MUMBAI: A growing wave of non-resident Indians (NRIs) looking to sell residential properties in India is unlikely to dent the country’s housing market.Instead, it could improve choices for homebuyers by increasing the supply of ready-to-move-in homes while reflecting a broader shift in how globally settled Indians manage their wealth, according to a new report and an urban planning expert.The Remittor Annual NRI Wealth Report 2026 found that 46.4% of surveyed NRI property owners want to sell immediately, while another 26.2% plan to exit within six months, signalling a preference for liquidity and portfolio rebalancing rather than distress selling.However, the report says its findings are based on proprietary data from around 150 NRI clients and should be viewed as indicative of behavioural trends rather than representative of the overall Indian property market.The report attributes the trend to a structural shift among overseas Indians who migrated during the past two decades, particularly those who have now settled permanently in countries such as Canada, the US, the UK and Australia.Having established careers, homes and financial commitments abroad, many are reassessing Indian property as a financial asset rather than a legacy holding.Overseas mortgages, currency movements, tax compliance requirements and the desire to diversify investments are increasingly driving decisions to monetise real estate.Urban planner Dikshu C. Kukreja, Managing Principal of CP Kukreja Architects, said the trend should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakening confidence in India.“If a large proportion of NRIs choose to monetise their residential assets over the coming months, it should not necessarily be viewed as a sign of weakening confidence in India’s real estate market,” Kukreja said.“It reflects the natural evolution of a globally mobile investor who is rebalancing assets across geographies as financial priorities change.”For homebuyers, particularly in Mumbai and other major metros, the development could bring a wider selection of resale properties to the market.According to the report, well-located homes in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Hyderabad continue to benefit from robust end-user demand, improving infrastructure and better urban connectivity.Additional resale inventory could enhance market liquidity, provide more ready-to-move-in options and promote more realistic price discovery without necessarily triggering a fall in property prices.Quality housing in established micro-markets is expected to remain resilient.The report identifies Maharashtra as the largest contributor to NRI resale listings, with most properties located in Mumbai, Thane and Pune.While Mumbai’s residential market has seen slower sales and a moderation in launches, it remains among India’s most liquid housing markets.Demand has increasingly shifted towards suburban locations such as Thane, Navi Mumbai and the western suburbs, supported by Metro expansion, the Coastal Road and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.Residential properties account for 88.8% of NRI assets being sold, with apartments making up nearly two-thirds of listings.The report says apartments are easier to transact because they typically have clearer titles, standardised documentation, structured housing society governance and lower management requirements for overseas owners.The study also highlights the growing complexity of owning property across borders.More than half of respondents reported difficulties accessing Indian tax portals, while many face compliance requirements related to tax deduction at source (TDS), FEMA regulations and overseas tax disclosures, factors that increasingly influence decisions to exit Indian real estate.Kukreja said the trend underscores the importance of continued investment in Indian cities rather than signalling a market slowdown.“The stronger our urban ecosystems become, the more Indian real estate will continue to attract both domestic and global capital, regardless of whether investors are buying, holding or monetising their assets,” he said.For developers and investors, the report concludes, the emerging trend is less about capital leaving India and more about the evolution of NRI wealth management, where property is increasingly treated as one component of a globally diversified investment portfolio rather than an asset to be held indefinitely.