National : Primus Partners has unveiled its latest thought leadership report, “Housing Horizons 2030 – The Five Structural Shifts Defining India’s Digital, Green, and Managed Real Estate Future,” outlining how India’s housing ecosystem must evolve to meet the needs of a rapidly urbanising population.

With nearly 600 million Indians expected to live in cities by 2030 and a housing deficit estimated at around 30 million units, the report highlights that incremental improvements will not be sufficient. Instead, India must adopt a fundamentally new approach anchored in technology, sustainability, and new housing models.

The report identifies five key shifts that will define this transformation. First, digital twins are emerging as a powerful tool for simulation-led urban planning, enabling faster, more accurate decision-making and reducing construction timelines and rework. Second, the integration of artificial intelligence across housing finance, pricing, and operations is improving efficiency and enabling faster, more data-driven decisions, including significantly reducing loan approval timelines.

Third, the rise of end-to-end digital property transactions is transforming the home buying journey, compressing timelines from weeks to just a few days while improving transparency and reducing manual intervention. Fourth, the emergence of Real Estate as a Service is redefining traditional ownership models, with managed rental housing, co-living, and student housing offering greater flexibility, affordability, and efficiency. Finally, green buildings and sustainable urban models are becoming critical, with the potential to reduce energy consumption by 20–50% and align housing growth with climate goals.

Together, these shifts can significantly improve efficiency across the housing value chain, reducing construction timelines by up to 50%, accelerating transactions, and unlocking ₹2.5–3 trillion in economic value while creating millions of jobs. However, the report emphasises that the real challenge is not the availability of technology, but the ability to execute at scale.

Aarti Harbhajanka, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Primus Partners, said, “India’s housing challenge is no longer about building more homes, it is about building a smarter, faster, and more inclusive housing system. The real constraint is not technology, but execution.”

Rajan Bandelkar, Founder and Managing Director, Raunak Group and President, NAREDCO, added, “The home buying journey in India is undergoing a fundamental shift, from weeks of paperwork and multiple visits to just a few days through digital platforms. This transformation is not just about convenience, it is redefining how real estate is experienced.”

The report further highlights that while these innovations are already visible across segments of the market, their impact remains uneven. Without strong institutional capacity, clean and interoperable data systems, and aligned policy frameworks, these advancements risk remaining confined to formal and high-value segments rather than addressing the broader housing need.

Primus Partners notes that India is at a critical inflection point. The technologies exist, early use cases are already delivering results, and the policy intent is clear. The priority now is to scale these solutions in an integrated and inclusive manner so that the benefits of digital, green, and managed housing reach the majority of the population.