordable housing finance companies are projected to see their AUM rise from INR 1.4 lakh crore to INR 2.5 lakh crore by FY28, according to a recent ICRA report. The broader mortgage portfolio of NBFCs and HFCs could grow to INR 20 lakh crore. Growth is driven by strong housing demand and limited unsecured credit access. Affordable housing lenders, with low NPAs and steady returns, currently hold about 11% of the mortgage market. Their loan books largely serve self-employed borrowers and self-construction loans. While credit quality remains strong, high operational costs and rising competition may pressure margins, making efficiency and cost control key priorities.Read more

Aptus Value Housing Finance India posted a 27.66% year-on-year rise in net profit to INR 219.25 crore for Q1 FY26, with total income climbing 31% to INR 530.14 crore. Assets under management grew 24% to INR 11,267 crore, while disbursements reached INR 775 crore. Over 90% of customer agreements and 94% of collections were digital. Operating profit after tax rose 31% to INR 296 crore, with stable spreads and moderate expenses. Though NPAs rose slightly to 1.49%, credit costs remained within target. The company reaffirmed its digital-first strategy and aims to grow AUM to INR 25,000 crore by FY29. CARE upgraded its credit rating outlook to 'AA; Stable'.Read more

JSW Infrastructure Ltd., India's second-largest private port operator, is focusing on its logistics business, JSW Logistics, with an ambitious target of INR 700-800 crore in revenue and INR 100 crore in pre-tax profit (EBITDA) for fiscal year 2026. This push comes as JSW Logistics plans to expand its service offerings beyond JSW Group companies, aiming to gain market share in India's growing third-party logistics (3PL) sector. The strategy involves leveraging its existing infrastructure and expertise to provide integrated logistics solutions, positioning the company for significant growth in the country's expanding logistics market.Read more

CoStar Group has filed a lawsuit against Zillow, accusing the real estate platform of unauthorized use of nearly 47,000 copyrighted property images to bolster its rental listings business. These images, many of which carried watermarks, were reportedly published on Zillow's platform and syndicated to sites like Realtor.com and Redfin. CoStar is seeking over USD 1 billion in compensatory and punitive damages, alleging the infringement was both extensive and intentional. The company also warned it may take similar legal action against Zillow's syndication partners unless the disputed content is promptly removed.Read more

Embassy Office Parks REIT, Asia's largest office REIT by area, recorded its highest-ever first-quarter leasing performance with 2.0 million square feet transacted across 25 deals. The firm noted a 13% year-on-year rise in revenue and a 15% increase in net operating income. Strong pre-leasing activity was witnessed in Chennai, and the REIT raised INR 4,225 crores in debt to capitalise on favourable market conditions. Additionally, it initiated the divestment of strata-owned blocks in Bengaluru and explored new development opportunities in Whitefield.Read more

The latest Equirus Securities report shows that Real Estate Investment Trusts have captured approximately 43 % of all capital raised through primary markets since FY18, while small-cap real estate firms have generated an impressive 17 % return in the past year outperforming REITs at 15.2 %, mid-caps at 2.5 %, and large-cap realty firms which posted negative returns. Meanwhile, the warehousing segment has doubled in scale, helped by policy reforms and expanding demand from e-commerce. Overall, investor appetite has shifted decisively toward nimble, high-growth firms and income-yielding instruments.Read more

Ranchi's district registration office saw a sudden spike in land registrations this past week, as homebuyers and investors rushed to complete their paperwork before the nearly 10% hike in circle rates came into effect. The increase will impact all 53 municipal wards and 13 surrounding mouzas, leading to a direct rise in stamp duty and registration charges. A total of 1,523 properties were registered in July almost double the average monthly count. The hike affects both residential and commercial land valuations, prompting a last-minute rush among buyers.Read more

Knowledge Realty Trust, backed by Sattva Group and global investment giant Blackstone, is all set to launch its INR 4,800 crore Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Initial Public Offering (IPO). The REIT recorded a 19% growth in net operating income (NOI), touching INR 3,432.26 crore in the previous financial year. With 46.3 million sq ft in total leasable space and an expected Gross Asset Value (GAV) of INR 61,998.9 crore by March 2025, KRT is poised to become the largest office REIT in the country by both GAV and NOI.Read more

Omaxe Group has secured INR 500 crore in funding from Oaktree Capital Management L.P. This investment aims to speed up the completion of Omaxe's residential, commercial, and public-private partnership (PPP) projects, while also providing funds for ongoing developments. A significant portion of this funding, INR 431 crore, was raised by Omaxe New Chandigarh Developers through non-convertible debentures via private placement. The funding highlights Omaxe's focus on strengthening its balance sheet, having repaid over INR 1,200 crore to lenders recently, and its strategy to explore new growth opportunities in key markets.Read more

Decathlon plans to increase its sourcing from India to USD 3 billion by 2030, more than six times the current volume. India's share in the company's global sourcing is expected to grow from 8% to 15%. The sports goods retailer already sources goods worth over USD 480 million from India and is on track to locally produce 90% of the products it sells within the country. With 113 manufacturing units and 83 suppliers in India, Decathlon aims to use India as a key sourcing base across various categories including textiles, fitness gear, electronics, and sports accessories.Read more