Karnataka records surge in female ownership of homes and land

Bengaluru: Female ownership of houses and land in Karnataka has nearly doubled in five years, signalling changing attitudes towards wealth, security, and decision-making within families. This comes on the back of a growing number of women in the state investing in homes and land, either independently or jointly, reflecting a broader shift in asset ownership.According to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS) conducted in 2023-24, some 29.5% of households in the state had at least one female member owning a house and/or land, either independently or jointly — a significant jump from 16.2% recorded in NFHS-5 (2019–21). The survey also showed that female/joint ownership in rural households was higher at 36.9% compared to urban households, where it was 20.2%.Anila A, 35, who bought a house on Hosa Road, off the tech corridor, last year, said it was not just a property purchase but a step towards financial security and independence. She said, “Buying a house was never on my mind. Since I’m not planning to get married in the near future, I wanted a sense of security and independence. Seeing a friend buy a home inspired me. Owning a house has given me confidence that I have a place of my own and don’t have to depend on anyone.”Many homeowners said property ownership gives women a financial safety net and greater independence in case of unforeseen circumstances. Some families register property in women’s names to avoid future legal and inheritance disputes, while others see it as a way to ensure fairer distribution of family wealth and recognise women’s financial contributions to households.For Shantinagar homeowner Rahul Pandya, registering a property in his wife’s name was a matter of financial planning and fairness. Having already bought properties in his own name, he wanted her to have an independent asset. “The process was smoother because of her higher salary and repayment capacity. Banks consider these factors,” he said.Experts said that in India, the definition of urban and rural needs to move beyond traditional metrics. Kala Seetharam Sridhar, urban economist and professor at the Centre for Research in Urban Affairs, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), said: “Our definition of what is urban is very conservative. If the 2011 Census had used a more liberal definition of urban, then over 50% of our country would have been termed urban. This might explain why there could be an uptick in rural populations.”In a few instances, traditional beliefs continue to influence choices. Several homeowners said there is a perception that properties purchased in a woman’s name bring prosperity and good fortune to the family. Real estate players said the rise reflects changing household dynamics rather than just an increase in solo women homebuyers.Bhaskar T Nagendrappa, president, Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India, Karnataka chapter, said: “Govt initiatives have encouraged women’s participation in property ownership, particularly in rural areas. In cities like Bengaluru, the rise of dual-income households has made joint ownership increasingly common. Women are no longer just contributors but recognised stakeholders in home purchases. Joint ownership improves loan eligibility and provides financial security, while younger couples increasingly believe that if both partners contribute financially, both should be owners.”Sunil Pareek, executive director, Assetz, a real estate company, said: “Over the past 3-4 years, 50-60% of our new bookings have had a woman as co-applicant. In some cases, both applicants are women. The trend is driven by stamp duty concessions, better loan eligibility through joint ownership, greater awareness of financial security and inheritance rights, rising workforce participation among women, and a more transparent real estate ecosystem. Women today are actively involved in home-buying and financing decisions, marking a shift from informal influence to formal ownership.”