16,400 applicants for 2,640 affordable homes in Mumbai; Maharashtra housing authorities see massive surge in demand in 2026

And once again Mumbai’s housing sector has broken all the records and witnessed overwhelming demand. In a recent update, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) reported receiving more than 16,400 applications for its 2026 lottery for 2,640 homes. Yes, you read that right! The application process began in March-end and the lottery draw will be conducted at 11 AM on May 15. This kind of surge in applications only shows the constant shortage of affordable houses in Mumbai, which also happens to be the financial capital of the country.This shows common people’s continued reliance on government-backed schemes for fulfilling their dreams of owning a house in India, especially in Mumbai. As per industry reports, the MHADA Mumbai Board opened applications for the 2026 housing lottery in late March. The process is scheduled to close by April 29 and the lottery draw is expected sometime in mid-May. However, there’s an overwhelming demand for a limited supply of homes. The present figures show 16,400 applicants trying to find a house for themselves from just 2,640 units. The odds are relatively low. While the number of applications is significant, it is still lower than previous years as earlier MHADA lotteries saw over 1 lakh applications for about 4,000 units.The 2,640 units offered under the 2026 lottery are spread across Mumbai. Some are available in premium addresses including South Mumbai, Dadar, and Borivali, among others. These houses cater to a variety of buyers. These are available for economically weaker sections (EWS) and high-income groups (HIG) too. MHADA’s housing schemes attract people because they offer comparatively affordable homes in Mumbai. Considering a city where property prices are skyrocketing, these homes keep the Mumbai Dreams alive. As per official MHADA’s list, there are 1,762 apartments under construction, 128 are in Borivali East, 85 are in Goregaon West, and others in Kanamwar Nagar and Vikhroli. As per list, there are four units which are over ₹6 crore price range, two are in Cressent Tower, Tardeo. The first apartment spread across 1,520 sq ft is valued at ₹6.77 crore and the second apartment 1,838 sq ft is priced at ₹6.82 crore. These are MHADA's most expensive offerings this year. While the most affordable on the list is in Mankhurd is valued at over ₹29 lakh (area: 300 sq ft).

How to apply and eligibility

It’s a complete online process. Applicants need to register on the official portal (https://housing.mhada.gov.in/), submit all the required documents, and pay an earnest money deposit (EMD). Applicant must be minimum 18 years of ageApplicant must have Maharashtra domicile for at least 15 yearsNo ownership of another residential property in the same jurisdictionNot only this, MHADA has also launched alternative sale models like first-come, first-served (FCFS) basis for unsold units.

What it means for homebuyers

This is one of those times for which many middle- and lower-income families wait for years. MHADA schemes represent one of the few viable ways to own a home in the city. But given the limited number of homes compared to applicants shows the huge gap between demand and supply.Sources: Official updates from MHADA, TOI, ET