Real Estate Land Acquisitions Dip to 2,994 Acres in FY26, Favoring Listed Developers
Land acquisitions for real estate development across India declined slightly in the financial year ended recently, with 111 transactions covering 2,994 acres, compared to 143 deals involving 3,071.14 acres in the previous fiscal, according to data released by Anarock.
The data includes both outright land purchases and joint development agreements between developers and landowners, reflecting the broader spectrum of land aggregation strategies adopted by the sector.
Listed real estate companies accounted for a significant share of the activity during the year. According to Anuj Puri, these firms concluded 54 land deals, acquiring a total of 1,433 acres, representing nearly half of the total transactions recorded during the period.
He indicated that land acquisition has become increasingly capital-intensive and subject to regulatory requirements in recent years. In this context, listed developers have been able to leverage stronger balance sheets and access to institutional funding, providing them with a competitive advantage over smaller or unorganised players.
The trend reflects a broader shift in the residential real estate market, where consumer demand is increasingly favouring established developers with demonstrated execution capabilities and financial strength. This shift has contributed to a gradual increase in market share for listed companies.
Land acquisition activity by listed players was not limited to metropolitan markets. Transactions were recorded in several Tier II and Tier III cities, including Vadodara, Amritsar, Nagpur, Panipat, Mysore, Raipur, and Coimbatore, indicating geographic diversification of development activity.
Among the active listed developers were Godrej Properties, Lodha Developers, Prestige Estates Projects, and Brigade Enterprises, which acquired land parcels primarily for residential development.
Separate data released by JLL India indicated continued momentum in land acquisition activity during the closing quarter of the fiscal year. Developers acquired around 900 acres between January and March 2026, with an estimated transaction value of approximately INR 18,000 crore, for both residential and commercial projects.
On an annual basis, JLL reported that developers acquired more than 3,093 acres across 149 transactions in 2025, with a total transaction value of INR 54,818 crore. These figures indicate sustained demand for land despite marginal fluctuations in annual acquisition volumes.
The overall trend suggests that while the pace of land acquisitions has moderated slightly, activity remains supported by demand for residential development and expansion into emerging markets. The increasing participation of listed developers highlights ongoing consolidation within the sector, driven by capital access, compliance requirements, and evolving buyer preferences.
